Special Action Team—External Personnel

On the way back to his apartment in Chen Jing's car, Lu Xin skimmed through the documents she had given him.

Name: Lu Xin

Age: 23

Ability Assessment: C-class.

Mental Mutation Type: Spider-type

Patrol Area: Qinggang Satellite City No. 2

After reading the documents, Lu Xin understood that he had been recruited by the Qinggang City Guard Division as external personnel. Within the scope of his duties, he would need to assist the Special Action Team in investigating and eliminating matters involving "Mental Pollution." In return, they would guide and train him, help him better control his abilities, and prevent him from "losing control."

The most appealing part was that, despite being external personnel, the pay was extremely generous—five thousand a month.

There would also be additional allowances for every field operation, depending on the nature of the assignment...

"If you agree to be recruited by us, you'll need to sign this document..."

With one hand on the steering wheel, Chen Jing handed another document to Lu Xin. "Once you sign it, you'll become one of our Action Team members, directly under my command. I'll arrange for you to handle some Mental Mutation incidents."

"Of course, this is only a provisional recruitment for now. Formal recruitment will require you to pass a probationary period..."

"..."

"I can't become a full member yet?"

Lu Xin instinctively felt that this was somewhat insecure, but after thinking it over, he still took the pen.

What reassured him was that the document did not say he would receive only fifty percent of his salary before becoming a full member. That was good.

Although the pay alone had already ensured that Lu Xin would sign his name, he could not help asking before putting pen to paper, "Generally speaking, what exactly is the main content of our work...?"

"Investigating and eliminating special Pollution Sources!"

Chen Jing answered seriously, "After the Crimson Moon incident, many pollution incidents caused by Mental Mutations appeared throughout the city. Some have already erupted, some are still under observation, and others have yet to be discovered by us. Your future work will focus on going to these contaminated places after receiving our notification, finding the source, or directly resolving the pollution."

"Of course, there may also be other commissions, depending on the circumstances."

Lu Xin asked cautiously, "In special circumstances, can I refuse?"

This question made Chen Jing fall silent for a moment.

"You're only an external member for now. You may refuse, and you may accept commissions from others as long as they don't conflict with ours."

After thinking for a moment, she said earnestly, "But I hope you'll be prepared!"

"Because some of the problems that require us to step in are often extremely dangerous and terrifying incidents."

"When something represents danger and uncertainty even to us, it can be considered a catastrophe for ordinary people. Let alone resisting it—when they encounter such problems, they often do not even have the chance to cry for help. Without realizing it, their lives are taken by the pollution. They die completely, or worse... become part of a monster."

"And for Qinggang City, every normal person after the Crimson Moon incident is someone worth cherishing and protecting."

"..."

"..."

As Lu Xin listened, his expression grew serious as well. He lowered his head and signed his name.

Chen Jing was somewhat surprised. "After hearing about the danger, you're even more determined to sign?"

"It's only right to help others when it's within my ability!"

Lu Xin smiled a little sheepishly. "That's what the director told me when I was at the orphanage. He said that after that incident, there were already far fewer people in the world. Order had collapsed, civilization had regressed, and everyone had lived through nightmare after nightmare. If the people who remained only kept fighting and killing one another, then we might never return to the kind of life we had before..."

"Although I don't know what life used to be like, I think he was right!"

"..."

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

They were good words, but they sounded a little out of place coming from this young man.

In the end, however, she merely smiled and said nothing more.

She put away the document Lu Xin had signed, then casually took out a box and handed it to him.

Inside the box were an ID card, a black satellite phone, and... a revolver, along with two boxes of ammunition.

"What is this?"

Lu Xin was rather surprised.

Chen Jing calmly explained, "The phone is for convenient communication. If anything comes up in the future, I'll notify you through it. You can also contact me through it. Right now, the only number saved in it is mine."

"The ID can allow you to receive cooperation from certain departments when necessary, making your work more convenient;"

"The firearm is for protecting yourself. It is also the standard weapon issued to Level 1 Special Action Team members."

"..."

Lu Xin's gaze immediately settled on the gun, and his heart skipped slightly.

He knew how strict the city's gun restrictions were, yet this Action Team had simply issued him a gun?

Especially since Chen Jing had directly told him that it was for protecting himself.

In other words, the gun was not entirely for work?

At first, it seemed almost unbelievable. After all, in their eyes, he was a Mental Mutant. More importantly, Lu Xin knew that although Chen Jing was restrained and understood how to deal with people, her subtle expressions still showed that she regarded him as someone with several split personalities in his head and 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 to you solemnly!"

Chen Jing turned toward him, looking extremely serious.

"Besides dealing with pollution incidents, protecting yourself in your everyday life is also very important!"

"If you encounter any difficulty or trouble in your life, I have three suggestions for you."

"First, report it to the Guard Department of City No. 2."

"Second, call me directly!"

"Third, use firearms to deal with it!"

"Unless absolutely necessary, we do not recommend using your abilities to deal with the trouble you encounter."

"..."

After hearing Chen Jing's words, Lu Xin slowly understood.

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

Because in certain situations, if he was truly forced into a position where he had to fire a gun to solve a problem, then the damage caused by using a firearm would be far less significant than the effects of solving it with his "abilities," and would be easier to control...

They had given him a gun because they were afraid of him!

That made more sense. Normal people had to be cautious around someone like me.

At that moment, a voice was coming through Chen Jing's earpiece. "The records show that ever since this Crimson Moon Orphanage was rebuilt, he has continuously supported it. Perhaps because he is also an orphan, he sympathizes with these children. But Team Leader Chen, bringing an observed subject into the Action Team and guiding him is an extremely cautious matter. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I'm sure!"

Chen Jing did not offer much explanation as she drove.

The reason she had taken the risk of personally meeting with this observed subject was to make a judgment from close range.

And she trusted her judgment!

"Colonel Chen, isn't this a little... too hasty?"

The voice in the earpiece was still hesitant. "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 is..."

"..."

"After I return, I'll submit a separate report to Professor Bai!"

Chen Jing spoke crisply and decisively. She tore off the earpiece, looking somewhat irritated.

A bunch of armchair strategists!

Before confirming his stability, how could they possibly recklessly bring him to the Main City?

And as for determining his risk of losing control, were they saying he was a schizophrenic lunatic prone to causing trouble?

But among those who had been recruited, which one was normal?

If simply discovering that he had the potential for schizophrenia made them think he was insane, then what would happen if she showed those people, who hid in the rear all day evaluating everything, the video from that digital camera? How frightened would they be?

One document she had not shown Lu Xin contained his risk assessment: 75%.

According to current world standards, an assessed risk of eighty percent or above meant recruitment and guidance were absolutely forbidden.

A risk of losing control reaching ninety percent meant preparations for elimination had to be made at all times.

At ninety-five percent, even if he had done nothing, he had to be exiled into the wilderness or eliminated outright!

If she handed that digital camera over to those people, she guaranteed that Lu Xin's risk assessment would exceed eighty percent.

It might even reach ninety percent!

But Chen Jing believed the choice she had made was not wrong.

The obstacles to rebuilding civilization were beyond imagination.

Ambitious mining companies, the Technological Church, knight orders wandering the wilderness...

And those Mental Monsters hiding among the crowds...

All these unstable elements could pose an enormous threat to the city's high walls at any moment!

Qinggang's military alone could never withstand them...

Without using abilities, convincing one person was very difficult. Convincing a group of people was even harder.

So Chen Jing did not intend to convince them. She would simply do what she believed should be done.

She had always firmly believed that Qinggang's current problem was not whom to choose, but that it had no choice!

Only madmen could fight monsters!