"Proceed with the cleanup directly..."
Listening to the voice coming through the channel, Lu Xin's heart sank slightly. "How are we going to clean it up?"
There are nearly a hundred people in that factory...
"Don't worry. Those workers aren't our target!"
Gecko seemed to see what Lu Xin was thinking and chuckled softly. "Our job is to clean up the Pollution Source, not kill the contaminated. Although preventing the contamination from spreading is always our top priority, if we can avoid getting blood on our hands, we should."
"Besides, judging from the current situation and the previous investigation team's report, the Pollution Source's abilities mainly affect the people around it rather than assimilating them. So those workers are only lightly contaminated. They can still be saved."
Lu Xin relaxed slightly. "So we just need to kill the factory manager?"
Gecko shook his head. "We can't kill him right now. If we do, he'll very likely release the Mental Plague before he dies. All the moderately infected people will rush uncontrollably toward other places, creating a huge threat to the surrounding areas... However, they probably won't be able to escape either. Look around you, and you should understand what I mean..."
Lu Xin didn't even need to look around.
In every direction, there was only pitch-black darkness, with sparse streetlights illuminating one pale patch after another.
But Lu Xin knew that hidden in the darkness were squads of soldiers standing on strict guard. If the workers in those factory buildings escaped and charged in every direction, they would immediately be shot and killed. Satellite City would never allow these people to break through the cordon.
Just like at the coffee shop back then.
Thinking this, he frowned. "We have to clean it up immediately, but we can't kill him, so..."
Gecko chuckled. "Linda, give us your recommendation."
Although he couldn't see her, Lu Xin could guess that Linda on the other end was frowning right now. But since this involved work, she still answered very seriously. "Our mission this time is to cut off the Pollution Source, interrupt its influence over the workers, and seal it off immediately. That way, the support team will have a chance to enter the factory and send those whose contamination has been interrupted for treatment."
"So my recommendation is to use a specially made high-powered tranquilizer rifle and take him out from a distance, forcing the Pollution Source into an instant coma!"
After a brief pause, she seemed to remember that the solo operative was listening as well. As his guide, she felt it was necessary to make him understand the reasoning behind every recommendation, so she added, "Zheng Yuanxiong hasn't completely lost control yet, so he still retains some human characteristics. That makes the tranquilizer rifle plan feasible. If he completely loses control, it won't work!"
Lu Xin listened carefully and nodded. He hadn't considered whether Tie Cui and Linda could see him.
Listening, Gecko suddenly cut in. "The fact that this guy can affect a hundred people at once means his mental level must be considerable. He might form powerful Telekinesis before the bullet hits him, affecting or even stopping my bullet."
From the channel, Tie Cui said, "That's why, if you agree to this plan, I'll simultaneously order the support team to set off an explosion on the east side of the factory thirty seconds from now. The powerful sound and shock wave will draw some of Zheng Yuanxiong's attention. That way, even if he manifests Telekinesis, his concentration will be disrupted, making it unstable."
"And that will be your chance to fire."
"But you'll have only an instant. Your one and only opportunity!"
"..."
"Heh heh..."
Gecko chuckled softly. "My dear Linda, you have such a lovely voice..."
A heavy snort sounded through the channel, as if Tie Cui and Linda were already somewhat exasperated.
Before she could say anything, Gecko laughed. "Agreed!"
As soon as he said this, he opened the long case on his back. Inside was a long, cold sniper rifle. Gecko's hands flew over it, accompanied by a series of crisp, deft clicks. He quickly assembled all the parts onto the rifle, and by the time he chambered the bullet, he had hooked both legs around the iron railing and hung upside down.
The dark muzzle was aimed at the factory three hundred meters away.
Linda's voice in the channel grew exceptionally calm. "The countdown begins!"
"Thirty..."
"Twenty-nine..."
"..."
Time seemed to slow down, and everything around them became utterly silent.
Only Linda's calm counting through the channel and the faint sound of rotating machinery from the factory three hundred meters away remained.
Lu Xin carefully took it all in.
Even Sister beside him tilted her head and examined Gecko, as if she found everything very curious.
Lu Xin also realized that Gecko's movements seemed somewhat different from Sister's. He had hooked his legs around the railing and hung upside down with his rifle aimed at the factory. He truly looked like a nimble, precise spider.
As for Sister, crouching off to the side... at most, she was just strangely cute.
"Countdown: one. Get ready!"
As these thoughts flashed through Lu Xin's mind, Linda's voice in the channel reached the final count.
Then, at that very moment, a patch of light suddenly appeared in the east.
A tremendous rumble followed.
At the same time, Lu Xin saw the corner of Gecko's mouth lift slightly as he pulled the trigger.
He immediately looked toward the factory. As the scene drew closer, he saw that the massive explosion had caused even the glass to tremble faintly. The other workers inside the factory seemed almost completely unaware and continued working nonstop. But the factory manager, Zheng Yuanxiong, was affected slightly. He instinctively turned toward the direction of the explosion.
At that moment, a bullet resembling a red syringe pierced through the glass.
From three hundred meters away, Lu Xin shouldn't have been able to hear it, yet it seemed he heard a faint sssh.
The red syringe-like bullet struck Zheng Yuanxiong in the back of the collar, spraying a patch of blood.
Even though it was a tranquilizer round, the force required to fly three hundred meters and hit its target was astonishing. Zheng Yuanxiong was knocked off his feet and sent sprawling, while the lights and plastic pipes around him all twisted to some degree in that instant.
After falling, he seemed to try to get back up, but after exerting the slightest effort, he slowly collapsed again.
The tranquilizer appeared to be highly effective.
"Got him!"
Gecko instantly withdrew the rifle. With a thrust of his body, he returned to the top of the tower and laughed. "Linda, what were you going to say to me?"
Linda's voice came through the channel as if she had just relaxed slightly, but her tone remained exceptionally cold. "You should proceed to the next step!"
"Sure thing!"
Grinning, Gecko rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a glass object resembling a helmet, cradling it in his arms.
Then he smiled at Lu Xin. "Let's go, brother. Time to wrap things up!"
As he spoke, he leaned straight back and actually lay down from the water tower more than thirty meters above the ground.
Before you continue