Chapter 323: Visiting Family

“Ouch…”

Gecko jumped, startled by Chen Jing’s voice. He spun around hastily and his eyes immediately fixed on her.

As a Spider-type Ability User his eyesight and hearing far surpassed ordinary people’s, yet he hadn’t noticed Chen Jing approach. Firstly because Lu Xin had spooked him, and secondly because the room door wasn’t fully closed, the floor was covered with a thick carpet, and Chen Jing had changed into a black form-fitting tactical suit and boots designed for stealth, muffling almost all sound.

His first glance at his leader brought panic, but by the second glance Gecko forgot all about it.

His eyes just locked onto her.

This was the first time he’d seen Chen Jing wear anything other than her military uniform or women’s suit, especially this kind of tight tactical gear.

…

“Section Chief.”

Lu Xin was also taken aback for a moment. He quickly put down his teacup, stood up, and greeted Chen Jing.

Chen Jing nodded, gestured for Lu Xin to sit back down, and pulled over another chair for herself. Then she said expressionlessly:

“If you don’t want to gouge out your own eyes, then close them.”

…

Gecko froze for a second before hastily turning away, staring intently into the mirror across the room.

Chen Jing decided to ignore him for now. She looked seriously at Lu Xin, her gaze softening slightly. “Have you made up your mind?”

“Yeah.”

Lu Xin replied frankly, “I’m just going to visit family. It’s something I planned long ago. It doesn’t count as a violation, does it?”

Chen Jing quietly watched Lu Xin as if seriously considering his words.

Qinggang didn’t know much about Lu Xin visiting family either because she hadn’t seen the File 003 Lu Xin brought back.

However Professor Bai had already confirmed a connection between Qinggang’s Red Moon Orphanage and the research from the ‘Escaped Lab’. So when she arrived in Central City and confirmed the relationship between the Black Table and the ‘Escaped Lab’, she felt quite fortunate.

She had already vaguely understood what Lu Xin’s ‘visit family’ meant.

But the final confirmation came from Lu Xin’s expression on the helicopter when he saw Chen Xun’s file.

Of course confirming it was one thing, preparing in advance was another.

Even though she only had half a day to prepare.

“It doesn’t.”

Chen Jing smiled at Lu Xin. “We’re just Special Action Personnel handling special pollution incidents, no different from mechanics repairing large machinery or experts managing water and soil pollution. We talk work when we’re working, and take leave when we’re on leave. Since you’re currently on leave and ready to visit your family, then this is naturally your personal freedom…”

Lu Xin was suddenly moved. This leader was so considerate.

“But…”

Chen Jing paused, then continued, “If the people you plan to visit are indeed the same target as Central City’s, then you’re highly likely to run into unnecessary conflicts with their action teams. What do you plan to do then?”

“Well…”

A genuinely troubled expression appeared on Lu Xin’s face. “I really haven’t thought about that. Let’s deal with it when it happens…”

“The Ability Users in Central City should be reasonable, right?”

“That Squad Leader named Xia Chong seemed like a nice person!”

…

Chen Jing gave a noncommittal smile. “Clearly you’re not good at handling this sort of thing. I’ll go with you.”

“Oh, uh…”

Lu Xin was somewhat unprepared for this and seemed a bit hesitant.

Chen Jing saw his thoughts and her voice softened slightly. “Since we’re colleagues, and we were sent here specifically to help you resolve the forbidden experiment incidents you encountered on the way… Now that the task of directly confronting the laboratory has been taken over by Central City, protecting you the witness is our primary job. Accompanying you to see your relatives…”

“Is there any problem with that?”

…

Lu Xin thought about it seriously.

Is there anything wrong with a leader caring for and protecting an employee?

Is there anything wrong with a leader wanting to meet an employee’s relatives, even family members?

Her logic was flawless.

He could only nod. “No problem…”

“There is a problem…”

Just as Lu Xin finished speaking, Gecko suddenly spoke up beside him, his voice trembling.

He had been dazzled by Chen Jing’s appearance earlier, but Gecko reacted quickly, taking less than three minutes to snap back. Uncertainly, he asked, “It seems… like… just now, Section Chief, you were asking if Mr. Lone Soldier minded bringing two colleagues along to visit family?”

Chen Jing turned her head, smiled gently at Gecko and said, “Yes.”

Gecko immediately panicked. Composing himself, he asked, “Then may I ask, Section Chief, who is the other colleague you mentioned?”

Chen Jing looked at him, smiling.

Even Lu Xin found it a bit unbelievable. Was Gecko really this slow?

“I’m not going!”

Gecko nearly climbed onto the ceiling. He suddenly became agitated, shouting, “Section Chief, don’t include me… You didn’t mention this when you brought me here, did you? This is Central City! The place you’re going has a forbidden laboratory that’s creating gods! Besides, sneaking over like this, isn’t that opposing Central City?”

Chen Jing withdrew her gaze and said to Lu Xin, “Visiting family should be a small matter. We should hurry…”

Gecko yelled helplessly, “I’m fighting for my rights here! Are you just going to ignore me like this?”

Chen Jing frowned, glanced at him, her expression displeased.

Lu Xin followed suit, turning his gaze towards Gecko.

Gecko flinched slightly but bravely lifted his head, his face showing he’d rather die here than go to his death.

Lu Xin felt a pang of sympathy, hesitating whether to speak up and persuade the Section Chief to let Gecko off.

But Chen Jing narrowed her eyes and said pleasantly to Gecko, “Is there a problem?”

Gecko shuddered, whispering, “Central City clearly stated they don’t want us involved in this…”

Chen Jing smiled. “We don’t intend to get involved, just accompany Mr. Lone Soldier to visit his family and protect him along the way.”

“But…”

Gecko tried to sound righteous but couldn’t quite manage it. “Central City told us to wait at the hotel…”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

Chen Jing looked at him, chuckled softly and said, “Central City doesn’t have the authority to order us around. They asked us to stay at the hotel, but they didn’t say we had to stay indefinitely. We are free agents. So, under these free circumstances, is there anything irregular about accompanying a colleague to visit family? Even if there is, the four lawyers will help us resolve the issues…”

“Oh, this…”

Gecko found himself unable to refute her. Clinging to his last hope, he said, “What if the squad leader’s relatives don’t welcome us…”

“That won’t happen…”

Lu Xin quickly explained, not wanting Gecko to misunderstand, “After our last cooperation my family quite likes you!”

“They even said they wanted to invite you over…”

…

The hair on Gecko’s arms stood on end. He subconsciously glanced at the height outside the window.

“Heh, although I’m leading this mission, what we’re about to do is indeed outside the original plan.”

Just then, Chen Jing smiled and said, “You can choose not to go.”

“Hmm?”

Both Lu Xin and Gecko were surprised.

Chen Jing continued, “Of course, there are some things I must make clear to you. The payment and contribution points for such sudden tasks are exceptionally high. Back in Qinggang I will also give an evaluation based on your performance. You can wait for us in the hotel, but I’m a little worried for you. If you miss this opportunity, your hope of being promoted to a level-five expert might become rather slim…”

She chuckled. “Of course, I won’t give you a hard time. I just feel it’s a pity for you!”

…

“Ah…”

Gecko’s expression suddenly went blank.

A satisfied smile appeared on Chen Jing’s face. “When do you plan to leave?”

Lu Xin finally snapped back, glancing strangely at Gecko. “I hope the sooner the better.”

“Alright!”

Chen Jing stood up, tossing two black backpacks onto the bed. “We leave in ten minutes.”

“Huh?”

Lu Xin’s head snapped up.

Chen Jing glanced at him and Gecko, then suddenly said, “Didn’t you hear me? Still standing there?”

*Whoosh*.

Lu Xin instantly reacted, hastily getting up and grabbing a backpack.

Opening the backpack he saw a set of black, close-fitting uniforms and some special equipment. He couldn’t tell the exact material. It felt too smooth to be fabric, yet it clearly had woven patterns, unlike leather. It felt incredibly soft to the touch.

Not just clothes, there were also matching boots, plus a mask, protective goggles and so on.

It looked like excellent gear for thievery…

Of course he wasn’t going to be a thief. He was clearly just visiting family.

While Lu Xin examined the clothes Chen Jing had already gone outside the door to wait. Gecko also walked over silently.

He silently picked up the backpack, took out the combat suit inside, and started pulling it on piece by piece.

Lu Xin still felt a bit confused and whispered, “You really don’t have to go…”

“No.”

Gecko said firmly, “I trust Section Chief Chen.”

Lu Xin was surprised. “You trust she’ll definitely help you get promoted to level five?”

“No!”

Gecko remained resolute. “I trust she’ll definitely give me a hard time and ensure I have no chance of promotion if I don’t go.”

…

Lu Xin was astonished. “Is promotion really that important to you?”

“Of course it is…”

Gecko looked over at Lu Xin with a straight face then suddenly chuckled excitedly. “Did you know? Last time I went to the Main City for a meeting, Linda and I chatted really well. She said if I could reach the level-five expert standard she’d date me.”

“You think I really didn’t know coming here meant taking risks? I have to seize every opportunity to fight for my own benefits…”

“You think Old Chen would have promised me such great merit if I hadn’t made a fuss?”

…

Lu Xin didn’t quite know how to respond. After a pause, he asked, “Tie Cui agreed to date you?”

“Yup!”

Gecko corrected, “It’s Linda!”

Lu Xin didn’t dwell on that detail, just asked curiously, “What level are you now?”

Gecko said, “Level three.”

Lu Xin nodded thoughtfully. “Well, the difference isn’t that big…”

He remembered Han Bing telling him before, and he had privately calculated it. If he didn’t run into another S-level Ability User attack like the one from the Sea Country, then progressing from level three to level four would require completing about eighty to a hundred ordinary missions. Gecko wasn’t much different from him. At his current mission completion rate… he had hope of marrying Linda within twenty years.

…

Within three minutes they had changed into the combat suits, put their ordinary clothes back on over them, and came out carrying their backpacks.

Chen Jing was in the corridor leaning against the wall, a slender cigarette held between her delicate fingers.

The dim lights of the hotel corridor shone on her, making her look mysterious and sexy.

“Let’s go!”

Seeing Lu Xin and Gecko come out she tossed the cigarette butt into the ashtray on top of the trash can and said softly.

As she spoke softly the door to a nearby room opened. Li Gang and several lawyers walked out. They didn’t speak, just nodded slightly. Then one entered Chen Jing’s room, and two entered Gecko and Lu Xin’s room.

At the end of the corridor a server was waiting, gesturing towards the stairwell with a ‘please’ motion.

Why does everyone seem so solemn and serious when we’re just visiting family?

Lu Xin wondered, instinctively hunching his shoulders slightly.