Embers Ad Infinitum

Outside the Senate, the city defense forces had already formed several human walls with anti-riot shields. They were all holding weapons in their hands, but their hearts were drumming when facing the dense mass of countless citizens.

They still had the courage to use tear gas, but they had to fire with real guns to cause damage if the tear gas was ineffective and failed to stop the demonstration from turning into a riot. None of them could make a decisive decision.

Although General Phocas had already given the order and said that he would shoulder all responsibility later, anyone would have their own reservations in the face of such a situation. They would consider the development of the matter and their backup options. They would also wonder if their families, relatives, and friends who didn’t listen to their advice and insisted on joining the meet were among the citizens at the gathering. They would be aversive toward the imagined outcome of bloodied corpses strewn across the ground.

These city guards were also citizens of First City, and Gaius’s speech resonated with them. Furthermore, they didn’t dare to fire indiscriminately even if there was nobody they cared about among the gathered citizens.

This was no longer a problem the minority faced. Most of the citizens in the city were responding to Gaius’s speech.

When bloodshed really happened, they would be labeled butchers that had betrayed the citizens and had their hands covered in blood. These city defense soldiers didn’t dare to imagine what their future in the city would be like.

It was impossible for them to live in exile forever, and it was impossible for them not to move alone or with a few people forever. Furthermore, First City’s citizens had combat in their DNA. Many of them were Hunters, and they had extremely high gun ownership. It was impossible to guard against their snipers.

This would make their normal trip down the streets a walk into the enemy’s lair—a lair that was very conducive for guerrilla warfare. The concrete jungle could instantly transform into a jungle of death!

As the city defense forces prayed to the various Kalendarium, hoping that the demonstration would end peacefully, the people in the back row couldn’t help but turn their bodies and size up the Senate’s doors and windows.

Such places were guarded by people who had light-yellow scales on their faces or protruding eyes that emitted strange shimmering light. Some had four arms and held two rifles at the same time… They were different from normal humans. They were the Subhuman Guard that the Senate had chosen to establish.

These Subhumans were widely hated by First City’s citizens for various reasons. If they dared to leave a settlement near the Senate like the handful of instances, they would definitely be attacked, die on the spot, be abducted, or sold elsewhere.

Such a situation forced them to firmly rely on those in power in the Senate and strictly carry out their orders. They definitely didn’t care about the casualties of the so-called citizens.

Many of the Subhuman Guards had special abilities. Coupled with advanced weapons, they were rather powerful existences.

“Punish Varro severely!”

“Punish Varro severely!” The citizens shouted loudly. For the time being, there was no raid of the Senate.

The city guards felt their palms wet with cold sweat as they held their weapons.

…

An ordinary-looking jeep turned into Emperor Street.

The security here was even stricter. It was already in the state Long Yuehong imagined—sentries everywhere.

As the Old Task Force didn’t turn in the direction that led to Unit 9, had an authentic pass, and didn’t ‘carry’ any heavy weapons, a large number of gazes—either openly or covertly—retracted when they turned into another corner.

Bai Chen forcefully fixed her gaze ahead and silently drove.

Before long, they arrived outside the garden villa of Unit 15. They turned into a small road and arrived at a very quiet area with no patrollers.

The four Old Task Force members didn’t alight. They only rolled down the window and waited for the person mentioned in the company’s telegram to meet them.

After about 15 minutes, a green parrot flew out of the garden and landed on the top of the side door. It looked at the Old Task Force, opened its mouth, and spoke in perfect Ashlandic. “Angelica Sinensis! Angelica Sinensis!”

Ah… Long Yuehong was stunned and couldn’t believe his eyes. The person the company sent us to meet is actually a parrot? I-is this scientific?

Shang Jianyao was excited. “Are you a product of the company’s latest research, a mutated bird at the Mind Corridor level?”

The parrot looked at Shang Jianyao and replied, “Retard.”

“…” Jiang Baimian began to wonder if the bird’s owner was a person who spewed vulgarities.

Shang Jianyao retorted seriously, “There’s something wrong with your choice of words. You should be calling me crazy.”

You know yourself well… Under the current situation, Long Yuehong couldn’t help but criticize inwardly.

“You’re nuts!” The bird readily agreed. It then said, “Follow me.”

It flapped its wings and slowly flew behind the side door.

This garden villa belonged to Elder Meyers. He had a deep relationship with Pangu Biology’s Chief Scientist, Elder Huang.

Due to this, Jiang Baimian boldly pushed open the car door and followed.

Shang Jianyao ran faster than her.

The side door wasn’t locked and was ajar. There were no guards or servants nearby, giving off the feeling that this place had been abandoned for a long time. However, the neat lawn and the orderly garden made Long Yuehong and Bai Chen know that it was only their illusion.

Following the green parrot, the Old Task Force passed through the garden, walked across the lawn, and arrived at the main building.

There was also an ajar door here.

After entering the villa, Jiang Baimian and the others saw the green parrot fly into the nearest room.

Shang Jianyao turned his head and said without deliberately controlling his voice, “There’s only one person inside.”

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly, indicating that she sensed the same.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The door was clearly half-open, but Shang Jianyao still politely knocked three times.

“Please come in.” A female voice sounded from the room.

The Old Task Force pushed open the door and realized that it was a brightly lit activity room. On the dark-red carpet were coffee tables, sofas, chairs, and other things.

At this moment, a woman—who didn’t seem to be 30 yet—was sitting on the sofa, and she had her long blonde hair tied up. Not only did she have outstanding facial features, but her skin was also very good, exceeding what was possible of the Red River ethnicity.

Genetic enhancement… Long Yuehong instinctively made a judgment.

Click!

Shang Jianyao didn’t forget to close the door.

The woman stood up and looked at them. She then smiled and stretched out her right hand. “Let me introduce myself: I’m Elder Meyers’s youngest daughter. You can call me Kanna.”

“The company sent us to meet you?” Jiang Baimian carefully stretched out her hand and shook her hand.

Kanna smiled. “Strictly speaking, I also grew up in the company. I only move around in specific areas and don’t have much contact with other employees.”

Jiang Baimian was stunned when she heard this answer. First City’s Elder Meyers has such a relationship with the company?

Kanna wasn’t surprised by their reaction and casually explained, “In the Old World, my family was an aristocrat left behind from ancient times. We have always believed in a philosophy: You can’t put all your eggs in one basket. Or rather, the best way to place a bet is to place it on all the possible winners.”

She spoke extremely fluently in Ashlandic. “My father used to be part of First City’s military system and was mainly in charge of battlefield treatment. Once, he chanced upon Elder Huang when conquering a settlement. Yes, he’s the company’s current Chief Scientist, Elder Huang. They had a lot in common in medicine and biology, and they quickly became friends. Back then, Oray seized power and declared himself emperor. That left many First City’s Elders uneasy.

“In order to better the family’s continuation, my father provided the company with biological materials, hoping to nurture a few more descendants in the underground building. This is how I was born—the last one.

“My father’s worries became a reality in a sense. A large number of his heirs died during the subsequent chaos First City suffered after Oray’s death, leaving him with only one son. Although he worked very hard in the subsequent years, he only had two more children due to his age and health. I was relatively lucky to be able to Awaken naturally and undergo genetic enhancement. I was sent to First City a few years ago and returned to my family as an illegitimate daughter.”

Strictly speaking, she’s indeed an illegitimate daughter… Long Yuehong muttered inwardly.

“I see.” Jiang Baimian slowly exhaled.

Kanna wasn’t afraid of being questioned by First City’s intelligence system at all. She could openly participate in a DNA test.

“Have a seat.” Kanna pointed at the sofa and chairs. “I know what you want to do—try making contact with Avia when an opportunity presents itself.”

“Where’s Elder Meyers?” Jiang Baimian asked cautiously.

“Resting upstairs.” Kanna smiled. “Something might happen at the Senate at any moment, so I told him not to go using his illness as an excuse.”

…

Somewhere in the Golden Apple Zone.

First City’s consul and commander-in-chief, Beulis, walked out the door. He swept his blue eyes and said to his attendants and guards in a deep voice, “To the Senate.”