Embers Ad Infinitum

Upon seeing Shang Jianyao’s smile and hearing his promise, Genava nodded. “Relying on the Awakened ability you mentioned?”

“Yes.” Shang Jianyao was very calm.

Jiang Baimian regretted it once again and felt that she shouldn’t have started the topic. However, she knew very well that escaping wouldn’t solve the problem.

She could only perk up and quickly come up with something to say. “This plan is indeed feasible. As long as we can break through the Underground Ark’s outer defense system and infiltrate, the problem will be much simpler.”

Jiang Baimian continued in this direction and deduced the subsequent developments with an attitude that said, “I’m also participating.” She wanted to enhance the persuasiveness that she would have later.

“We all know very well that the Underground Ark’s organization structure is very simple. DiMarco—the owner—occupies the core position. He firmly holds power by setting up multiple butlers and multiple captain guards to treat the guards and servants separately.

“This makes DiMarco’s rule seem relatively stable. We will be facing a large number of enemies and an unknown number of Awakened equipped with advanced weapons. But in fact, this organization structure has a fatal weakness. As long as we can grasp it, we might be able to make this fortress collapse in the shortest time at the smallest price.”

Shang Jianyao didn’t doubt Jiang Baimian’s change in attitude at all and smiled. “That fatal weakness is DiMarco.”

Upon hearing this, Genava automatically matched some of the Old World’s cases and analyzed what Jiang Baimian wanted to say.

“The strategy of taking down the head?” he asked in confirmation. Genava enjoyed this discussion very much. He felt like he had truly become a human and was creating sparks of wisdom with his companions.

Jiang Baimian nodded and smiled. “Yes, as long as we can infiltrate the Underground Ark without causing any commotion, we can directly attack DiMarco’s residence and try to defeat the defense forces around him in a short period of time to control him. When the time comes, we can talk about our goal and express our lack of interest in the Underground Ark’s transfer of power and the ownership of most of the property.

“We can allow the guards and servants to establish a brand new Ark, which they will share the rights with and take over the corresponding business channels. I believe that with the brutality and anger that DiMarco usually shows, everyone will side with us except a few foolishly loyal people or extremists who have helped him kill too many servants and are completely tied to him.

“Furthermore, due to the terrain restrictions, a lot of the heavy firepower can’t be used in the Ark. The distance between us can’t be widened either. Shang Jianyao’s Hands Immobility can be used to the greatest extent.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped. “This plan is very feasible.”

Jiang Baimian shot him a glance. “This plan also has a fatal flaw, and that is whether DiMarco is truly hiding a big secret.”

Her expression gradually turned serious. “Our Old Task Force should be able to resolve the defense forces around DiMarco’s residence in a short period of time as long as nothing unexpected happens. They can at most maintain two to three military exoskeletons, one to two Awakened, and seven to eight ordinary guards at all times. This is within our abilities.

“But what about DiMarco himself? What gave him the confidence to dare meet us alone in the room?” Jiang Baimian’s guess regarding the defense forces around DiMarco came from their last meeting.

When DiMarco walked out of the ‘safe zone’ in a clear situation of meeting outsiders, he only had two new military exoskeleton devices and six ordinary guards nearby. Therefore, when he was usually deep in the Underground Ark, the defenses around him would definitely be reduced.

After all, humans would get tired, and they needed shifts.

At the same time, Jiang Baimian also believed that there were no Awakened at the Mind Corridor level in the Underground Ark because such a figure’s strength had already exceeded the norm. It wasn’t something the guards around DiMarco could deal with.

In that case, why didn’t he directly replace DiMarco and become the Underground Ark’s owner? Why did he have to serve DiMarco?

At least from the looks of it, the Vigilance Church didn’t care much about who ruled the Underground Ark as long as the Underground Ark’s owner believed in Eidolon Nun.

Upon seeing that Shang Jianyao and Genava didn’t speak, Jiang Baimian raised the question again. “What if DiMarco is also a powerhouse? A mutated Subhuman, an Awakened of a certain level, etc. An extreme example: DiMarco’s strength is close to Yama Tiger’s. He’s concerned about Yama Tiger’s current state because he’s trying to seek out a future path and the door to the New World.”

In that case, the Old Task Force’s Operation Beheading would be akin to throwing a meat bun at a dog—there would be no return.

Ever since Jiang Baimian saw DiMarco and heard about his strange behavior the last time, she had all kinds of doubts and deductions. At this moment, she only brought out a guess that she found most shocking, one that could deter Shang Jianyao the most.

Shang Jianyao responded to Jiang Baimian’s gaze and smiled. “Up to now, the abilities brought about by mutated Subhumans can’t compare to Awakened at the Mind Corridor level. Then, let’s assume that DiMarco is a powerhouse who has explored the Mind Corridor’s depths…”

As he spoke, he smiled brightly and patted Genava’s shoulder. “We have an Awakened nemesis. As long as DiMarco’s abilities don’t interfere with the environment, he won’t be able to affect Genava.”

At this point, the corners of Shang Jianyao’s mouth curled up even more. “If you’re still worried, let’s go to Lake Heart Island again. I don’t think Yama Tiger can return with Genava’s mind world since he doesn’t have such a thing. In other words, we can take away the tree branch bracelet—if it’s still there.”

Upon seeing Shang Jianyao’s smile, Jiang Baimian suddenly came to a realization: It was the dangerous Shang Jianyao now, who was a little crazy.

The next second, Genava spoke. “Our internal information has mentioned something: When encountering powerful Awakened, one has to be sufficiently careful even if we are smart bots.”

“So, there won’t be any problems as long as you’re careful?” Shang Jianyao asked with a smile.

Jiang Baimian pondered over Genava’s words. “Some Awakened’s abilities can affect smart bots? This isn’t limited to illusions that distort environmental information?”

She found it a little difficult to understand the principle. After all, smart bots didn’t have human consciousness, so they couldn’t be targeted by Awakened abilities. She could only believe that many Awakened abilities directly affected the environment and interfered with reality. This was increasingly obvious at the Mind Corridor level.

Jiang Baimian glanced at Shang Jianyao and deliberated before saying, “This plan does have a certain level of feasibility, but it needs to be handled step by step. We can only proceed to the next step depending on the situation.”

After saying this, she inexplicably felt a little relieved. “I now approve your first attempt: Find a mole. What do you plan on doing when the butlers are sufficiently vigilant and won’t easily come into contact with you again?”

Shang Jianyao had long had an idea and happily said, “Head to Iron Mountain to wait for the body dumpers.”

This referred to the guards who would abandon and bury the servants’ corpses at the Underground Ark entrance near Iron Mountain.

Just as I expected… Yes, if nobody comes out to dump the corpse for the next three days, the plan will terminate on its own… If there is, there’s a high chance that DiMarco killed another servant and revealed his brutality. That will only exemplify the need to execute him ‘on behalf of the heavens.’ This might be fate… When the time comes, I’ll assign Little White and Little Red a relatively low-risk mission… Jiang Baimian slowly exhaled and said, “Before that, let’s go to the cathedral and inquire about the Vigilance Church’s attitude from Harbinger Song.”

This was a place that was being watched by the Kalendaria, Eidolon Nun!

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao eagerly agreed.

…

In the red and gold cathedral, the gigantic symbol of the female figure hidden behind the half-closed white door made Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and the others feel solemn and very dangerous.

Standing under Eidolon Nun’s Sacred Emblem was Redstone Collection’s new bishop, Antonella. He was more than 1.8 meters tall. Even in a black cloak, he looked relatively muscular.

Apart from his hairless head, his facial features were covered by an extremely simple mask. This mask seemed to be made of white cardboard with holes poked out that corresponded to the eyes, nose, and mouth.

“May your vigilance last forever.” Antonella stared at the Old Task Force, raised his hands, clasped them to his chest, and took a step back.

Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and the others bowed slightly in response.

“Distance is our friend.” In the entire Old Task Force, only Shang Jianyao returned the greeting in the Vigilance Church’s manner.

Antonella swept his gaze across the masks on their faces and said with a smiling tone, “Thank you for providing assistance to the Church in Redstone Collection.”

He spoke in relatively rusty Ashlandic as if it hadn’t been many years since he grasped it.

“You recognize us?” Shang Jianyao asked in ‘shock.’

Antonella was stunned for a moment before saying, “The news of your return to Redstone Collection spread last night.”

As expected of a place that uses vigilance and hiding as folklore… Jiang Baimian sighed in amusement.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, she directly asked, “I wonder if Harbinger Song is around?”

Antonella turned around and pointed diagonally behind him. “I’ve already sent someone to invite him over. Is there anything?”

“We’re here to visit a friend,” Shang Jianyao replied briskly, happily, and sincerely.

Antonella smiled. “You can’t blindly believe in friends either.”

Jiang Baimian was just sighing with emotion that the bishop was really someone who preached at all times when Song He—who wasn’t wearing a mask—walked into the hall.

His face still didn’t have any wrinkles, and only his sideburns were a little white.

“You guys returned so quickly?” Song He first bowed at Antonella before questioning Jiang Baimian and the others.

“We completed our primary objective ahead of time,” Jiang Baimian explained simply.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao looked around and said, “Viel is hiding again?”

Song He’s thin eyebrows twitched slightly, and he fell silent for a few seconds before saying, “He hasn’t appeared for two days.”