Embers Ad Infinitum

No? Long Yuehong almost doubted his ears. There are actually no humans at Mechanical Paradise’s headquarters? Is that a city ruled purely by the Source Brain and smart bots?

What was even more ridiculous was that smart bots in such a city had a standard of humanization. It allowed them to be more like humans to serve humans better without harming them. It also prevented them from treating themselves as humans.

Most of them had never come into contact with humans since they left the factory, nor in the foreseeable future. To them, humans might only be a line of words, a piece of code, a picture, or a symbol.

Jiang Baimian fell silent for a while before sighing. “It’s no wonder the Source Brain doesn’t allow us to go to your headquarters and is only willing to communicate over the phone.”

She had a faint premonition previously and suspected if there were still humans in Mechanical Paradise.

“There are other reasons as well.” Genava explained what he knew. “For example, I can’t tell you about the specific confidentiality clauses involved in some important experiment facilities and smart bot attempts at creating societal constructs.”

You still think of yourself as a member of Mechanical Paradise… Jiang Baimian didn’t remind him that he had already defected and didn’t need to follow any confidentiality clauses. Of course, she wasn’t sure if smart bots had a self-destruct sequence in the event of them divulging any secrets.

Genava didn’t continue the topic. While Long Yuehong and Bai Chen were immersed in the shock brought about by Mechanical Paradise, he asked, “Where are you from? Not only do you have outstanding brains, but you also have a military exoskeleton.”

It was ridiculous that she could defeat a smart bot in one-on-one close combat!

Jiang Baimian turned around and looked at Shang Jianyao and the others before frankly saying, “We come from Pangu Biology. How is it? Are you interested in joining our company?”

Although she had yet to report to the company and Pangu Biology might not agree, she still had to be polite.

“Pangu Biology…” The silver-black smart bot, Genava, repeated this term. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “I just want to find the creator’s descendants and see if he left anything for us smart bots.”

“I get it.”

“Understood.”

Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian each replied and didn’t force the issue.

Frankly speaking, Jiang Baimian really didn’t want to report Genava’s matter to the company. This meant that she couldn’t interfere with Genava’s future arrangements and provide help.

If they maintained the status quo, the Old Task Force would obtain a powerful external member, making many things easier in the future.

More importantly, for a smart bot like Genava, the benefits of joining Pangu Biology were almost meaningless.

He was unafraid of the Heartless disease, nor would he be affected by the plague, infections, or hunger. He also wouldn’t be attacked by mutated creatures and various beasts. He only had needs for energy, spare parts, lubricant, modular upgrades, and weapon maintenance.

Jiang Baimian found this scene explosive—a silver-black robot carrying a lunch box, walking to the cafeteria kiosk, and saying to the female staff inside, “Auntie, get me a U-32 high-performance battery produced by Future Intelligence. I’d also like some coffee-flavored lubricant.”

It would be perfect if the smart bot had a dialect accent.

Of course, she also knew that if Genava really joined Pangu Biology, the floor he lived in and the department he came under would definitely be different from ordinary employees. However, she couldn’t help but think in that direction.

Retracting her thoughts, Jiang Baimian deliberated and said, “We have to return to the company to report and rest for a period of time before heading to First City. Are you going to find a place to wait for our next trip, or are you going to do it alone?”

Upon hearing this question, Shang Jianyao sincerely helped. “There’s a human saying—strength in numbers.”

It was unknown if he was moved by the word ‘human’ or if he felt that it was too dangerous to act alone. Genava thought for a few seconds before saying, “I’ll find a place to wait for you. Yes, I need a place to recharge.”

As a real man of steel, the lack of electricity meant paralysis.

“Then, you can wait in Weed City.” Jiang Baimian had actually already thought of a plan. “But you have to disguise yourself. For example, install a red filter and modify your appearance to make yourself look like an ordinary robot. As you know, Weed City has a cooperative relationship with Mechanical Paradise. If smart bots are discovered, they will definitely inform the Source Brain.”

Upon seeing Genava remain silent, Shang Jianyao smiled and said, “We often disguise ourselves when we are out. Look…”

As he was driving, Genava gave up on the idea of having the same reaction as humans. He directly opened the auxiliary prosthetic eye behind his head and looked at Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao had already put on the mask with the furry face and protruding mouth.

“Alright.” Genava accepted his explanation.

Shang Jianyao then took off his mask and exhorted Genava worriedly, “When you reach Weed City, you have to be careful of people hitting on you as you walk. Single robots are like steamed buns. Countless Ruin Hunters want to kidnap them back home…”

At this moment, Jiang Baimian’s expression was slightly blank. There was only one thought in her mind: I shouldn’t have let this fellow watch an Old World drama serial!

The corners of Long Yuehong’s mouth twitched. From the corner of his eye, he saw Bai Chen nod slightly. She nodded! What kind of person is she?

Jiang Baimian snapped to her senses and forcefully interrupted Shang Jianyao’s words of concern. “In short, there are a large number of humans with nasty characters. You have to be careful and not blindly believe them.”

Shang Jianyao nodded in satisfaction.

“I have plenty of experience interacting with humans.” Genava indicated that he knew.

Is that so? Long Yuehong’s gaze darted between Genava, Jiang Baimian, and Shang Jianyao a few times.

Jiang Baimian didn’t continue the topic and thoughtfully asked, “In Mechanical Paradise’s records, how is Pangu Biology?”

She was a little curious about how such a rigid smart bot organization evaluated their company.

Long Yuehong was the same. Previously, he had been in charge of guarding the area while they drew water. Now, he was a little thirsty.

As he waited for Genava’s answer, he picked up the waterskin, unscrewed the cap, and gulped the water down.

Genava stared ahead with his blue-light-emitting eyes and thought for a moment. “Suspected to be a secret organization left behind by the Old World. Suspected to be related to the source of the Heartless disease.”

Pfft!

Long Yuehong spat out all the water in his mouth onto the armrest and control console.

“Cough, cough, cough. I choked,” he quickly explained after catching his breath.

Genava didn’t mind and continued, “The Heartless disease is a degeneration at the biological level. You are also the faction most skilled in biotechnology, and you are very mysterious. Nobody knows where your headquarters are.”

So you relied on these inferences. I thought you had some evidence… Long Yuehong immediately heaved a sigh of relief.

Jiang Baimian was focused on another problem—The Source Brain also seemed to believe that Pangu Biology was formerly another research institute.

“Actually, we often have Heartless outbreaks internally, and we haven’t been able to treat it,” Jiang Baimian explained simply and exhaled. “After we leave Mount Chilar, we’ll head to Redstone Collection.”

She originally didn’t expect to return to Redstone Collection so soon. After all, the bloody conflict between the Subhumans and the townsfolk had just happened not long ago.

It was basically impossible for Shang Jianyao to achieve his goal. It required time for them to settle into a new normalcy and for a new bishop to arrive at the Vigilance Cathedral.

But now, the Old Task Force had encountered an energy crisis! They only had one solar charger board that could replenish electricity, and the jeep, military exoskeleton, and Genava needed high-performance batteries.

The jeep had two spare wheels, and the military exoskeleton also had two packs. Genava had a total of ten.

In other words, the solar charger board alone definitely couldn’t charge everything. Therefore, Jiang Baimian planned on getting more high-performance batteries and charging them everywhere she could.

She wanted to try her best to last a long time.

Redstone Collection was the most important smuggling node in the area. The west was connected to Future Intelligence, making it the easiest place to obtain high-performance batteries. Furthermore, it was sufficiently far away.

This wasn’t something that could be readily obtained like cabbage.

…

Although it was said that they were going to Redstone Collection, the route was completely different from when the Old Task Force arrived at Tarnan.

In order to prevent the robot guards from catching up, Genava chose to take a large detour to Redstone Collection by taking a northwestern exit on Mount Chilar. This would take up a lot of time, but it was safer.

On the way, in order to allow Genava to conserve electricity, he and the four Old Task Force members took turns driving and resting.

One afternoon, the sun was shining brightly as the jeep stopped beside a stream.

As the Old Task Force split up to draw water and prepare their meals, Genava—who had nothing to do—stood at the front of the car and stared blankly at the solar charger board. It was unknown what he was thinking.

“Are you very confused?” Shang Jianyao’s voice sounded in his ‘ears.’

Genava remained silent and didn’t answer.

Shang Jianyao—who was wearing thick, blue, diagonal-patterned pants—walked to the jeep and smiled. “I don’t think you’re that determined.”

Genava fell silent for a moment before asking, “Is that so? Can you tell?”

“I guessed it.” Shang Jianyao placed his hands in his pockets and replied with a smile, “Any questions? Maybe I can answer them for you? Even if I can’t, there’s still them.”

‘Them’ referred to Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen—who had finished replenishing their water supplies and returned after lunch.

Genava looked straight at the solar charger and hesitantly said, “Actually, I’m no longer so sure that smart bots are equivalent to humans. You should’ve seen it back then. The Disciplinary Chamber personnel only slightly changed the program and blocked the data to make Susanna and Rides not recognize me at all and treat me as a stranger. At that moment, they seemed to be a set of data that could be casually modified, not humans…”

Shang Jianyao laughed. “Humans do the same. Look…” As he spoke, he cast his gaze at Long Yuehong.

Long Yuehong subconsciously took two steps back. “What are you doing?”

Shang Jianyao retracted his gaze and shook his head. “Forget it, forget it. It’s too insulting.”

He then looked at Genava and explained in detail, “I’m an Awakened and have the ability to make humans experience similar situations. Sigh, if only I could encounter a bandit. I could make him treat me as a friend in the morning, acknowledge me as a father in the afternoon, and not recognize me the next day like I’m a stranger.”