Faced with people whom others cannot see or hear, yet he can see, hear, speak, and interact with them, even receiving their protection. So, should these people exist, or are they nonexistent?<br><br>Jane Chen had encountered and dealt with numerous Mind Shifters.<br><br>Wild or bizarre things had become routine for her, yet at this moment, she found it quite odd.<br><br>She merely noticed that Luke Sin, who said these things, appeared very earnest and lucid.<br><br>The calmness interwoven with madness, normalcy mixed with oddness—such contrasting feelings appeared in one person.<br><br>From the earpiece came an urging voice: "Leader Chen, the armed preparations are complete; you should evaluate him swiftly!"<br><br>Jane Chen remained silent, and Luke Sin sitting across from her also stayed silent.<br><br>Both seemed to ponder many questions.<br><br>Jane Chen quickly came to a decision. Having dealt with many Mind Shifters and managed numerous cases of mental breakdowns, she was quite experienced. Deliberately, she gazed at Luke Sin and said, "I have just one question. If all your abilities stem from your family members, can you assure that they won’t randomly influence you?"<br><br>She did not deny Luke Sin’s claim about the existence of "family". She merely questioned whether these "family" would affect him.<br><br>Luke Sin glanced at her and said, "Are you worried they might take control over my body?"<br><br>Jane Chen didn't deny it.<br><br>For her, the most dangerous aspect about him was the unpredictability of whether he might suddenly become someone else.<br><br>Regarding this issue, Luke Sin pondered it seriously.<br><br>Actually, he understood his state well. When these symptoms first appeared, he spent a long time in the library.<br><br>He read every book related to "mental illness".<br><br>From these books, he learned about many mental problems, like Dissociative Identity Disorder, Capgras Syndrome, Happy Puppet Syndrome, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, Claustrophobia, and so on. Some he understood by name, others escaped his comprehension, but he carefully analyzed the symptoms.<br><br>Based on what he learned, he diagnosed himself.<br><br>Were his family members split from himself?<br><br>It seemed like it, yet he vaguely felt his case wasn’t a typical split.<br><br>He always wanted to understand his situation and whether his symptoms could be treated.<br><br>When he first heard this woman talk about matters such as "mental mutation," he held some anticipation. Maybe they had the means to cure him, or perhaps his condition could be explained from their perspective, not a mental illness but another form of normalcy. Yet seeing her reaction…<br><br>Luke Sin knew his hope was dashed.<br><br>If she regarded him as normal, why would she be so wary?<br><br>He disliked being viewed with such cautious eyes.<br><br>Thus, he considered thoughtfully and slowly replied, "You needn’t worry; my family members are good people."<br><br>"My sister is a lovely child, fond of toys and running around;<br><br>My father enjoys cooking, an honest man who stays in the kitchen;<br><br>My mother is gentle, never argues, just likes reasoning with people..."<br><br>Jane Chen watched how earnestly he described the situation, feeling a complex mixture of emotions.<br><br>This person was astonishingly normal…<br><br>He spoke earnestly and normally about several nonexistent people…<br><br>The clearer the description, the tenser Jane Chen's mind became.<br><br>Lighting a cigarette to mask her feelings, the earpiece continued urging her.<br><br>She faced multiple options: immediately withdrawing the recruitment decision, upgrading the level of his surveillance, or utilizing abilities to extinguish him in this nearly deserted small bar.<br><br>Yet considering his usual performance and the current state of the Walled City, she hesitated briefly.<br><br>Ultimately, she decided, bringing out an envelope and pushing it before Luke Sin, she said while looking into his eyes, "I arranged the test on you because results are most objective when the subject is unaware, so it was kept from you. However, you passed and helped us resolve that Level One Psychic Monster."<br><br>"You’ve thus completed a task, and this is your reward!"<br><br>Luke Sin was momentarily stunned, took the envelope, opened the pouch, and saw rolls of cash.<br><br>Each bill was fifty yuan.<br><br>A hint of light emerged in Luke Sin's previously disappointed eyes.<br><br>"This is ten thousand!"<br><br>Jane Chen saved him the trouble of counting and stated it upfront.<br><br>"Ten thousand?"<br><br>Luke Sin visibly reacted.<br><br>Following the Red Moon Incident, the monetary system underwent a reshuffle; now, his monthly salary at the company was one thousand.<br><br>He was even a model employee!<br><br>"It's what you’ve earned."<br><br>Jane Chen, noting his surprised face, smiled and said, "With these abilities, earning money shouldn’t be hard!"<br><br>"It's still pretty hard..."<br><br>Luke Sin thought quietly, clutching the envelope, "I just need money badly."<br><br>Jane Chen, deep in thought, conjectured: "Liking money makes the danger index lower..."<br><br>Luke Sin was visibly nervous, hesitated briefly, then softly asked, "Do you always give this much?"<br><br>"Often more!"<br><br>Jane Chen explained, "This time's psychic monster was already investigated, and blockades and controls were in place. Even without your intervention, we could easily wipe it out, hence the payout of only ten thousand yuan. Typically, upon completing investigation and clearing tasks, a task force member's payment would be around thirty thousand yuan..."<br><br>"Thirty thousand..."<br><br>Luke Sin barely noticed anything else.<br><br>He was evidently startled, visibly somewhat excited.<br><br>"Yes!"<br><br>Seeing his demeanor, Jane Chen felt more assured and replied with a smile, "You won’t lack money in the future!"<br><br>Luke Sin really liked hearing that!<br><br>...<br><br>...<br><br>When he exited the bar, evening had not yet fallen. The red sunset bathed the dilapidated cityscape.<br><br>In the southern sky, a dimly visible red-tinged moon hung at the horizon.<br><br>"Ten thousand, just like that?"<br><br>Luke Sin felt a bit incredulous.<br><br>Previously, he hadn’t known he possessed the capability to earn so much money.<br><br>Nevertheless, he liked and needed the money.<br><br>Breathing a sigh of relief, Luke Sin perked up, headed to the bus stop, and waited for the bus number two to arrive. He endured a jostling ride for an hour, reaching the eastern side of Satellite City, a place surrounded by low, worn structures. He walked through several alleys, exchanged glances with the spiritless vendors, passed drunks leaning against walls with wine bottles in hand, and arrived at a house.<br><br>In stark contrast to the surrounding decay and ruin, this house appeared very bright.<br><br>Possibly because of the blue and yellow cartoon characters painted on its walls.<br><br>This was a small orphanage.<br><br>A rusty iron plaque on the gate bore the words "Red Moon Elementary School"!<br><br>Luke Sin undid the wire fence and entered the school. The old man reading newspapers in the security booth heard the noise and recognized him; he merely nodded without barring his entry.<br><br>The school had only one classroom, the rest were dilapidated, filled with odds and ends.<br><br>Essentially, it was just a small orphanage, simply bearing that name.<br><br>Luke Sin approached the classroom, there he saw a girl in a wheelchair wearing a white sweater, playing games with a dozen or so kids. Among these children, the oldest was seven or eight, the youngest only two or three. Their clothes were simple but noticeably clean, their eyes bright.<br><br>Were they playing tag?<br><br>How childish!<br><br>Luke Sin didn’t disturb them. He placed the envelope in the rusty mailbox at the classroom door. Concerned that the girl in the wheelchair wouldn’t notice, he plucked a wildflower and placed it on the mailbox, ensuring she knew he had been there.<br><br>Then he quietly left the classroom.<br><br>As he passed the security booth, the old guard, eyes still on his newspaper, commented, "Why don’t you tell her directly? Every time you pick flowers and put them on top. Selling flowers is hard labor for an old man; you're almost bald this pool of flowers..."<br><br>Luke Sin felt a bit embarrassed, hurriedly laughed and said, "I’ll visit again this weekend and buy you a drink!"<br><br>"No need!"<br><br>The old man didn’t glance up and casually remarked, "When you come, I’ll buy you a drink; I at least have some peanuts!"<br><br>"Okay!"<br><br>Luke Sin chuckled, accepting the invitation, and left the school, slowly heading to the bus stop.<br><br>"Let’s go, I’ll give you a ride!"<br><br>A Jeep stopped next to him, and inside, Jane Chen smiled, opening the car door for him.<br><br>"Alright!"<br><br>Luke Sin agreed, saving him a half-hour trip back home.<br><br>Once in the car, Jane Chen tossed over another bag.<br><br>Luke Sin opened it eagerly, but then felt a bit let down—it was filled with documents.<br><br>Jane Chen focused ahead, casually mentioning, "From now on, the task force will initially incorporate you!"<br><br>"Uh, good…"<br><br>Luke Sin was briefly confused, not realizing immediately.<br><br>Jane Chen drove silently, offering no further clarification.<br><br>What a person does with newfound financial gain often reveals their deepest desires and true character. If Luke Sin squandered the money on indulgences, her evaluation of him would be commonplace; if he spent it on more degenerate pursuits, her assessment would plummet, making integration into the team improbable.<br><br>Yet, he handed this unforeseen "fortune" directly to the school.<br><br>Jane Chen couldn't envision what this person's derailment would be like.)
