Embers Ad Infinitum

Long Yuehong finished reading the information projected by Genava and asked with uncertainty, “Could the Anti-intellectualism Church’s target be the two of them?”

He felt that there were still too many options. After all, under the premise that the Reformists and the Conservatives’ conflict had intensified, the assassination of any Elder on both sides or any person with authority who had yet to enter the Senate could escalate the internal strife, just like throwing a burning match into a keg of gunpowder.

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and said, “There’s definitely more, but I’m more inclined to believe that the Anti-intellectualism Church’s target is General Phocas. Seeds were planted in Shang Jianyao and me at the general’s residence. This indicates that the Anti-intellectualism Church has already infiltrated the area to a certain extent. General Phocas is either one of them or the next target.

“Yes, there’s a small chance that Superintendent Alexander is the Anti-intellectualism Church’s target. He’s one of First City’s two big shots, so the protection he receives is definitely of the highest level. Even if the Anti-intellectualism Church mobilizes all eight Elders, they most likely won’t succeed. Their only hope is that a traitor has appeared around Alexander and that there’s a mole. This isn’t something we can interfere with. Even if we want to be free bodyguards acting in secret, there’s a high chance that we will be discovered and captured as the Anti-intellectualism Church’s accomplices.

“As for the shock from the death of other Elders and the reactions from various parties, it would be inferior to something that happens to General Phocas. Besides, we don’t have enough manpower and can’t do everything. We can only choose the most likely possibility. Leave the rest to the company to see if they can figure out anything.”

After hearing that, Shang Jianyao smiled. “This is fate.”

This time, Long Yuehong roughly understood what he meant.

The Old Task Force—which had no intention of returning to General Phocas’s residence—had to monitor the area again.

When the time came, Shang Jianyao definitely wouldn’t miss any celebratory feast.

Jiang Baimian ignored Shang Jianyao and nodded. “We’ll formulate a plan to monitor General Phocas’s residence then. The first premise is that we can’t be discovered by the Anti-intellectualism Church or the general’s security personnel.”

“We should place emphasis on the public bathrooms in the area!” Shang Jianyao suggested seriously.

“Huh?” As Long Yuehong was a little confused, Jiang Baimian, Bai Chen, and Genava turned their heads at the same time to look at the projected page of information—it was the cigarette butt’s laboratory report.

The saliva extracted from it had a component called Ralph sugar. It was a cheap candy made from a type of plant root mixed with peppermint. In Redstone Collection, it was called ‘Eating for Nothing.’ It wasn’t sweet, but it was very refreshing.

Its only problem was that it would cause a certain level of diarrhea, making any consumption of it to be equivalent to ‘eating for nothing.’ This negative side effect was very popular in First City, where dietary habits easily caused constipation and indigestion.

Citizens at the lower strata of society that couldn’t afford Ralph candy would regularly eat a plant root called ‘Yellow’ and make it serve as stew on the dining table. It had similar effects to ‘Eating For Nothing,’ but it was relatively mild.

Therefore, the real Father often smoked Flagship cigarettes and ate Ralph candy to energize himself. It was possible that he frequently suffered from diarrhea.

Although this sounded a little disgusting and funny, they might really gain something by monitoring the public bathrooms around General Phocas’s residence.

As Long Yuehong came to a realization, Shang Jianyao imagined the scene. “When I rush into the bathroom, the real Father would’ve already taken off his pants and squatted there with his ass bare-naked. All he can do is stare at me.”

Long Yuehong imagined the scene and felt that the real Father might kill himself in embarrassment.

“Be careful not to be hypnotized because of eye contact.” The naive Genava didn’t understand Shang Jianyao’s humor.

…

Two days later, the Old Task Force—which had finished setting up the monitoring zones around General Phocas’s residence—went to Wolf’s Den before they began their official monitoring. They handed the rest of the Ashlandic introductory textbooks to Su Na and the others.

Bai Chen looked at the women and coldly reminded them, “Study well. There are many people in the Ashlands who died tragically because they wanted to grasp language and knowledge.”

She didn’t mention the people from the Anti-intellectualism Church—the real Father who had almost blown up Wolf’s Den—and how they hated normal people who wanted to think and learn. This was because she was worried that it would end up scaring these insecure women who had yet to gain a firm foothold in the city.

“Yes, yes.” Su Na nodded hard. “Actually, we don’t find it difficult to learn languages. We grasp words bit by bit, and we can understand some words without using the translation device. It makes us very, very happy.”

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly and said, “That’s for the best. I think your preparations for the fast-food restaurant are almost done. The corresponding ingredients can be settled the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

Tomorrow was the day of the handover of Left Bank Manor.

When trading firearms with Lehman, Jiang Baimian would add an additional clause: Within three years, no matter who the manor was sold to, they had to sell the manor’s production to the fast-food restaurant that was run by Su Na and the others for minimum profit.

After three years, either Su Na and the others couldn’t continue running the business in First City and moved elsewhere, changed businesses, or they had already established themselves.

Su Na and the others couldn’t help but exchange a few words, filled with anticipation.

Upon seeing that the Old Task Force was about to leave, Su Na recalled something and quickly said, “Ogre seems to be looking for you.”

“Ogre?” Jiang Baimian repeated the name.

This was the former boss of Wolf’s Den, a core member of the Black Shirts.

Ogre—who had a thick beard and was no longer slightly obese—had just come out of the bathroom when he saw the smiling Shang Jianyao.

For some reason, he shivered and quickly smiled. “Good morning.”

“I heard you were looking for us?” Shang Jianyao asked on behalf of Jiang Baimian.

Ogre hurriedly nodded. “Yes. Actually, Second Boss Terrence came to find you and said that he had information on the Church of Paragon Desire. He wanted you to meet him.”

Second Boss was a specific term for the Black Shirts. In Ashlandic organizations, they were equivalent to a deputy leader, but there was more autonomy, making the role more of a partner.

Intelligence regarding the Church of Paragon Desire? Jiang Baimian didn’t say anything else and nodded. “Alright.”

After leaving Wolf’s Den, she suddenly chuckled and said, “The real Father really is a haunting presence.”

“Is there a problem with Terrence?” Bai Chen asked acutely.

Jiang Baimian looked back at Wolf’s Den. “Since the real Father has been here, it’s impossible for him not to sense that Ogre and the others have an odd relationship with Ashlandic women like Su Na. With his ability to tamper with memories, he can easily figure out that Ogre and the others belong to the Black Shirts and come under Terrence. They became like this because of what they encountered.

“Therefore, Shang Jianyao’s Inference Clowning ability should’ve been exposed to the real Father. It’s too much of a coincidence that Terrence would suddenly wish to meet us at such a time.”

She paused and said, “I suspect that the effects of Terrence’s Inference Clowning have already been secretly removed by the real Father. He’s now incomparably clear-headed and has gathered the Black Shirts and the Church of Spiritual Transcendence clergymen to set a trap for us as revenge.”

“What should we do then?” Long Yuehong was most afraid that his team leader would say that they would beat him at his own game and force him to do something. He was also afraid that they would do nothing, thereby allowing Wolf’s Den to be taken over by the Black Shirts again.

Jiang Baimian smiled at Shang Jianyao. “Let Hey have a chat with him.”

…

In a coffee shop at the Red Wolf Zone, Shang Jianyao—who had disguised himself—picked up the receiver and dialed Terrence’s number.

The person who picked up the call was a Black Shirts member. He quickly found the Black Shirts’s second boss, Terrence—a Church of Spiritual Transcendence member.

“It’s me, Zhang Qubing.” Shang Jianyao directly gave his name.

Terrence fell silent for two seconds before saying with a smile, “When are you coming over as a guest? I miss you very much and have something to discuss with you.”

Shang Jianyao asked without hiding anything, “Do you not trust me anymore?”

Terrence fell silent again.

Shang Jianyao smiled without minding it. “I know who’s trying to sow discord between us. You have to know that he’s from the Anti-intellectualism Church and has strong ties with the Church of Paragon Desire.”

Terrence said nothing.

Shang Jianyao continued, “If you change your mind, you can send a telegram to this frequency range at this time tonight. We will call back based on the situation…”

He repeated the exact time and frequency twice before hanging up the phone with a bang and walking out of the café that was closely monitored by the four other Old Task Force members.

At 9 p.m., Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao—who had taken turns leaving the area around General Phocas’s residence—returned to their rest points and switched on the radio transceiver.

The surveillance spot they chose was rather far from General Phocas’s residence to prevent them from being discovered by the other party’s security personnel. They mainly relied on the building’s height, binoculars, and Genava for observation.

Before long, they received a telegram: “The Church of Paragon Desire has been active in First City’s recent situation and is suspected to be deeply involved. If you agree to cooperate, I hope we can meet up. The exact time, location, and method will be up to you.”