Chapter 64: Signs of Fear

Seeing how seriously Chen Jing was taking this Lu Xin naturally had to treat it with the same gravity.

When your leader’s anxious you can’t afford not to be.

And while he’d always aimed to do well in both jobs Chen Jing had explicitly asked him to take leave from the business company. He had to comply. Besides the salary difference between five thousand and one thousand was pretty stark…

Despite thinking this asking the Director for leave the next day still filled him with some guilt. Lu Xin knew the project he was leading had just gotten on track and there was still much to do. Taking leave now felt a bit like shirking his duties making his voice lack confidence as he tentatively said, “Director I’d like to request some time off…”

“Time off?”

The Director paused surprised then his face lit up with pleasure. “How long?”

“It won’t be for long…”

Lu Xin avoided the Director’s gaze offering the excuse he’d prepared earlier, “My sister’s sick. I need to take care of her lately…”

His sister hanging from the chandelier above immediately shot him a puzzled look:

“?”

The Director listened his face full of sympathy repeating, “No problem no problem. Taking care of your sister is more important.”

Lu Xin hadn’t expected the Director to be so understanding and quickly assured him, “Don’t worry Director. As soon as my sister is better I’ll be back at work!”

The Director waved his hands dismissively, “Don’t rush don’t rush…”

He continued speaking with a broad smile that wouldn’t leave his face, “Our company practices humane management… I’ll approve a few extra days for you!”

Just like that Lu Xin secured a week’s leave almost effortlessly. He slung his backpack on and left the company under the Director’s attentive farewell. Even after walking quite a distance he could still see the Director standing at the stairwell craning his neck to watch him go.

This actually made Lu Xin feel a bit emotional. It seemed the Director really didn’t want him to leave…

Even though it was the busiest time he approved the leave without hesitation or asking further questions.

A company this humane was truly rare in these times.

He decided that as soon as he finished the cleanup operation within the city he would return to work immediately as a way of repaying the Director.

…

…

After securing his leave Lu Xin found himself with some rare downtime.

Chen Jing had now arranged for in-depth investigations in the surrounding satellite cities. A tension rarely seen usually permeated the Security Hall. Even walking down the street one could often see teams in police uniforms or spirited aunties wearing red armbands leading people deep into one residential area after another holding checklists sometimes even carrying bundles of vegetables or cured sausages.

Just on the streets alone DUI checkpoints had become much more frequent…

This changed the city’s appearance overnight. Even the number of women selling pirated movie discs while holding babies had noticeably decreased.

During this time Lu Xin remained on the fourth floor which had previously been used for training.

According to Han Bing this was called being ‘on standby’.

A true in-depth investigation involved a massive and tedious workload. Forget Special Action Team members like Lu Xin even the Special Investigation Team under Headquarters couldn’t handle it all. So these screening tasks were often centered around an Investigation Team which then mobilized police officers from various satellite city Security Halls and the aunties and uncles from neighborhood committees to check area by area.

The Investigation Team was responsible for identifying any traces of pollution sources.

Special Action Team members like Lu Xin were only deployed to handle the situation when a pollution source was actually confirmed.

In fact sometimes the Investigation Team would even resolve some pollution sources themselves if they were confident they could handle it.

…

…

“The main purpose of the deep investigation is to clear out hidden dangers. Even without the influence of the ability user from outside the city this time we conduct similar work regularly. Actually there are quite a few potential pollution sources within this city that are constantly under our surveillance. So Mr. Lone Soldier you don’t need to be anxious. We just need to wait here for notification from Headquarters…”

Han Bing seemed to notice Lu Xin’s tension and added, “You might encounter many similar situations in the future.”

Lu Xin nodded indicating he understood.

But after a moment’s thought he felt it would be better to deepen his professional knowledge rather than just wait idly.

So he set his mind at ease and continued studying the files.

Anyway staying here was quite comfortable. Not only was there an unlimited supply of coffee but also three meals a day.

Breakfast was usually congee and boiled eggs sometimes with thin crispy pancakes.

Lunch was often a boxed meal with three vegetable dishes and one meat dish. The meat was sometimes a chicken leg sometimes a pork knuckle.

Dinner varied each day usually delivered directly by a young female officer. Lu Xin had fatty intestine noodles once fish-fragrant pork over rice another time and even a box of fried chicken… they actually had this stuff?

This kind of life was something he couldn’t have even dreamed of before.

Just staying here doing nothing and being provided with such good meals…

…And the daily meal allowance reached two hundred?

Lu Xin felt the extent of their good treatment was almost making him feel undeserving.

…

…

Fortunately this lifestyle finally saw a change on the third day.

The red light on his headset flashed. Lu Xin took a second to react then quickly grabbed it and put it on.

“Lone Soldier there’s a matter that requires your attention!”

Han Bing’s voice came through: “Suspected Special Pollution Source – 072.”

Location: Second Satellite City North City Mining Cave Community Building C.

Target Level: Suspected C-level.

Infection Level: No data currently available.

Threat Level: Medium.

Characteristics: Centered around Building C apartment an inexplicable sense of fear has enveloped the surrounding area and is showing signs of spreading.”

…

The moment Han Bing’s voice sounded Lu Xin had already stood up and moved to the adjacent room.

There while listening to Han Bing’s report he changed into an action suit that had been sent over from the Main City.

Ten minutes later he went downstairs taking the elevator to the first-floor lobby. By then a Jeep was already waiting outside. Now familiar with the work procedures Lu Xin followed the guidance of a staff member in the lobby and got straight into the Jeep.

Meanwhile over the channel Han Bing was detailing the suspected pollution incident: “The incident began when a resident of the Mining Cave Community reported being followed by someone with obvious malicious intent. When police arrived and questioned the suspect they found he was also a resident of the Mining Cave Community had only briefly crossed paths with the reporter at an intersection and then went straight home.”

“In other words there was no actual stalking; it was merely the reporter’s delusion.”

“Initially thought to be a misunderstanding caused by excessive nervousness the police discovered something peculiar during the questioning.”

“The entire Mining Cave Community—not just the woman who filed the report but also the questioned suspect and even all the residents in the community—are in a state of inexplicable tension constantly shrouded in fear even experiencing hallucinations…”

“They watch everyone with suspicious eyes through cracks in doors and behind curtains.”

“In just the past two or three days two residents already escalated a minor argument into a physical fight due to extreme tension eventually resorting to knives. The result was one person killed and the other sent to reclaim wasteland.”

“Someone started drinking excessively suspecting the water was poisoned…”

“A resident with many cats and dogs dared not return home suspecting their pets were plotting to harm them…”

…

“After analysis the Security Hall reported this abnormal phenomenon. Consequently the Investigation Team intervened…”

“During the investigation it has been preliminarily confirmed that mental pollution exists but the investigation process has encountered an obstacle!”

…

Lu Xin asked in a low voice, “What obstacle?”

Han Bing replied, “Their fear prevents them from carrying out the investigation!”