Embers Ad Infinitum

The Old Task Force’s training included the dismantling of bombs. Since there was a remote-controlled detonator, there was definitely an electric circuit and something that received the electric signals. Therefore, Jiang Baimian and Long Yuehong quickly found all the bombs and removed the threat.

Upon seeing these dangerous items, Su Na and the others were terrified and flustered. They couldn’t believe that they had lived in such an environment for several days.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Baimian consoled them. “You were only being used; you won’t be targeted.”

At this moment, Bai Chen looked at these former Ashlandic prostitutes and calmly said, “It’s our enemy. As long as you have nothing to do with us from now on, you shouldn’t encounter such matters in the future.”

Su Na, Li Qiong, Qin Zhen, and the others looked at each other, feeling a little flustered and confused.

After a few seconds, Su Na smiled and said, “You saved me; I owe my life to you. How can there not be a connection?”

“Yes.”

“That’s right.” The other women echoed such a statement at various speeds.

Su Na then looked at Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao and said in anticipation, “I believe you can resolve this matter.”

Humans at the bottom of society are street smart… Jiang Baimian secretly sighed and said, “We will do our best, but we don’t have absolute confidence. During this process, you might encounter danger again. Many people might die.”

Su Na and the others fell silent.

After a while, Su Na forced a smile and said, “In any case, I’d have died in a year or two if it weren’t for you.”

Her attitude made the other women in the room say similar words one after another, regardless of their hesitation.

It’s not like I’m asking you to express your loyalty! You can go back on your words later… Jiang Baimian couldn’t help but criticize inwardly.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao smiled and said, “I can give you the strength to resist such matters when you encounter them. I can also nip the danger in the bud as long as you trust me.”

He looked at Su Na with clear eyes and waited for her answer.

Su Na thought of their previous boss—Ogre’s current state and hesitated for a few seconds before saying, “I trust you.”

“Then, follow me to the room next door.” Shang Jianyao pointed at the door.

Jiang Baimian watched quietly and didn’t stop him.

After arriving in the next room, Shang Jianyao looked into Su Na’s eyes again and said, “I’ll only state two facts: First, we saved you. Second, we have been doing our best to help you gain a foothold in First City and truly survive. So if someone wants you to deal with us, you will…”

Su Na nodded slightly before revealing a determined and indignant expression. “I’ll shoot him on the spot!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped and smiled. “That’s a better answer than I imagined.”

A little embarrassed, Su Na said, “I-I don’t really know how to use that kind of pistol.”

“Just practice more,” Shang Jianyao said as he walked to the door.

Su Na was a little confused. “That’s it?”

She felt like nothing had changed.

“That’s enough; you did well.” Shang Jianyao praised her and led Su Na—who still didn’t understand what had happened—back to the room where they used to learn the Red River language.

He then spoke to the Ashlandic women individually, making them wary of the people who tried to harm the Old Task Force.

Among them, some were willing to draw their guns and counterattack like Su Na. Some expressed that they wouldn’t listen to the other party. Some said that they would appear to be cooperating on the surface but would secretly inform the Old Task Force.

Shang Jianyao didn’t remember who made what choice.

While he was busy with this matter, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Genava finished interrogating the Black Shirts members—who were now fast-food restaurant servants. They carefully searched the Wolf’s Den again and didn’t discover any other traps left behind by Father.

After Shang Jianyao returned to the lobby, Long Yuehong asked curiously, “This can allow them to effectively resist Father’s hypnosis?”

Shang Jianyao smiled. “Not only can it effectively resist him, but they can also counterattack. If Father really accidentally dies under Su Na and the others’ muzzles, I’ll bury him somewhere in the North Shore’s wastelands. I’ll play music and dance at his grave from time to time and mock him loudly.”

That’s brutal… This word suddenly appeared in Long Yuehong’s ‘mind.’ He deliberated and said, “Then, can you give us a similar ‘inference’ to prevent Father’s ‘hypnosis,’ just like how you dealt with Qiao Chu back then?”

Shang Jianyao shook his head. “It’s mainly because I can’t predict Father’s goal in hypnotizing you, while I can roughly guess what Su Na and the others will be asked to do. I can give specific conditions and obtain the desired effects.”

At this point, Shang Jianyao laughed. “If you don’t mind, we can list all the possibilities. I’ll add immunity to them one by one. But with so many inference effects stacked together, it will likely affect your day-to-day life.”

As he spoke, he revealed an eager expression as if he wanted Long Yuehong to agree to the experiment.

“Forget it then.” Long Yuehong knew better.

Jiang Baimian nodded as well. “Let’s try our best not to split up. With Old Ge around, we don’t have to worry too much about being secretly affected by the real Father.”

After discussing this matter, Jiang Baimian looked at Wolf’s Den’s original boss—Ogre—and asked, “There should be surveillance cameras installed here, right?”

Ogre nodded. “Yes, this place is still relatively important. There’s a surveillance camera installed at the door.”

“Take out the surveillance footage from the past few days then.” Jiang Baimian’s eyes lit up slightly.

Su Na replied before Ogre could. “That camera is already broken.”

“When was it broken?” Jiang Baimian asked.

“I-I think it was the night before yesterday.” Li Qiong remembered that a servant had reported this matter back then.

The night before yesterday? The night before the arrest of the Anti-intellectualism Church members in the Zhao family manor… When did Father really come to the Wolf’s Den?

As Long Yuehong’s thoughts raced, he heard his team leader ask Su Na and the others, “The surveillance footage is still there, right?”

“The hard disk was stolen,” Ogre replied honestly.

Jiang Baimian sighed. “How cautious. Father is still somewhat wary of technological products.”

At this moment, Bai Chen asked, “Are there any other cameras? Are they all broken?”

Ogre pointed at a hidden spot at the lobby’s ceiling. “There’s another one there.”

Jiang Baimian wasn’t surprised at all. She had long discovered the camera that could capture the depths of Wolf’s Den.

She glanced at the surveillance camera and asked, “It’s broken too?”

“Yes.” Ogre nodded heavily.

Jiang Baimian was just about to ask about something else when an idea suddenly flashed across her mind. She casually asked, “This camera doesn’t seem to be the same model as the camera at the door. They weren’t installed at the same time?”

Ogre smiled obsequiously. “The camera at the door was installed a few years ago. I haven’t been able to find such a model recently. This one… This one…”

As he spoke, he suddenly froze. “I don’t remember when I installed it…”

“I don’t remember either…” The other Black Shirts members, Su Na, and the others shook their heads.

Long Yuehong suddenly felt a little suffocated. How many other setups did the real Father implement that have yet to be discovered?

Jiang Baimian drew her gun and aimed at the camera, but she ultimately didn’t pull the trigger.

“It seems like the real Father knows how to use technological products.” Jiang Baimian laughed and inserted the Ice Moss pistol back into her belt. “Besides, he was adequately prepared. It’s naturally best if he can blow us up. If he can’t, he’ll use this surveillance camera to figure out how we resolved the crisis and what hidden means we have.”

“With cameras already here, it’s very difficult to discover any problems with an additional camera,” Bai Chen said.

In particular, the few people who knew the camera’s exact location had been hypnotized.

Jiang Baimian sighed. “Fortunately, I have a certain level of research on electronic products and paid attention to the details.”

As Long Yuehong felt a lingering fear, Shang Jianyao smiled and said, “The jig is up!”

Uh… Long Yuehong was a little confused.

Jiang Baimian smiled as well. “If there’s no explosion after some time, he will send someone back to retrieve the card that stores the surveillance footage.”

At this point, she clapped her hands. “Alright, we just need to wait and see who retrieves the surveillance footage.”

This street—and even most of the Green Olive Zone—wasn’t wired to the Internet, much less a wireless signal. Even if some merchants had phones and could connect to First City’s network, they were only limited to calling and texting.