MCL CH12

Chapter 12: Urgent

Overnight, news of the late Chief Executor’s funeral being held in N City spread across the world.

At the very center of the uproar, the residents of N City were discussing it with fervor.

While heading downstairs to buy breakfast, Lin Xi noticed that almost everyone along the way was talking about it.

Everyone knew that the former Supreme Chief Executor of Hua Country’s United Twelve Administrations had fallen in the line of duty three years ago.

When the obituary was first announced, every major global outlet ran tribute segments recapping his life. Across Hua Country, the entire nation mourned, all government faculties flew their flags at half-staff, and every online platform switched its pages into black and white as an expression of solemn grief.

No one had expected that only now, three years later, a funeral would finally be held.

In an instant, memories that had long since faded were being called forth again.

With a bun in his mouth, Lin Xi chewed slowly, as though savoring fine cuisine with elegance.

It wasn’t until he overheard for the third time someone retelling his own past that he laughed aloud:

“Although these stories have been… how should I say… richly embellished by literary flair, I’m still glad people remember me. But the whole ‘falling honorably in the line of duty three years ago’ thing? That was completely fabricated by the United Administration. And to think people actually believed such nonsense.”

[Of course they’d do their best to package you as a hero.]

[See it now? Humans are such self-deceptive creatures—doing filth in the shadows while polishing a shiny mask in public.]

[‘A hero who sacrificed himself to save the world’—ah, what a tearjerker of a story. Even I feel a little moved.]

Lin Xi asked with amused interest: “Moved?”

[Indeed. Moved by humanity’s self-slaughter. Touched—and expectant.]

[Hee hee… Lin Xi, I really can’t wait to see what you’ll do—tearing off those blood-soaked masks, ripping them from their flesh one by one. That will be… fun.]

Lin Xi’s expression curved with equal delight: “Hearing you say it like that, even I’m starting to feel somewhat expectant.”

From the distance came the thunderous roar of engines. Cutting across the sky, a convoy of austere military vehicles rushed in.

The sharp, killing aura carried with it natural oppression, drawing more and more onlookers to the roadside. Combined with the distinctive United Administration insignia emblazoned on the vehicles, and with talk of the upcoming funeral on everyone’s lips, the crowd’s chatter only grew louder.

[The news only broke last night, and they’re here at dawn already. Quite a fast reaction from the United Administration.]

“They’re not here because of that headline last night.” Lin Xi watched serenely as the convoy rolled past. “Sure, the HQ has to dispatch people. But even with full process, there’s no way it would happen this quickly. If I’m not mistaken, they’ve… come here using the fissure incident as a delivery excuse.”

[Delivery? Delivering to who?]

“Why, to Yan Xingzhou of course.” Lin Xi smiled faintly, without warmth. “The man storming HQ alone was enough to put him on their blacklist. And knowing him, I doubt that’s the only thing he’s done these past three years.”

“Yan Xingzhou can expand freely in N City only because of his X-code—secure in the knowledge the Administration won’t dare touch him. The HQ’s been enduring this standoff for years; no doubt it’s a thorn in their side. Leaving such a bomb untended? Impossible. Now, with the accident caused by a fissure upgrading in his jurisdiction, it’s the perfect pretext to ‘tighten control.’”

Lin Xi’s lips curled. “To assign stationed forces under the excuse of ‘increased protective oversight,’ meanwhile putting his Wanyuan Corporation under surveillance. Seamless, and no one can complain. Clever, isn’t it?”

[Eugh, your human politics are frighteningly convoluted.]

Lin Xi’s gaze lingered on the caravan, already disappearing in the distance.

The convoy didn’t seem to be heading toward the Action Team offices at all—but rather, directly for the Wanyuan Corporation.

From the insignia on the vehicles, these were people from the Third Administration.

The Third was still under that Su Qiuyin, wasn’t it? To really hold Yan Xingzhou in check, who exactly had they sent?

If the one sent was Su Qiuyin himself, then that would make for an even greater spectacle.

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t get to witness that confrontation firsthand. Sighing faintly in regret, Lin Xi turned and stepped toward the Ability Office.

This office was a cooperative branch under the Administration, tasked with handling ability-user affairs—such as ability awakening verification, file registration, and most importantly, publishing bounties for clearing low-risk fissures.

The official Action Teams were permanently stationed across jurisdictions, but numbers were finite; priority had to go to densely populated urban regions. Thus, low-level fissures in remote areas were often outsourced to qualified freelance ability-users.

In modern society, with more and more ability-users awakening, not all wanted to sit national exams and become civil servants. Various “Ability Guilds” and local freelance organizations popped up across all provinces, also constituting key support arms for maintaining social order.

[The funeral’s about to happen, weren’t you desperate to regain strength fast? Why come here to wander instead? Can this place get you crystal cores?]

“Any crystal cores collected inside fissures are officially bought back via equal-value redemption. Anything else traded on the black market is illegal. As a law-abiding model citizen, even if I want cores, I have to go through proper channels.” Lin Xi’s answer was delivered leisurely.

[In plain speak?]

Lin Xi: “Oh. I can’t afford the black market.”

[…] So that’s the real point, huh.

Lin Xi strolled casually until finally stopping before a conference room.

Glancing at the screen’s description, he pushed the door open unhurriedly and asked: “Hello, are you still missing a member?”

The Ability Office’s east wing arranged these rooms for freelancers to team up.

Inside sat a man named Lei Gang. He had arrived first thing in the morning to seek teammates. Unfortunately, with limited rewards to offer, he hadn’t found anyone yet.

Seeing Lin Xi enter, he briefly lit with hope… only to fall into silence after learning more. Finally he confirmed again: “So… this is your ability?”

Compared to right after leaving quarantine, Lin Xi’s firepower had strengthened somewhat after absorbing fragments of cores. At least now, he wasn’t just a sputtering lighter.

A modest flame flickered on his fingertip, reflected in his heterochromatic eyes, soft and harmless. “Yes—I’m a fire user.”

Lei Gang: “…Can the fire get stronger?”

Lin Xi shook his head regretfully. “I’m kind of weak. This is my max output.”

Lei Gang: “…”

Kind of weak? Even a cigarette lighter puts out more flame than that.

Rubbing his forehead, Lei Gang sighed. “Sorry, but this mission might be a little dangerous. With your level, maybe…”

Lin Xi lowered his head, voice soft. “You really can’t consider me?”

The rejection caught slightly in his throat under such a tone of disappointment. With a cough he explained, “It’s mainly because this job’s a D-class fissure, carrying risks. Even if our team isn’t short on strength, should complications arise, we may not have the energy to protect you.”

“It’s alright, I can take care of myself. I won’t hold the team back.” Lin Xi’s hand pressed faintly on the table, clenched for emphasis. Looking up once more, his gaze brimmed with fragile resolve, as if staring at his last hope. “I know I’m weak, but I desperately need money now. I wanted a safer way, but time… time is running out on me. Brother Gang—so long as you take me, life or death, I’ll accept it. This really is my last chance. Only then, can I properly… attend that funeral.”

Lei Gang stiffened. “Funeral?”

Melancholy filled Lin Xi’s face as he nodded, like stirring up distant memory. “A funeral… deeply important to me.”

[Ah yes—your own funeral. Most people couldn’t attend their own if they begged. Of course it’s important.] the voice in his head quipped at once.

Lei Gang opened his mouth, stopping short—clearly imagining some grim, tragic backstory. In the end, complex emotions flickered behind his eyes. “…There’s no fixed pay, no insurance, casualties at your own risk. Loot split by crystals harvested, every man counts his own.”

Lin Xi’s dim expression brightened slightly. “Brother Gang—you mean you’ll take me?”

“It was only because someone in our team is ill that we needed a filler. Doesn’t matter if you can fight, we just need the head count.” Lei Gang sighed. “Whether you drag us down, that’s on you. You swore you can look after yourself. Once inside the fissure, anything can happen—and no one may cover you.”

Lin Xi smiled gently. “Understood. I’ve dealt with fissures before.”

Lei Gang: “…”

You, with that scrawny weakling fire, experience in fissures?? Unbelievable.

He swallowed his protest and glanced at the time. “We have to go. Sign the agreement and register at once.”

Lin Xi: “Alright.”

“One more thing,” Lei Gang warned. “This job partners two teams. The other one may not be as… reasonable as I am. Ignore them, just stay close to me.”

Lin Xi studied him a moment then smiled harmlessly. “Got it.”

Agreement signed, registration complete, the two proceeded to the parking lot.

Before long, the vehicle drove out of the city.

Leaning against the window, Lin Xi let the mountain wind ruffle his hair, distant hills appearing ahead.

The voice whispered [That ‘pitiful act’ just now almost even fooled me. Serious question—how many of your colleagues at the United Admin ever realized what a little manipulative ‘teapot’ you are?]

Lin Xi, inwardly unbothered: “I didn’t lie.”

[Tiny firepower worse than a lighter, urgently needing cash, an important funeral—yes yes, all true.]

[I was wrong, shouldn’t have praised your acting. I should’ve praised your skill at storytelling straight-faced.]

Lin Xi smiled slightly, side-eying Lei Gang at the wheel. “But even the best story needs its audience to also… be a good man.”

[Yes, yes. I pity kind men.]

This D-class fissure was located twenty kilometers out in the Luoshan range. It had been discovered a month and a half prior and had just transitioned from dormancy into pre-activation this week.

In this stage, the fissure widened steadily. If cleansing wasn’t completed before it fully opened, every contaminant inside would pour out. At that point, a failed cleansing meant escalation to “emergency” and official Action Teams would intervene.

Today’s job, per Lei Gang, was a joint-cleansing with another freelance team. The Administration required a minimum entrant count for fissures of each level. Someone being ill in his squad meant Lin Xi was filling out the headcount to qualify.

After parking at the mountainside, they had to hike. By the time the other group appeared in sight, Lin Xi was already sweating through, his shirt sticking to his chest, breath labored and face wan.

Lei Gang looked ready to comment on his poor stamina but restrained himself with a sigh.

[So weak—and yet he doesn’t even insult you. Truly kind.]

Lin Xi: “…”

The other team’s members spotted them quickly.

Two young men—Lei Gang’s teammates—greeted Lin Xi with polite friendliness once introduced, though their faces looked… mixed.

Then the other squad arrived.

At the front, a buzz-cut man waved. “Old Lei, this the guy you brought?”

Though addressing Lei Gang, his gaze never left Lin Xi, sweeping from his face all the way down his sweat-slicked collar. His stare froze hungrily—until he finally swallowed visibly and sneered, “You ended up finding just some pretty boy?”

Lin Xi stood quietly, lashes low, seemingly unbothered. But Lei Gang subtly drew him behind. “It was last-minute, beggars can’t be choosers. The one I brought, I’ll handle. You do your work, don’t worry about him.”

The buzz-cut chuckled. “Fine.”

But turning back, he again swept Lin Xi with leering eyes before jerking a thumb at the fissure. “Everyone’s here. Let’s move out.”

By now, fissure handling and detection technology was mature. Aside from sudden high-risk breaks, low-level resting fissures already had standardized processes.

A barrier surrounded it to prevent civilian intrusion. After verification, they passed through the shield and hiked a further distance to the fissure itself.

At the mouth, the buzz-cut checked the opening. “We’re clear. It’s open enough. Enter.”

One by one they stepped through.

As Lin Xi passed, the buzz-cut “steadied” him with a secret hand, voice sliding into a falsely gentle tone: “Careful, little brother, the path’s rough.”

[Hiss——!]

In his skull, the contaminant’s voice audibly balked, full of secondhand horror.

Condolences.

Silent pity suffused the air.

But the buzz-cut wasn’t done. His hand slid lingeringly over Lin Xi’s arm.

The moment Lin Xi froze, even the mountain breeze seemed to vanish.

But then, without a word, he simply drew his hand back.

His mismatched eyes flickered coolly for a flash—but his tone was the same trademark softness. “Thank you.”

Soon, the group vanished into the fissure.

Outside, the detection monitors resumed their pings. Beep, beep—

But then the barrier distorted subtly. For just an instant, something crimson flickered—before vanishing.

BEEP BEEP—!

BEEP BEEP, BEEPBEEPBEEP—!!!

Suddenly the red alarms blared.

The once-steady signal flared erratic, shrill and urgent.

At the same time, in the control tower, a communications officer jolted upright at the anomaly flashing on-screen. Frantic, he grabbed the radio:

“Hello?! N City Action HQ? This is Central Control—Captain Qi, is he there? We need Captain Qi now!”

On the line, there was hesitation: “Captain Qi is at Wanyuan Corporation with President Yan right now. He may not be free to interrupt. If it’s not too urgent—”

Urgent urgent urgent—it’s a full five-alarm fire!

The operator was nearly sobbing: “Doesn’t matter if he’s busy—get him now! Tell Captain Qi it’s happened again—another big one!!!”

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