Embers Ad Infinitum

“How ruthless.” Long Yuehong looked at the nonintact corpse in front of him and sighed sincerely.

This was still a Mind Corridor-level Awakened a few minutes ago. His death was a result of his companion’s attack.

Although Jiang Baimian’s grenade could’ve killed the assassin even without the high-performance explosives thrown by the assassin, the deceased had indeed died as a result of his companion in any case.

Shang Jianyao sneered when he heard that. “Since he can’t be saved anyway, they naturally can’t let us walk away lucky.”

He didn’t hide his regret.

If the Old Task Force completed the kill, many of the deceased’s items could still be preserved. There might be special items among them.

Jiang Baimian also had a similar feeling. After all, she didn’t have any powerful items she could call her own. The Life Angel necklace she was currently using could only be considered a loan from Shang Jianyao.

Of course, as a friendly, amiable, gentle, and compassionate lady, she didn’t show such emotions on her face.

Jiang Baimian ordered, “Do another search. There might still be some items left.”

Some items weren’t easy to blow up because of the materials they were made of. The simplest example was Long Yuehong’s T1 mechanical arm—it would at most be seriously damaged if he were to take an explosive round naked, but it might still be usable after some repairs.

As they looked at the scattered corpses, flesh, and blood in the surrounding area, the Old Task Force members held in their disgust and searched.

After a while, Bai Chen reported the results. “There’s nothing.”

Jiang Baimian secretly sighed and said, “In order to hide their identities, the items carried by the nightmare’s accomplices are easily destroyed provided the prevailing conditions?”

“It’s also possible that they just like to fix the corresponding aura on the most ordinary and portable items.” Shang Jianyao stroked his chin. “For example, this person’s sunglasses.”

Jiang Baimian nodded. “The premise is that the negative price is relatively acceptable.”

“Doesn’t he have any accessories?” Long Yuehong was a little confused.

Many accessories were quite resistant to explosions, especially those made of gold.

Shang Jianyao laughed. “Maybe his accessories aren’t symmetrical enough and were disqualified as vessels.”

Jiang Baimian moved her gaze away and looked back at the Holm Fertility Center. “Since we can’t find any war spoils, let’s make the best use of our time to explore the target location. That assassin might return at any moment. It might not take long for the nightmare’s powers to gather again. The window left for us won’t be too long.”

Perhaps it was because she was too far away for the previous Cardiac Arrest—as though they were in two separate worlds—but Jiang Baimian felt that it didn’t cause any lethal damage to the nightmare.

Shang Jianyao, Bai Chen, and Long Yuehong had no objections. They followed their team leader and walked to the Holm Fertility Center step by step while maintaining a certain distance from her.

On the way, Jiang Baimian didn’t forget to pick up the weapon she had previously thrown. However, she allowed the submachine gun to hang in front of her chest because the Life Angel necklace’s negative effects were still active.

After the Old Task Force arrived at their destination, the automatic glass doors to the Holm Fertility Center suddenly slid open.

“It’s still working? There’s still electricity here?” Long Yuehong blurted out in surprise.

Shang Jianyao—who was in front of him—turned around and smiled. “It only followed my instructions.”

He frankly admitted that he was responsible for opening the automatic glass doors with electromagnetic interference.

“I thought you couldn’t do such precise maneuvers?” Bai Chen asked Shang Jianyao.

Although this didn’t reach Wu Meng’s level, it far exceeded Shang Jianyao’s previous level.

Shang Jianyao simply explained, “As its structure is relatively intact and well-preserved, it can open upon sensing the approach of humans as long as I provide a certain level of electromagnetic stimulation and maintain the connections of a few aging or damaged components.”

Jiang Baimian glared at him and reminded him solemnly, “Don’t do such things here, or else I’ll think Wu Meng is here. I almost rocketed this sensor door just now.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shang Jianyao clapped as he struck the Berserker assault rifle’s side.

He didn’t feel reprimanded at all. Instead, he took a step back and praised Jiang Baimian’s vigilance. “Always be vigilant!”

Great, he’s now a believer of Eidolon Nun as well… The corners of Jiang Baimian’s mouth twitched as she took two steps to the side.

Without sensing any bioelectric signals or human consciousness, she made way for Long Yuehong.

Long Yuehong—who was wearing the Blackmarsh Iron Snake bionic artificial intelligence armor—was now the team’s shield. He took on the responsibility of defending and exploring the unknown.

The honest Shang Jianyao didn’t retort Jiang Baimian because he didn’t sense the existence of human consciousness either.

Amidst the soft sound of scales colliding with the ground, Long Yuehong walked into the Holm Fertility Center with the Berserker assault rifle.

This place wasn’t as messy as many shops in the ruins that were covered in trash with bones littered everywhere. It maintained a certain level of integrity and cleanliness. However, two exhibits had been overturned, and a few chairs were lying diagonally on the ground. There were also traces of black blood splattered in certain areas.

At a glance, Long Yuehong realized that the hall was simply decorated. It was warm in color and mainly used yellow, cyan, green, and red.

This was completely different from the classic architectural style. Of course, the yellow facade had already indicated this in advance.

“This place wasn’t destroyed by the Heartless—who weren’t born after the Old World was destroyed…” Long Yuehong sighed with emotion.

Bai Chen—who was the last to enter—guessed, “Before the Old World was destroyed, there weren’t many doctors, nurses, patients, and employees here. There wasn’t a large amount of food to plunder either?”

“Maybe.” Jiang Baimian held the rocket launcher and said, “Everyone, spread out a little and search the lobby for any clues.”

The honest Shang Jianyao smiled as well. “There’s no need to worry too much. Yes, Little Red, I’m referring to you. There shouldn’t be any obvious danger here.

“Think about it. This place is so close to First City that the Crystal Consciousness Church will come here to pray and hold some rituals. The dangers that are easy to encounter have definitely been eliminated by them. Look, even the possible bones have been cleaned.”

Why are you looking at me? Is there a need to call me out? Although it makes sense… Long Yuehong muttered inwardly and then said, “I’ll go check the books and information.”

The two overturned exhibits were filled with books, pictures, pamphlets, and other information.

“Alright.” Jiang Baimian didn’t reject Long Yuehong’s recommendation.

The Old Task Force members then dispersed, but they maintained a certain distance.

Long Yuehong walked to the nearest exhibit and kneeled on one knee, stretching out his T1 mechanical arm and picking up a stack of paper that had turned yellow and brittle but didn’t shatter from a single touch.

They were written in the Red River language, with their names being: ‘Things newlyweds need to know.’

‘Confronting infertility the right way.’

‘The effects of time, mood, and posture on pregnancy.’

…

Long Yuehong—who was wearing the Blackmarsh Iron Snake bionic artificial intelligence armor—had a slightly embarrassed expression. Is this information I should be reading now?

As he was a little stunned, he realized that Shang Jianyao had approached another exhibition rack. He squatted down and gathered the books, pictures, and pamphlets.

“W-what’s the use of taking them?” Long Yuehong asked hesitantly.

Shang Jianyao turned around with a solemn expression. “These are all holy items!”

With that said, he stretched out his arms and virtually gently rocked a baby. “Newborns are likened unto the sun; life is what’s most important!”

Alright, the current Shang Jianyao is a loyal member of the Life Ritual parish and a pious believer of the Arbiter of Fate… Jiang Baimian retracted her gaze from the exhibition area and then walked to a wall near the front desk.

Photograph frames hung there. Some had already fallen to the ground and shattered.

In the photo frames were photos of celebrities and large companies visiting the Holm Fertility Center. Jiang Baimian scanned them one by one and actually saw some names she had seen in Old World books.

It feels like I’m excavating history… Jiang Baimian was rather satisfied.

As she examined them carefully, her gaze suddenly froze on one of the photo frames.

The photo inside was very ordinary. It was a group photo of a man suspected to be the director of the Holm Fertility Center and a visiting team.

The words below indicated the corresponding identities: “Northern Company’s Vice President Oak’s visit…”

What attracted Jiang Baimian’s attention was the company’s name: ‘Northern Company.’

Jiang Baimian remembered very clearly that there was such news in the Fakh Post that Wu Meng had gotten Ferrington to take away from this ruin.

“The 29th International Biotechnica Expo was held in Fakh. The Northern Company displayed the latest genetic research results…”

Back then, the Old Task Force had thought of a place in the north that was used to treat Fan Wensi’s vegetable son and a hospital in the north that had made Room 503’s owner—Jiang Xiaoyue—receive treatment as a volunteer before the Old World was destroyed.