Chapter 69: An Unexpected Offer

The Special Pollution Source 041 incident paid 36,000. I sent it to Teacher Xiao Lu but she only kept 5,000, so I got 31,000 back. For the 039 special pollution incident with Gecko I only got half which was 16,000. This latest mission paid less only 12,000… But the meal allowance during training here is quite high. It was 100 for the first five days and 200 for the last three. Subtracting my usual expenses… zero… So in total I have…

Lu Xin slowly calculated, arriving at a number: “Sixty thousand one hundred…”

“Ah, right, it’s not like I spent nothing. Minus thirty for the gifts when I went to the orphanage for dumplings, minus four for the subway fare… No wait, there’s still money on the metro card, no need to subtract… So I have… sixty thousand seventy left!”

He slowly sank into thought. The orphanage had moved to a new location not far from the Security Hall. From where he was training now he could even see the pointy tips of its rooftops in the distance. Lu Xin had glanced at it from afar before; the place was definitely much better than the old one, converted from old residential buildings. The only problem was the broken elevator making it inconvenient for Teacher Xiao Lu to go up and down.

Also after moving there they needed to pay 80 yuan in rent each month.

“It’d still be better to buy a place…”

Lu Xin thought silently.

Based on the City Center location a house worth a million on the market meant he was still short about nine hundred thousand…

Nine hundred thousand… If only counting the salary from his two jobs, it would take about twelve years…

…

…

“If only my income was this high every month, I could save enough in just over a year…”

Lu Xin couldn’t help thinking, “But unfortunately after a thorough investigation most of the Pollution Sources big and small have been cleaned up. There probably won’t be this many missions available in the short term. If I want to buy a house I still need to save up…”

Just then a knock sounded outside. Lu Xin casually answered. The young female officer quietly entered. She intended to ask Lu Xin about dinner arrangements but seeing him engrossed with an old-style calculator she didn’t dare interrupt. She just refilled Lu Xin’s teacup with water and quietly retreated worried she might disturb his work.

The paper was meticulously filled with complex data and this mysterious Mr. Lone Soldier kept verifying calculations with the calculator his expression so serious. It clearly looked like extremely important and confidential work she didn’t even dare to peek…

Only after finishing the braised pork rice with a poached egg delivered by the female officer did Lu Xin leave the meeting room.

With his hands in his pockets he took the elevator down preparing to rest in the room arranged for him by the adjacent Security Hall.

It was already late at night. The entire Security Hall was deserted except for two officers on duty discussing a comic book. When they saw Lu Xin coming down they instantly became somewhat serious pretending to flip through files on their desks.

Lu Xin felt a bit helpless; he wasn’t their boss.

But it seemed the entire Security Hall held him in some awe. He had no idea what they thought he was.

…

…

Walking out of the Security Hall main entrance he slowly stretched letting out a lazy yawn. His bones made soft cracking sounds feeling quite comfortable.

Only after a whole day of busyness could he enjoy this rare feeling of relaxation.

The investigation was almost over. The worries brought by that strange person who appeared out of nowhere could also be dismissed.

“Is that Mr. Lone Soldier?”

Just as Lu Xin was considering whether to go home or rest in the dormitory arranged by the nearby Security Hall a voice suddenly sounded behind him.

The voice was extremely abrupt. Lu Xin spun around sharply.

“Hehe, Mr. Lone Soldier no need to be nervous. I mean no harm…”

Behind him in the shadows of a narrow alley a person slowly walked out smiling as he spoke.

Unexpectedly the person was a fat man carrying a briefcase around forty years old.

Lu Xin looked the fat man up and down finding him unfamiliar.

Then his brow furrowed slightly. This man didn’t look like a police officer yet he knew his codename…

…

…

“Allow me to introduce myself…”

The fat man proactively stepped forward with a smile seeming to subconsciously want to shake hands but then restraining himself. He just smiled and introduced himself saying, “My surname is Liu. I run a consulting company in the Main City but due to business relations I often travel between various Satellite Cities. I took the liberty of finding Mr. Lone Soldier this time because I was entrusted by an old gentleman to ask for your help with a matter…”

Lu Xin paused for a moment then reached out and grasped the hand the other man was retracting shaking it briefly.

He asked curiously, “How do you know me?”

If this person had called him by his name Lu Xin might think he was a former client. But calling him “Lone Soldier” directly indicated he knew about Lu Xin’s second job. Lurking outside the Security Hall like this and knowing his codename Lu Xin felt being cautious was only natural.

“Due to business dealings I know and have interacted with many Ability Users in Qinggang City.”

The chubby man explained with a smile trying to withdraw his hand but failing. He continued awkwardly in this position, “Here’s the situation: An old gentleman’s daughter has contracted a strange illness… the kind that current medical capabilities in the Main City cannot cure. So he hopes to ask Lone Soldier to come take a look…”

“This isn’t an official commission, it’s more like… a private plea for help.”

…

“A private plea for help…”

Lu Xin frowned slightly then understood, “A side job?”

The fat man’s expression flickered oddly but quickly returned to normal. He smiled, “You could put it that way.”

Lu Xin frowned slightly asking, “Does this comply with our work regulations?”

“Work regulations…”

The fat man hadn’t expected Lu Xin to ask this and was momentarily stunned.

He thought ‘Why are you asking me if it complies with *your* work regulations?’

Fortunately he was very experienced and smiled, “The Special Pollution Cleanup Department operates on an employment model doesn’t it?”

“And as far as I know Ability Users in Qinggang City more or less all accept private commissions.”

…

This was something Lu Xin hadn’t expected. He fell silent for a moment not answering immediately.

The chubby man continued smiling, “Please rest assured Mr. Lone Soldier. That old gentleman is a person of considerable status even in the Main City. He asked me to contact you simply because he doesn’t wish to go through the Special Pollution Cleanup Department directly. There’s nothing else illicit about it. You can report this mission just state that it’s a private commission…”

Lu Xin still held his hand watching him quietly.

The fat man’s smile stiffened slightly. After thinking he added, “Also if you can cure the old gentleman’s daughter he is willing to pay one hundred thousand yuan as remuneration. Even if you can’t cure her there will still be ten thousand as compensation for your trouble.”

“Ten thousand!”

“One hundred thousand!”

Lu Xin thought he had misheard slowly releasing the man’s hand.

The fat man subtly shook his hand and smiled, “Mr. Lone Soldier you have quite a grip. I thought you were going to crush my hand.”

Lu Xin shook his head saying, “Why would I crush your hand.”

Just moments ago he was thinking of tearing the hand off if anything felt wrong.

After the incident of being followed by the mentally modified person he had become a bit sensitive about this.

As he released the man’s hand he also glanced behind the fat man.

He was signaling his Sister who was hanging upside down under the nearby wall to release her hold on the man’s head.

…

…

Looking at the fat man’s friendly smile Lu Xin fell silent for a moment then said, “I need to submit an application first.”