Embers Ad Infinitum

Zeng Duo watched Han Wanghuo and the others disguise themselves and walk out the door before retracting her gaze. She walked to the living room window and looked out.

“It’s seven to eight floors high…” she said in surprise.

Her experience as a Ruin Hunter was to choose a street-facing apartment on the second or third floor so that it would be conducive for jumping out the window and escaping.

Seizing the chance that nobody else was here to explain it to her, Long Yuehong immediately said, “This is called doing the opposite. This way, it won’t become the main target of a large-scale investigation.”

“But since it’s an investigation, they’ll come up sooner or later.” Zeng Duo was still a little confused.

“We would’ve already sensed it by then and made preparations in advance.” Long Yuehong suddenly felt the emotions his team leader usually had when explaining to him. With a hint of complacency, fun, and anticipation, he hoped that the target would comprehend it on her own without needing to go into detail.

Zeng Duo frowned. “Then, how do we escape?”

“With a military exoskeleton, this height is nothing,” Bai Chen said simply.

In particular, there were balconies, pipes, and all kinds of protruding objects outside the building. It was particularly easy for someone wearing a military exoskeleton to climb down from the seventh or eighth floor.

Upon hearing this answer, Zeng Duo felt like a country bumpkin.

Due to the Shock she suffered, she wasn’t in good physical condition. She pointed at the armchair in the living room and politely asked, “Can I sit down?”

“Make yourself at home.” Bai Chen continued looking out the window. She was using the height of the building to observe the surrounding streets.

This was also the reason why the Old Task Force chose to rent a high floor. As a team with snipers, they knew the importance of high ground.

With the military exoskeleton, they didn’t have to worry about evacuating.

Zeng Duo smiled when she heard Bai Chen’s answer. “But I can’t treat myself as the mistress.”

She lives with pretty much… zero qualms… Long Yuehong thought for a long time and finally came up with an adjective from the Old World’s entertainment.

Bai Chen turned around and looked at Zeng Duo, who was slowly sitting down. “That’s all the questions you have? Don’t you care about the Old Task Force’s origins and goals?”

Zeng Duo thought for a few seconds and laughed self-deprecatingly. “I won’t live long, so there’s no point in caring about this. As long as I can save everyone in town, I don’t care about anything else.”

Bai Chen pursed her lips and didn’t speak again.

…

In the jeep that was slowly moving.

Jiang Baimian—who was driving—glanced at the rearview mirror and smiled at Han Wanghuo. “You seem to have long known that we’re looking for you?”

Han Wanghuo—who was on the left in the backseat—slowly nodded. “Yes.”

“Then, why didn’t you contact us?” Shang Jianyao asked from the passenger seat.

Han Wanghuo fell silent and didn’t answer.

Jiang Baimian smiled. “It’s fine; say whatever you want. We’re all in the same boat, so there’s no need to be so formal.”

Han Wanghuo turned his head to look at Genava beside him and frowned. “Why were you looking for me?”

“We care about you and want to observe you.” Shang Jianyao really couldn’t speak any more seriously. As for how the other party understood his words, that was another matter.

Han Wanghuo didn’t ask further. He raised his hand to touch the scar on his face. “I don’t think we are very close with each other. An overly enthusiastic attitude will only make one wary. You are also Ashlandics, so you should know the proverb: One who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil intentions.”

Jiang Baimian laughed. “What do you think you have that’s worth us stealing?”

Han Wanghuo fell silent.

Jiang Baimian could actually tell that Han Wanghuo definitely had been injured because of someone who claimed to be a friend. One of the two scars on his face or both might’ve been left behind in this manner, which was why he was so vigilant against any unsolicited approach.

Furthermore, with his awkward personality, he probably doesn’t want to expose his fragile state to us… As Jiang Baimian’s thoughts raced, Shang Jianyao smiled and said, “Even if it’s rape, I don’t think you would be suffering a loss regardless of which one of us does it. Uh, we can discuss Little Red separately.”

Han Wanghuo didn’t answer the topic and replied emotively, “There are also other reasons. For example, your origins are unclear. I’m afraid of getting embroiled in bigger trouble. Yes… Your mental state isn’t too right either. I’m more worried.”

“Only him. Thank you very much,” Jiang Baimian quickly replied. She didn’t want to be categorized in the same group as someone with a doctor’s certification.

Shang Jianyao had a puzzled look. “We’re very normal. What gave you the illusion that our mental state isn’t right?”

Han Wanghuo thought that ‘we’ referred to October Xue, Qian Bai, Gu Zhiyong, and the others. He didn’t delve into the matter and deliberated before asking, “Do you really want to provide help?”

Since the conversation had already begun, he felt that it was necessary to clarify the matter. In this regard, he didn’t have much scruples because it concerned his life.

“You hope it’s fake?” Shang Jianyao asked with a smile.

Han Wanghuo fell silent and inquired, “Why?”

Shang Jianyao replied seriously, “First, we’re friends.”

Friends… Han Wanghuo opened his mouth but didn’t make a sound.

“Second, we did bring you trouble. We messed up your arrangements, making the chances of you completing the mission become slim,” Shang Jianyao continued.

Although Han Wanghuo didn’t dare to say this out loud, he did have such thoughts.

Shang Jianyao’s expression gradually became serious. “Third, our dream is to save all of humanity. Those people from Early Spring Town are also humans, and they haven’t done anything bad.”

Han Wanghuo once again confirmed that there was something wrong with the other party’s mental state.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian casually replied, “Besides, we have to leave the city to lie low. We can help you in passing.”

Han Wanghuo’s gaze shifted between the man and woman a few times before he finally gave up asking.

“Do you want to listen to a song?” Shang Jianyao asked enthusiastically. He had already taken the small speaker out of his tactical backpack.

“There’s no need.” Han Wanghuo cautiously rejected his suggestion.

Shang Jianyao sighed in disappointment and turned to Genava. “Old Ge, stop pretending. We’re all friends.”

Genava—who had been acting as an ordinary robot and hadn’t interrupted the conversation—stretched his metal joints and said with a red glow in his eyes, “If I have the corresponding tutorials and instruments, I can attempt an organ transplant.”

Han Wanghuo suddenly turned to look at the robot.

“It—it’s a smart bot in the medical field?” Han Wanghuo asked October Xue and Zhang Qubing in confusion.

Such functional and lifelike robots only existed in large factions. For small teams, it was too extravagant, and their abilities were very limited.

“No, I’m a real smart bot. I have the same learning ability as humans and higher efficiency.” Genava extended a silver-black metal palm to Han Wanghuo. “Let me introduce myself; Genava, the former mayor of Tarnan and the first president of the Underground Ark Management Committee.”

Han Wanghuo was stunned when he heard that. He only came to a realization after a long while. “You’re from Mechanical Paradise?”

As Redstone Collection’s former sheriff and town guard captain, he knew Mechanical Paradise and Tarnan well. He just didn’t expect October Xue’s team to abduct a real smart bot.

He looked at Genava’s extended metal palm and hesitated for a moment before shaking it.

“Yes.” Genava mimicked a human and sighed.

Han Wanghuo was just about to ask further when he suddenly realized that there was a problem with the car’s route. “Aren’t we going to Antanna Street?”

Antanna Street was in the northwest direction, close to the Factory Zone, but the jeep was now heading northeast. Although it would still reach the Green Olive Zone, it was already a little diametrical to their destination.

Jiang Baimian smiled and replied, “We are going somewhere else to complete something first.”

After a long time, the jeep stopped outside Ugo Hotel.

“Let’s go in together. Old Ge will guard the car.” Jiang Baimian nodded at Han Wanghuo.

Upon seeing them enter, Ugo didn’t say a word and took out an old blue bag.

“What you wanted.” He pushed the slightly bulky bag to Jiang Baimian—it contained the 6,000 Oray promised by General Phocas.

Shang Jianyao took the small bag, unzipped it, and did a cursory scan. He then threw it into the tactical backpack without counting the cash.

Quite a sizable amount… Han Wanghuo made this judgment just by glancing at the cash near the zipper from the corner of his eye.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” Ugo seemed to be asking on behalf of General Phocas. “I see that you’ve been in trouble recently.”

Jiang Baimian smiled. “Not for the time being, but we might need your help in the future to leave the city safely.”

She first gave this tidbit so that General Phocas could make some preparations.

“Alright,” replied Ugo calmly.

Jiang Baimian didn’t say anything else and turned to walk out. Although she, Shang Jianyao, and Han Wanghuo had disguised themselves, it wasn’t convenient for them to stay in the hotel lobby where people could come and go at any moment.

After doing this, they still didn’t go to Antanna Street. Instead, they came to Stern Street in the Red Wolf Zone to visit the Blackshirts’ second boss, Terrence.

This time, Han Wanghuo stayed in the car with Genava.

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao entered through the back door. Only a brother from the Shang Jianyao Brotherhood met them and helped them open the door and lead the way.

“This is the final 6,000 Oray.” Jiang Baimian took out the cash she had just received and pushed it to Terrence.

She didn’t use the blue bag.

Terrence didn’t accept the money immediately. He looked back and forth between October Xue and Zhang Qubing in a daze and surprise.

He already knew that his good friend was being pursued by the Hand of Order. He thought that they would never dare to show their faces again and that the money they owed him was gone.

Who knew that despite being in peril, they didn’t forget to return the money and take the risk to return the money!

What kind of spirit was this!?

Jiang Baimian smiled and reminded him, “Our mechanical arm.”

Terrence came to his senses and said regretfully, “You could’ve returned it after the situation stabilized…”

It would be best if they never returned it. That would be equivalent to me using 6,000 Oray to buy a T1 multi-purpose mechanical arm. That’s totally worth it!

“No, we have to keep our promises.” Shang Jianyao replied righteously.

“Alright.” Terrence counted the notes and reluctantly went to the upstairs safe to take out the Old Task Force’s mechanical arm.

After this item was brought back to the car, Han Wanghuo’s eyes widened.

“If we can obtain a new model of a mechanical arm, we have the ability to obtain a mechanical heart,” Jiang Baimian said with a smile. “Sigh, I’m just afraid that we won’t have enough time.”

Without waiting for Han Wanghuo’s response, she said to Shang Jianyao—whose turn was to drive, “We can go to Antanna Street now.”