Chapter 38: The Vehicle and the Driver

The Doctor reacted quickly, fastening his seatbelt before Lu Xiao even floored the gas pedal.

With a roar of the engine, the front of the pickup truck lifted sharply before darting forward like an arrow released from a bowstring. Dante and the driver, caught completely off guard, felt their scalps tingle with terror. Dante grabbed at his seatbelt, but in his panic, he couldn't get it to click.

"Buddy! What the hell! Slow down! I'm scared!"

The driver, having more experience, held onto the seat in front of him for dear life, pressing his entire body against it. The Doctor’s face remained expressionless, but the veins bulging on the back of his hand, which was gripping the handle, showed he was exerting every ounce of his strength.

Dante didn't even notice the cigarette fall from his mouth as he roared frantically, "Stop! Stop! Oh, damn it! I’ve wet my pants!"

Outside, two police officers saw the scene and immediately gave chase.

"Uncle Wang! Whose car is this? Daring to drag-race on the streets of Magic City!" the young officer driving couldn't help but complain.

In the passenger seat, Uncle Wang, holding a thermal mug, looked indignant. "Is there no law? Is there no order left? Drag-racing here! Call for backup immediately!"

In an instant, the sound of police sirens filled the streets. Countless patrol cars flooded the roads.

Lu Xiao kept his hands on the steering wheel. "Oops! Looks like I’ve caused some trouble."

The Doctor’s voice came from the back. "S292, pull over!"

Lu Xiao pondered for a moment, his tone grave. "Mr. Doctor, I’ve just recalled a painful experience. My driver's license test was failed precisely because I couldn't pull over properly!"

Doctor: "???"
Dante: "!!!"
Driver: "..."

***

On a desolate, secluded road outside the city, the fierce roar of the engine echoed incessantly. The flashy pickup truck sped in the lead, followed by a dense swarm of police cruisers. The wail of sirens, the growl of the engine, and the screech of tires against the pavement merged into a chaotic symphony.

Suddenly, the pickup truck in the lead seemed to glitch. The vehicle flickered repeatedly before vanishing into thin air. When it reappeared, it was already inside a containment chamber at the C03 Containment Facility.

The door opened. Dante, legs trembling, leaned against the frame and slowly stepped out. The Doctor followed, then Lu Xiao, and finally, the driver emerged from the front seat.

The Doctor adjusted his monocle and said to Lu Xiao, "You drive well! Don't ever drive again."

Lu Xiao looked perfectly sincere. "Mr. Doctor, thank you for your recognition of my driving skills!"

Upon hearing this, the corner of the Doctor’s eye twitched. The driver was still visibly shaken, his pupils trembling uncontrollably. The Doctor spoke softly to his assistant nearby.

"Record this: Designation S302 - The Vehicle. It requires flesh or anomalous energy for fuel. It possesses the ability to teleport between two points. Containment requirement: a suitable parking space."

The assistant nodded, recording rapidly on a tablet.

[Designation: S302 - The Vehicle]
[Containment Class: S]
[Capability: Teleportation]
[Containment Requirement: A suitable parking space]
[Combat Ability: Non-combatant anomaly]
[Note: The vehicle possesses the ability to teleport!]
[Note: The vehicle requires flesh or anomalous power to operate!]

After the assistant uploaded the information, the Doctor looked at the driver. "As for you! You have no qualifications to be contained! Just execute him on the spot."

The Doctor’s voice was flat, but to the driver, it was a death sentence that plunged him into terror. He looked at the Doctor. "Sir! I... I haven't done anything evil!"

Lu Xiao asked, confused, "Didn't you kill a lot of people?"

The driver shook his head like a rattle. "No, no, no! Everyone I killed was a person with an evil heart! The reason I told the story of my beautiful wife in the car was to test their character!"

Just then, the assistant whispered in the Doctor’s ear. "Mr. Doctor! I’ve pulled the records of the people who went missing in the taxi incidents. They were all people who had committed crimes."

The Doctor nodded and said faintly, "But you still killed people. According to the Warden’s Code, you should be classified as a D-Class anomaly. However, you have no value for containment." He adjusted his monocle. "Unless you can give me a reason to contain you. For example, some special ability."

His eyes were devoid of emotion, staring coldly at the driver. The driver looked desperately at Lu Xiao.

Lu Xiao grinned. "Why look at me? I'm just an anomaly myself." As he said this, he pulled a badge from his pocket and pinned it on. It read, in crooked letters: S292 - The Lost One.

Lu Xiao had made it himself when he was bored, though he had asked the staff for the materials.

Seeing this, the Doctor instructed his staff, "Record it: S292 has developed a sense of belonging to the facility."

The assistant immediately updated Lu Xiao’s file. The Doctor’s gaze returned to the driver. The driver was at a loss for words.

"I... I... I can drive! Yes! I can drive!"

Silence fell over the room. The driver was on the verge of tears. "The world outside is too dangerous! I want to go back to the Dark Prison!"

Lu Xiao patted the driver on the shoulder and sighed deeply. "It seems you are about to see your beautiful wife again."

As he spoke, he flicked his badge with a hint of pride, as if to say, "See? I'm part of an organization now!"

Dante walked over as well. "Hey, brother, promise me—if you see your beautiful wife again, don't be a 'simp' ever again!"

Tears streamed down the driver’s face. He swore that when his beautiful wife had left him, he hadn't cried this hard.

At that moment, the Doctor’s voice sounded. "Congratulations, Mr. Driver. Your ability has made you valuable. Record it: Designation S303 - The Driver. Containment Class... D... Actually, let’s make it S! As for the containment requirements..." The Doctor adjusted his monocle and looked at the driver. "Mr. Driver, do you have any conditions?"

The driver shook his head frantically. At this point, he didn't dare have any conditions.

The Doctor nodded. "Handle the rest as you see fit." With that, he turned and left the containment chamber.

The assistant quickly recorded:
[Designation: S303 - The Driver]
[Containment Class: S]
[Capability: Skilled operation of transport vehicles]
[Containment Requirement: Needs a vehicle to drive]
[Combat Ability: Pending research]
[Note: A driver with a sense of justice!]

After uploading the driver’s information to the Warden System, the assistant greeted Lu Xiao and Dante before leaving as well.

Lu Xiao said to the driver with great solemnity, "From now on, we are comrades!"