Embers Ad Infinitum

Upon seeing Jiang Baimian’s expression change slightly despite remaining silent, Phocas imagined that she was attempting to find a solution to locate the Eighth Research Institute in such a large area.

“Unfortunately, the captive can’t be used. Otherwise, we can consider controlling him and getting him to fire a signal to lure the Eighth Research Institute’s personnel over.” Phocas also found it a shame.

If not for the fact that this matter was a private operation, he had the urge to visit the Crystal Consciousness Church’s Enlightened at Sikhara Temple. He wanted to invite an accomplished monk capable of Destiny Connection to possess Khal, the commissioner of the Eighth Research Institute.

Of course, this was a relatively troublesome operation, just that it was relatively safer and easier to gain control over the overall situation. When it came to controlling a person, the Last Man domain and Master Zhuang domain had certain abilities that made things much simpler.

“The fact that the Eighth Research Institute hasn’t been found after so many years means that the method of controlling the commissioners to enter isn’t too effective.” Jiang Baimian instantly retracted her train of thought and made an inference based on Phocas’s words. “They have a way to stably allow humans to Awaken, so they definitely have a large number Awakened with all kinds of powers. They know what most abilities are like, how to guard against them, and how to sound an alarm. Therefore, if one really wants to fish for the Eighth Research Institute’s welcoming party, one shouldn’t start with Awakened abilities. They should consider technological means.”

Jiang Baimian knew that she wasn’t being too careful with her words. Since the Eighth Research Institute had developed a way to stabilize the Awakening process, and the process involved the injections of drugs, illuminating equipment, and so on, it meant that it was most likely a result of scientific research. An Awakened’s abilities were also considered technological.

At this moment, she felt that Phocas could understand her and didn’t waste her breath explaining.

Phocas nodded and looked out the window. “Leave the captive with me. You can leave now.”

That commissioner’s brain has already suffered irreversible damage. Why is General Phocas keeping him behind? He only has two items on him, and there are relatively few of them. Could it be that there are other items that he couldn’t carry with him and that these items he was prepared to exchange with others are hidden somewhere? Does he need to use his fingerprints or iris to open the door? Yes, I can’t rule out the possibility that irreversible brain damage is a lie… Jiang Baimian was a little perplexed.

Phocas misunderstood her reaction and simply said, “That string of prayer beads is called Six Senses Beads; each bead corresponds to a type of ability. They are Visual Deprivation, Auditory Deprivation, Olfactory Deprivation, Touch Deprivation, Taste Deprivation, and Consciousness Deprivation. However, Consciousness Deprivation can’t be used alone—it can only be activated when the target’s five senses have been completely deprived. The negative price of Six Senses Beads is increased lust. It’s very easy to do some perverted actions if one wears it for a long time.

“That necklace is called Life Angel; its ability is Cardiac Arrest. The price is constant drowsiness.” Phocas imagined that the Old Task Force didn’t want to hand over the already mentally challenged captive because they didn’t want to lose an experimental subject, so he directly informed them of the information they had ‘acquired.’

Cardiac Arrest… That’s potent… Jiang Baimian nodded in relief.

The Old Task Force’s strength had increased again.

Bai Chen couldn’t help but focus her attention on the Six Senses Beads’ price. She felt that even if Shang Jianyao wore it for a long time, the perverted actions he did might very well have nothing to do with sex. It definitely exceeded the imagination of normal people and was a test of his companions’ tolerance.

“Yes, it’s actually not too convenient for us to bring the captive with us. We’d still have to find an opportunity to deal with and dump him.” Jiang Baimian indirectly replied to Phocas’s suggestion, but she was in no rush to leave. She smiled and said, “General, you promised to provide sufficient help in making contact with Avia. You’ve only given me a pass so far.”

“What do you want?” Phocas asked calmly.

“We want to leave First City as soon as possible.” Jiang Baimian voiced the Old Task Force’s request. Without waiting for Phocas’s response, she took the initiative to ask, “Is the chaos coming to an end? Which side won?”

“Gaius has already gained control of the Senate and reached a settlement with Alexander and the others. He has been elected as the new consul,” Phocas briefed her simply. “All the city’s entrances and exits are controlled or about to be controlled. Entry and exit are prohibited. If you want to leave now, it’s equivalent to raising a sign and pointing out that you are problematic. I can’t provide any effective help unless a certain entrance is attacked and chaos ensues.”

Upon seeing Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen fall silent, Phocas took the initiative to say, “I can give you a few city defense uniforms, the corresponding identification documents, and the documents needed for executing missions. However, this requires the martial law at each entrance to be lifted. Before that…”

Phocas pointed north. “Go to an apartment near the bridge and wait. It’s the captive’s and one of their strongholds, but nobody lives there anymore. Yes, the key should be in your hands. Heh heh, they colluded with some of the North Shore Survey Company’s personnel. The latter’s helicopter was used in this operation, and that apartment was where the two parties met and communicated.”

Half of the North Shore Survey Company had ties to the military. Under the surveying of terrain, they helped First City do things that were inconvenient for regular troops to do. Most of the time, they could directly transform into slave hunters or Wasteland Reclaimers.

After hearing Phocas’s words, Jiang Baimian gave up on the idea of leaving First City in an hour.

After asking for the detailed address, she and Bai Chen brought the uniforms, identification, and documents that Phocas had prepared in advance. They left through the back door and returned to the jeep.

Upon seeing this, Long Yuehong heaved a long sigh of relief.

Just as the jeep drove out of the area, Shang Jianyao suddenly appeared out from the roadside, opened the door, and jumped in.

“Here.” Jiang Baimian turned around and handed his father’s photo to him. “I got some clues.”

She then recounted the northern city.

Shang Jianyao listened attentively before suddenly leaning back and shouting, “I need to rest. I bled quite a lot.”

Without waiting for Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen’s response, he closed his eyes.

Jiang Baimian silently straightened her body and used the radio transceiver to share the changes in First City with Genava, Han Wanghuo, and Zeng Duo.

…

In the North Shore wastelands, a black SUV sped under the dense, dark clouds. Around it were steel concrete buildings wrapped in vines.

“First City’s unrest is coming to an end,” Genava reported the situation to his two companions.

Zeng Duo’s expression sank uncontrollably.

Han Wanghuo glanced at her and said, “Fortunately, we set off in advance. Even if the chaos completely subsides in an hour and the Mind Corridor-level Awakened and the evacuated troops immediately rush back, they probably won’t be able to catch up to us. We can use the time difference.”

“The premise is that they don’t use aircraft,” Genava pointed out.

Han Wanghuo tersely acknowledged it and looked at the sky ahead. “I can only hope that the weather worsens.”

…

With the identification, uniforms, and documents provided by Phocas, the Old Task Force successfully left the Golden Apple Zone. They then used more than half an hour to pass the rounds of inspection and interrogation before arriving at their destination.

This apartment block was located along the Red River, and it had a total of nine floors. It was considered a relatively tall building in the Green Olive Zone. From the top few floors, one could directly see the bridge. Its surroundings were filled with all kinds of people, and the environment was complicated.

After finding a spot to park the jeep, the Old Task Force got out of the car and walked to the apartment door with the key they had found on the captive.

In order not to arouse the residents’ suspicion, Bai Chen and Long Yuehong had already taken off their military exoskeletons and placed them back in the crate they carried on their backs.

As they waited for the elevator to descend, Long Yuehong suddenly heard someone arguing in the nearby stairwell.

A man and a woman.

They were likely on the second floor, which was quite a distance away. If not for the genetic enhancement, Long Yuehong wouldn’t have been able to hear what they were saying.

The man asked angrily, “Why did you guys betray us?”

You guys… Long Yuehong—who originally thought that it was a relationship dispute—almost dug his ears.

“This is a decision made by the higher-ups,” the woman replied rather calmly, causing her volume to decrease significantly. Long Yuehong suspected that he hadn’t heard her clearly.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao came to Long Yuehong’s side and asked in a low voice, “What music should I use for the accompaniment? Going Too Far?”

Just as he said that, the man roared again. “What benefits can you guys gain by doing this? According to the original plan, you will be accepted by most nobles in a few years and can slowly walk under the sun. Why are you betraying us? Just to save time?”

Uh… Long Yuehong couldn’t help but look at Shang Jianyao.

Their reactions attracted Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen’s attention.

The woman quickly replied, “I actually can’t understand it either. Maybe these aren’t the most important matters to the higher-ups. Who’s not in power is the key…”

She was about to say something else when she suddenly stopped for some unknown reason.