On the way back to the apartment in Chen Jing's car, Lu Xin skimmed through the documents she had given him.
Name: Lu Xin
Age: 23
Ability Assessment: C-Level
Psychic Mutation Type: Spider System
Patrol Area: Qinggang Satellite City No. 2
After reading through the documents, Lu Xin understood that he had been recruited as an external member by the Qinggang City Security Bureau. His responsibilities included assisting the Special Operations Team in investigating and eliminating cases of "psychic contamination." In return, they would guide and train him, helping him gain better control over his abilities while also preventing him from "losing control."
The most attractive part was that, despite being an external member, the salary was generous—5,000 per month.
Additionally, there were extra bonuses for field missions, depending on the mission's difficulty…
---
"If you agree to our recruitment, you need to sign this document…"
Chen Jing kept one hand on the steering wheel while handing another document to Lu Xin. "Once you sign, you'll officially be a member of our Special Operations Team, directly under my command. I'll assign you to handle psychic mutation incidents."
"Of course, this is only a temporary recruitment. To be fully accepted, you must pass the probation period…"
---
"Not official yet?"
Lu Xin instinctively felt a little uneasy, but after a moment's thought, he still took the pen.
What reassured him was that the document didn't mention any reduction in salary during the probation period, which was good.
Although the pay alone was enough to make him sign, he couldn't help but ask before putting pen to paper: "Generally speaking, what does our job involve?"
"Investigating and eliminating special contamination sources!"
Chen Jing answered seriously, "After the Red Moon Event, many contamination cases caused by psychic mutations have appeared in the city. Some have already erupted, some are under observation, and some have yet to be discovered. Your future work will focus on going to these contaminated locations upon notification, identifying the source, and either containing or eliminating the contamination."
"Of course, there may also be other assignments depending on the situation!"
Lu Xin cautiously asked, "In special circumstances, can I refuse?"
This question made Chen Jing pause for a moment.
"You are only an external member for now, so you have the right to refuse. You can also take on other commissions as long as they don't conflict with our work."
After thinking it over, she added seriously, "But I hope you'll be prepared."
"The issues we deal with are often highly dangerous and terrifying. For us, these cases already carry significant risks and uncertainties. But for ordinary people, they could be catastrophic—forget resisting, most people don't even get the chance to call for help before the contamination takes their lives. Some die completely, while others… become part of the monsters."
"For Qinggang City, after the Red Moon Event, every normal person is someone worth protecting."
---
Lu Xin listened intently, his expression growing serious as he signed his name.
Chen Jing was a little surprised. "After hearing about the dangers, you still signed so decisively?"
"If I can help others within my ability, I should," Lu Xin replied with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"The orphanage director used to tell me that after everything that happened, the world lost many people. Order collapsed, civilization regressed, and everyone went through countless nightmares. If the survivors only fight and kill each other, we may never return to how things were before…"
"I don't know what the old world was like, but I think he was right!"
---
Chen Jing gave Lu Xin a strange look.
The words were good, but coming from this young man, they felt oddly out of place.
Still, she just smiled and said nothing more.
She put away the signed document and handed Lu Xin a box.
Inside were an ID card, a black satellite phone, a revolver, and two boxes of bullets.
"What's this?"
Lu Xin was surprised.
Chen Jing calmly explained, "The phone is for communication. I'll notify you through this, and you can contact me anytime. The only number saved in it right now is mine."
"The ID will help you gain cooperation from certain departments when necessary."
"The gun is for self-defense—it's the standard weapon for Special Operations members!"
---
Lu Xin's gaze fell on the revolver, his heart skipping a beat.
He knew how strict the gun laws in the city were, yet this team was directly issuing him a firearm?
Especially since Chen Jing had said it was for his protection, meaning it wasn't just for work…
At first, it seemed unbelievable—after all, to them, he was a psychic mutant, someone with the risk of losing control. He could tell that even though Chen Jing was composed and good at handling people, she still viewed him as someone with multiple split personalities and considerable instability.
Why, then, would she give him a gun?
---
"Before you officially join the Special Operations Team, I need to make this clear!"
Chen Jing turned to him, looking very serious.
"Apart from handling contamination cases, protecting yourself in daily life is just as important!"
"If you ever encounter difficulties or trouble, I have three suggestions for you:"
"First, report it to the city's Security Bureau."
"Second, call me directly!"
"Third, use the gun!"
"As a rule, unless absolutely necessary, we don't recommend you use your abilities to solve personal problems!"
---
Hearing this, Lu Xin slowly pieced things together.
Perhaps, precisely because they saw him as a potential risk, they gave him a gun.
Because if he ever reached a situation where he had no choice but to use it, the damage caused by a firearm would be far less than what he could do with his abilities. It would also be easier to contain…
They gave him a gun because they were afraid of him!
That makes sense—any normal person dealing with someone like him would be extremely cautious.
---
Meanwhile, a voice spoke through Chen Jing's earpiece:
"According to the records, ever since the Red Moon Orphanage was rebuilt, he has been financially supporting it. It seems to be because he was also an orphan and sympathizes with those children. But, Captain Chen, recruiting and guiding an observed subject into the Special Operations Team is a very delicate matter. Are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure."
Chen Jing drove on without further explanation.
She had taken the risk of meeting Lu Xin in person to make her own judgment.
And she trusted her judgment!
"Colonel Chen, isn't this a bit… too hasty?"
The voice in the earpiece hesitated. "At the very least, he should be taken to the main city for final evaluation to determine his risk of losing control…"
"After all, he is a psychic split—"
---
"I'll personally report to Professor Bai when I return!"
Chen Jing interrupted bluntly and yanked off the earpiece, looking annoyed.
A bunch of armchair theorists!
Before confirming his stability, how could she recklessly bring him to the main city?
As for determining his risk of losing control—did they think he was a madman prone to breakdowns?
But then again, none of their recruits were exactly normal…
---
There was a file she hadn't shown Lu Xin.
It contained his risk assessment: 75.
In the current world, a risk level of 80 meant a subject could never be recruited or guided.
A risk level of 90 meant preparations had to be made for immediate elimination.
A risk level of 95 meant the subject had to be exiled to the wasteland—or outright destroyed—regardless of any actions taken.
---
If those bureaucrats saw the footage on that digital camera, Lu Xin's risk rating would skyrocket past 80.
Maybe even 90.
But Chen Jing was convinced she was making the right choice.
In rebuilding civilization, the obstacles were unimaginable.
Greedy corporations, the Tech Church, rogue knight orders wandering the wasteland…
And the psychic monsters hiding among the people…
The city's army alone could never hold them back.
---
Persuading one person is hard. Persuading a group is even harder.
So Chen Jing wouldn't waste time convincing them.
She would simply do what needed to be done.
Qinggang's problem wasn't about choosing who to recruit.
There was no choice.
Only madmen could fight against monsters!