While riding in Jane Chen's car back to the apartment, Luke Sin browsed through the documents she gave him.<br><br>Name: Luke Sin<br>Age: 23<br>Ability Assessment: Grade C<br>Mental Aberration Direction: Spider Type<br>Patrol Area: Qinggang City No. 2 Satellite Town<br><br>After reading these documents, he understood that Qinggang City’s Guard Division had recruited him as external staff. Within the scope of his duties, he needed to collaborate with the Task Force to conduct investigations and clean-up operations related to "mental pollution" incidents. Correspondingly, they would also help guide, train, and assist him in better mastering his abilities, preventing him from going out of control.<br><br>What attracted him most was that despite being external staff, the salary was exceptionally generous, amounting to five thousand per month. Additionally, there would be extra bonuses for every field mission participated, the specifics depending on the mission's complexity...<br><br>“If you agree to be recruited by us, you’ll need to sign this document…”<br><br>Jane Chen handed another document to Luke Sin with one hand while steering with the other, saying, “Once you sign, you’ll become a member of our Task Force, directly reporting to me. I’ll schedule you for some mental aberration incident clean-ups.<br><br>“Of course, it’s initially just a temporary recruitment; the real contract requires you to pass the probationary period…”<br><br>“Am I not official yet?”<br><br>Luke Sin instinctively felt uneasy about the lack of job security, but after thinking it through, he accepted the pen. He was relieved to notice that the document didn’t state only receiving 50% of the pay before becoming official, which was good. Although the benefits alone were enough for him to decide to sign, before putting pen to paper, he couldn’t help but ask, “Generally speaking, what is the main content of our work?”<br><br>“The investigation and cleanup of special pollution sources!” Jane Chen replied seriously. “After the Red Moon Incident, many mental aberration-triggered pollution incidents emerged in the city. Some have erupted, some are under observation, and others remain undiscovered. Your future tasks will focus on, upon our notification, going to these contaminated areas, identify the sources, or directly resolve the pollution.”<br><br>“Of course, there might be other assignments depending on the circumstances.”<br><br>Cautiously, Luke Sin asked, “In special circumstances, can I refuse?”<br><br>This question rendered Jane Chen silent for a moment.<br><br>“You are just an external member at this point, so you can refuse and accept other commissions, provided they don’t conflict with ours,” she thought for a moment before replying seriously, “But I hope you prepare well!”<br><br>“Because the matters requiring our intervention are usually treacherous and dreadful events. To us, they represent dangers and uncertainties, but to ordinary people, they are catastrophic. They don't have the chance to resist or even call for help when facing such issues, unknowingly losing their lives to this pollution, sometimes dying completely, or worse yet, becoming part of a monster.”<br><br>“And for Qinggang City, and every normal person post-Red Moon Incident, they are worth cherishing and protecting.”<br><br>Luke Sin listened to this grim explanation and became serious, signing his name below.<br><br>Jane Chen was somewhat surprised: “Despite hearing about these dangers, you signed more resolutely?”<br><br>“In cases where one can do it, helping others is only right!” Luke Sin responded, slightly embarrassed. “The dean told us this at the orphanage. He said that after that event, fewer people were in the world, order collapsed, civilization regressed, and everyone experienced nightmare after nightmare. If those who remained continued infighting incessantly, we might never return to how life was before...”<br><br>“Though I don’t know what life was like before, I believe what he said!”<br><br>Jane Chen looked at Luke Sin with an expression as if finding something unusual. His words were sensible, yet hearing them from this young man felt discordant. However, she merely smiled and said nothing more. She gathered the signed document and handed over a box to Luke Sin.<br><br>Inside the box, there was a card, a black satellite phone, and... a revolver with two boxes of bullets.<br><br>“What is this?” Luke Sin was somewhat surprised and bewildered.<br><br>Jane Chen calmly explained, “The phone is for communication convenience. In the future, if there is anything, I’ll notify you via this phone, and you can contact me through it as well. The only number stored is mine. The card can get you departmental cooperation when necessary, making work smoother; the gun is for your protection, as well as a standard weapon for first-level Task Force members.”<br><br>Luke Sin’s gaze immediately fell on the gun, heart pounding. He knew how strict the firearm regulations were in the city, yet the Task Force directly issued him a gun? More so, Jane Chen explicitly stated that the gun was for self-protection, which suggested it wasn’t solely for work purposes.<br><br>Upon initial thought, it seemed rather implausible. After all, in their eyes, he was a mental aberration case. Even though Jane Chen knew how to interact with others sensibly, her expressions subtly reflected that she saw him as having several split personalities and being prone to out-of-control hazards...<br><br>Why would she hand him a gun?<br><br>“Before officially joining the Task Force, I need to solemnly inform you!” Jane Chen turned to face him, appearing serious:<br><br>“Besides addressing usual pollution incidents, safeguarding yourself in your personal life is crucial too! Should you encounter trouble in life, I offer three recommendations:<br><br>“First, report it to the Guard Office in Satellite City No. 2.<br><br>“Second, directly call me!<br><br>“Third, resolve it using the firearm!<br><br>“As a rule, avoid relying on your abilities to handle personal troubles unless absolutely necessary.”<br><br>Listening to Jane Chen, Luke Sin gradually figured it out. Perhaps, precisely because she viewed him as prone to out-of-control risks, he was handed a gun. In some situations, if he indeed felt compelled to fire a gun to resolve an issue, causing damage with a firearm could potentially have less impact than using his 'abilities'. It would be easier to contain...<br><br>They provided the gun because they feared him! That’s how it should be; any sane person would be cautious dealing with someone like me.<br><br>Meanwhile, in Jane Chen's earpiece, a voice appeared, “The data show that since the reopening of this Red Moon orphanage, he's been funding it, supposedly because he's also an orphan. He seems compassionate towards these little kids. Nonetheless, Captain Chen, integrating and guiding an observer into the Task Force demands utmost care; are you certain about this?”<br><br>“Positive!” Jane Chen, driving steadily, didn’t offer much explanation. She took this risk to meet this observed individual personally for some close-up evaluation, trusting her judgment.<br><br>“Captain Chen, don’t you think it might be... a bit rash?” The voice in the earpiece hesitated, “We should at least take him to the main city for final checks and determine his out-of-control risk...”<br><br>“After all, he’s…”<br><br>“I’ll personally report to Professor Bai upon return!” Jane Chen replied decisively, removing her earpiece with some irritation.<br><br>Armchair strategists! Before confirming his stability, bringing him to the main city is impossible. If risk assessment labels him as a mentally divergent lunatic likely to arise issues, what if I showed them the footage from that digital camera? What would they be scared into?<br><br>A document she withheld from Luke Sin mentioned his risk assessment: 75%. According to present standards, reaching an 80% risk assessment bars recruitment or guidance. A 90% out-of-control hazard requires preparations for immediate neutralization. A 95% hazard leads to exile into the wilderness or direct elimination, even without any wrongdoings!<br><br>Should she hand over that digital camera, she guaranteed that Luke Sin's risk assessment would soar beyond 80%. Perhaps to 90%!<br><br>But Jane Chen felt her decision was not mistaken.<br><br>The hurdles in Civilization Reconstruction were unimaginably high. Ambitious mining companies, technological churches, knights roaming the wilderness... And those latent Spectral Fiends among people...<br><br>All these unstable factors could threaten the Walled City immensely at any moment!<br><br>Qinggang's military couldn't possibly withstand it...<br><br>In instances where capability lacks, convincing someone is difficult, let alone an entire group.<br><br>Thus, Jane Chen chose not to persuade them, only doing what she deemed necessary.<br><br>She remained convinced: Qinggang now doesn’t face a matter of choosing who, but rather lacks anyone to choose!<br><br>Only a madman can counter a monster!)
