Chapter 382: Happy Town Preparations

“Our current work actually covers three main areas.”

“First is receiving the materials and weapons shared by the Research Institute.”

Chen Jing seemed prepared. Meeting Lu Xin’s somewhat confused gaze, she began explaining softly:

“The Special Cleaning Department has already set up a dedicated team for this to analyze and organize the Research Institute’s materials. Personnel like Tie Cui, Han Bing, and the rest of the Information Analysis Team have been transferred there. Dr. Mo is also in Central City so we don’t need to worry about that.”

“The other two areas involve what we can do now: investigating Happy Town.”

“One is the basic data assessment of the S-level forbidden zone and the second is evaluating the mental monster itself within the zone.”

“Basic data includes things like the area covered by its mental radiation, its psychic magnitude, the wavelength of the radiation extending outward from the zone and the risk of pollution spread. Most of this can be assessed from the periphery through detection, which an ordinary investigation team can handle.”

“However assessing the strength of the abnormal creature inside, inferring its logic chain and even the degree to which communication is possible…”

“Only you can do that.”

“After all, as far as we know besides you and the Doll we can’t think of anyone else who can enter the forbidden zone.”

…

Lu Xin thought for a moment finally understanding what Chen Jing was considering now.

Thinking about it this way time really was a bit tight.

He’d previously thought dealing with the S-level forbidden zone meant simply charging into Happy Town talking if possible and fighting if not. Now he realized he’d really oversimplified things. Look at the leader – how thorough her considerations were!

If this whole thing was left entirely to him Lu Xin felt a bit inadequate.

There were too many factors to consider from all angles and too much manpower to coordinate. He didn’t have that kind of experience.

But with the Team Leader helping with arrangements it wouldn’t be a problem.

After pondering for a while he nodded seriously.

A smile appeared on Chen Jing’s face. “The investigation team has already departed. I’ll have them set up several observation posts on the outskirts of Happy Town first without alerting the abnormal creatures inside to collect basic data and compile it as quickly as possible.”

“However this is where the limitations of ordinary people lie. No matter how hard they try they can only gather basic data.”

“The investigation of the core contamination source body still relies on you.”

“Right now all the Ability Users Qinggang can mobilize are in the meeting room. You can get to know them.”

“Select four individuals from them to be temporarily assigned to your team to cooperate with your work.”

…

Lu Xin felt the weight of Chen Jing’s gaze; it was heavy.

Can’t let down the leader’s trust.

He thought this and then nodded, “I’ll do my best.”

Chen Jing’s expression visibly relaxed. She nodded gently and handed Lu Xin another file.

“These are the profiles of the Ability Users available for selection. Try to pick those you feel you can cooperate well with. I’ll handle the other arrangements.”

Lu Xin took the file nodded and returned to the meeting room.

By now about ten minutes had passed.

At the head of the meeting room the woman in the exquisite suit who had previously escorted Lu Xin downstairs had pulled down a white whiteboard and started presenting the data analysis for this session. Her explanation was detailed and seemed divided into three distinct parts:

Information sharing, answering questions and typical case analysis.

Lu Xin wasn’t very interested in these. Coupled with the important task of selecting people he opened the file first.

The first name at the top was Gecko.

Gecko, twenty-six years old B-level Spider-type Ability User. Average mission completion: A-level. Loss-of-control risk: Extremely low.

Further down were Drunkard, Watchdog and so on totaling eight people. The last one was handwritten, named Hide-and-Seek.

“I recognize the others but who is this Hide-and-Seek?”

Lu Xin frowned slightly looking back but couldn’t see anyone matching the name in his row.

“That name sounds familiar…”

…

He thought hard but couldn’t glean much from the file.

And the ones he was familiar with were really just Gecko and Drunkard. He’d only met Watchdog occasionally but didn’t know him well. Chen Jing asked him to pick four Ability Users but he barely knew any of them so how could he choose?

After mulling it over for a long time he only checked off Gecko’s name.

Just as he was about to check Drunkard’s name too he suddenly remembered Gecko seemed really afraid of Drunkard…

…So Lu Xin happily checked off Drunkard.

As for the last two Lu Xin looked at the remaining people.

The one who was secretly eating snacks earlier was now drowsy his head bobbing like a chick pecking rice.

Just when Lu Xin thought he was about to hit his head on the table he’d suddenly jolt awake look around keep his eyes open for a moment and then continue pecking.

The one who was putting on makeup earlier had now secretly taken out her mirror again…

…What kind of group is this!

Can he really count on them to work properly?

Captain Lu Xin expressed his doubts feeling a slight reluctance like a top student not wanting to mix with underachievers.

He spent the whole morning selecting only two names played on his phone for a while and then endured until lunchtime.

“Finished observing?”

Chen Jing found Lu Xin during the lunch break.

After seeing the two names Lu Xin had selected a barely perceptible smile seemed to flash across her face:

“Drunkard and Gecko are indeed a good working pair…”

“However one is a Spider-type Ability User and the other is a Hallucination-type. Spider-type controls the body Hallucination-type distorts others’ five senses… Are you sure they’re suitable for investigation work?”

Lu Xin felt a pang of guilt like a leader catching his lack of professionalism. He smiled somewhat embarrassedly, “I’m not very familiar with most of the people here so I didn’t really know who to choose…”

After a pause he suddenly asked, “Isn’t Doll participating in this mission?”

Chen Jing was clearly taken aback for a moment. “You want to choose Doll?”

Lu Xin thought to himself: “And you…”

Actually he had seriously considered it. If he had to pick suitable people from Qinggang to cooperate with him the ones he wanted to choose were only Gecko Drunkard Doll and Chen Jing… The main reason was these were the only ones he knew.

As for the ability coordination Chen Jing mentioned he hadn’t really thought about that problem since he rarely needed cooperation.

“Doll is not within the scope of selection.”

Chen Jing smiled and shook her head at Lu Xin saying, “If we were dealing with incidents within Qinggang City the Special Cleaning Department wouldn’t mind you cooperating with Doll. We’d even hope you could cooperate more often. But outside the city… it’s still too dangerous.”

She said softly, “Doll leaving the high wall is a matter of great risk.”

“If anything unexpected were to happen it would be a loss Qinggang absolutely cannot afford.”

…

Alright she’s your Qinggang’s Doll after all…

Lu Xin sighed helplessly in his heart saying, “Then I’ll look again among the remaining people.”

“If you’re unfamiliar with these people I can recommend two. Observe them carefully.”

Chen Jing saw Lu Xin’s difficulty and smiled.

She took the exquisite steel pen from Lu Xin’s hand looked at it seeming to find it somewhat familiar.

But she didn’t dwell on it casually checked two names and handed it back to Lu Xin.

These two names were Bear Child and Godly Woman.

Bear Child. Age? Ability? Average mission completion: B+. Loss-of-control risk: Low.

Godly Woman. Age 31. Ability? Average mission completion: C-. Loss-of-control risk: Medium.

“Why choose them?”

Lu Xin frowned feeling it was somewhat strange.

These two people were odd; their profiles were incomplete which was rare.

Chen Jing smiled, “Their abilities are classified.”

“Because for Ability Users like them once their specific abilities are known they can easily be targeted.”

“What I can tell you is that both of them are quite strong. One excels at stealth and surprise attacks the other at ranged attacks.”

“I believe they are the type most suited to cooperate with you in executing the mission…”

“You can observe them first then decide whether you want them to join.”

…

Lu Xin listened not quite able to imagine their abilities but agreed anyway.

“Okay I’ll observe them later.”

Saying this he intended to find Gecko for lunch. He had already arranged with Gecko when leaving the meeting hall to go to the cafeteria together.

But turning around Gecko seemed to have disappeared.

…He seemed to have followed the lecturer from earlier walking away with a smile.

“Wait.”

Chen Jing stopped him smiling, “Are you planning to stay here for the meeting this afternoon?”

Lu Xin turned to look at her puzzled, “Since I’m already here…”

“Don’t waste your time. I saw you were just playing on your phone during the meeting anyway.”

Chen Jing’s words made Lu Xin blush slightly but fortunately the leader didn’t seem intent on scolding him just said:

“After selecting the team you need to consider the investigation of the specific situation inside the S-level forbidden zone and the contamination source body. But there’s no rush. The external data collection is happening first. Formal discussion about investigating internal data won’t happen for at least three days.”

“You’ve actually already encountered this information and more directly than them. No need to waste time here.”

Speaking up to this point she paused slightly and said, “So go see Doll!”

“Huh?”

Lu Xin was momentarily stunned somewhat surprised.

“After you left last time Doll’s mood has been a bit low.”

Chen Jing smiled softly, “Maybe seeing you will make her feel a little better…”

…

…

“Speaking of which does this mean I’m picking up the mission I didn’t finish last time?”

Lu Xin remembered he had previously accepted a B-level mission “Accompany the Doll” but because he was eager to go home and read that file at the time he specifically asked the leader for leave. After getting approval he temporarily interrupted the mission.

That could be considered the only mission he hadn’t completed in Qinggang right?

Unexpectedly he could actually pick it up again…

The Jeep was right at the entrance of the Special Cleaning Department. The driver in the car wore a heavy protective suit.

She glanced at Lu Xin in the rearview mirror didn’t speak and started the car.

Lu Xin didn’t know if he had met this person before because Doll’s nanny teams always seemed dressed like this…

But why did her gaze towards him feel a bit resentful?

The car drove straight from the front of the Special Cleaning Department turned off the road built along the hillside and then entered a quiet villa area about four or five hundred meters away from the department headquarters. There were few buildings here. Both sides of the road were lined with numerous tall dense plants.

It was already winter and the ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves.

The car stopped at the end of the villa area in front of a small three-story building.

Lu Xin felt a faint sense arise within him. He stuck his head out the window and looked ahead.

He saw the figure of a girl suddenly appear at the window on the third floor of the small building seemingly rubbing her eyes.

After a moment dressed in black thermal underwear she suddenly began waving her hands vigorously.

“Been waiting for you for days.”

The driver in the heavy protective suit spoke in a muffled voice her complaining tone seemingly heavier.

“Alright I was out of town for a while.”

Lu Xin could only reply with some apology then got out of the car and waved towards the third floor. Halfway through waving he suddenly switched hands urgently placing one palm vertically against the palm of the other hand pointing downwards making a stopping gesture.

Because he saw the girl on the third floor seemed about to jump down.

“Isn’t this a bit too eager…”

“If she does this every time how much glass will be wasted?”

Lu Xin thought secretly quickening his pace towards the small building.