Embers Ad Infinitum

Three days later, the Old Task Force was in a safe house in the Red Wolf Zone.

Shang Jianyao stood up and walked to the cracked full-body mirror in the room. In the mirror, his hair was brown. His eye sockets had also been cleverly circled, making them appear rather deep.

His facial contours also became more three-dimensional under the makeup and other things. This made him look ethnically like a Red River person.

Under Jiang Baimian’s skillful disguise, Shang Jianyao became less handsome. It was to prevent him from being noticed in the nobles’ private rooms and attracting suspicion.

However, his tall figure and masculine bearing remained. In any case, this wasn’t that obvious among First City’s nobles—who appeared to advocate strength and force.

As far as Jiang Baimian knew, a large portion of the genetic enhancement liquid and drugs exported by Pangu Biology every year were delivered to First City and shared by the nobles.

On the one hand, they promoted the idea that the Old World’s destruction came from forbidden experiments and called on everyone to resist unnatural genetic technology. On the other hand, they secretly enhanced their genes to prove to the subordinates that nobles had bloodlines, legacies, and were favored by the heavens.

Therefore, a large number of nobles in First City were above 1.8 meters tall. They were tall, muscular, and good-looking.

Looking at his reflection, Shang Jianyao suddenly sighed. “Sigh…”

“What’s wrong? You don’t find yourself handsome enough?” Jiang Baimian teased with a smile.

With Shang Jianyao’s train of thought, this definitely isn’t the reason… Long Yuehong muttered silently. Of course, he couldn’t figure out why Shang Jianyao sighed.

Shang Jianyao retracted his gaze with a regretful expression. “It’s too ordinary. It’s rare to dye my hair, so how can there only be one color?”

“You want it to be rainbow-colored?” Jiang Baimian laughed.

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said seriously, “It’s too eye-catching. Three colors are enough.”

That’s also very unconventional, alright? Long Yuehong criticized inwardly.

Jiang Baimian ignored Shang Jianyao’s complaints and tidied herself up in the mirror.

She was very satisfied with her black hair, so she didn’t change its color. After all, there were black-haired ethnicities among the Red River people. This was even mainstream among the people who first established First City back then—they came from the Akson area.

The Old Task Force had patronized a restaurant near Ugo Hotel. Its boss was an Akson, and his hair was as black as an Ashlandic’s.

Jiang Baimian had only draped her hair down and curled it a little. She then used a pair of beautifying contact lenses that the Blackshirts had painstakingly obtained.

It didn’t correct eyesight, and it was an antique from the Old World. Although the packaging was still intact, Jiang Baimian didn’t know if it could still be used.

She could only rely on her superior constitution as a ‘Chosen One’ to wear it according to the instructions. It would only take two to three hours anyway.

This made her eyes blue like a quiet sea under the sun.

Her facial features, facial contours, and facial lines had also been altered to make her more like an Akson, and she became less beautiful.

This time, she would be watching the gladiator fight as Shang Jianyao’s female companion.

“There’s only one pair of such contact lenses. Little White, why don’t you and Little Red continue being Ashlandic? However, you have to alter your looks to prevent the Anti-intellectualism Church from recognizing you.” Jiang Baimian brushed her hair and looked at Bai Chen. “In any case, there are a few Ashlandic slaves among those nobles.”

Bai Chen fell silent for two seconds before saying, “I’d better not enter the arena and just wait for you outside with Old Ge.”

Genava was considered a ‘heavy weapon’ and couldn’t be brought into the arena, much less the nobles’ VIP room.

Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully. “Alright.”

She didn’t ask why.

She then smiled at Long Yuehong. “Do you want to dye your hair or maintain your current state?”

“Let’s keep it this way.” Long Yuehong was still rather resistant to dyed hair.

Nobody in Pangu Biology dyed their hair!

“Alright, sit down. I’ll help you pad your nose, fix your eyebrows, and apply some eyeliner. In short, I’ll make you look like another person.” It wasn’t Jiang Baimian who spoke, but Shang Jianyao.

He mimicked Jiang Baimian’s tone as if he had already mastered the corresponding skills.

Long Yuehong naturally didn’t dare to be his experimental subject. He took a step back and muttered, “I’m afraid you’ll make me look like a woman.”

Someone like Ruhua[1]!

Shang Jianyao smiled. “Isn’t that a good thing? A perfect disguise!”

“Sit down; I’ll do it.” Jiang Baimian glared at Shang Jianyao and walked away. She smiled and said, “Actually, the most skilled person in this regard is Old Ge. As long as he obtains the corresponding data, he can immediately become a makeup master. My auxiliary chip isn’t that strong, and it’s inferior to a smart bot in terms of control.”

Genava moved his metal neck. “From his height, build, and facial features, feminization would be a better direction if Little Red wants to disguise himself as a Red River noble.”

Although Long Yuehong knew that Old Ge was telling the truth and just didn’t know the ways of the world, he still choked from the blood figuratively rushing into his throat. He exhaled and said, “I’m an Ashlandic slave.”

Jiang Baimian held in her laughter and began putting on his makeup.

During this process, Long Yuehong asked in confusion, “Team Leader, why did you make Shang Jianyao pretend to be a noble? He can also be an Ashlandic slave.”

It was common for Red River female nobles to have tall Ashlandic slaves by their sides in First City.

Long Yuehong wasn’t jealous of Shang Jianyao, but he felt that Shang Jianyao’s brain would spasm at any moment. It was impossible to know what would happen if he exchanged pleasantries with others in the noble’s VIP room.

“That would be too eye-catching,” Jiang Baimian replied as she busied herself. “The primary requirement this time is to keep a low profile and not attract attention. Besides, if there’s a chance, he can communicate with the target as a noble and use Inference Clowning.

“Yes, although we’re past the Chaotic Era and the use of firearms has closed the gap between men and women’s physiques, there are also many female nobles in First City’s so-called high society with a high status. But those who are passionate about watching gladiator fights and aren’t accompanying their male friends are limited. Everyone should know each other.”

Shang Jianyao smiled. “Actually, we can make Little Red pretend to be a noble. You and I will be his servants. I’m just afraid that his legs and stomach will tremble when he discovers that he needs to carry the entire matter alone.”

“How is that possible…” Long Yuehong subconsciously retorted.

He didn’t continue the topic.

After finishing their disguises, the Old Task Force quintet synchronized the time and set off separately.

This time, Genava and Bai Chen drove the modified jeep. Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Long Yuehong sat in a newly rented and rather imposing black car.

The Apex Gladiator Arena was in the Red Wolf Zone, not far from the Golden Apple Zone. There were fewer buildings around it, and the terrain was open.

After parking the car, Shang Jianyao took a big stride forward and went straight to the private entrance of the nobles’ VIP room.

Jiang Baimian grabbed him and gave him a ‘sweet’ smile. She then held Shang Jianyao’s arm and dutifully played the role of a female companion.

Long Yuehong carried the bag containing pistols and followed behind as a servant and bodyguard.

At the entrance, the burly security guard first checked the tickets. He then looked at Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao’s clothes—which probably couldn’t hide any heavy weapons—and politely indicated that they could enter.

Long Yuehong was carefully searched from top to bottom.

The aristocratic VIP room was located in the best area, giving the best angle and distance among the southern stands in the colosseum. Compared to the surrounding open-air seats, it had a roof that shielded one from the sun and rain, bulletproof glass walls, and small, half-enclosed, transparent rooms.

Shang Jianyao, Jiang Baimian, and Long Yuehong found the small room corresponding to their tickets and sat down.

As soon as his butt touched the soft chair, Long Yuehong realized that none of the servants in the nearby small rooms were sitting, even if they had entered with a ticket.

After being stunned for a second, Long Yuehong forcefully pulled himself out of his seat, walked behind Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian, and assumed a ‘professional’ posture.

At this moment, another group of people entered the nobles’ VIP room.

Long Yuehong, Jiang Baimian, and Shang Jianyao looked over and saw a familiar face—the lion-like General Phocas!

Why is he here? Long Yuehong was alarmed.

…

In a small shop selling private brews near Antanna Street.

“You’re pretty lucky. You managed to get a match the first time!” As the organ merchant led Han Wanghuo in, Yan Miao smiled and said, “Maybe it’s like the Ashlandic proverb: good people will be rewarded. Heh heh, although I’m also Ashlandic, I grew up in First City and don’t know much about Ashlandic culture…”

Han Wanghuo ignored his droning and directly asked, “Is it the lady you previously mentioned?”

“Yes, you’ll meet her later.” Yan Miao turned into a booth at a corner of the shop and pointed opposite. “Wait about 15 minutes.”

“I thought you would be very punctual,” Han Wanghuo said calmly. Shouldn’t a similar black market transaction be precise to the minute? How could one wait so long?

Yan Miao smiled. “What are you worried about? Even if we encounter a sheriff, the one who should be afraid is the boss here, not us. What else can it be other than a meetup between a man, a woman, and their introducer?”

Han Wanghuo nodded and sat down. He didn’t know how to respond to Yan Miao’s words and could only remain silent.

[1] An ugly character with a lovely name (flower-like) in Stephen Chow’s movie.