Chapter 589: A Chaotic Return

What was supposed to be a clean capture turned into a messy split of loot?

Xia Chong and Scalpel, along with others, couldn’t help but feel an odd, uneasy sensation.

In the end, however, they silently agreed on a distribution with Lu Xin, allotting fourteen Armed Personnel to escort the remaining Flame – which needed at least five vehicles. Lu Xin generously let them choose first, keeping three vehicles and that big truck for himself.

Although the vehicles’ ownership was settled, figuring out how to drive them back became a problem.

Lu Xin had planned that if things went awry, he’d drive one back himself, then call on Gecko, Han Bing, and Red Serpent—or, at worst, fetch a few skilled drivers from Heichao City. But this back-and-forth would eat up too much time.

Leaving so many vehicles here just didn’t seem safe.

Sensing Lu Xin’s dilemma, the Center City Scalpel stepped in sympathetically and solved the problem.

They pulled four armed personnel from those captured from Flame, temporarily assigning them as drivers.

Once they reached Heichao City, the group would be taken into custody.

Lu Xin accepted this with gratitude, seeing nothing wrong with his decision.

Moments ago, Center City had mentioned taking these armed personnel back and notifying Flame to come redeem them.

Isn’t that practically kidnapping?

At least he hadn’t done anything illegal, right?

…They merely picked up a few extra vehicles along the way!

Soon, the resigned Flame Group armed personnel climbed into the four modified off-road vehicles at the front, dejectedly preparing to drive themselves to Heichao City—as if prisoners were transporting themselves to jail.

Yet they cooperated fully, showing no signs of resistance.

……

……

“Wah wah wah…”

At dawn, Lu Xin returned to Heichao City with a convoy.

Han Bing and the others came downstairs upon hearing the news and saw a row of off-road vehicles parked outside the hotel, along with that truck. Their expressions were strangely perplexed. Weren’t they supposed to help Xia Chong capture a batch of suspects involved in a soul trade? Why bring back so many vehicles?

“Unexpected windfall—it’s like picking up extra rides on the way, isn’t it?”

Lu Xin cheerfully explained, “I checked them out—they’re still usable, especially that big truck.”

The orphanage had moved into a larger building, but the number of children was growing, along with their challenges.

That truck was perfect. It could be used at the orphanage to transport supplies.

Even when running errands for groceries, they’d buy more than usual.

Han Bing and the others had no objections to Lu Xin returning with such a large convoy.

Believing in his ability, seeing him safe and sound put their minds at ease.

The only headache for Han Bing was, “Mr. Lone Soldier, you’re supposed to drive these vehicles back—though we have no objection per se.”

“But there are four of us, plus our own, and yet five vehicles—how do we manage that?”

…

Lu Xin was suddenly stumped by the question and fell into deep thought…

……

……

Xia Chong’s team seemed in a rush. Less than three hours after returning, they made a new decision.

A few members from the Negative Zero Unit would escort both the Mental Monster and the small Squadron Leader Long back, while Xia Chong, Scalpel, and the Beast Tamer would continue investigating the soul trade case, searching for clues about Hell’s existence.

Lu Xin suspected they had already gleaned some clues from interrogating both the Mental Monster and Long’s team leader.

Their hasty departure clearly signified an urgent need for deeper investigation.

However, since it wasn’t his own mission, they opted to keep it confidential.

That was fine—even though he had captured them himself, Lu Xin was only in it for a little extra cash.

After all, Xia Chong had promised that, at the latest within half a month, once she was back in Center City, she would transfer the funds via the Center City Bank system, which Qinggang would then forward to him. The process was a bit convoluted, but she had agreed, and the fees were on her.

“By the way, Mr. Single Soldier, have you never considered coming to work in Center City?”

Just as they were about to leave, Xia Chong suddenly remembered something and, right in front of Han Bing, earnestly asked Lu Xin, “Our benefits are really good.”

“Huh?”

Lu Xin felt a sudden panic at the question.

Why hadn’t she asked such an important question when they were alone?

Noticing Han Bing’s tense expression out of the corner of his eye, Lu Xin firmly replied, “I’m quite content staying in Qinggang. Besides, I signed a contract with Qinggang when I entered the Second Stage—it isn’t up for renewal yet…”

Xia Chong’s face fell a little, and she shook her head resignedly, “Alright then.”

“But…”

After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Xin couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Do you need part-timers over there?”

Han Bing, who had just exhaled in relief, suddenly grew anxious once more.

……

……

After sending off Xia Chong’s team, Lu Xin and his Qinggang Support Team lingered in Heichao City for several days, waiting until the pollution was cleared and they received both the mission receipt and the payment guarantee from the Heichao City Administration Hall.

Everything went off without a hitch, with barely any turbulence.

Heichao City was now impeccably clean—in terms of Black Grass cleanliness, at least.

After several days, some overly ambitious individuals in Heichao City finally faced reality.

The sudden arrival of a terrifying evil god in Heichao City was now a fact. Even those who were reluctant, after witnessing so many deaths, quickly realized what needed to be done. For those too proud to wallow in frustration, fighting over such a hopeless issue was foolish—it was better to secure one’s own status and power, and wait for another opportunity.

After all, as long as they maintained their positions and authority, the benefits would be plenty.

Heichao’s strategic location, bridging east and west, ensured substantial gains.

Of course, regarding that ‘Terrifying Demon King’ who suddenly appeared in Heichao City—if he still harbored grudges and even went as far as promising to recruit external Ability Users or Mercenaries to battle the horrific pollution…

…Well, that’s another story.

……

In no time, three days passed. Han Bing’s mission report was completed and sent back to Qinggang.

The observations on Heichao City’s current status were documented and verified without error.

Qinggang and Heichao City might cooperate in certain areas, but that would be handled by Qinggang’s Administration Hall assigning others—hardly involving Lu Xin’s Support Team. Thus, the half-month support mission was officially over.

When it was time to leave…

“Come again next time…”

Since Han Bing had declined the Heichao City Administration Hall’s offer of an escort and refused to become Heichao City’s hero enjoying a grand farewell, the convoy’s departure passed with little fanfare. Only a few friends and comrades from Heichao City saw them off.

Group Leader arrived with his entourage. He had sent people to procure a gold chain, gold bracelets, a huge gem necklace, and a bejeweled watch (rumored to have been worth ten million before the Red Moon appeared), along with various local specialties, which he presented to Red Serpent.

Leaning on a cane at Red Serpent’s car window, he stood with tears streaming down his face, seemingly wishing he could follow Red Serpent back to Qinggang.

Lu Xin later learned from Han Bing that Red Serpent had never severed ties with Group Leader, though he no longer exerted any influence over him.

Even Han Bing wasn’t sure whether Group Leader had come to realize the truth.

Or perhaps, Group Leader himself was still in the dark…

……

……

“Little Soldier, take these local specialties. When I head to Qinggang to expand business, I’ll come find you…”

Lu Xin also received local specialties—Yin Mao had bought him several packs of stinky tofu and two or three boxes of Salty Water Beer, all delivered with infectious enthusiasm.

……

……

“Did you get my phone number?”

Gecko, too, had received gifts—a group of women of various ages gathered near his vehicle in a reluctant farewell. But he remained icy, with his sunglasses hiding his darkened under-eye circles, as he coolly patted the steering wheel: “Once you’re in Qinggang, just mention Brother Gecko’s name. Don’t worry—I’m the formidable vice-captain. No one in Qinggang dares mess with me, believe it or not.”

The women were touched as well, tearfully saying, “We’ll definitely come…”

“But you promised a birthday gift yesterday—wouldn’t you mind cashing in first?”

……

……

“Let’s roll, let’s roll…”

Earlier, Han Bing had urged Ye Xue and his siblings to study hard before impatiently honking the horn.

He simply couldn’t stand watching any longer.

While the mission was undoubtedly a success, the detailed debrief on its finer points was headache-inducing.

How on earth was he supposed to explain the ‘Terrifying Demon King’ situation to Headquarters?

And wasn’t Gecko’s recent spree of debauchery a violation of regulations?

What about Red Serpent’s acquisition of that big gold chain and small watch—would that count as leveraging his own abilities for personal gain?

Not to mention having a captain lead back a whole convoy…

One had to admit, though he wasn’t the captain, being the only normal person on the team was truly exhausting.

From now on, he’d rather not be involved in fieldwork—sticking to office work was much more bearable.

At least then he could pretend not to see some things.

“Let’s roll, let’s roll…”

After bidding farewell to those who came to see them off, the convoy slowly started up.

……

“Is there really no way to bring all the vehicles back?”

Lu Xin, driving the truck at the rear with a furrowed brow, recalled that due to a shortage of drivers the spacious, heavy modified off-road vehicle couldn’t be loaded onto the truck. With a heavy heart, he had to hand it over to Group Leader to be resold. They all knew that such high-tech, modified vehicles wouldn’t fetch a good price in the Black Markets…

Feeling somewhat helpless, Lu Xin gradually began to see a way forward.

After traveling just a dozen meters, his eyes lit up. He quickly grabbed the walkie-talkie from inside the truck, exclaiming, “This isn’t right…”

“I clearly remember there were five of us on this mission, weren’t there?”