Chapter 867: The Tyrant Squad: Chaos and Recruitment

This world is in peril and needs saving.

Saving the world demands many things – knowledge, wealth, strength, and courage.

I only have violence, so why not push it to the extreme?

……

……

Lu Xin gladly accepted his mission and vowed to see it through perfectly.

After all, ever since joining the Special Cleaning Department, he’d been mulling over this: mental pollution isn’t renewable – one day it’ll all be wiped clean, and then, how will he justify his high-paying side gig?

So, sooner or later he’ll quit this part-time job and return to his regular work.

If that’s the case, he must seize every opportunity to earn every last penny while mental pollution still exists.

In this light, it’s his most crucial mission – the final big job before resigning.

Earn enough in one go, and then happily head back to the office.

“You handle your own arrangements; I’m off to revive the old single soldier team.”

Before leaving the office, he smiled at Professor Bai and the others, his expression relaxed though his mind was set.

Professor Bai clearly wasn’t going to interfere; he just laughed and said:

“Go ahead and do your thing, but I have one suggestion.”

……

“?”

Lu Xin looked at him curiously.

Professor Bai chuckled, “From now on, it won’t be called the single soldier team—it’s the ‘Tyrant’ Squad.”

Lu Xin paused for a moment, then nodded.

……

……

After leaving the meeting room, Lu Xin began contemplating how to organize his new Tyrant Squad.

From his former single soldier team, he once had many members – his Sister, Gecko, Drunkard, Red Serpent, Godly Woman, even Doll, Mizang, and Bear Child – but now the reliable ones had been reassigned to Doll’s side to serve as her ‘knights’ protecting Qinggang’s Satellite Cities.

After all, Doll was one of his own, and it wouldn’t do to compete with her for people.

So, who else could join his squad now?

“Would you like to join my team?”

Lu Xin glanced at his Sister, who was climbing along the wall beside him.

She rolled her eyes, hesitated, then shook her little head before turning to him and saying, “Do you really need me?”

Lu Xin nodded, “Yes, I do.”

His Sister eyed him with a hint of suspicion, asking, “Absolutely need me?”

Lu Xin responded seriously, “Absolutely.”

Suppressing the smile on her face, she sighed reluctantly:

“Fine, I’ll help you then.”

……

Lu Xin’s face lit up with delight as he reached out and hugged his Sister.

The first recruit for the Tyrant Squad was secured.

Method of recruitment: persuasion.

Then Lu Xin returned to the rooftop. In the light of the Red Moon, his figure shimmered as he reached the Guesthouse rooftop next to the Special Cleaning Department, where Number Three, Number Five, Number Eight, Number Fourteen, and Little Nineteen were watching the spectacle, about to head back to sleep. He quickly called them over, laughing, “We may not have found the key to countering the Old Director yet, but we have other pressing matters…”

Instantly, all eyes turned toward Lu Xin.

With a grave look, he declared, “This is critical—it concerns the survival of civilization and order.”

Amid the solemn gazes, Number Five remarked, “Investing money?”

Lu Xin: “……”

Team members Three, Four, Five, Six, and Seven were secured.

Method of recruitment:

Number Three: A wristwatch worth 200,000 (Note: reimbursable)

Number Five: Considering investment in a new lab drug (Note: cheating allowed; investments over 200,000 will not be considered)

Number Eight: Volunteered with great enthusiasm

Number Fourteen: Providing meals (Note: other demands will not be considered)

Little Nineteen: No demands; exceptionally well-behaved

……

……

The Tyrant Squad was taking shape, but who else could be recruited?

As Lu Xin mulled it over, Chen Jing’s call came through with a roster.

Team members Eight, Nine, and Ten were secured.

Personnel list: Mizang, Bear Child, Red Serpent

Method of recruitment: official assignment (Note: no additional fee required)

For the purpose of saving the world, ten members still felt a bit lacking.

After further thought, Lu Xin suddenly remembered something and solemnly pulled his communicator from the black bag.

He opened the panel and logged into the Red Moon Club chat platform.

Recalling the remarkable case of a former senior – Dracula – Lu Xin drafted his message. Brimming with passion, he typed: “I just received word: the third descent has occurred. The entire world is teetering on disaster. For the sake of human order and the continuation of civilization, I intend to form a Special Pollution Cleanup Squad…”

After a moment’s thought, he started a new line: “The remuneration is 3000…”

He deleted that and rewrote: “2000…”

Deleted once more, he finally wrote: “200,000…”

Though the number seemed outrageous, he reminded himself it was for a 10-billion-dollar project and pressed on.

Satisfied, he reviewed his message and prayed that the communication channel at the Moon Eclipse Research Institute would hold steady, then prepared to send.

Beep beep beep…

While he was typing, messages began popping up on the platform.

Dracula: The world is ending, the primordial descent has occurred, doomsday is finally here…

Dracula: The Doomsday Legion is now forming. Just pay a membership fee of 50 million and you’re in. Whether you’re in High-wall City or the Settlements, I’ll lead dozens of Mental Overlords to assist you…

Dracula: Rest assured, we’ve launched a special Abyss route. No matter where you are, help will arrive within thirty minutes.

Dracula: Don’t just daydream—act now. Private message me your fee and location…

……

……

“?”

Lu Xin was taken aback. How could it be like this?

I’m even willing to fork over 200,000, but she still charges?

Why does her tone sound so cheerful?

Just as he was dumbfounded, a barrage of messages began flashing on the platform.

Clockwork Orange: Damn, there’s even a signal?

Red Dancing Shoes: Oh my, fantastic! I was still showering when doomsday hit. Can someone send me a pair of underwear…?

Blood Drops: Only 50 million? Pay up, but hurry—I left my head two meters away and can’t reach it…

Dracula: What the heck, how are you typing? I don’t charge the disabled, you know.

Night Owl: Not enough money. Can I owe it instead?

Dracula: Normally no, but remembering our battle against Flame, I’ll accept—with a daily 30% interest.

Red Moon Club’s Most Feared: Open the door already…

Red Moon Club’s Most Feared: Now that doomsday is here, all the doctors have fled. I’m still holed up in my ward.

Red Moon Club’s Most Feared: Damn it, I can punch the sun to oblivion, but I still can’t open this door.

Dracula: Send your location.

Nine-Headed Serpent: I just opted to defect, friends. Next time on the battlefield, show mercy, will you…?

……

……

“This is bad…”

Lu Xin was suddenly overwhelmed, watching as his recruits were being snatched away by Dracula.

He quickly deleted the remuneration he’d entered and hurriedly reposted the recruitment notice.

Then the platform fell silent for a moment.

Dracula: ? Huanhuan, are you trying to steal my business again?

Red Dancing Shoes: Oh, you silly! Who in doomsday wants to save the world? I, for one, need saving.

Red Dancing Shoes: I’ve forwarded it—hurry up, the madman is already at the door…

Red Dancing Shoes: Underwear must be size B.

Night Owl: Brother Huan, you know me. I really want to help, but I’m tied up right now. After doomsday, how about a massage?

Night Owl: Twice.

……

……

Lu Xin suddenly grew anxious as things unfolded differently from his plans.

He quickly typed, “I can still save you all—as long as you hang on just a bit longer…”

Bzzzz…

But then his communicator started vibrating violently, its bright screen dimming and going offline…

Furious, Lu Xin nearly hurled the communicator, “What a piece of junk this is…”

It was over. His heart ached.

He’d been cut out.

How had he not foreseen Dracula’s moves from the start…

Now the communicator was useless. Even if it worked, he doubted he could compete with Dracula—who knew she had mastered traversing the Abyss? Even if he recruited more members, he couldn’t outdo her. Every contact with the Primordial required meticulous preparation.

The Abyss remains a forbidden zone he avoids at all costs…

His spirit sank, as if he’d just lost at least a billion.

…No, wait—he suddenly feared that he wouldn’t recruit enough members to fully resolve the mental pollution incident.

Losing such a vast talent pool from the Red Moon Club—how would he fill his squad?

“Huh?”

As Lu Xin pondered, he suddenly sensed a faint signal in his mind.

He looked up, using the light of the Red Moon to peer beyond Qinggang’s High Wall.

Above the wasteland, a vehicle steadily rumbled in.

To be precise, it was a tractor.

On it sat an old farmer wearing a straw hat, silently driving across the eerie wasteland.

But wherever the tractor traveled, every trace of the uncanny seemed to vanish in fear. Gigantic, branch-like monsters, floating, fish-like creatures, even the deranged with bloodshot eyes, all halted and retreated in dread.

Everyone’s attention was immediately captured.

Even the alert systems on Qinggang’s High Wall detected the tractor, as several railguns locked onto it.

Then, right before everyone’s eyes, the tractor passed beyond the High Wall.

It slowly came to a stop.

The old farmer stepped down, tipped his straw hat, and everyone watched eagerly—until they suddenly froze.

He was unrecognized.

Then, as doubts swirled, a sleepy man slowly climbed out of the truck bed. Adjusting his small glasses, he fixed his gaze on Lu Xin.

It was Number Two…

Lu Xin was mildly surprised, and then, together with the others, his heart filled with joy: “Number Two actually showed up?”

In a flash, he went out to fetch Number Two.

“Number Nine, as soon as I got Number Fourteen’s notice, I came to help. Was that alright?”

Wearing round, small glasses, Number Two looked slight and quiet. Yet on his pale face, hints of excitement emerged as he grasped Lu Xin’s hand and shyly said, “But first, do me a favor.”

“What?”

“Help me pay the fare for that old man.”

Number Two admitted sheepishly, “I planned to head straight to Qinggang, but got tired on the way; he found me and brought me here.”

Lu Xin paused and readily agreed, “No problem.”

The Eleventh recruit was secured.

Method: Fee substitution – originally 20 yuan, crossed out and revised to 2000 yuan (reimbursable).

……

……

With another recruit secured, Lu Xin felt a great relief.

With Number Two on board, many things became considerably simpler.

Number Two’s strength had always exceeded everyone’s expectations at the Orphanage.

Yet even with Number Two’s unexpected assistance, Lu Xin still felt uneasy.

Who was still missing?

As he pondered, he suddenly stiffened mentally.

His gaze darkened as he scanned quickly.

To the west of Qinggang, another convoy was barreling in.

It was composed entirely of heavily armed off-road vehicles, with several specially modified armored vehicles escorting a stretched Rolls-Royce at its center. Before seeing this car, Lu Xin had never imagined it could race through the wasteland, exuding a strange, terrifying aura as it headed toward Qinggang.

The bizarre creatures loosely roaming outside the city quickly avoided Number Two’s tractor.

Yet, as the convoy approached Qinggang, the creatures barely had time to retreat. A peculiar mental force emanated from the convoy, causing all the strange beings to freeze, tremble uncontrollably, collapse, or crawl onto the roadside.

Those contaminated, however, snapped to a state of terror the moment the convoy drew near.

To onlookers, wherever the convoy passed, the air grew oppressively still; the usual clamor and the faint, eerie silhouettes under the Red Moon seemed to slither away or vanish, while Lu Xin saw an endless stream of twisted creatures trailing behind the otherwise unremarkable, luxurious convoy…

……

……

“Who are they?”

Even Qinggang braced as detection devices blared at the approaching convoy.

Unexpectedly, as the convoy reached the outskirts of High-wall City, it slowed and stopped.

A group of figures draped in black cloaks disembarked, courteously displaying their IDs as they headed to negotiate at the Steel Drawbridge.

The Steel Drawbridge opened.

The convoy drove in. The mysterious figures in black cloaks respectfully opened the door of the Rolls-Royce.

From the car stepped out a young man with slicked-back hair and a small braid, dressed in a neat and elegant tuxedo and leaning on a cane adorned with gold threads. He glanced around gracefully, then removed his sunglasses with a slight smirk before a brilliant smile spread across his face:

“Ha ha, I, the Fearsome High Priest, have arrived in Qinggang. Where is my worthy host to greet me?”

“Where’s Old Bai? Old Su? Little Chen Jing? And what about our dear, respected Captain of the Single Soldier team?”

……

Lu Xin suddenly froze.

Not only him, even the high-ranking figures monitoring the convoy in Qinggang were stunned.

His Sister wiped her eyes, her gaze beginning to shine.

Bear Child and Red Serpent first looked amazed, then enviously.

……

……

Initially, when Gecko had left, no one paid much attention.

Unexpectedly, now that Gecko was back, he had become such a show-off…

In the end, it was Chen Jing who personally led a semi-official team to recruit Gecko.

After all, both the official documents from Heichao City and his identity as the Fearsome High Priest were no small matter.

There he was, leaning on his cane, sporting huge sunglasses at night, strutting proudly into the Qinggang Special Cleaning Department’s gate.

Then, upon seeing Lu Xin, he warmly opened his arms.

“Report, Captain: I, the Fearsome High Priest, have personally led six junior high-level priestesses – hundreds of fear gods loyal to our respectable Fearsome Monarch – here to support Qinggang. Also, Heichao City is in order and stands ready to cooperate with Qinggang…”

“……”

Staring at Gecko’s radiant, smug smile, Lu Xin felt an unexpected thrill.

“So, have you been out there with Father spreading fear all this time?”

“……”

“What are you talking about…”

Gecko corrected earnestly, “We are warning the world and promoting beauty…”

“……”

Even Lu Xin couldn’t help pausing; it all sounded somewhat cultish…

Nevertheless, he composed himself and said, “We are forming the Tyrant Squad.”

“Huh?”

Gecko paused briefly, then puffed out his chest and said, “Let’s go—show me how solid our team really is!”

Before Lu Xin could react, Gecko enthusiastically strode toward the team members behind him.

Shaking hands one by one, he said, “Hello, hello, I’m Gecko, your Vice-Captain and one of our veteran members.”

“Everyone, don’t be reserved. Although I am the Fearsome High Priest, one of Qinggang’s Level 6 Special Talents, and a seasoned Ability User—more importantly, the right-hand man of the Single Soldier team captain, bearing one of our team’s most critical responsibilities…”

“I’m not one for airs, though.”

“And by the way, great to meet you all. I even brought some specialties from Heichao City, so please, help yourself…”

“……”

“……”

Lu Xin parted his lips as if to remind them of something, but then held back.

Thus, the initial twelve members of the Tyrant Squad were assembled.

New recruit: Vice-Captain Gecko

Identity: Fearsome High Priest

Method of recruitment: voluntary return.