Embers Ad Infinitum

The Shang Jianyao sitting outside the golden elevator calmly replied, “It can also finish all of you off. Nothing will be missed.”

Shang Jianyao still looked at the tumbling red mark and suddenly sighed. “DiMarco’s remaining strength is useless.”

“That’s because he’s already dead while the Bangle of Blindness’s owner is still alive.” The Shang Jianyao at the golden elevator’s door naturally understood what the other party was saying.

He originally wanted to use the Destiny Pearl’s remaining strength and the aura in the Bangle of Blindness to balance each other. However, the green ‘bead’ was directly sent flying to the side, expending some of its energy for no reason. Now, it could barely be used once.

Shang Jianyao sighed. “I thought becoming a ghost would make me fiercer.”

As he spoke, he stood up and strolled around the golden elevator as if he were studying the situation elsewhere on the island.

“Aren’t you going to consider how to eliminate this latent danger?” asked the Shang Jianyao at the golden elevator door in amusement.

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said, “Leave it for now. Maybe the person on the other end is willing to befriend us and help us deal with you.”

“Don’t you get it? If you don’t resolve the problem in your heart, you will never be able to defeat me. At most, we will perish together.” The Shang Jianyao at the golden elevator’s door spoke calmly. “I know you will definitely say that there will be future generations even if we die, but that way, you will never understand why Daddy never returned.”

Shang Jianyao thought about it seriously. “That’s true.”

He appeared very calm. After all, it was his other self.

…

Red Wolf Zone, 19 Rosta Street, in a building with its own courtyard.

This was the headquarters of First City’s law enforcement department—Hand of Order.

Wall—who was as wide as a wall—entered the meeting room with a pen and paper. At a glance, he saw several familiar faces: Golden Apple Zone Orderly’s aide—the tall and handsome middle-aged gentleman, Konstanz; the Golden Apple Zone Orderly’s other aide, Theodore, who had a poor relationship with Wall…

Although the gladiator arena incident came under the Red Wolf Zone’s jurisdiction, the higher-ups attached great importance to it because it involved the aristocracy. Therefore, the Golden Apple Zone Orderly, Delion, had also sent a few capable subordinates over to help.

The person presiding over this meeting was Red Wolf Zone’s Orderly—Wall’s immediate superior—Trevis.

He was a noble. He wore a well-tailored formal suit, and he had black hair, black eyes, and a deep outline. He had a bearing that had been honed over time.

Trevis looked around and saw that everyone was already present. He nodded slightly and said, “There’s no need for me to repeat the details of this case, right?”

“There’s no need.” Wall tapped the paper with a capped pen.

“I don’t think I need to emphasize the importance of this matter. This is something the Senate directly handed to us, the Hand of Order.” After saying that, Trevis directly called out names. “Wall, what do you think?”

Wall looked down at the keywords recorded on the piece of paper and calmly said, “What puzzles me most is: What did that group of people do? Nobody seems to have been harmed at the scene, nor did anyone lose any important items.”

“They stole very important information,” Trevis replied in a rather friendly manner. “It was stolen from Marcus. As for the rest, it’s not something you can know. I’m not too sure myself.”

Wall was the son-in-law of the newly promoted Elder, Gaius.

Marcus? Konstanz, Theodore, and Wall repeated the name. They looked at each other and found some level of confusion on each other’s faces.

Although Marcus came from an illustrious background, he was also restrained by his background. He could neither enter the political arena nor the military. He was like a rare animal that was reared. He seemed to be respected, but he actually had no status.

What kind of very important information could such a person have? As his thoughts raced, Theodore realized that his eyes had met Wall’s. He quickly turned his neck to look away.

He didn’t hide his disgust and disdain at all.

Wall raised another question. “Sir, what information can be provided regarding the three suspects? I mean in terms of strength.”

As there didn’t seem to be a battle in this matter, almost no relevant information existed. To the Orderly’s aides and sheriff—who took the front line—this was very important. It determined everyone’s lives.

Trevis looked at his aide and got him to answer.

His aide picked up a document and read it out loud. “At least one of the three targets is an Awakened. He’s relatively extreme, accustomed to taking risks, and doesn’t take his life seriously. He has one or more extraordinary items…

“The trio’s cooperation successfully deceived an Awakened at the Mind Corridor level…”

Theodore, Konstanz, and Wall were originally relatively calm, but they couldn’t help but stir when they heard the last sentence.

This matter actually involved an Awakened at the Mind Corridor level! The three targets had stolen important information from under the nose of such a powerhouse!

No wonder the Senate places so much attention on this matter… Wall nodded indiscernibly. “I don’t have any questions for the time being. My exact train of thought is still a little fuzzy.”

“Are you planning on getting inspiration from someone else’s suggestion?” mocked the black-haired, brown-eyed, and ordinary-looking Theodore. He then paused and thought for a moment before saying, “There are currently several directions for the investigation. First, use the images left behind by the three targets for a large-scale investigation. However, they had clearly disguised themselves. Unless we find someone who knows them, it’s very difficult to gain anything. Second, start with the vehicles they used. Third, question Marcus to see if any strangers had tried to approach him…”

Just as Theodore said that, a sheriff from the Red Wolf Zone added, “I’ve already investigated the targets’ vehicle—it comes from a car rental company. They left a fake name at the car rental company and had also disguised themselves.”

“Damn it. Can’t those guys seriously verify the rentees’ identities?” another aide of the Red Wolf Zone Orderly, Trevis, grumbled.

Nobody replied.

All the Hand of Order members present knew that it was impossible to achieve this with First City’s administrative abilities and the Ashlands’ chaotic environment.

Following that, all directions were offered—they were denied on the spot or entered an investigation process. However, none of them impressed the experienced ones.

Finally, Wall spoke again. “I’ll raise two points: First, I actually encountered the three targets back then, but a shooting happened and drew my attention. This prevented me from making any effective observations…”

He took the opportunity to mention his encounter about borrowing a battery at the colosseum and said, “I didn’t have any suspicions back then, but I now think the two cases can be combined. The shooting is likely an effort by the targets’ companions to provide cover for their departure. From the trajectory of the bullet, we can deduce where the targets’ companions fired and search for witnesses.”

Theodore immediately laughed. “The targets’ companions definitely disguised themselves.”

“Yes, but we can’t let go of any clues easily. Nobody can always maintain perfection without making mistakes, and mistakes might be hidden in those seemingly worthless clues,” Wall replied bluntly.

Konstanz nodded in agreement. “At least we now know that the target team might have more than three people. This is very important.”

Wall looked around, and his expression gradually turned serious. “This is the first matter. Second, what puzzles me is that apart from me back then, there were only two security personnel. What was the shooting meant to cover?”

“The shooting in the other blocks won’t affect the security personnel in the Apex Gladiator Arena. It would only make them more vigilant,” Konstanz analyzed.

Wall nodded. “Therefore, I made a preliminary judgment that the shooting was to lure me away. But why did they lure me away? I only went to ask the security personnel about the power outage and see if I had to wait.”

Upon hearing this, the Orderly’s aides and sheriffs present fell silent and revealed solemn expressions. With their experience, it wasn’t difficult for them to think of a possible reason.

“I suspect that I’ve seen the three targets before. They were worried that I would recognize them and had their distant companion fire to lure me away.” Wall gave his answer.

Theodore didn’t target him again and frowned. “But you just said that you don’t know the three people in the surveillance footage, nor do you find them familiar.”

Wall thought for a moment and said, “This can be explained. I might’ve only met them once or twice and had a short conversation. Hence, they barely left an impression on me.”

“Then, how should we investigate?” Theodore asked.

At this moment, the Red Wolf Zone Orderly—Trevis—who presided over the meeting said in a deep voice, “Visit the Crystal Consciousness Church and get their help so that Wall can browse his memories.”

…

At Ugo Hotel, the Old Task Force—which had finished settling their matters—returned to the lobby and prepared to check out.

After doing such a massive operation, they had to change a batch of safe houses and ‘cut’ any ties with the previous ones.

As he watched Ugo settle the checkout procedures, Shang Jianyao suddenly asked, “Is there any way to find a person? Given that one only knows his name, looks, and a general residential area.”

“Commission a mission for Ruin Hunters.” Ugo looked up. “Or find the monks who claim to be able to foresee the future regarding people and matters.”

Monk…

As Jiang Baimian muttered to herself, Shang Jianyao tersely acknowledged his words and said, “We encountered the Nightmare Horse in the North Shore Mountains. It’s chasing after the white wolf.”

At this moment, Ugo—who had always been expressionless—seemed to doubt his ears. He quickly returned to normal and looked at the Old Task Force. “Someone wants to see you.”

Who? Long Yuehong subconsciously wanted to ask.

Jiang Baimian deliberated and said, “Your friend?”

“Sort of,” Ugo replied.