Embers Ad Infinitum

Upon hearing that the rewards had been disbursed, not only did Long Yuehong instantly become excited, but even Bai Chen unconsciously changed her sitting posture and faced Jiang Baimian.

Jiang Baimian clicked open a document and cleared her throat. “Our rewards are mainly derived from two aspects. The first is that we obtained a major breakthrough in our mission, learned of the nine research institutes’ existence, and grasped the secret of one of First City’s founders, Oray. This established a solid foundation for any subsequent investigations.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped as expected.

This, combined with Jiang Baimian’s official-sounding delivery, made Long Yuehong feel like he was participating in the school assembly during his schooling days.

They had yet to experience the influence of Pangu Biology’s All-Hands Meeting. They had only seen the end-of-year report performance at one of the secondary venues.

Although Jiang Baimian was mentally prepared for Shang Jianyao’s applause, she still gritted her teeth.

She maintained her serious expression and continued, “The second is that we rescued Lei Yunsong’s team and facilitated the company’s partnership with Weed City.”

As for contributing to the quelling of Weed City’s unrest, helping Redstone Collection defend against the Subhuman Alliance’s invasion, helping the Tarnan citizens escape the trauma brought about by the Superior Heartless, accepting the Vigilance Church’s employment to save all the humans in the Underground Ark, it was either unrelated to the company or an interlude in their main mission. There was no way to request a reward.

“So…” Jiang Baimian finished her previous sentence and gave the results.” I’ll be promoted one rank again and reach D8. Haha, I’m now at the officer commanding level, but I can only command the three of you. Yes… It will become more and more difficult to promote further. Even if I have a considerable harvest every time I’m outfield, I won’t reach D9 without four to five trips.”

Not to mention M1 management.

In the Security Department, a D8 could be in charge of a company with about 100 people.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped enthusiastically.

Jiang Baimian stopped him from saying anything else. “Continue calling me Team Leader. There’s some level of intimacy.”

“Shouldn’t that be Big White or Mianmian?” Shang Jianyao asked questions for anything he didn’t know.

Jiang Baimian’s eyebrows twitched as she raised her left hand and spread her fingers.

Shang Jianyao immediately shut his mouth.

“What about us?” Long Yuehong asked in anticipation.

Jiang Baimian retracted her gaze and smiled. “You and Hey have gotten a double promotion again. In other words, both of you are now D5s. Bai Chen is a D4. Uh, the promotions probably won’t be that fast in the future as well. You might just be promoted a rank at a time, or nothing at all.”

Long Yuehong didn’t hear what his team leader said next; his mind was filled with the term ‘D5.’ This not only meant that his monthly basic salary would increase by another 1,000 for a total of 3,800 contribution points, but it also meant that he had officially surpassed most of his employees and neighbors.

In Pangu Biology, D4 was a threshold. It meant that one had gone from an ordinary employee to a senior employee or high-ranking employee. Many people might not be able to reach this rank in Pangu Biology their entire lives. They would only receive the corresponding treatment close to retirement.

If they were in any other combat platoon from the Security Department, Long Yuehong, Shang Jianyao, and Bai Chen would be assistant platoon commanders.

Furthermore, apart from the basic salary, D4 employees also had an additional year-end allowance. It was roughly at 500 contribution points per month, depending on the actual position.

In the Security Department, this allowance was fixed at 500 because there were additional subsidies for fieldwork. Every promotion in rank gave an additional 200 points.

To put it simply, Jiang Baimian’s basic salary was 5,300 contribution points per month based on her current D8 rank. At the same time, she could receive a total of 15,600 contribution points as an allowance at the end of the year (1,300 contribution points per month). This did not include her other allowances from her other positions.

Similarly, Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao now had a basic salary of 3,800 points per month. They could also receive 8,400 contribution points (700 points per month) at the end of the year.

This was worlds apart from the monthly 1,800 points that people got when they first started working, not to mention the lack of a year-end bonus. A single one of them was almost comparable to another family.

Long Yuehong calmed down and sighed sincerely. “I always knew that the Security Department’s field agents got promoted quickly, but I never expected it to happen so quickly.”

It had been less than a year since he graduated!

Jiang Baimian said with a slightly complicated expression, “It’s really not that fast under normal circumstances. It took me almost two years to reach D6 back then.”

“This is called seeking wealth amidst danger,” Shang Jianyao added.

Just as Deputy Minister Xenny had said, the number of things the Old Task Force had encountered during the past two missions could be counted as more than ten to twenty for others.

Long Yuehong stammered, “It’s better to be normal.”

In another year or two, he would steadily promote to D6. When he transferred to another job, he would directly be promoted to the platoon commander rank of D7 and could become a leader of sorts—for example, the team leader of the Order Supervisory Team in Zone C on the 495th floor. When the time came, all his relatives would feel honored by his achievements. The Security Department’s employees would be directly promoted when they transferred jobs.

“That’s not up to us.” Jiang Baimian smiled and looked down at the computer file. “The compensation for the portable computers when converted, together with the various intelligence rewards, food allowance for the return journey, and the field allowance for this period of time amount to a total of 30,000 contribution points per person.”

This couldn’t be compared to the last time because they had pulled back two full cars of supplies and an armored vehicle back then.

The fact that it could be converted to 30,000 in the end meant that the company was satisfied with this batch of new portable computers and was lacking in them.

“Not bad.” Bai Chen expressed her understanding.

Long Yuehong nodded and asked in anticipation, “Can we each keep a few?”

“A few?” Jiang Baimian laughed. “The higher-ups only gave us one each. We can also choose to exchange it for contribution points.”

“That’s enough.” Long Yuehong heaved a sigh of relief. As the elder brother and the pillar of the Long family, he definitely had to work hard to achieve what he had bragged about.

Jiang Baimian turned to look at Shang Jianyao. “Some of the songs in your small speaker have been deleted, likewise for the Old World entertainment. Sigh, with the matter regarding the Naturalism Church, the investigations are even stricter.”

According to the new rules, Old World items that could store electronic data were considered new items every time they returned. They needed to be audited for their content.

Shang Jianyao smiled casually. “They can delete the songs in the speaker, but they can’t erase my memories. I can sing it myself and record it.”

Be careful that the Awakened who can erase memories from before will come looking for you… Jiang Baimian muttered silently and tersely acknowledged his words. “The items will be distributed with the portable computers tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. When the time comes, there will also be an evaluation of our mental status. This is a confidentiality list; take a look at it yourselves. Remember what you can and cannot say.”

As she distributed the printed documents to her team members, she looked at Bai Chen and said, “Your current employee rank and contribution points are enough to apply for biomechanical limb transplantation and genetic modification. However, I don’t recommend the latter. It’s still too dangerous with the current level of technology.

“If it’s a biological prosthetic limb, I’ll help you request a list later. You can choose it yourself. Yes, you can also consider waiting a little longer. When you’re a D7 or D8, you can exchange for better and stronger ones.”

Bai Chen nodded solemnly. “I’ll consider it seriously.”

Jiang Baimian smiled. “Also, remember to go to this floor’s Supplies Allocation Market to receive genetic enhancement drugs. This is one of your employee perks. Although you are already an adult and the effects won’t be that good, it’s better than nothing.”

Bai Chen indicated that she wouldn’t forget.

That morning, the Old Task Force spent their time memorizing the confidential information and confirming their electronic card data.

…

After having dinner in the Security Department’s cafeteria and returning to the 495th floor, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong realized that a circle of people had surrounded Room 23 in Zone C.

They were pointing and whispering, and it was unknown what they were discussing. Among them was Long Yuehong’s mother, Gu Hong.

“What’s wrong?” Long Yuehong approached and looked at the tightly shut door through the crowd.

Upon seeing Shang Jianyao beside her, Gu Hong smiled and greeted him. “Jianyao, you’re getting more and more spirited.”

“I still need to learn more from you,” Shang Jianyao replied in an incongruous manner. It was unknown what was wrong with him.

Fortunately, Gu Hong’s focus wasn’t on him. She then told Long Yuehong the reason for the spectacle. “The people from the Order Supervisory Department came over and moved away the tattered furniture in the room.”

As she spoke, she lowered her voice. “Something bad must’ve happened inside. It needs to be thoroughly cleaned.”

“Is that so…” Long Yuehong suspected that the Order Supervisory Department had yet to discover any problems, so they could only empty the room and air it out.

At this thought, he subconsciously glanced at Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao nodded.

A nod… What does he mean… Long Yuehong couldn’t understand.

It took him a long time to come to a realization. He retreated from the crowd and suppressed his voice. “After lights out?”

Do another reconnaissance after lights out?

In any case, nothing happened to the Order Supervisory Department.

Shang Jianyao nodded again. He then returned to Zone B, Room 196.

As there was still some time before Newspoint, Shang Jianyao lay on the bed and massaged his temples.

…

In the shimmering Sea of Origins, Shang Jianyao leisurely but persistently swam forward.

As he swam, he saw a thin, yellowish-green fog spread out at the intersection of the dark sky and the Sea of Origins.

Shang Jianyao’s expression became excited. His hands quickly alternated, and his feet constantly kicked the ‘water’ as he rapidly swam in that direction.

As the distance shortened, he saw a large city appear in the faint, yellowish-green fog.

The city was filled with tall buildings, and the lights were like reflected stars—magnificent and spectacular.

Shang Jianyao continued swimming in that direction, but he couldn’t really approach it no matter what. It was as if there was an invisible, impenetrable barrier.

After a while, the thin, yellowish-green fog gradually thinned. The city that appeared to be from the Old World also disappeared.

Shang Jianyao stopped. As he treaded ‘water,’ he looked at the horizon and muttered to himself, “A mirage? A new island?”

He fell silent for a while before whispering again, “Yellow-green…”