Embers Ad Infinitum

Wasteland’s Ruin No. 13? Jiang Baimian raised her eyebrows in surprise when she heard Genava’s answer.

Lehman took two steps back in horror as though he had heard a horror story.

Anyone who had a certain level of understanding of First City was no stranger to Ruin No. 13. On both sides of the Red River—north of the Taiwei River and south of the North Shore Mountains—was one of the Old World’s most prosperous and lively areas. A large number of cities were situated here, forming a metropolitan area with a large population and dense industrial layout.

When the Old World was destroyed, most of this place had become a wasteland. Cities either suffered physical destruction or transformed into a hotbed for Heartless and mutated creatures.

After First City was established from a relatively well-preserved city and amassed a certain level of strength, they began to explore the different ruins in the area to obtain resources and expand.

Logically speaking, First City was nominally the number one faction in the Ashlands. After decades of hard work, it was impossible for the city ruins under their noses to remain the same. They had definitely taken away the most important and most useful resources, leaving only scraps for wilderness nomads and Ruin Hunters.

However, there was an exception—Ruin No. 13. It was very close to First City, but it didn’t seem to have been effectively developed. At the very least, the local Ruin Hunters had never encountered any supplies or technology that came from it.

What was even stranger was that First City not only didn’t explore it but also sent an army to guard all roads that led to it and prevented anyone from entering Ruin No. 13.

Therefore, rumors gradually spread among the people that Ruin No. 13 hid something very dangerous. Even the troops sent by First City vanished and failed to return.

There were also rumors that First City had discovered some information related to the Old World’s destruction in Ruin No. 13. They were organizing manpower to establish a secret laboratory there and carry out forbidden experiments.

In short, after constant embellishment, Ruin No. 13 had already become a mysterious and terrifying place in the hearts of First City’s civilians.

The Dao and Electronic Appliances Repairs radio station was actually located there!

Recalling how Wu Meng had ‘controlled’ all his bodyguards through the radio, Lehman shivered. He no longer treated the rumors regarding Ruin No. 13 as a joke.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao said with bright eyes, “This can be used as a blueprint for a horror story.”

Then, you will submit a manuscript to our company’s radio station? Jiang Baimian subconsciously guessed Shang Jianyao’s goal. She then restrained her thoughts and said to Genava, “Investigate again tomorrow and see if there are any changes to the location.”

“Alright.” Genava spoke in a slightly synthetic male voice.

Jiang Baimian turned to look at Lehman and smiled. “Based on the current situation, the probability that you were targeted is very low. The probability is almost equivalent to the accidental encounter of a horror event.”

Lehman’s expression changed slightly as he asked in a deep voice, “Rondar, Richardson, and the others have returned to normal?”

“Probably. Such matters are like magic—it won’t be effective once exposed,” Jiang Baimian consoled.

At least, it was the same this time.

But some aren’t… Shang Jianyao’s words were just about to leave his mouth when Jiang Baimian glared at him.

Lehman nodded slightly when he heard that. “After completing my transaction with you, I’ll leave First City.”

According to Richardson, this was the first time he had listened in on the Dao and Electrical Appliances Repairs radio station since arriving here.

You don’t even need us to urge you… Jiang Baimian laughed inwardly and nodded. “Then, shall we complete the transaction today? We have a manor here. The farm covers an area…”

After Lehman heard all the conditions offered by the Old Task Force, he frowned and said, “It is very troublesome dealing with a manor. It will take at least four to five days…”

Jiang Baimian could tell that this arms dealer from United Industries wished he could leave First City that very night.

“Maybe we can help…” Shang Jianyao volunteered.

Lehman ignored his words and struggled for a few seconds before saying, “Alright, it’s settled. We’ll do the delivery tomorrow—the corresponding Oray will be deposited into this bank account.”

The large sum of cash was borrowed from the Blackshirts’ second boss, Terrence. The same batch of supplies would be handed over along with Left Bank Manor.

Not bad, as expected of a real profiteer. It fully demonstrates the saying of ‘humans die for wealth, and birds die for food…’ Jiang Baimian thought that she could take the opportunity while Lehman was in a rush to escape First City to lower the price and obtain the manor’s subsequent management rights.

In that case, she wouldn’t need to tell Lehman about the women in Wolf’s Den. Who knew that Lehman would rather take a little risk to save on this ‘fee?’

At this moment, Lehman deliberated for a moment and said, seemingly distraught, “It’s all thanks to you saving me this time. I-I’ll give you another discount…”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped for his ‘forthrightness.’

Jiang Baimian held in her laughter and said, “There’s no need for a discount. Just agree to our two conditions.”

“What are they?” Lehman perked up.

Jiang Baimian roughly mentioned Su Na, Li Qiong, and the others’ fast-food restaurants and the need to provide them with the lowest price up to a certain date.

“It’s very difficult to sell such a manor at a good price like this…” Lehman muttered before agreeing. “Alright, this is equivalent to giving you a 10% discount!”

He asked in one go, “What’s the second condition?”

Jiang Baimian looked like she was just casually asking, “Do you have a way to get tickets to the aristocrat VIP room at the Apex Gladiator Arena?”

Lehman glanced at her, Shang Jianyao, and Genava before smiling like an old, humble farmer. “This isn’t too difficult, but I have a premise.”

“What?” Jiang Baimian’s eyes flickered.

Lehman sincerely said, “I can only provide the tickets on a date after I leave First City.”

Very sharp… As expected of an arms dealer who has lived to this day… Jiang Baimian nodded and said, “No problem. There are a total of three colosseums, and I want five tickets for each.”

“That many?” Lehman blurted out, not hiding the difficult position he was in and the heartache. This seemed to cost him a sizable sum of favors, money, and supplies.

Upon seeing Jiang Baimian look at him with a faint smile, Lehman returned a polite smile. “Although it’s indeed a lot, it’s nothing compared to my life.”

As he still had to get tickets for the colosseums, he pushed the delivery time to 8 p.m. the day after tomorrow.

After leaving 55 Cornet Street, Jiang Baimian and the others circled around twice before getting into their modified jeep.

After waiting for a while, Bai Chen and Long Yuehong returned to the car with a crate containing the military exoskeleton.

After hearing his team leader’s recount and Shang Jianyao’s recount as though he was telling a horror story, Long Yuehong said in horror, “That Wu Meng is very powerful…”

If he really affected the radio listeners indiscriminately, he could destroy a city given sufficient conditions! Furthermore, he doesn’t care about life, others, or order at all.

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged his words and said, “Actually, his name reminds me of an idiom: ‘Amon[1] under the Wu’—an ignoramus.”

Bai Chen instantly understood what her team leader meant. “This is a name he gave himself. Does it mean that it’s different from the past?”

“It might also be something his parents gave him to express their beautiful wishes.” Genava gave another possibility that he managed to analyze.

Jiang Baimian didn’t answer Bai Chen’s question and thoughtfully said, “In the Chaotic Era when the Old World was first destroyed, many people escaped the restraints of social order. After obtaining certain abilities or resources, they showed extreme disregard for other people’s lives and individualities…”

“It wasn’t only in the Chaotic Era,” Genava added according to the data he had. “There are many examples even in the New Calendar.”

“He’s inflated himself,” Shang Jianyao commented.

Therefore, Wu Meng might be the same? He obtained terrifying power from Ruin No. 13? Long Yuehong voiced out his guess and sighed with emotion. “First City really has hidden talents…”

The Old Task Force had only been here for a few days, but they had already encountered so many hidden and terrifying powerhouses. For First City to maintain above-average order, their strength was obvious.

“Therefore, we can’t think that we can dominate First City just because we’ve successfully killed the real Father.” Jiang Baimian took the opportunity to educate her team. “Next, we need to keep a low profile. I repeat, we need to keep a low profile—a very low profile—and seriously push forward our primary mission.”

After confirming that they could obtain tickets to the colosseums through Lehman, the Old Task Force finally took a substantial step in their main mission of making contact with Oray’s descendants.

The reason Jiang Baimian wanted tickets for the three arenas was that she didn’t want to rashly ‘acquaint’ themselves with Oray’s grandson, Marcus. She planned on observing him one to two times and acting according to the situation.

…

While waiting for Lehman to get the tickets, the Old Task Force didn’t idle either. They split up again to search for Xiaochong and Han Wanghuo.

Antanna Street, underground black market.

Bai Chen and Long Yuehong found the organ merchant, Yan Miao.

“Are you here to buy or sell? If you want to sell, we have to see if there’s a buyer or how many buyers there are before a final price can be determined…” Yan Miao rattled on.

As Bai Chen listened carefully, she noticed that Yan Miao was constantly observing her and Long Yuehong’s reactions as he spoke.

She nodded indiscernibly and didn’t waste her breath. She took out Han Wanghuo’s portrait. “Have you seen this person?”

Yan Miao glanced at it and chuckled. “Would you believe me if I said I’ve never seen him?”

“No.” Long Yuehong felt that this was the right answer at this moment.

Yan Miao smiled and said, “There’s nothing I can do if you don’t believe me.”

“…” Long Yuehong was momentarily at a loss for words.

Fortunately, Yan Miao said, “I’ve seen him. He came to buy a heart and wanted to undergo a transplant, but he didn’t manage to get a match.”

“When was this?” Bai Chen asked calmly.

Yan Miao put on a reminiscing expression. “Yesterday. Yes, yesterday afternoon.”

What are you reminiscing about when it was yesterday afternoon? Long Yuehong barely resisted voicing out his criticism.

[1] Ah Meng