Embers Ad Infinitum

After Jiang Baimian read the telegram, she laughed and said, “This is equivalent to saying nothing. Apart from letting us understand the abilities of the Awakened in the corresponding domain better, it doesn’t help our current analysis.

“In Redstone Collection, Ashlanders are Eidolon Nun’s believers and are People of Vigilance. The Red River people are the same. There’s a chance that someone will awaken in either group.”

Shang Jianyao said regretfully, “I thought their awakened abilities were related to hide and seek.”

“They hide and are vigilant because of fear, so how can it not be related?” Jiang Baimian casually replied. “Besides, this is only a portion of the information the company has. It doesn’t mean everything. Maybe the Vigilance Church’s Awakened really have the ability to hide themselves.”

She held the piece of paper and looked around before saying, “Yes, I can’t say that this telegram is completely useless. At the very least, it allows us to confirm that an Awakened in Eidolon Nun’s domain can cause excessive shock. Uh… Everyone is to carry a FECA biological agent with them in the future. It has a cardiotonic effect, and it may save your life.”

The FECA biological agent was the drug that was injected into Moat Town’s mayor.

As Long Yuehong wistfully sighed at the company’s powerful R&D abilities and the adequate amount of emergency drugs the Old Task Force brought along, he asked in confusion, “But when suffering from excessive shock, we’d most certainly have fainted and will be on the brink of death. How can we inject ourselves with FECA?”

Jiang Baimian laughed. “Therefore, we can’t act alone; at least two people a team. This way, when you are about to die of shock, your companion can chase away the enemy and seize the opportunity to inject you with FECA.”

Just as she said that, she saw Shang Jianyao raise his hands and freeze there as if he were hesitating.

“What are you trying to do?” Jiang Baimian asked warily.

Shang Jianyao replied seriously, “I’m wondering which religion’s style I should pray in.”

With that said, he made up his mind. He bent his arms and did a cradling action of shaking a baby.

“You sure like Life Ritual,” Jiang Baimian said in amusement.

Shang Jianyao gave a serious reason. “Among the Churches we’ve encountered up to now, Life Ritual’s Holy Communion is the best.”

Why am I not surprised… Long Yuehong wasn’t surprised at all. He subconsciously asked, “Why do you suddenly want to pray?”

“I need to pray that the terror abilities in Eidolon Nun’s domain aren’t area-of-attack ones and can only be used on an individual,” Shang Jianyao said truthfully.

These words made Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen frown.

After a few seconds, Jiang Baimian smiled and sighed. “There’s no way to save ourselves in that case. Therefore, battles with Awakened are really annoying and completely unreasonable. Sometimes, the one who uses their abilities first wins.”

At this point, she smiled and said, “Actually, I still have a chance of saving myself successfully.”

Upon seeing Long Yuehong’s confusion, she raised her left arm. “Isn’t it normal to have an additional electric shock capacity with so much electrical capacitance? Isn’t it reasonable for an auxiliary chip to have the corresponding physical state monitoring function? I remember that some electronic watches in the Old World can do this.”

While Long Yuehong was stunned, Jiang Baimian tried tempting him and Bai Chen again. “How is it? Are you tempted? When you return to the company, you can exchange your accumulated credits for a biological prosthetic limb. Although it’s unlikely to be an experimental model like mine, the others aren’t weak either.”

“I’m hesitating.” Shang Jianyao answered for them.

“Oh?” Jiang Baimian glanced at him.

Shang Jianyao boldly said, “A mechanical arm is more in line with my measure of a man.”

“There’s no way to do this in the company unless we have the chance to go to places like First City.” Jiang Baimian discussed this problem with him.

Bai Chen quietly listened and pursed her lips. “Can you choose the types and models yourself?” She was clearly tempted.

Jiang Baimian immediately nodded. “Yes, you can—as long as you accumulate enough credits or contribution points.”

When one lost their limbs in battle, they could replace it with a biological prosthetic limb for free, but they had no choice in the selection.

After discussing this matter, they continued eating lunch.

While they were clearing away the lunch boxes and other cutlery, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao cast their gazes at the door at the same time.

Ten seconds later, there was a knock on Room 05’s door.

Shang Jianyao quickly picked up the monkey mask and wore it before rushing to the door.

He looked around and couldn’t help but sigh. “There’s no rod.”

Jiang Baimian ignored him and asked loudly as she put on her mask, “Who is it?”

She asked in both Ashlandic and Red River language.

The person outside was very polite and directly gave his name. “Han Wanghuo.”

He’s finally back… Jiang Baimian said in relief, “Please come in.”

At this moment, Bai Chen and Long Yuehong had already put on their masks and stood by her sides.

Han Wanghuo wasn’t the only one outside the door. There was also an Ashlandic in his twenties.

He had black hair and brown eyes. He was less than 1.7 meters tall, and his skin was rough from the elements. He clearly had a baby face, but he had no expression.

“This is?” Jiang Baimian took the initiative to ask.

Han Wanghuo immediately did the introductions. “Tan Jie, a member of the Public Security Department, an Ashlander.”

His emphasis was on the last few words.

Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully. “Please come in.”

After taking their seats, Shang Jianyao remained at the door with his arms crossed like a bodyguard.

“I heard from Weiler that you have something important to tell me?” Han Wanghuo asked in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant.

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged his words and recounted the rocket attack. She didn’t hide the fact that the other party didn’t seem eager to kill them.

Han Wanghuo turned his head to look at Tan Jie and deliberated before saying, “It might be to agitate you and make you focus on investigating the two cases you have on hand. It might also be to scare you away and prevent you from getting involved in Redstone Collection’s murky waters.”

He spoke rather frankly, not hiding what kind of situation Redstone Collection was in.

“The assailants seem very sure that those two cases can stir up a storm,” said Tan Jie coldly.

Jiang Baimian immediately smiled. “You were the ones who stuffed a note into our room to warn us, right?”

She asked very directly.

Tan Jie fell silent for two seconds before saying, “This is because we’re all Ashlanders. You guys are too weak; getting involved in this matter will cost you your lives.”

At this moment, Shang Jianyao said seriously, “Thank you.”

While Tan Jie was a little confused by the sudden gratitude, Jiang Baimian opened the door and asked, “Don’t you want to find out the truth? If you are sure you didn’t do it, help us figure out the truth, and we can clear your names.”

Without a change in expression, Tan Jie stated, “Some people just want an excuse, not the truth. In all these years, everyone has done something that crossed the line. No one is truly innocent.”

This was a very understandable situation for Bai Chen. In the Ashlands—where survival was difficult—it was common for groups to fight for resources.

Jiang Baimian didn’t continue the topic and switched to talking about Baz.

Upon mentioning that Helvig and Anhebus might be working together to kill two birds with one stone, Tan Jie laughed without a smile. “I won’t be surprised by what they do. Unfortunately, Helvig died too easily.”

Jiang Baimian didn’t respond and continued talking about her trip to the Vigilance Cathedral. She kept her promise and didn’t mention that Bishop Renato had contracted the Heartless disease. She only said that she happened to encounter Harbinger Song He.

In addition, she didn’t hide the clues that Lopez had given her. She then talked about the Awakened’s terror abilities in Eidolon Nun’s domain.

“That’s right.” Tan Jie gave an affirmative answer.

Han Wanghuo wasn’t surprised either as though he had long obtained the corresponding information from the Ashlanders.

He deliberated and said, “Maybe Redstone Collection’s survival situation is very close to the Vigilance Church’s teachings, causing the number of Awakened here to be higher than normal. This is my personal suspicion. There’s no evidence.”

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged it. “This makes things more complicated. Let’s not consider this for the time being and only talk about Anhebus. If he really has Helvig’s batch of firearms, he probably won’t dare to go to the Vigilant Cathedral today. It’s obvious that he has a certain level of understanding of Awakened. What will he do in such a situation?”

Jiang Baimian regretted it the moment she said that. This was because this was the kind of leading tone she often used when discussing problems with her team members. The people she was conversing with now were from Redstone Collection.

Han Wanghuo was very supportive and thought for a moment before saying, “If I were him, I would make the best use of my time to give that batch of firearms to the town guards and say that it’s the supplies he previously saved up. This way, the Vigilance Church will definitely turn a blind eye.”

“It’s also possible to throw out outsiders like Lopez and say that they did it behind his back,” Tan Jie added calmly.

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly. “Is there such a possibility? Anhebus will take the opportunity to send the firearms out of Redstone Collection tonight and hand them over to the mountain monsters. He will refuse to go to the Vigilance Cathedral, but he will allow investigators to search at will.”

“No, if he doesn’t go to the Vigilance Cathedral, it shows that he’s guilty and doesn’t dare to face the Kalendaria’s gaze. This way, the townsfolk under him will definitely become suspicious. When the time comes, he won’t even be able to sleep well. Besides, he knows the Vigilance Church’s strength very well.” Han Wanghuo gave a negative answer.

“Is that so?” Jiang Baimian asked, “Where does Anhebus usually stay?”

“He often swaps places, but he will most likely choose the lakeside villa when he encounters a relatively dangerous situation. The underground parking lot there leads to the dock, where there are boats,” Tan Jie replied simply.

Uh, you guys have had Anhebus in your sights for a long time… Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and suddenly asked, “Captain Han, it’s impossible for the Vigilance Church not to guess that the Awakened were behind the deaths from excessive shock two years ago. Do you still remember their reactions? Did they suddenly have an additional Harbinger during that period of time?”

As Han Wanghuo frowned as he recalled, Tan Jie suddenly stood up. “About half a year after the last case, the Church gained an additional Tenebrarum. These are clergymen who cloister themselves in dark rooms to pray.”

He sounded a little agitated, but he remained expressionless.

Upon hearing this, Han Wanghuo’s expression changed. He stood up and anxiously said, “He’s Anhebus’s brother, Brand!”