Embers Ad Infinitum

Frankly speaking, Jiang Baimian was a little confused after reading the telegram. This was because it wasn’t Lehman’s first time smuggling firearms. He had a considerable connection network in First City, and he also had a group of capable and powerful subordinates. He couldn’t be considered high-profile, and he could even be considered cautious. How did he suddenly end up in danger?

“What happened to make Lehman seek help and give him time to send this telegram?” Bai Chen voiced her doubts.

Jiang Baimian turned to look at Shang Jianyao and Genava.

The two of them shook their heads in unison. “There’s insufficient information for analysis.”

Upon seeing this, Long Yuehong deliberated and said, “Could this telegram be fake? After someone captured Lehman, they interrogated him about our contact information and specially sent a telegram to bait us?”

Jiang Baimian nodded and said, “This also means that Lehman is in danger.”

Just as she said that, Shang Jianyao said with a pained expression, “Our military exoskeleton and T1 mechanical arm are also in danger.”

For some reason, Long Yuehong and Bai Chen felt that this sentence hit the nail on the head.

Genava analyzed another possibility. “Could our enemies have found Lehman and have reached an agreement to deal with us?”

He meant that the telegram was a trap in another sense.

“There’s no need to do that, right? He could directly choose our transaction venue.” Long Yuehong could now be considered an active thinker.

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged his words. “But when we make the deal with Lehman, we wouldn’t do as he says. We will definitely choose to be in a position of power.”

She looked at the telegram again and didn’t harp on the topic. “No matter what, let’s go to Cornet Street to take a look first. However, don’t be in a rush to show your face. Focus on secret observation.”

“Yes, Team Leader!” Shang Jianyao was very concerned about this matter.

…

Cornet Street was located at the intersection of Red Wolf Zone and Golden Grain Zone. It simultaneously had good public security and also all kinds of riffraff residents in the mix.

After many rounds of secret observation, the Old Task Force preliminarily confirmed that Apartment 55 wasn’t monitored by anyone.

For this reason, they used the Ring of Blindness to enhance Shang Jianyao’s perception range greatly and confirm if there were any human consciousnesses in the areas that afforded monitoring and sniping.

After completing this job, the Old Task Force split up again. Bai Chen and Long Yuehong wore their military exoskeletons and monitored their surroundings from a vantage point, ready to provide any reinforcements. Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Genava directly entered Apartment 55.

From the second floor, Jiang Baimian immediately saw Lehman’s two subordinates. They had met the four Old Task Force members—excluding Genava—at Redstone Collection.

“Long time no see!” Shang Jianyao greeted them in relief.

One of Lehman’s subordinates nodded with a serious expression. “Why are you suddenly here? Haven’t we not determined the transaction location and time?”

Isn’t your boss asking for help? Jiang Baimian’s eyebrows twitched slightly as she said seriously, “If we hadn’t agreed to do the transaction here, how do you think we knew you were here?”

Lehman’s two subordinates revealed confused and puzzled expressions. They felt like something had exceeded their expectations, and they were at a loss.

“Where’s Lehman?” Jiang Baimian didn’t give them a chance to think.

“The boss is on the third floor,” one of Lehman’s subordinates replied instinctively. He then emphasized, “But you can’t go up.”

Jiang Baimian’s eyes darted around as she exchanged looks with Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao immediately retorted, “Why can’t we go up? We’re acquaintances with Lehman, and we’ve also agreed to make a deal. Why can’t we go up?”

Lehman’s two subordinates fell into deep thought. After a few seconds, they said, “Indeed, you can…”

Shang Jianyao didn’t say anything else and led the way by stepping past the duo in front of him.

Jiang Baimian and Genava followed closely behind.

There were a total of six rooms on the third floor. Shang Jianyao wanted to shout, “Lehman, where are you?” but he was held back by Jiang Baimian.

Jiang Baimian lowered her voice and said, “Let Old Ge do a scan first…”

Before she could finish her sentence, the wooden door creaked open in one of the two rooms furthest from the stairs.

Lehman—who looked like an honest farmer—looked over at them.

The arms dealer immediately looked delighted. He waved his hand and suppressed his voice. “Here, here.”

Upon seeing that Lehman was safe and sound but appearing very anxious, Jiang Baimian led Shang Jianyao and Genava over with a bellyful of questions and guesses and entered the room.

During this process, they didn’t relax their observation, perception, or scanning of their surroundings.

Just as the three of them entered the room, Lehman looked outside and quickly closed the wooden door.

“You’re finally here!” The arms dealer from United Industries heaved a sigh of relief.

“A cloud-piercing arrow is all that’s needed to summon the aid of troops.” Shang Jianyao spoke in Ashlandic seriously.

Although Lehman could speak basic Ashlandic, he didn’t understand what Shang Jianyao meant.

Jiang Baimian didn’t explain and asked, “Mr. Lehman, you seem fine. Why did you request our help?”

Before she spoke, she had already looked around and taken in the situation in the room.

This was an apartment with two rooms, one living room, and one bathroom. It had tables and chairs, and the environment was clean. There was even a television that could receive the only channel from First City’s official television station.

Lehman revealed a confused and terrified expression. “Something strange happened that makes me feel that I’m in grave danger.”

Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully and pointed at the floor. “Your subordinates betrayed you?”

“I wonder if it’s considered a betrayal…” Lehman replied with a frown. He further explained, “I’m never careless when I come to First City. I’ll definitely bring enough manpower and hire trustworthy Awakened bodyguards to ensure the safety of myself and the goods. It’s the same this time. Yes, everything was normal for a while, but something strange happened after we moved to this apartment.”

Lehman revealed a terrified expression again. “First, Richardson looks at me strangely as if I were a prisoner and he wasn’t a bodyguard but a prison guard. He watched me and forbade me from leaving the room. He said that this was all for my safety. I admit that he has self-consistent logic, but everything seems ridiculous when you consider our employer and bodyguard roles.”

“He’s crazy,” Shang Jianyao sincerely replied.

“No, no.” Lehman shook his head and said, “I took the opportunity to find Rondar when he went to the bathroom. He’s one of my subordinates, and I’ve known him for many years. After I told him that Richardson was acting abnormally, Rondar actually said, ‘Boss, Richardson is right. You should stay in the room.'”

Lehman’s face was filled with horror when he repeated Rondar’s words as if he still had nightmares because of this.

He suddenly sounded agitated. “The others have also changed. All of them have become strangers, trapping me here! I didn’t know what would happen next, so I could only find an opportunity to steal the radio transceiver and seek your help.”

Jiang Baimian quietly listened and consoled him. “I can understand your fear. Such strange matters are indeed terrifying. Don’t panic. Do you remember who Richardson came into contact with before the problem began?”

Lehman had long considered this question and shook his head. “Apart from some pedestrians we encountered on the way, he hasn’t interacted with anyone.”

Jiang Baimian nodded and smiled. “Then, let’s talk to Rondar and the others.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Shang Jianyao.

The reason they didn’t find Richardson first was that he was an Awakened. Lehman wasn’t too sure about his abilities and price.

Rondar was one of the people who had stopped Jiang Baimian and the others. He had blond hair and blue eyes. He was dressed in black and looked rather muscular.

“The transaction is completed.” Shang Jianyao smiled and walked over. “We established a friendly partnership with Lehman, and you are Lehman’s trusted subordinates. Therefore…”

Rondar and his companion came to a realization and smiled sincerely. “Don’t treat us as strangers. Is there anything we can do?”

Shang Jianyao then asked, “I heard that you’re not letting Lehman go out?”

“That’s right.” Rondar wore a matter-of-factly expression. “It’s so dangerous outside, so how can Boss leave so easily?”

He didn’t seem to find anything wrong with doing so. Furthermore, he still considered himself Lehman’s trusted aide.

Jiang Baimian frowned after hearing that. After some thought, she said to Shang Jianyao, “Why does it feel a little like yours?”

She was referring to the uniqueness of Inference Clowning.

“Is that so?” Shang Jianyao asked in an expectant tone.

At this moment, Rondar looked at the door to a room on the second floor and smiled. He raised his hand and waved. “Richardson, you’re awake?”