Chapter 483: Rising Tides

Doll is willing to join the plan.

I believe Doll will undoubtedly take on the responsibility to protect Qinggang magnificently.

But as the messenger in between, I must tell you: never underestimate Doll. She’s a girl like no other. If Qinggang truly is the place she wishes to safeguard, she’ll excel beyond anyone else…

But if Qinggang ever becomes a place she dislikes, perhaps she’ll leave…

……

After returning to the Special Cleaning Department, Lu Xin dutifully conveyed all the opinions he was meant to relay. Before him, Professor Bai, Chen Jing, Professor Chen Liqing, Minister Shen, and Mr. Su listened with unwavering attention—some even whipped out paper and pen to jot everything down.

“Leave?”

At Lu Xin’s final word, everyone’s expression turned extremely grave.

“Yes…”

Lu Xin said, “Even a company has the right to decide whether to work here or not…”

“Moreover, Doll is about to take on such an important role.”

“How could she possibly be so unhappy as to resign?”

……

The group was left a bit bewildered by his words: we hadn’t even considered resignation as an option.

“Then what exactly is the Qinggang she is so willing to protect?”

“What kind of Qinggang would make her grow to dislike it?”

“Could you be more specific? Is it about the lifestyle, the order, or even the law…?”

“If there are aspects of Qinggang that displease her, would she give it a chance to change?”

“How many issues must arise for her to ultimately leave in disappointment?”

……

Professor Chen Liqing’s response came flooding out, piling up before Lu Xin.

It left Lu Xin dumbfounded; he blinked in disbelief.

“I’m speaking exactly what it means…”

Facing those who could nearly decide her fate in Qinggang, he explained earnestly, “Satisfied, willing to protect, what level of satisfaction is enough or when does disappointment set in…I know you all want a tangible standard, but none exists. Doll probably doesn’t have one either, yet I must lay out this condition for you.”

“Well…”

After Lu Xin’s words, Professor Chen showed clear frustration.

As a researcher, he naturally prefers more precise, reliable data.

And as the person in charge of the Doll project, he harbored a deep sense of loss.

…After years of studying Doll’s abilities, it turned out that an Ability User was the one who finally revealed her inner feedback.

“Old Chen, there’s no need to ask further.”

Professor Bai cut off Professor Chen Liqing, who was about to press on, laughing, “There’s no need for so many questions. Single Soldier already made it very clear: our Heaven’s Kingdom Plan isn’t about building a machine—it’s about partnering with Ability Users. The core of this plan is people. We must be prepared to deal with humans, and that’s something money can’t quantify.”

“Treating the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan as a job position…”

He repeated before chuckling, “That’s a spot-on definition.”

Then he reached out his hand to Lu Xin and smiled, “Whether these are your conditions or Doll’s, we can agree. Only if Qinggang is worth protecting will she choose to stay; if not, she is free to leave.”

Lu Xin admired Professor Bai with a glance before firmly grasping his hand.

He even gave it an up-and-down shake.

That old man always manages to say things that sound so refined.

Yet, when you think about it, they’re hardly profound at all.

Lu Xin privately wondered if the old man had secretly practiced his talking points just to seem impressively cryptic.

“Did you understand what I said?”

In the distance, further back in the crowd, Minister Shen glanced at the grinning Mr. Su and quietly asked,

“No.”

Mr. Su’s smile remained unchanged as he answered in a barely audible tone.

Minister Shen frowned and said, “Then why are you smiling? For something this important, shouldn’t you have explained it in detail?”

“I don’t really grasp more than this.”

With a gentle smile, Mr. Su murmured, “But you know—Ability Users have their quirks…”

“What’s the use of trading data when attitude is what really counts…”

“Besides, we originally worried about an overambitious person scrambling for this chance…”

“Now, they’ve ended up reluctantly and half-heartedly cooperating with us…”

“Isn’t that already a good thing?”

……

……

Having clarified the crux of the matter, Lu Xin felt relieved and asked with a smile, “So, what exactly are you planning to do?”

Every eye was fixed on Professor Bai’s face.

“The Heaven’s Kingdom Plan is an immensely complex project—it isn’t something you can just execute on a whim.”

Professor Bai looked at Lu Xin and said, “We’re about to launch the first experiment of this project—its initial test. Given the pressing timeframe, the test is scheduled for three days from now.”

“Three days?”

At first, the timeline shocked Lu Xin.

The Heaven’s Kingdom Plan is tied to field dynamics, or more fundamentally, large-scale mental pollution.

How could an experiment be ready in just three days?

He had assumed Qinggang was handling this project meticulously, but now he began to doubt it…

“When I said time is tight, I didn’t just mean Qinggang’s crisis of mental pollution; there’s another layer to it.”

“That is, some people simply can’t wait any longer.”

Professor Bai seemed to sense Lu Xin’s confusion. He sighed and said, “You remember Sea Country, don’t you?”

“Today, some of Sea Country’s residents have already been transferred to Qinggang, but a large number still remain…”

“……”

He shook his head gently, as if even a rational researcher couldn’t bear to detail it.

“Their condition is downright dire!”

In the end, he offered only that adjective before explaining, “The Heaven’s Kingdom Plan is both critical and dangerous. Every step must be taken with extreme caution. Until we’re sure, we can’t casually recruit ordinary people from Qinggang or the wasteland as test subjects. That’s why those in dire need in Sea Country are being included in the plan.”

“This isn’t just an experiment—it’s a rescue attempt for them.”

“Time is of the essence, largely because they have very little time left to wait…”

“……”

It was only then that Lu Xin recalled the red figure that had once stood beside the Donghai Grand Hotel.

It was an assault that began with a suicide attempt.

To this day, Lu Xin still can’t fathom what circumstances could drive them to wage such a war without hesitation.

Every High-wall City has its Ability Users.

But everyone knows the dangers of Ability Users, so few would dare to start a war using them.

Until now, Sea Country is merely the first.

Listening to Professor Bai, one might wonder if Sea Country’s assault was born solely of desperation.

……

……

“Mr. Lone Soldier, this first experiment is absolutely critical.”

“We cannot rule out the possibility that Doll might have the capacity to resolve Sea Country’s terrifying crisis in one go, nor can we predict if this experiment will trigger unforeseen complications. That’s why the security for the experiment is paramount—we want you to take charge.”

It was Mr. Su, his round face now serious, who spoke those words.

“Me?”

Lu Xin felt no reluctance toward this task.

He only experienced a sudden moment of clarity at the news.

Turning his head, he noticed Doll quietly waiting in a nearby RV, just as before.

Though she was now ready to break out of her shell and engage with the world, her nature still inclined toward minimal conversation; deep down, she still resisted large groups, and many of her old habits remained.

The human mind is fascinating—it makes random connections at unexpected moments.

For instance, Lu Xin suddenly recalled the progression from the first time he met her, to accepting the task of accompanying her, teaching her to control her mental power, and now safeguarding her during her trials…

In that instant, a unique sense of significance washed over him.

……

……

Heh heh heh heh…

“Despite such a great opportunity, they’ve handed it over to someone else…”

“These people, who know how crucial this chance is for you, make no effort to hide that they’re giving it away. Worse yet, they even expect you to serve as a bodyguard to ensure she rises…”

The shadow at his feet let out a cold laugh, laced with unmistakable disdain.

“We’re dignified, respectable people—we wouldn’t stoop to stealing from a little girl…”

Mom’s voice echoed in Lu Xin’s mind, “But I must admit, such an opportunity is pretty good indeed.”

“Whether you call it the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan, Mental Overlord, or simply an experiment or treatment at a certain stage, the name doesn’t matter. Think about it: what does ascending to that position really resemble?”

Lu Xin knew the answer in his heart—it was like ascending the throne.

Rising to the top—the most crucial position in Qinggang—and using his mental power to control the fate of everyone in Qinggang.

“I want to do that too…”

His sister complained, “Brother, let me take over! That way…”

“I’d have an entire city’s worth of toys to play with…”

……

“Living in a family with twisted values, my stress is no joke…”

Lu Xin shook his head, dismissing his family’s complaints in that moment.

Then he smiled at Professor Bai and said, “Alright, I’m willing to do it.”

……

……

“If my task of accompanying her is to eventually help this girl ascend, then I’ll see her crowned.”