Embers Ad Infinitum

Translator: CKtalon

The Old Task Force quickly received a reply from Pangu Biology.

The telegram told them that the meeting location couldn’t be changed and that they had to think of a way to enter the Golden Apple Zone.

Jiang Baimian slowly sighed and said, “From the looks of it, it’s indeed inconvenient for that person to leave Emperor Street…”

“What should we do then?” Long Yuehong looked at the Golden Apple Zone, which was only one street away. The city defense forces had already set up temporary checkpoints there.

Although he didn’t see the hidden guards, he believed that they were there.

Jiang Baimian pondered for a moment and said, “We can only contact General Phocas and get him to get a temporary pass. This is considered part of that help.”

Phocas had already returned to the general’s residence and had given the Old Task Force the number to his study’s phone.

“That’s all we can do…” Bai Chen indicated that she had no other choice.

Shang Jianyao looked at the temporary checkpoint established by the city defense forces and said, “It should be possible to use the method of ‘making friends,’ but I wonder how many more friends I’ll end up with.”

“I’m afraid the city defense forces will become the Shang Jianyao Brotherhood’s First City branch,” Jiang Baimian joked.

This was indeed a joke because there were many Awakened in the city defense system. They were sufficiently vigilant and had the ability to counterattack on such matters. Perhaps Shang Jianyao’s outcome of ‘making friends’ would be an enlightenment to which he would surrender himself to the Hand of Order.

Bai Chen started the jeep again and searched the surrounding area for a place to make a call.

Shang Jianyao leaned back in his chair and massaged his temples.

…

In the Sea of Origins, on the island with the golden elevator.

Shang Jianyao landed ashore and split into nine. They once again surrounded the Shang Jianyao that was wearing a gray camouflage uniform and blocking the golden elevator’s door.

“We’ve finally found a flaw in your logic,” said one of the Shang Jianyaos with a smile.

Another Shang Jianyao stroked his chin and added, “By killing our companions, letting them live in our memories, and then splitting into different personalities to act as them, there won’t be the fear of losing companions, nor will we feel much pain. This matter is completely unnecessary.”

The Shang Jianyao sitting at the golden elevator’s door quietly ‘listened.’ It was only when the nine Shang Jianyaos finished speaking that they picked up a portable recording device beside them and played the previous content.

When the nine Shang Jianyaos spoke, this Shang Jianyao completely blocked his hearing to prevent himself from being unknowingly affected by Inference Clowning. At Shang Jianyao’s current level, he couldn’t turn Inference Clowning’s power into an electromagnetic signal like Wu Meng. Once he did a transcription, the corresponding effects would disappear.

Therefore, both parties ‘prepared’ a portable recording device in order to facilitate communication.

After hearing the nine Shang Jianyaos’ statements, the Shang Jianyao blocking the golden elevator door laughed.

“This is a white lie that has helped all of you make up your mind. The focus of my suggestion is actually to kill our companions, not how we should let them live in our memories or split out personalities to act as them. When you put the killing of your companions into action, you would’ve already overcome your fear of losing them. The source of the fear of ‘loss’ is that you mind. Our goal is to make ourselves indifferent, even coldblooded.”

After the villain—Shang Jianyao—finished speaking, the nine Shang Jianyaos also used the portable recording device to replay his words.

One of the Shang Jianyaos scoffed. “After becoming coldblooded, how can you persist in your dream of saving all of humanity? What has their survival got to do with us?”

“I get it.” Another Shang Jianyao clenched his right fist and punched his left palm. “He’s essentially the coward in our hearts. He crazily wants to escape our responsibilities, ideals, and everything that makes him suffer.”

Shang Jianyao—who was holding a small speaker—shook his head. “Your mockery is useless against him. He won’t mind at all.”

The Shang Jianyao that had just spoken sighed. “From the looks of it, we have to have the resolve to perish together to accommodate him.”

“Don’t!”

“No!”

“Calm down!” The other Shang Jianyaos shouted to stop their companion with dangerous inclinations.

Once again, Shang Jianyao’s earnest meeting ended in failure.

1

…

A large number of cars and people passed by the Red River Bridge every day in the North Shore Wastelands.

Han Wanghuo, Zeng Duo, and Genava hid on the top of a collapsed building relatively far away. They used binoculars or only their eyes to monitor the target area’s activity.

Before long, they saw an army armed to the teeth reach the bridge, but they were intercepted by the city defense forces guarding the bridge.

After the two parties argued for a while, the troops—which numbered in the hundreds—chose a ruin by the shore that had long been emptied to set up base.

Subsequently, teams arrived in droves, but they weren’t allowed to cross the bridge.

This was the case for First City’s officials, as well as Ruin Hunters. Everyone received the same treatment.

“Is the entire city under martial law? Is it forbidden to enter or leave?” Han Wanghuo guessed.

Genava analyzed the verbal data he had gathered from the city defense officers and replicated their words. “Wait for orders from above, or three in the afternoon.”

“First City’s higher-ups are sufficiently vigilant about the unrest…” Han Wanghuo sighed with emotion.

“Will there be any unrest?” Zeng Duo was a little worried.

Genava gave his opinion. “If no other accidents happen, there’s a 91.2% chance that unrest won’t happen. As for any other accidents, we currently lack sufficient information to speculate.”

The data that Genava provided wasn’t casually fabricated like Shang Jianyao’s. It had been calculated from a built model.

Zeng Duo fell silent for a moment before saying, “Early Spring Town’s defense forces should be reduced now.”

“But if there’s no chaos and the powerhouses and troops don’t have their hands tied, they can reinforce Early Spring Town at any moment.” Genava doused Zeng Duo’s enthusiasm.

Han Wanghuo turned his head to glance at Zeng Duo and consoled her. “Opportunities require waiting.”

…

First City, Golden Apple Zone, 9 Emperor Street, in the consul’s residence.

Asus, who had put on his clothes, returned to the grand hall and saw that his father—the consul and commander-in-chief, Beulis—had already changed into a green and brown military uniform.

This powerhouse was slightly older than Phocas, but he didn’t relegate himself to secondary importance like the latter because he didn’t have to be at the front line or actually command the army. He only maintained his seat as an Elder and a portion of First City’s city defense forces’ command.

He still stood at the peak of First City’s authority.

“Father.” Upon seeing Beulis, the playboy-like Asus became serious.

Beulis combed his black hair that was mixed with a few silver strands and nodded. “I’m going out. Stay at home today—you can’t go anywhere.”

“Where are you going?” Asus was a little surprised. His father seemed to value Gaius’s Citizen Meet more than he imagined.

The chubby-faced Beulis with deep-blue eyes looked around at the guards. “I’ll visit His Excellency Cass first before heading to the Senate.”

…

Hope Square.

A large number of citizens had already gathered here. Those who couldn’t come over were also paying attention to the meet’s content through First City’s official broadcast.

Time quickly passed, and 9 a.m. arrived.

Gaius—who had a hooked nose and slightly sunken cheeks—wore his green-brown general uniform today and walked to the podium in the middle of Hope Square with a serious expression.

Back then, Oray had announced the establishment of First City here.

Gaius didn’t deliberately show his uniqueness. He held the microphone and said to the crowd, “My fellow citizens, I believe there’s no need for introductions. I’m the commander of the Eastern Army Corps—Gaius, who became an Elder last year. Like you, my father and mother are citizens of First City. Therefore, I was born a citizen of First City. I wasn’t a noble in the past, so I could see how much the surrounding citizens had paid to develop and strengthen First City for its survivability. I was one of them, so nobody knows the weight of the word ‘citizen’ better than me.”

What Gaius said was the truth. As an ordinary citizen, he—who relied on his military achievements to become an Elder—naturally obtained the favor of the citizens present.

After the citizens nodded or applauded, Gaius continued, “It’s precisely because of your predecessors and your efforts over the years that First City has become the largest faction in the Ashlands. Only then can it have a large number of fields, occupy many mines, and build factories of various sizes. This allowed everyone to escape their hunger and lead a more stable life. But…”

Gaius’s tone suddenly became heavier. “All of this is being slowly corroded and destroyed!”