Chapter 313: Calculated Measures

After the piercing screech of gunfire came a deathly silence.

A cold wind swirled through the courtyard, sending chills down everyone’s spines.

Whether it was the police officers, the old drivers, or even Gao Ting, everyone stared blankly at Lu Xin.

The bullets from those two magazines had been fired too quickly, too cleanly, leaving them all as mere bystanders.

They could only watch wide-eyed as Lu Xin emptied both magazines, each bullet precisely striking Zhao Hui.

Every shot felt like it hit their own hearts.

With each gunshot, their bodies trembled alongside Zhao Hui’s nearly ruined form.

Their pulses and heartbeats felt like they were about to burst free from their bodies.

By the time Lu Xin finished firing, still pointing the gun at Zhao Hui, the faces of those around him looked as if they’d seen a ghost.

…

“Even if… even if you’re an Ability User, you can’t just do whatever you want in Central City…”

The old police officer finally mustered the strength to shout, “Right in front of the Security Hall…”

“You dare snatch a gun and shoot someone?”

…

As an experienced, high-ranking old police officer, he clearly knew more than the others. At the very least, he knew about Ability Users and seemed to recognize Lu Xin as the rumored Spider-type Ability User.

That’s why, when the other officers were stunned by Lu Xin, watching him empty two magazines into Zhao Hui, they hadn’t forcibly intervened.

Only now did he shout out, his words sounding more like an accusation.

The surrounding crowd, seemingly frozen in place, snapped back to reality with a jolt at his shout.

Fear and commotion began to spread.

Li Gang, from Qinggang’s Central City office, was particularly pale with shock. He had been notified by Qinggang. Although he didn’t have all the details about Lu Xin, Qinggang had specifically warned him about the crucial points when cooperating with the Mr. Lone Soldier, the most important being the need to consider the rules…

A particularly forbidden line was letting the Mr. Lone Soldier break the rules.

But now, not only had the Mr. Lone Soldier broken the rules, he had even directly shot someone…

What did this mean?

Countless terrible thoughts flooded his mind, giving him an impulse to clutch his head and flee immediately!

…

Under countless gazes, Lu Xin held the empty gun, still pointed at Zhao Hui.

His face was expressionless as he simply looked down at Zhao Hui, who resembled a pile of rotten flesh on the ground.

Several seconds passed. Only after the panic had begun spreading did he suddenly seem to react.

He turned around, offering the crowd a smile.

This smile sent a group of police officers stumbling back in unison, raising their riot shields high.

“I didn’t kill anyone…”

Lu Xin smiled gently and calmly.

He glanced at Zhao Hui on the ground and explained to the officers with a smile, “He’s not dead.”

“What?”

The old police officer gasped, yelling, “Over twenty shots hit him, and you’re telling me he’s not dead?”

“Taking over twenty shots and being dead are two different things.”

Lu Xin explained with a slight smile, “I’m very careful with my shots. I avoided his vital points.”

“This…”

An even colder sensation gripped everyone’s heart.

They glanced at Zhao Hui, who was now practically a mangled heap of flesh. Only the slight, spastic twitching of his limbs indicated he might still possess vital signs… But at this point, wasn’t that even more terrifying? Surviving two magazines worth of bullets wasn’t mercy. Compared to this, wouldn’t a quick end have been better?

Is this a devil?

“Since reporting him was useless, he needed to receive other punishment.”

Lu Xin, seemingly aware of their confusion, explained with a smile, “But killing is illegal, so I won’t kill randomly.”

“Also…”

He turned his head towards Manager Wang, who had collapsed on the ground in fright, “Now, I want to report you for covering for your subordinate, distorting the truth, and framing good people… I hope you can handle this matter with fairness and impartiality. Otherwise…”

He gave a friendly smile, leaving the rest unsaid.

“Ah ah…”

Manager Wang finally snapped back to reality, scrambling backward on his hands and feet.

An indescribable fear seized his heart. He felt the young man’s smile was like a demon’s. Words tumbled out uncontrollably, “Yes, yes, yes, I covered for Zhao Hui… He threatened me! He threatened me, saying I had to report this convoy with him… His family has connections. If I didn’t listen, I’d be kicked out… I admit it, I admit everything!”

“Hm?”

Lu Xin seemed somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Manager Wang to confess so readily.

“So you’re saying the theft of confidential materials was fabricated?”

He asked seriously, simultaneously glancing sideways at the old police officer.

“Yes… yes, it was fake! What confidential materials could our warehouse possibly have? Even if there were, this convoy couldn’t access them…”

Manager Wang shouted loudly, his voice trembling and high-pitched, “It was Zhao Hui who insisted on dragging me into this, making me use my position as General Manager to report them and have the convoy arrested. Then he could… could take this woman away. He even said he’d already smoothed things over with the police force.”

Lu Xin frowned, looking towards the old police officer.

Not just him, but even the other officers still in a state of panic turned their heads simultaneously towards the old police officer.

“Nonsense! I don’t know anything!”

The old police officer roared furiously. Then, forcibly suppressing his rage, or perhaps the fear surging within him, he said to Lu Xin, “I just received a report call and came to handle the situation… If it was a false accusation, we will naturally investigate thoroughly. But… but you openly kill… injured someone right in front of us! This is something Central City will absolutely not tolerate…”

…

Although his words were resolute, his flustered voice betrayed his guilty conscience.

While shouting, his hand had long since pressed a button in his pocket, desperately hoping those people would arrive quickly.

“I understand!”

Lu Xin lowered his head in thought for a moment, then said, “Although I didn’t kill him, I did injure him, which is against the law.”

As if after some internal struggle, he raised his head and stated frankly, “So…”

He tossed the empty gun onto the ground and raised his hands.

“I surrender.”

…

?

The faces of the people around went blank once again.

Including the old police officer, all the old drivers, and Li Gang from the Central City office.

“I did indeed break the law.”

Lu Xin had already proactively put his hands behind his head and squatted on the ground.

Watching those old movies wasn’t for nothing; he knew this was what he should do.

However, he tilted his head, looking at the old police officer, “But let’s be clear. Now that Dadi Group has admitted to framing this convoy, you have no reason to arrest them all, right? Even if you are Central City’s law enforcement, you still need to follow the rules… They can’t take this convoy away anymore, can they?”

The last sentence was directed at Li Gang.

Li Gang felt like his brain was about to crash. Meeting Lu Xin’s gaze, he suddenly snapped back.

Watching Lu Xin’s actions, he felt an overwhelming sense of strangeness, yet also a surge of excitement.

If he were allowed to freely comment on this bizarre behavior, he could talk for three days and nights without repeating himself. But this was a critical moment, and he immediately displayed his professionalism, stating loudly, “Correct! If you forcibly take them, I will definitely file a complaint with the Administration Hall!”

“Furthermore…”

He glanced anxiously at Lu Xin, “It’s necessary to inform you that this person is an Ability User from our Qinggang, affiliated with the Special Pollution Cleanup Department. As a satellite city detective, I assume you know at least this much: members of the Special Action Teams from the Special Cleaning Departments of all high-wall cities are considered integrated. Therefore, he can also be considered a member of Central City’s Special Cleaning Department, just responsible for cleanup in a different high-wall city.”

“The reason he acted hastily and injured someone just now was because he suspected the other party was suffering from Mental Pollution and could potentially cause a catastrophe. As an operative of the Special Cleaning Department, he has the authority to take certain emergency actions under such circumstances, which cannot be considered a transgression…”

“I request that he be transferred to our Qinggang Central City office for temporary detention while this matter is investigated!”

…

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Hearing his well-reasoned argument, the old police officer cursed inwardly, “Your person comes over, snatches our gun, injures our reporter, and not only can we not arrest this convoy, but we also have to protect you and send you to your office?”

After some time had passed, he had regained some composure.

He coldly tossed out a “Wait here,” then quickly walked to an open space nearby to make a phone call.

Returning moments later, he coldly addressed Li Gang, “I have received approval from my superiors. We need to temporarily detain this person. If there truly are extenuating circumstances, the higher-ups require you to immediately submit a report explaining the situation…” As he spoke, he couldn’t help but glance at Lu Xin again, slowing his speech, “However, it’s only temporary detention. After approval from the higher-ups, you can retrieve him.”

The last sentence seemed to faintly carry a tone of placating Lu Xin.

“Then I need to know where you intend to detain him and the security level!”

Li Gang, who had lowered his previously raised hand, adopted the air of a big shot, declaring righteously, “Additionally, I must conduct a preliminary injury assessment on him. If any unusual injuries or conditions appear during his detention, I will lodge a formal protest!”

“Hiss…”

The old police officer couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath, saying impatiently, “Are you done yet?”

“Attention!”

Li Gang looked at him sternly, “I can interpret that statement as a threat against me, harboring malicious intent!”

Lu Xin was taken aback, thinking, “This office guy seems quite professional…”

…

The old police officer also felt a severe headache coming on, deeply regretting getting involved in this mess. Gritting his teeth slightly, he glanced at the motionless pile of rotten flesh on the ground and said, “I plan to escort him to the Water Clearing Road Detention Center in Satellite City Seven for temporary custody. You can visit him anytime. I guarantee he won’t suffer torture or inhumane treatment… Who the hell would dare torture an Ability User?”

“Go explain the situation to your superiors. Once you’re done, come get your man!”

…

Having spoken to this extent, he felt he sounded somewhat too weak.

Li Gang was still shouting over there, “During the detention period, the safety of our personnel must be guaranteed! If anything happens, I will directly complain to your leader… Wait, show me your police ID. I need to remember your number and take a photo for my records…”

After countless back-and-forths, Lu Xin’s legs were numb from squatting. Finally, two trembling police officers helped him up. Flexing his arms and legs, he walked towards the police car. Behind him, the group of old drivers stared blankly. Suddenly, Little Zhou ran forward, shouting, “Brother Lu! Brother Lu, you’ll be alright, right?… Should I go in with you?”

“I’m fine.”

Lu Xin turned to look at Little Zhou, then glanced towards the front of the convoy, smiling, “Your commission should be considered complete, right?”

“You need to settle the bill for that half-truck of goods clearly…”

…

Little Zhou let out a wail and burst into tears. Behind him, Gao Ting and the group of old drivers, many shedding tears as well.

Lu Xin smiled at them, then got into the police car with the two officers escorting him.