MCL CH101

Chapter 101: “They have arrived.”

“…” Qi Xian couldn’t react for a long time. In his excessive shock, he only subconsciously glanced behind Lin Xi. It wasn’t until he saw Su Qiuyin also walk out, his gaze sweeping over the special metal collar on his neck, that he officially confirmed he wasn’t overthinking things.

Forced by the oppressive aura, he hastily greeted Su Qiuyin before looking back at Lin Xi. “The new director of the Third Administration, it’s really you?”

Lin Xi smiled and nodded. “It’s me.”

Qi Xian: “……….”

All he could say was that this reality was a bit too dreamlike. Qi Xian even remembered the pitiful look on this Mr. Lin’s face when he was rescued from the contamination zone not long ago. Not only did he suddenly awaken a special-grade ability later, but after just a short time in J City, he had directly leaped to become the director of the Third Administration?!

Truth be told, it was Director Su back then who had personally brought him to the United Administration headquarters. How times have changed, it really felt like the tables had turned.

The others who came to welcome them, following behind the mayor of N City, also recognized this highly distinctive face when they saw Lin Xi. After exchanging glances for a moment, it was the mayor of N City who put on a smile and went forward to greet him.

With this move, the others immediately followed suit.

[Oh my, you humans really love your fake pleasantries.]

As Lin Xi put on a smile to deal with the greetings, he listened to the teasing voice in his mind and silently expressed his agreement in his heart. “Indeed, I used to dislike this kind of scene the most.”

While speaking, he gestured for Qi Xian to lead the way. After dealing with these politicians with the utmost perfunctory attitude, he strode towards the convoy waiting not far away.

The spatial teleportation point they used this time was located not far from the sea. Looking out, one’s eyes were met with a boundless sea. However, on the other side of this sea was R Country, where the fallen coastal zones were constantly expanding. No one knew how long the current calm scene could be maintained.

Lin Xi retracted his gaze. “How long do you think it will take for those things to come over?”

[Asking me is useless. After all, the intelligence I have now is no more than yours. I don’t know which race the what’s-it R Country fell to, nor do I know the specific numbers. I can’t help you.]

Calamity’s tone was as perfunctory as it could be. After a momentary pause, its tone took a subtle turn, full of teasing. [What’s this? New official taking office, you’re really seeing yourself as the commander saving humanity again? No way, no way, your craving for power can’t be that big, right?]

“I don’t know about saving humanity, but I know that if you contaminants really invade, my life won’t be easy either.” Feeling the voice in his mind suddenly fall silent, Lin Xi let out a cold, meaningful laugh. “If you, the useless king of contaminants, were even a little bit useful and could keep these things from bothering me, would I have to waste so much time running around with teams?”

[Hee hee hee, I’m still in my weakened state.]

[But if you can help me retrieve some scattered crystal cores to restore a little of my power, I can guarantee that I won’t let Them bother you one bit, oh, my dear Executor Lin.]

“Crystal cores?” Lin Xi’s eyebrow raised slightly. “Your scheme is practically written all over my face.”

Walking up to the car, he opened the door, bent down, and sat inside. “However, I will indeed give some appropriate consideration to your request.”

[!!! You’ve finally come to your senses!]

[Actually, you should have come to your senses long ago! Why care about so many reasons? Just make all those who betrayed you pay the price, isn’t that right?]

“A price is necessary, but I’m a person who has always liked to get to the bottom of things.”

After this last reply, Lin Xi directly ignored the endless stream of words trying to continue brainwashing him in his mind. He turned his head, and as the light dimmed, he saw Su Qiuyin get in with him.

According to Gu Beiqiu’s arrangement, Su Qiuyin was transferred from prison to assist him in dealing with this huge crisis.

Of course, on the surface it was called “assistance,” but in everyone’s eyes, Lin Xi was just a public face, while Su Qiuyin, the former director, was the real supreme commander.

Lin Xi was naturally very clear about this and was very happy with the feeling of being a “puppet emperor.” As the vehicle started, he directly threw the internal communication device he was holding over. “For what comes next, do your best.”

A rare trace of speechlessness appeared on Su Qiuyin’s usually expressionless face. “…What do you mean?”

“The literal meaning, of course.” Lin Xi pulled the brim of his hat down to cover half his face, slowly yawned, and closed his eyes. “Director Su is the popular choice, so I’ll leave the defense arrangements here in N City to you. I’m a bit tired, so I’ll go home and rest for a while first. It’ll also save me, a rookie with no combat experience, from getting in your way. Just make all the decisions. If you really can’t handle it, call me. I’ll fully cooperate, don’t worry.”

Su Qiuyin: “…”

If anyone else heard this, they would praise Lin Xi for being self-aware. But the two of them were well aware of the identity behind the other. The series of words like “no combat experience,” “rookie,” and “getting in the way” falling on his ears could only be summarized into one piece of information—he was determined to be a hands-off boss.

If it weren’t for the driver in the car, Su Qiuyin would have exposed Lin Xi’s shamelessness. After a short silence, he could only ask, “Are you really not going to get involved?”

Lin Xi’s eyes finally opened a crack. In the shadow of his hat’s brim, his mismatched pupils swirled with a faint smile. “Do you think I should?”

In the narrow space, their eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit subtle.

The driver in front suddenly adjusted a button, turning up the car’s air conditioning by a few degrees.

Finally, Su Qiuyin spoke again. “Understood.”

The car eventually stopped in front of the villa.

After Lin Xi got out, the car turned around and headed straight for the N City command headquarters.

Lin Xi stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching the vehicle’s silhouette disappear from his sight before turning to open the door and walk in.

Familiar yard, familiar gate, and once inside, the still-familiar layout.

With Su Qiuyin around, there was nothing for him to do for the time being anyway. Staying at home was certainly more comfortable than a hotel.

Hmm, Yan Xingzhou’s home, why couldn’t it be considered his home?

[I think that Su guy has some self-awareness, knowing their United Administration has no face to ask you to do anything.]

[Actually, sometimes it’s quite interesting to watch these humans outside running around in a frenzy. I never knew they tried so hard when facing us contaminants.]

[There seem to be fewer and fewer cars passing by outside these few days. Have they all been evacuated?]

[There’s a saying, the harder you work, the more bitter it is. Looking at these humans now, I feel quite bitter for them.]

…

…

It was morning again. Lin Xi stood in front of the second-floor French window, listening to the news channel broadcast.

Just a few days after their arrival in N City, the city’s operations had basically been put on pause.

Personnel from various agencies arrived one after another, and all defense arrangements were being carried out in an orderly manner.

“As of now, the residents of the coastal areas have been fully evacuated, and the seaside defense line has been basically completed…”

On the television, the reporter, with a smile on her face, used the most understated tone to introduce the situation to the public. The sea in the background was calm, as if she were just reporting on a routine contamination zone control event.

This news broadcast was simultaneously appearing on screens across the country. The listening audience was either on the subway to work or rushing to school. Apart from the areas around N City, other places were still living their peaceful lives in harmony.

Lin Xi looked down at the street not far away, which was now almost completely devoid of vehicles. His faint expression showed little joy or anger.

If he were really just an ordinary resident living here, he might not have realized that everything around him was irreversibly changing in a very bad direction.

But his intuition told him that this time, his luck was not as good as before.

As if to prove something, his cell phone suddenly rang.

Lin Xi glanced at the caller ID and pressed answer. Su Qiuyin’s voice came from the other end.

It was very short, just four words: “They have arrived.”

Support me on Ko-fi