Chapter 756: Overnight Flurry at the Base

Thump, thump…

After departing from the doll, a helicopter dispatched by Qinggang delivered Lu Xin and his Mom outside the city.

Lu Xin was astonished to find that overnight, countless scaffolds had been erected in the wasteland outside Qinggang City—the very open space where he had clashed with the Sword Bearer. The weeds had been cleared, and three-tiered barbed wire now encircled the area housing the Midnight Tribunal. Rows of military vehicles, like coiled beasts, were parked around the wasteland.

Makeshift tents had been set up in neat rows, carefully divided into living and working zones. He saw numerous armed personnel on patrol while groups of researchers in white coats discussed matters as they went to grab their meals.

“Just in time—it’s meal time,”

Lu Xin muttered to himself at the sight.

Under the guidance of the staff, the helicopter landed on an improvised helipad constructed overnight. An area spanning several hundred square meters had been earmarked, apparently for expanding the helipad into an even larger facility.

This was clearly arranged for the research teams invited by Qinggang.

Lu Xin was pleased; a larger helipad signified that this venture was booming…

…No, this wasn’t a business venture—it was research aimed at advancing humanity.

He stepped off the vehicle with his Mom and, accompanied by Han Bing, made his way to the temporary base.

Han Bing handed Lu Xin a prearranged ID and explained that it granted him high-level clearance for the entire base.

Everything was convenient, except that funds couldn’t be withdrawn on demand.

Intrigued, Lu Xin pinned the ID to his chest, feeling an immediate boost in his status.

Flipping the ID over, he read its contents:

Codename: Mr. Lu

Clearance: High

Affiliated Department: Theoretical Research Lab

……

“Having a college degree really makes a difference…”

Lu Xin mused—back when he was with the Cleanup Department, everything was all about brawls.

Now, this was what you’d call high-end…

“I’ve already said that everything should be done according to the chart I drew for you,”

“If you trust me, follow my advice,”

“If not, tell me where the prison is—I’d rather walk in myself…”

“……”

Barely reaching a tall tent on the north side of the base, Lu Xin heard Number Eight’s voice from inside.

Peeking behind the curtain, he saw Professor Bai and a group of researchers being sternly reprimanded by Number Eight, clad in a white coat, who had their faces flushed with anger:

“I want to know the secrets of the Midnight Tribunal too. Besides, as part of the trial team, my perception is far superior—you college students can’t even come close when it comes to deconstructing and harnessing the power of this mental sanctuary.”

The moment Lu Xin stepped in, catching the word “college student,” his brow furrowed in disapproval.

What’s wrong with college students?

……

……

“Mr. Lone Soldier has arrived…”

Even the researchers, still stinging from the reprimand, brightened at Lu Xin’s entrance and hurried over. Even Professor Bai, standing far back, set aside his pipe to nod at Lu Xin with a smile.

When Number Eight caught sight of Lu Xin, his expression turned uncomfortably strained.

He coolly nodded and said, “Since I promised to help Qinggang, I’ll lend a hand wherever I can.”

“Once things stabilize here, I’ll set out to find those people,”

“……”

After a brief pause, he added, “But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you.”

“Forgiveness or not, it hardly matters…”

Lu Xin nodded and remarked, “But earning a college degree isn’t easy…”

Number Eight’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. He silently turned away, then addressed the group, “So, are you willing to take my advice?”

The researchers remained silent.

Breaking the deadlock, Dr. Mo—nervously fanning himself with the wig he had removed from his head—whispered to Lu Xin, “This friend of yours… he came to confess to us last night. We were overjoyed, especially after the Midnight Tribunal had stirred up so much chaos worldwide before vanishing overnight.”

“Now, he’s the first executor discovered by various factions who can actually communicate,”

“But the real concern is—does he have any personality flaws…?”

“……”

Dr. Mo continued, frowning, “Though he was brought in as an observed detainee and tentatively assigned to Group D, he seems almost too much like one of us, incessantly nitpicking the base’s shortcomings…”

“One minute he complains that the soldiers escorting him aren’t vigilant enough and insists he be fitted with an ability inhibitor,”

“The next he gripes that the cafeteria auntie deliberately under-serves him meat…”

“Now he outright declares our research plan unreliable…”

“……”

Listening to Dr. Mo’s diatribe, Lu Xin sighed deeply as a familiar feeling washed over him.

After a moment’s thought, he shook his head slightly and said, “We really do need to address the cafeteria auntie’s serving practices.”

Dr. Mo looked utterly puzzled.

“But as for Number Eight’s other suggestions…”

Lu Xin paused, then asked Dr. Mo directly, “Aren’t you worried he might steal the power of the Midnight Tribunal?”

Dr. Mo hesitated, his expression growing complex.

As an ordinary person, he wasn’t used to Lu Xin discussing matters of the heavens so bluntly.

Yet, as a researcher with a somewhat unconventional mindset, he simply nodded, “Yes.”

“After all, he is the executor of the Midnight Tribunal—a remnant of that world-shaking pollution.”

“Even though word has it that the Sword Bearer was eliminated, experience shows that severely contaminated entities, once scattered, can evolve and grow stronger, forming entirely new pollution sources.”

“So if he harbors any designs against the Midnight Tribunal…”

“……”

“I get it.”

Lu Xin noticed that his line of thought was on point; Qinggang clearly didn’t trust Number Eight.

And such distrust was entirely justified.

With no other option, they pressed forward as those nearby hurriedly stepped aside.

Lu Xin nudged Number Eight’s arm and said, “What are you up to now?”

“What do you mean, what am I doing?”

Number Eight frowned at Lu Xin and replied, “Didn’t you say I was supposed to help Qinggang with the investigation?”

Lu Xin retorted, “But you can’t have everyone following your lead…”

Number Eight, clearly indignant, flung his hands up, “But the investigation plan they’re executing is completely useless.”

Those words drew disapproving looks from everyone, including Professor Bai.

“Enough,”

Lu Xin hastily cautioned in a low voice, “When Qinggang’s researchers get impatient, they can turn physical…”

“……”

Number Eight’s lips twitched as if he wanted to say something, but he held back.

It was evident he was frustrated—not out of fear of the researchers, but for other reasons.

Facing Lu Xin, despite still feeling a pang of guilt over matters at the orphanage, he wasn’t about to open up completely. Old habits die hard, after all…

…It would be entertaining when Qinggang’s researchers finally lost their cool and came at him.

After all, with his current inability to use his abilities, he probably couldn’t take on these fitness-obsessed researchers.

……

……

“You finally made it…”

At that moment, Professor Bai set aside issues with Number Eight and approached Lu Xin for a handshake.

Studying Lu Xin with curiosity, he lowered his voice, “Mr. Lone Soldier still…”

Lu Xin felt a twinge of awkwardness under his piercing gaze.

He had never liked being regarded as a crackpot, and that feeling still bothered him.

With his Sister nearby, he could easily ignore it.

But with his Mom and Sister together, it was harder to pretend not to notice.

So, he steadied himself and cast a glance at his Mom.

Sure enough, his Mom was smiling, carrying a small bag as she walked forward cheerfully to shake hands with Professor Bai.

“Hello…”

Her greeting instantly hushed the entire tent.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Lu Xin scratched his head uncomfortably.

It was merely an unconscious gesture.

Yet he hadn’t expected that, as he scratched his head, a gentle wave of mental radiation suddenly swept over the room. The pointers on the mental detection devices began to twitch, flashing red.

Everyone in the tent felt their vision blur, as if their eyes were under strain, and instinctively rubbed them.

Then, upon reopening their eyes, every face lit up with astonishment.

They noticed that next to Lu Xin, a graceful woman had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

Dressed in casual attire yet radiating an enigmatic aura, she simply stood there, her body trembling ever so slightly like a three-dimensional projection.

Not entirely real, but her presence illuminated the entirety of the tent.

“Hello…”

She smiled softly, “Can we start working now?”

All the researchers froze, momentarily at a loss for words.

Professor Bai recovered fastest; a flash of panic crossed his face before he smoothed it into a courteous smile, “Ms. Lu, thank you for coming to offer us guidance…”

“……”

“……”

“This…”

The sudden change caught Lu Xin off guard, but he quickly registered the shift in the atmosphere.

“So, the power of hallucination can be used like this?”