Chapter 757: Echoes of Hallucination

Although he had reached the level of hallucination, Lu Xin was still quite uncertain about how to use this power.

Previously, during the fight against the Midnight Tribunal’s pollution, he naturally altered the minds of people in Second Satellite City by harnessing hallucination. But back then, he simply decided to do it—exactly how remains a mystery…

…Perhaps that should have been the researchers’ job?

Now, by inadvertently using hallucination to resolve a nagging issue, he reaped an unexpected benefit.

Moreover, he couldn’t help but think further. It seemed that his knack for solving problems had always come either by borrowing skills from his family or by instinctively using them under extreme pressure—unlike other ability users who have to constantly improve, develop, and stabilize their talents. He didn’t seem to have acquired a brand-new ability…

Instead, it was as if he’d always possessed it, only now remembered.

This line of thought brought to mind the Old Security Guard’s earlier remarks.

If what he said were true, had young Lu Xin already possessed the power to influence reality?

Sigh…

Lu Xin shook his head slightly.

He clearly knew the kind of person he wanted to be, yet his past still resembled an unsolvable tangle of memories…

At least he no longer fretted over Mom’s communication issues with those people.

Although the power of hallucination interfered with nearby instruments—complicating Qinggang research team’s data collection on the Midnight Tribunal—it didn’t affect the bigger picture enough for him to rely on it all the time.

After all, Mom never intended to conduct research with them.

She was only acting as a consultant, guiding major directions and critical issues.

Of course, Lu Xin felt perfectly fine accepting money for his translations.

Every job deserves its pay; isn’t that a sign of respect for the work?

If you do a job without getting paid, how could the work ever appreciate itself?

……

……

Despite some tough challenges and setbacks, the research on the Midnight Tribunal progressed smoothly.

With Mom and Number Eight’s support, Qinggang’s initial research plan—and its efforts to secure and collect data on the Midnight Tribunal—advanced remarkably. In just three days, several major obstacles were overcome, and the entire base buzzed with energy.

As a translator, Lu Xin found himself part of this grand endeavor.

Watching the Qinggang researchers dive into their work with the enthusiasm of a wedding celebration, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of doubt.

Under the guidance of Ms. Lu and Mr. Xu Jing, it appeared that Qinggang could manage on its own.

So why then invite other research teams?

Mom seemed to pick up on Lu Xin’s confusion, smiling as she explained, “That’s where Qinggang’s brilliance lies…”

“Such treasures in this world can be seen as the gems of reality.”

“If Qinggang kept this treasure all to itself, what would become of everyone else?”

“The smartest among them combine ambition with reason.”

“They know they can’t monopolize this project alone and must collaborate.”

“And if they only partnered with select research teams, the Research Institute—an entity Qinggang could never turn down—would inevitably try to take over. So they opened up the project to attract other institutions, balancing power and keeping the Research Institute in check.”

“Of course, such an approach invites its own challenges.”

“Today, Qinggang has already made a mark in the real world. Whether it’s the success of the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan experiments or our joint effort to block the Midnight Tribunal’s pollution, our strength has reached a fearsome level in everyone’s eyes…”

“If successful, Qinggang will become the secondary deterrence city-state, second only to the Research Institute. It’s a battle worth fighting.”

“…”

Listening, Lu Xin felt a mix of bewilderment and awe.

People are just too complicated.

He had become a company supervisor and even earned a college diploma at a remarkably young age…

Yet there was still so much to learn…

Although Lu Xin remained humble, when he set his mind to learning he was remarkably adept at picking up on little details.

For instance, after Mom’s reminder, he noticed that as more research teams arrived at the temporary base, Qinggang’s side displayed tremendous enthusiasm while the underlying pressure steadily increased.

Bases that once seemed spacious were beginning to feel overcrowded.

Researchers in colorful uniforms and local dialects poured into Qinggang, brimming with energy. They paid the ‘ticket’ fee and, after being required to put down all their weapons to bar ability users, joined the research.

How can one describe such a bustling scene?

Outside the barbed wire, even small food carts selling stir-fried noodles started popping up…

Yet as more research teams arrived, Qinggang grew ever more cautious.

Time and again, the base’s defenses were reinforced, with rows of armed soldiers setting up checkpoints around the perimeter.

Even the food carts that had caught Lu Xin’s fancy—selling stir-fried noodles, pancakes, and other treats—were banned.

Despite this, the tension continued to rise day by day.

In the era after Red Moon, the number of independent labs and research teams far exceeded expectations.

Moreover, countless major forces were eager to sponsor and invest in them.

In other words, look at these individuals—whether frail old men with shining bald heads, or unremarkable women lacking style—each one’s background was far from simple.

Perhaps any one of them hailed from a high-status figure in a major settlement or High-wall City…

With such extraordinary and brilliant figures being drawn to Qinggang, how could the pressure not be immense?

……

……

Lu Xin empathized with Qinggang’s strain and worked diligently, doing what he could.

Once Mom had a solid team of researchers at the base, she rarely intervened directly—only relaying minor issues through Lu Xin. This unexpectedly freed up some of his time. He had even considered returning to Qinggang for a stint, but given the immense pressure on the Qinggang Cleanup Department and the constant influx of new research teams, he decided against it.

In short, he couldn’t leave; he could only do what was within his capabilities.

So one day, after breakfast, he went to the office of Chen Jing in the Security Department.

“Team Leader, you look pretty worn out lately,” he said.

Upon entering, he saw Chen Jing sitting at her desk, intently studying charts of various outposts.

Noticing Lu Xin’s arrival, Chen Jing instinctively slipped the pink Teddy Bear ballpoint pen into a folder.

Rubbing her brow lightly, she remarked, “It’s all work—what isn’t exhausting?”

“Why have you come over?”

“…”

“Oh, I see…”

Pretending not to notice the cute pen, Lu Xin handed her a paper bag containing steamed buns:

“I was worried you hadn’t eaten. I brought you something.”

“…”

“Just leave it there…”

Chen Jing gave him a peculiar look before saying, “You came all this way just to deliver breakfast?”

“Not exactly…”

Lu Xin pulled out a chair and sat across from her. “I noticed you all seem under a lot of pressure, so I came to check in…”

“Sigh…”

At the mention of pressure, Chen Jing sighed helplessly, no longer trying to hide it.

Though she wasn’t one to complain about hard work, the strain was undeniably real.

Minister Shen was in charge of Qinggang’s city defense and was less knowledgeable about ability users, so the responsibility for base security naturally fell on her. Still, even she had to admit that the pressure was overwhelming. Despite Qinggang’s strict rules and regulations, problems still cropped up everywhere.

Even now, although major High-wall Cities and labs had achieved significant progress in studying ability users, the sheer variety of abilities meant that existing instruments couldn’t detect every type.

Chen Jing was convinced that at least one ability user had infiltrated the base, even though she had no concrete evidence.

They could be agents, freelance intelligence operatives, or even researchers blending into the crowd—a ticking time bomb.

Outside the base, research teams that couldn’t afford the fees or weren’t up to standard—but who refused to give up—had gathered among mysterious figures and beings in the shadows. This accumulation posed a huge hidden threat. Even though Chen Jing had expelled everyone within several dozen miles of the base, she still felt countless prying eyes.

What if something went wrong?

Needless to say, if a missile were to actually fall, half the world’s researchers might be lost…

So many pressures went unspoken.

Sometimes, Chen Jing couldn’t help but complain—was it that Qinggang had boasted too much?

After all, whenever Mr. Su hosted high-profile research teams, and they asked how Qinggang had handled that global special pollution incident—even capturing the Midnight Tribunal—he would just squint and smile.

He would simply say, “It wasn’t a big deal…”

“With our usual preparations and research outcomes, a small team was enough to handle it.”

“If you really want to know the details, I could have the vice-captain of that team come over and fill you in…”

“…”

“…”

Lu Xin couldn’t tell what unspoken grievances Team Leader Chen harbored, but he could clearly see the weight of her stress.

So he smiled and said, “If you think it’s necessary, I can recommend a security guard for you.”

Chen Jing paused, then her face lit up with relief, “You’re willing to handle security?”

“Me?”

Lu Xin quickly shook his head. Although he had worked as a guard before, he was now a college graduate…

After a brief pause, he said mysteriously and earnestly, “It’s my family.”

“He’s also known in Heichao City by another codename: the Terrifying Demon King…”