Chapter 65: The Unsettling Aura of Building C

It was already evening when Lu Xin arrived near the Mining Cave Community on the north side of the city.

The sun was setting, casting a dim red glow over the entire community, distinct from the light of the Red Moon.

As the jeep stopped, personnel immediately came over to open the door for him. After Lu Xin got out, he saw police tape stretched across the distance. A large, dense crowd of residents waited behind the line, murmuring amongst themselves. Some peered inside curiously while others discussed nervously. A few even wore expressions of morbid curiosity, eager for a spectacle.

Armed soldiers had already secured and cordoned off various points around the entire community.

Led by an armed police officer, Lu Xin walked straight into the community. Passing Building C, he noticed the security was much tighter than at the perimeter. Everyone looked tense, as if facing a great enemy, and subconsciously kept their distance from Building C.

“Mr. Lu… Lone Soldier, Cheng Hui of the Second Satellite City Investigation Team reporting!”

From a distance, a soldier in combat gear approached Lu Xin and saluted him.

“So it’s you.”

Lu Xin recognized the soldier as the leader of the Investigation Team that had looked into Qin Ran’s case previously and gave him a smiling nod.

“Is your leave over?”

Seeing Lu Xin was as relaxed as their last meeting, the team leader named Cheng Hui also eased up slightly. He smiled, “They started an in-depth screening within the city walls, so all our leaves were canceled. Mr. Lone Soldier, you saved our lives during the last mission. We never got the chance to thank you properly in person. I didn’t expect we’d need your help to handle this mission too!”

Lu Xin smiled back, a little embarrassed. “It’s all part of the job. No need to be so formal.”

They walked further in while talking. Among the soldiers stationed around Building C, Lu Xin spotted two other members of the Investigation Team. Due to protocol, they couldn’t approach to thank him, but they offered friendly glances.

“What’s the exact situation?”

As Lu Xin neared Building C, he stopped just outside the innermost police tape line.

“Specifically…”

Cheng Hui began, seeming hesitant to speak. “We don’t know either!”

“After receiving orders from Headquarters, we rushed over immediately. With the Security Hall’s cooperation, we evacuated the residents of this community. Near Building C, we detected significant mental power radiation. Our original mission was to enter Building C and pinpoint the exact location of the pollution source, but… but we failed in the process.”

“……”

“Failed?”

Lu Xin glanced at him, somewhat surprised.

He’d seen this Investigation Team work before and knew they were very professional in this area.

“Yes!”

Cheng Hui answered truthfully, “We’ve preliminarily determined the pollution is likely located between the ninth and twelfth floors of this building. However, as we approached the pollution source, we experienced an inexplicable fear. Even specialized protective gear couldn’t counter it. At the limit, it even caused severe dizziness and exhaustion…”

“So… we had to temporarily withdraw!”

“……”

“Just fear?”

Listening, Lu Xin felt something was strange.

“Yes, it’s a very strange fear…”

Cheng Hui slowly replied, “There aren’t any specific terrifying objects or images, just a feeling. But it’s impossible to shake off. The closer we get to the suspected pollution source, the stronger the fear becomes. Even with professional training, we couldn’t eliminate or resist it. That’s why we had to request Headquarters… to dispatch the Special Action Team.”

Lu Xin had undergone some training on special pollution theory by now, but it clearly wasn’t enough.

So he tapped his headset lightly. “What’s causing this?”

Han Bing’s voice came through the channel: “If there’s no specific object of fear, just a feeling, it’s highly likely influenced by Special Pollution Source 072. It distorts people’s emotions, amplifying the feeling of terror.”

“The collective tension among the Mining Cave Community residents is likely also due to the influence of Special Pollution Source 072.”

“Although it’s just an emotion of terror, if amplified indefinitely, it can easily cause excessive tension, paranoia, and even lead people to develop strong hostility towards others or preemptively harm them out of self-preservation…”

“My recommendation is to locate the pollution source, observe its nature, and then decide whether to proceed with cleanup or containment.”

“……”

Lu Xin nodded and looked up at Building C.

It was a very ordinary apartment building, twelve stories high, looking somewhat newer than the old building he lived in. It had a simple European-style design. Although the exterior hadn’t been cleaned in a long time, the stone-like paint still reflected a fresh color in the dim light. As night deepened, a few lit windows stood out.

It was a very ordinary apartment building.

But looking at this building did indeed evoke a faint, eerie feeling.

It was a feeling beyond words, appearing inexplicably yet tangibly real.

It was the kind of feeling that made one instinctively reluctant to look directly at it, let alone approach.

…

…

“Alright, I’ll go take a look.”

Lu Xin quietly agreed with Han Bing’s suggestion.

Hearing him, Cheng Hui and a nearby police officer—who looked high-ranking but hesitant to approach—both showed surprise. The only difference was that Cheng Hui quickly composed himself, seemingly having realized something.

He simply asked directly, “Mr. Lone Soldier, do you require any special protective equipment?”

“No need.”

Lu Xin shook his head, thought for a moment, and said, “Stay further back!”

Cheng Hui immediately became serious. “Yes, sir!”

Truthfully, Lu Xin didn’t know why he told them to stay back. Did adding that line just sound more professional?

Luckily, they didn’t ask…

…

…

Lu Xin lifted the police tape and ducked underneath. Then, under everyone’s gaze, he walked alone towards the building. Behind him were countless tense and curious eyes. Compared to the building itself, those stares made him more nervous.

Only after pulling open the heavy security door and entering the building did Lu Xin feel the gazes behind him break off, allowing him some relief.

The hallway was unusually quiet. Several braziers sat on the floor, containing incompletely burned paper ash.

The residents in the building probably burned these. When faced with uncertainties, people often turn to spirits and gods for hope.

Lu Xin mused as he reached the elevator. Seeing the indicator light was on, he figured it was usable.

“Since we’re unsure if the special pollution source has other unknown dangers, taking the elevator isn’t recommended, in case unexpected events prevent a timely escape… If you must use it, it’s best to take it only to the fifth floor and walk up from there!”

Hearing Han Bing’s words over the channel, Lu Xin withdrew his finger from the elevator button and quietly agreed, “Okay.”

He then headed towards the stairs.