Chapter 499: The Return and the Experiment Report

The next day, accompanied by Han Bing, Lu Xin returned to Qinggang by helicopter with Doll, Drunkard, and others. At the Qinggang Cleanup Department Headquarters, he reluctantly bid farewell to Doll. Although the experiment was over, there were still many issues to address—upcoming tests, training, every step of perfecting the overall Heaven’s Kingdom Plan, even saving the men of Sea Country and inheriting their legacy.

Even Drunkard and the others were required to undergo special training and sign secret contracts.

Lu Xin couldn’t help with any of that. His only task was to submit a work report detailing exactly what he had done and his findings during the first-phase experiment of the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan. Because of its high confidentiality, he wasn’t even allowed to take the report back to the Second Satellite City; he had to finish it before returning.

So Lu Xin stayed behind and meticulously prepared a detailed report on his work:

“I did nothing.”

“……”

Han Bing read the report and was the first to fall into deep thought.

Usually accustomed to polishing Lu Xin’s work reports, this time she found there was nothing she could improve…

Thus, the report was submitted as it was.

Chen Jing glanced at the report and was the next one to ponder.

After a moment’s thought, she submitted it, noting that he had done nothing.

Professor Bai read the report and became the third to reflect.

Then he gently stamped it: “Approved.”

Later, during the briefing to Qinggang’s high-level officials, he explained, “Whether observed firsthand or on the severely distorted surveillance footage, the Single Soldier did nothing but stand guard throughout the experiment.”

A group of high-ranking officials fell silent at Professor Bai’s words.

In any case, while we cannot say we don’t trust Professor Bai, it all seems completely implausible…

“But…”

Sure enough, Professor Bai reversed his tone, smiling as he explained, “Security work is more about deterrence than catching thieves, isn’t it?”

“……”

“……”

With the higher-ups’ endorsement, it was clear that Lu Xin had truly completed his task.

That very day, he prepared to return to the Second Satellite City.

Han Bing accompanied him to the helicopter. Standing at the edge of the main building, Lu Xin noticed a large cordoned-off area near the Cleanup Department. Excavators and towering cranes were busy at work; the deep thudding of foundation work and trucks arriving from every direction with construction materials filled the distance.

“They’re building a high-rise there, taller than the 33-story Donghai Grand Hotel in Qinggang.”

Noticing Lu Xin’s curiosity, Han Bing smiled and explained, “That’s going to be the new office for the Qinggang Cleanup Department. Meanwhile, Doll will live on the top rooftop, watching over Qinggang as an executor of the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan.”

After speaking, she pointed in several other directions, adding, “There will be more, too.”

“In each of Qinggang’s five Satellite Cities—and in the under-construction Sixth Satellite City—a towering building will rise. Each city will have an assigned auxiliary Ability User acting as Doll’s executor, and under each auxiliary, an Ability User team will be formed to handle sudden incidents of special pollution and attacks.”

“This will establish a new model for managing special pollution that is far more efficient and precise than our previous methods.”

“Yet it will consume far fewer resources and manpower than before.”

“Large support teams and ordinary personnel from the Special Pollution Action Team will be redeployed to safer posts, away from these hazards.”

“Once this model is implemented, the operations of the Security Hall, Administration Hall, City Defense Department, and the Cleanup Department will gradually be separated. The Cleanup Department will again become an independent entity, solely tasked with upholding the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan and dealing with special pollution, without constantly relying on the cooperation of the Security Hall, Administration Hall, or even keeping the City Defense Department on standby.”

“……”

After speaking at length, she smiled at Lu Xin and said, “Mr. Single Soldier, this is the true meaning of our Heaven’s Kingdom Plan.”

“All the concerns we once had are now resolved.”

“……”

Looking at Han Bing’s sunlit smile, Lu Xin sensed the genuine relief radiating from her.

Was this simply the safety that ordinary people feel?

……

……

“This experiment carries great significance…”

During the helicopter ride back to the Second Satellite City, Lu Xin still mulled over Han Bing’s words.

Completing this experiment meant that Qinggang would henceforth have a more refined and responsive system against special pollution. Even if severe contamination occurred again, it wouldn’t cost as many lives as before.

Suddenly, Lu Xin furrowed his brows as he realized another important issue.

Does Qinggang’s successful experiment imply that the need for Ability Users will sharply decline in the future?

Meaning, he wouldn’t lose his job, would he?

“Buzz buzz buzz…”

Just then, Lu Xin felt his communicator in his black bag vibrating.

Curious, he pulled out the device and was surprised to see it active. Someone from the Moon Eclipse Research Institute’s Advanced Talent Club had messaged. He clicked in and saw several messages already on the chat platform, one of which left him utterly shocked.

The message was sent by someone named “Nine-Headed Serpent.”

The news read: Fresh first-hand intel that might interest everyone.

Qinggang had secretly completed a phase of experiments on the “Mental Overlord” and achieved breakthrough progress.

……

Dracula: ?

Red Dancing Shoes: Wow!

Old Man Like Me: That impressive?

Mechanic: Smile! Smile! Smile! It seems someone really took that step.

Clockwork Orange: Is property in Qinggang about to skyrocket?

Blood Drops: Who became the Mental Overlord?

……

Lu Xin, who had been quite panicked at first, suddenly found he could no longer feel the fear as he read their messages.

On this platform, showing panic just didn’t fit.

Nine-Headed Serpent: “Please excuse me—the risk I took to obtain this intel was enormous. I’m just giving you a heads-up. As for specifics—like who exactly broke into the Mental Overlord phase, what abilities they used, the key to this breakthrough, and their post-experiment condition…”

Nine-Headed Serpent: “I really don’t know, and I won’t say any more.”

……

Lu Xin couldn’t help but frown, feeling an indescribable unease.

His words seemed to lack conviction.

Under Nine-Headed Serpent’s message, a flood of angry, disdainful, and amused emojis quickly appeared.

Then Nine-Headed Serpent posted another message: “Consider the previous info a free giveaway. Now for serious business.”

Nine-Headed Serpent: “I’ve compiled the critical data on the Mental Overlord breakthrough. Qinggang’s experiments verify its authenticity and usefulness. So, is anyone interested in this data?”

Nine-Headed Serpent: “Price: 10 million.”

……

……

“Huh?”

When Lu Xin saw this message, his recently calmed nerves were once again jolted with surprise.

These people already knew about Qinggang’s secret experiment. He wasn’t utterly shocked—after all, as a qualified guard, he had driven away many unknown creatures, so word would spread.

But it was astonishing that this Nine-Headed Serpent pinpointed the experiment’s core as the “Mental Overlord.”

Even more startling, he was apparently selling the data?

And for as high as 10 million?

……

……

His finger quickly moved to the input field: “Who are you? (deleted)”

Then he typed: “Do you realize this is illegal?” (deleted)

Next he typed: “Where did you get this data?” (deleted)

After a moment’s thought, he decided to click on the profile of the user named Nine-Headed Serpent to start a private chat.

But as his finger moved towards the screen, he paused.

By then, numerous replies had already appeared under Nine-Headed Serpent’s message.

Dracula: “Hehe.”

Mechanic: “Hehe.”

Red Dancing Shoes: “Teehee, naughty, naughty.”

Old Man Like Me: “This guy’s crazy about money, isn’t he?”

Nine-Headed Serpent slowly sent out a single: “?”

Red Dancing Shoes: “You still treat that data like treasure and price it at 10 million? By the way, do you know that critical data on the Mental Overlord breakthrough is already circulating on the black market for 100,000 a copy?”

Clockwork Orange: “Is the black market that ruthless? We’re only at 50,000.”

Old Man Like Me: “Damn, I paid a million and the price dropped the next day.”

Red Dancing Shoes: “Please mind your language, thank you.”

Old Man Like Me: “Damn it, you little brat, thank you.”

……

……

The user named Nine-Headed Serpent remained silent for a long while before finally sending: “??”

Blood Drops: “Disperse. So the key takeaway is that Qinggang has completed this experiment?”

Blood Drops: “And now he’s tossing out vital info while treating widely circulated black market data as treasure?”

Dracula: “I’m still very interested in who carried out this experiment in Qinggang.”

Dracula: “Mr. Nine-Headed Serpent, are you interested? I could offer 500,000.”

Nine-Headed Serpent gave no further reply and fell silent.

Lu Xin retracted his finger from the chat screen, clearly stunned.

What was happening?

Was information on the Mental Overlord everywhere?

……

……

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lu Xin immediately called Chen Jing.

Chen Jing listened quietly to Lu Xin’s report—without the tension he expected—and then laughed, saying:

“The club set up by the Moon Eclipse Research Institute really is filled with formidable people.”

“……”

Noticing a shift in her tone, Lu Xin asked, “Aren’t you surprised?”

“Not at all.”

Chen Jing chuckled, “It was expected. Our Qinggang experiment implemented numerous security measures. While we could repel agents, scouts, and even spies from other factions, we couldn’t prevent mysterious creatures from snooping. So the leak was inevitable. As for the critical data on the Mental Overlord breakthrough, Professor Bai had long anticipated it.”

“After all, we even picked up our data from the wasteland. How could we guarantee it wouldn’t leak?”

“For us, having early access to this data—and completing the initial phase before others could piece together a theoretical model—was a tremendous advantage. It was as if heaven itself rewarded us…”

“……”

Lu Xin found it all rather perplexing, though it strangely made sense.

In the end, he could only shake his head and sigh, “Alright then.”

“Single Soldier, do not worry.”

Chen Jing smiled, “Make sure you take a proper break.”

As Lu Xin agreed and ended the call, Chen Jing’s smile quickly faded into a serious expression.

She turned towards Gecko and pushed a file across, saying, “This work is extremely important and requires no force. We’ve carefully selected you because you’re the best fit, so please prepare as soon as possible!”

“What work exactly…?”

Gecko peered curiously and was instantly dumbfounded, “Negotiating with the Queen of Happy Town?”

“Exactly!”

Chen Jing smiled, “We never formally began negotiations with her—first because she was severely injured and unstable, and second because we in Qinggang didn’t have enough deterrence to secure the initiative. But now that we do, we’ve decided to officially start negotiations before complications arise…”

Gecko wailed, “You handle your negotiations; why choose me?”

“I overheard you talking with the Captain. He is currently on leave, so why not let him handle it?”

“……”

“We chose you based on your status and strength.”

Chen Jing patiently explained, “After all, you are the Vice-Captain of the Single Soldier team and a veteran in our Cleanup Department. Since the Queen of Happy Town has clearly refused negotiations with a Single Soldier, nearly everyone qualified within the Cleanup Department has been involved in the secret experiment project you previously declined. So…”

“Right now, you’re the most suitable…”

“……”

“Me? Negotiating with… creatures like them…”

Gecko was nearly in tears, “You call that handling things without force?”

“It means no force is required…”

Chen Jing replied matter-of-factly, “If she’s in a good mood, the negotiations will succeed without any force…”

“If she’s in a bad mood, no amount of force will help…”

“But don’t worry—even the Qinggang Cleanup Department’s compensation funds are very generous…”