Chapter 9: Provisional Member

On the drive back to the apartment building in Chen Jing’s car, Lu Xin briefly scanned the file she had given him.

Name: Lu Xin

Age: 23

Ability Assessment: C-level.

Mental Alteration Direction: Spider-type

Patrol Area: Qinggang Satellite City No. 2!

Lu Xin finished reading the documents. They outlined his recruitment by the Qinggang City Guard Department as external personnel. His duties involved assisting the Special Action Team with investigations and clean-up operations related to “Mental Pollution”. In return, they would guide and train him helping him better control his abilities and prevent “Loss of Control”.

The most attractive part was the salary. Despite being external personnel, it was exceptionally generous at five thousand per month.

Furthermore, participating in field missions came with additional allowances determined by the mission’s difficulty…

…

“If you agree to our recruitment you’ll need to sign this document…”

Chen Jing kept one hand on the steering wheel as she handed another file to Lu Xin, saying, “Once you sign this, you’ll be a member of our Action Team reporting directly to me. I’ll assign you to clean-up work for certain Mental Alteration incidents!”

“Of course this is just a temporary recruitment for now. Full recruitment requires you to pass a probationary period…”

…

“I can’t become a permanent member right away?”

Lu Xin instinctively felt a lack of security, but after a moment’s thought he took the pen.

What comforted him was that the document didn’t mention only receiving 50% of the salary before becoming permanent. That was good.

Although the compensation alone guaranteed Lu Xin would sign, he couldn’t help but ask before putting pen to paper, “Generally speaking, what’s the main content of our work…?”

“Investigation and clean-up of Special Pollution Sources!”

Chen Jing answered seriously, “After the Red Moon incident, many pollution events caused by Mental Alteration have appeared in the city. Some have already erupted, some are under observation and others we haven’t even discovered yet. Your future focus will be heading to these polluted locations upon our notification to investigate the source or directly resolve the pollution!”

“Of course there might be other assignments depending on the specific situation!”

Lu Xin asked cautiously, “Can I refuse assignments at certain times?”

This question made Chen Jing pause for a moment.

“You’re only an external member for now. You can refuse and you can accept commissions from others, provided they don’t conflict with ours!”

She thought for a bit before adding seriously, “But I hope you’ll be prepared!”

“Because the problems that require our intervention are often extremely dangerous and terrifying incidents!”

“Situations that represent danger and uncertainty even for us are absolute catastrophes for ordinary people. Forget resisting; when they encounter these problems they often don’t even have a chance to call for help. Unknowingly they’re claimed by the pollution, leading to complete death or something even more terrifying… becoming part of a monster!”

“And for Qinggang City, after the Red Moon incident, every normal person is extremely precious and worth protecting!”

…

…

Listening to this Lu Xin’s expression turned serious as he lowered his head and signed his name.

Chen Jing seemed somewhat surprised. “You heard the dangers I mentioned, yet you signed even more firmly?”

“When I’m able to helping others is the right thing to do!”

Lu Xin smiled a little sheepishly. “The director at the orphanage told me that. He said that after what happened, the world’s population dwindled significantly. Order collapsed civilization regressed and everyone went through nightmares. If the remaining people only focused on constant infighting and killing, we might never return to the kind of life we had before…”

“Although I don’t know what life was like before I think he’s right!”

…

Chen Jing glanced at Lu Xin, her expression seeming a bit strange.

They were good words but hearing them from this young man felt somewhat dissonant.

Ultimately though she just smiled and didn’t say more.

She collected the document Lu Xin had signed and then casually picked up a box handing it to him.

Inside the box was an ID card a black satellite phone and… a revolver along with two boxes of bullets.

“What’s this?”

Lu Xin was somewhat surprised and taken aback.

Chen Jing calmly explained, “The phone is for easy communication. I’ll notify you via this phone if anything comes up and you can also reach me through it. Right now the only number saved in it is mine!”

“The ID can help you gain cooperation from certain departments when necessary increasing convenience for your work;”

“The firearm is for your own protection and it’s also the standard issue weapon for Level 1 Special Action Team members!”

…

Lu Xin’s gaze immediately fell on the gun his heart giving a slight jump.

He knew how strict gun control was in the city now yet this Action Team directly issued him one?

Especially since Chen Jing explicitly told him this gun was for protecting himself.

Meaning this gun wasn’t entirely for work?

At first thought it seemed somewhat incredible. After all in their eyes he was a mentally altered individual. Lu Xin knew that although Chen Jing was very restrained and knew how to interact with people from her subtle expressions she still saw him as someone with several split personalities in his mind, someone with a considerable risk of losing control…

Why would she directly give him a gun?

“Before you formally join the Special Action Team I need to explain something seriously to you!”

Chen Jing turned around looking extremely stern:

“Besides dealing with pollution incidents protecting yourself in daily life is also extremely important!”

“If you encounter any difficulties or trouble in your life I have three suggestions for you!”

“First report it to Satellite City No. 2’s Security Hall.”

“Second call me directly!”

“Third use the firearm to handle it!”

“Unless absolutely necessary we generally do not recommend you use your ability to handle personal troubles!”

…

Hearing Chen Jing’s words Lu Xin slowly began to understand.

Perhaps it was precisely because she saw him as a risk for losing control that she gave him a gun.

Because in certain situations if he was truly pushed to the point where only shooting could solve the problem then the destruction caused by him using a gun would be far less and easier to control than the impact of him using his “ability”…

They gave him a gun precisely because they were afraid of him!

That makes sense. Normal people encountering someone like me would definitely need to be very careful.

…

…

Meanwhile a voice came through Chen Jing’s earpiece: “Records show he has been funding this Red Moon Orphanage ever since it was re-established apparently because he’s an orphan himself and sympathizes with these children. But Section Chief Chen incorporating and guiding observed subjects into the Action Team is a matter requiring extreme caution. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’m sure!”

Chen Jing driving the car didn’t offer much explanation.

The reason she risked personally interviewing this observed subject was to make some judgments up close.

And she trusted her judgment!

“Colonel Chen wouldn’t this be somewhat… too hasty?”

The voice in the earpiece still hesitated. “At the very least he should be brought to the main city for final testing to determine his risk of losing control…”

“After all he’s mentally split…”

…

“I will report directly to Professor Bai alone after I return!”

Chen Jing stated crisply pulling out the earpiece her expression showing annoyance.

A bunch of armchair theorists!

How could they rashly bring him to the main city before confirming his stability?

As for determining his risk of losing control are they trying to say he’s a schizophrenic lunatic prone to causing problems?

But among those recruited now which one is actually normal?

If they deemed him a lunatic just because they discovered his potential for schizophrenia what terrified state would they be in if she showed the video from that digital camera to these people who hide in the rear evaluating everything?

There was a file she hadn’t shown Lu Xin which stated his risk assessment: 75%.

According to current world standards an assessment risk reaching 80% means absolutely no recruitment or guidance.

A risk of losing control reaching 90% requires readiness for clean-up at any moment.

A risk of losing control reaching 95% necessitates exile into the Wasteland or direct elimination even if he hasn’t done anything!

…

…

If she handed that digital camera over to those people she guaranteed Lu Xin’s risk assessment would break 80%.

Perhaps even 90%!

But Chen Jing felt her current choice was not wrong.

The obstacles in rebuilding civilization are beyond imagination.

Ambitious mining companies the Technology Church Knight Orders roaming the Wasteland…

And those mental monsters hidden among the population…

All these unstable elements could pose a tremendous threat to the high walls at any moment!

Qinggang’s army alone is absolutely incapable of resisting…

…

…

Persuading one person without using abilities is very difficult persuading a group is even harder.

So Chen Jing didn’t plan to persuade them just to do what she believed should be done.

She firmly believed: The problem Qinggang faces now isn’t choosing who but having no choice!

Only lunatics can fight monsters!”