Chapter 319: Unveiling the Black Table
by xennovel“Well, I’ll be going then. Goodbye…”
Lu Xin still found it somewhat unbelievable even after retrieving his belt and the bag containing his various small personal items, greeting the guards who seemed as bewildered as if they were still dreaming, and following Chen Jing out of the detention center.
Weren’t they saying his crime warranted a lifetime of wasteland duty? How did Chen Jing manage to get him released just like that with a few words?
And the more he thought about it the more he felt Chen Jing handled everything perfectly, reasonably and legally…
Whoosh…
He followed Chen Jing into a car and they soon arrived at a wide-open space.
A helicopter was parked on the grassy field.
The people in suits and military uniforms who had followed Chen Jing into the detention center to pick him up stopped here. After Chen Jing shook their hands and thanked them, she led Lu Xin across the lawn where they ducked into the helicopter cabin.
“Hahahaha my dear Squad Leader, long time no see…”
As soon as Lu Xin squeezed into the helicopter he was pulled into a huge hug. Pushing the person away, he saw it was Gecko.
He was wearing tactical gear and his hair, slicked back with some unknown product, was combed perfectly neat and shiny.
He was looking at Lu Xin with an enthusiastic expression.
Also in the cabin was an unfamiliar girl he hadn’t seen before.
She looked young and was very pretty with smooth, fair skin and a touch of baby fat, but her expression was cold and distant.
She wore a very short skirt leaving her legs bare, yet on her feet were heavy black military boots.
“Sit down first, we’re in a hurry. We can talk on the way.”
Chen Jing nodded at Lu Xin then casually introduced the seemingly expressionless girl, “This is Ms. Xia Chong. She’s the captain of the Central City Special Cleaning Department’s Seventh Special Action Team, currently assigned to investigate this special pollution incident.”
“She helped a lot in getting you out so quickly.”
…
Hm?
Lu Xin glanced at the girl, surprised. He thought she looked rather delicate.
But remembering she had helped him, a wave of gratitude washed over him.
Was she really the one who helped him escape the fate of a lifetime of wasteland duty?
He quickly extended his hand towards her, saying, “Hello, hello. I’m Mr. Lone Soldier…”
The girl glanced at Lu Xin expressionlessly, hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand in his.
They shook hands briefly and let go.
Lu Xin felt her hand was soft and smooth as if boneless, and icily cold.
Gulp…
Gecko watching Lu Xin and Xia Chong shake hands from the side widened his eyes, seemingly quite envious.
“Um…”
Unable to resist seeking attention he asked Lu Xin enthusiastically, “Squad Leader, were you really stuck in this place all last night?”
Lu Xin answered frankly, “Yeah.”
Gecko’s expression grew even more animated, “So much happened here, the whole city was thrown into chaos, and you just obediently stayed put in the detention center cell… all night? You just endured it like that without trying to get out at all?”
Lu Xin looked at him, somewhat confused, “I was detained, how could I possibly get out?”
“No, no…”
Gecko quickly waved his hands, held it in for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing loudly.
Lu Xin, Chen Jing, and Xia Chong all turned their gazes towards him. He hastily wiped the grin off his face and stifled his laughter.
Only his shoulders were still shaking uncontrollably.
…
By now the helicopter was airborne. Lu Xin looked down from the window and saw that Satellite City Seven was still in disarray in many areas. Black smoke billowed from some places while police cars and fire trucks continuously zipped through the city.
In some areas large crowds could still be seen gathered.
Many people in white hazmat suits bustled amongst them.
Lu Xin murmured with some surprise, “Looks like things really got out of hand yesterday…”
(Combined into 43)
The girl named Xia Chong suddenly spoke her voice clear and crisp but stiff, lacking the softness typical of most girls, “Actually it’s manageable. It caused a big stir but the threat level wasn’t high.”
(Combined into 45)
Lu Xin immediately looked at her with curiosity.
Chen Jing said, “We need to brief you on the mission anyway. Let Xia Chong tell you what happened last night first.”
The girl named Xia Chong nodded, saying, “Last night sudden special pollution incidents occurred at three locations in Satellite City Seven, codenamed 1021—Flesh Monster. Preliminary investigation has confirmed they were artificially released.”
“This pollution incident caused the contamination and death of several hundred people however the pollution phenomenon automatically dissipated after one hour.”
“Furthermore at the time of the pollution incident an attack occurred at a chemical factory in Satellite City Seven. During the attack multiple guards and staff members were injured and seven died. Several A-level key documents and B-level parasitic items were stolen.”
“At the same time the head of the chemical factory Zhao Shiming was kidnapped and his whereabouts remain unknown.”
…
“The chemical factory was attacked?”
Hearing the girl’s words Lu Xin paused, feeling like many things didn’t quite add up.
For instance the pollution codenamed ‘Flesh Monster’ just cleaned itself up automatically after an hour?
And why did her account make the chemical factory sound even more important than the pollution incidents?
“Yes.”
Xia Chong stated expressionlessly, “This chemical factory is just a facade. It was only after the attack when the Special Action Team intervened that it was discovered to actually be a hidden experimental base conducting some sort of A-level experiment. I’ve already submitted an investigation request to the higher-ups and am currently confirming whether this experiment was registered with the Research Institute or the Administrative Main Hall.”
“However investigating this chemical factory is not the objective of our current mission.”
“What we need to investigate and handle now is the research on Second Stage madmen being conducted at the hidden experimental base in White Tower Town.”
…
Lu Xin furrowed his brow but said nothing.
Xia Chong clearly didn’t care if he had questions, maintaining a strictly businesslike expression as she continued, “Yesterday after our team formally received orders from our superiors to begin investigating this matter the materials and evidence submitted by you Qinggang folks were extremely helpful to our investigation. We can already preliminarily determine the nature of this incident and the organization behind it.”
“Based on the currently available information we suspect this matter is related to a mysterious organization active within the Alliance.”
“The name of this organization is: Black Table.”
“The mysterious organization Black Table originally stemmed from the medical field. According to records it was founded after the Red Moon incident by a group of doctors attempting to treat madmen—also known by the academic term ‘Demented Persons’—through surgery and medication.”
“Because their initial meetings were always held around a black high table in the founder’s living room and those they approved of would be invited and granted the qualification to sit at the high table, they acquired this name. Furthermore they were suspected of participating in some forbidden experiments that violated human ethics. This organization was officially banned and declared dissolved by the Alliance ten years ago.”
“But it now seems they have actually continued to exist in secret and even continued their experiments.”
…
Lu Xin didn’t try to interrupt the girl who clearly disliked being interrupted; he just listened intently.
Only when the girl paused did he quickly ask, “So what exactly are they doing now? Creating gods?”
“The term ‘creating gods’ is too idealistic and vague lacking theoretical support.”
Xia Chong glanced up at Lu Xin, “Black Table’s clandestine activities over the past ten years remain unknown. But based on the materials you submitted the witnesses’ testimonies and the sudden special pollution incident they orchestrated last night we suspect their current research projects are closely related to experiments on controlling and strengthening Demented Persons in various aspects.”
Lu Xin recalled the sneering madman he’d encountered in White Tower Town the frantic Brain and the Second Stage madman the Brain had summoned—clearly different from other madmen possessing far greater power and oppressive force…
He frowned slightly, “What can possibly be gained from researching madmen?”
“They are Demented Persons.”
Xia Chong corrected him again, “Actually research and treatment of Demented Persons have been ongoing ever since the Red Moon incident by both official bodies and some research institutions not bound by official constraints. After all following the Red Moon incident mainstream opinion split into two camps: one advocated treating Demented Persons to turn them back into normal people the other advocated eliminating them.”
“It seems now that circumstances have forced the latter to become the established outcome.”
“However the research and treatment work concerning Demented Persons is something no side dares to ignore. The Alliance and the Research Institute have always supported research in this area though mostly focusing on finding ways to cure these individuals. Disappointingly though there are indeed many institutions or organizations dedicated to researching how to control these Demented Persons even using them as weapons.”
“After all we realized very early on that the endurance stamina pain tolerance and even wound recovery capabilities of these Demented Persons far exceed those of ordinary people. If they could be taught obedience and how to use weapons then…”
She paused before adding, “They would become the best soldiers!”
Even when discussing these matters Xia Chong’s face remained expressionless and her voice was utterly flat.
Yet the content of her words sent a chill down one’s spine.
Chen Jing seemed to sense Lu Xin’s thoughts and softly added, “To put it simply after the Red Moon incident a group of Ability Users emerged in this world due to mental alterations… most of us here… are like that…”
“But the madmen or Demented Persons were the very first Altered Persons to appear!”