Embers Ad Infinitum

The information provided by Elder Zhang reminded Jiang Baimian of their analysis of the situation revolving around the nuclear warhead.

One possibility was that the person receiving the nuclear warhead in Ubei had failed to send the item out of the city in time due to an accident and was trapped here under martial law. Upon seeing that the Salvation Army was close on his heels in their investigations, he had no choice but to take the risk, hijack the radio, and design a ‘game’ in hopes of sneaking away amidst the evacuation.

Back then, the Old Task Force members had guessed what kind of accident it would be. There was the inclination to believe that the target had encountered something as his true identity, preventing him from escaping in a timely fashion. Another was the belief that he was a powerful Awakened whose weakness had been ‘hit’ by chance and had no choice but to spend two to three days recovering. Another belief was that something happened in the middle. For example, the defectors’ contact and the person who hijacked the radio broadcast was infected with the Heartless disease not long after obtaining the nuclear warhead, or he suddenly had a brain hemorrhage or a heart attack. He couldn’t hand over the nuclear warhead in time, causing the person who hijacked the radio to take two to three days to reestablish the ‘connection.’

Now, someone’s condition had rapidly acted up because of the theft of antihypertensive drugs. Being sent to the hospital for two days matched the second situation perfectly. Of course, the third scenario also made logical sense.

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Jiang Baimian felt delighted. She felt like they had caught the fox’s tail.

It was definitely rare to have antihypertensive drugs stolen in Ubei, and it happened two days before martial law was enacted. This directly led to a certain person’s illness acting up, leading to them being hospitalized for two days.

Jiang Baimian looked at Elder Zhang—who was wearing a grayish-white, deep aluminum pot—and smiled calmly. “I roughly looked around and didn’t find any especially valuable clues, but clues often seem inconspicuous alone. They will only glow when there’s more. Elder Zhang, don’t worry. We will cooperate with the Public Security Council and gather more information to find useful clues.”

Elder Zhang—who was wearing the faded black uniform—flew into a rage. “Why should I be worried? If I’m worried, there will be many people criticizing me for being overreaching and being a busybody who can’t bear to part with power! Do whatever you want. Don’t bother me!”

Just like the hotel manager and the others said, he’s a little irritable and irascible… Jiang Baimian muttered inwardly.

However, she didn’t believe that Elder Zhang was unconcerned about the nuclear warhead.

If he was truly unconcerned, why would he painstakingly help interrogate people and gather this stack of information? If he really didn’t care, he would’ve long evacuated Ubei with his family and comrades thanks to his status.

At this moment, the honest Shang Jianyao asked, “Do we not have to tell you if we really figure out something?”

Elder Zhang waved his hand. After two seconds, he said angrily, “Whatever! I’m heading back to the sanatorium! Remember to get an aluminum pot and wear it. You can’t treat it lightly anymore!”

“Alright, alright.” The Shang Jianyao that sought novelty and liked to sing and dance didn’t mind wearing the aluminum pot at all. Instead, he was eager to give it a try.

After Elder Zhang left, Shang Jianyao turned to Jiang Baimian and said, “I didn’t see the last two pages too clearly. Let me see them again.”

So you really didn’t see it clearly. I thought you noticed the information, but you pretended not to notice anything… Jiang Baimian hung up the flashlight, folded the paper, and said in a meaningless tone, “Read it again when we get back. It’s dark here.”

There was a nuclear power plant in Ubei, and the large hydropower station upstream of the Yuelin River was relatively well maintained. There was no serious power shortage, but this was only relative. After all, this was an important industrial base for the Salvation Army. Therefore, there weren’t many street lamps installed in the Ashlands Hotel’s parking lot. The lighting wasn’t good, and Jiang Baimian had to rely on the flashlight’s beam to read the information.

“Alright.” Shang Jianyao had a look of disappointment as he eagerly walked to the hotel’s back door.

Jiang Baimian walked by his side as her thoughts raced. She quickly analyzed what she had gleaned. From the looks of it, hypertension should be a certain price. Otherwise, it would be too much of a coincidence if the two matters of the blood-pressure medication being stolen and the medical emergency happened together. Only by treating hypertension as a price can the accident of having the antihypertensive drug stolen fluidly result in the target falling ill and being sent to the hospital for emergency treatment without any other chance factors…

The person sent to the hospital for emergency treatment was most likely a powerful Awakened. Otherwise, the result of the price wouldn’t be so serious—collapsing the moment he didn’t take his antihypertensive medicine…

I can’t be sure if this person is the one who hijacked the radio system, the middleman in charge of liaising with the defectors, or if they are one and the same person… Personally, I’m more inclined to the former. Otherwise, there would be too many powerhouses in this matter, and the probability of being plagued by accidents would be extremely low… However, how could such a powerhouse have his vital antihypertensive drugs stolen?

The more Jiang Baimian thought about it, the more she found it ridiculous, comical, and funny. If not for the relatively comprehensive medical system in Ubei and the fact that the Salvation Army was willing to provide help to foreigners to a certain extent, the powerful Awakened might’ve already passed away. The reason for his death would be enough to be ranked on the Ashlands’ hilarious list. Well, if such a list existed.

As they approached the back door, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao saw the hotel manager, Shen Kang, poking his head out.

“Why is Elder Zhang here again?” Shen Kang asked worriedly.

Shang Jianyao replied honestly, “I requested Elder Zhang to help us question if the old warriors in the sanatorium had seen anyone suspicious in the evening. He was just here to give an answer.”

Shen Kang heaved a sigh of relief and asked in confusion, “Why are you asking this?”

Jiang Baimian smiled. “Isn’t there a nuclear warhead planted in the city? This concerns everyone’s safety, and we want to help in any way we can.”

“There’s the Supplies Management Committee to worry about that. Just stay in the hotel.” Shen Kang didn’t agree with the Old Task Force’s actions. However, he still expressed his gratitude. “If only everyone had the same thoughts as you; things most likely wouldn’t need a resolution using martial law. Sigh, I’m not worried that people will die now. There will definitely be time for the evacuation, but I wonder how many items we can take away. It wasn’t easy for us to save up that bit of wealth…”

Shen Kang spoke softly before stopping.

Jiang Baimian looked around and pretended to ask casually, “Manager Shen, have you noticed anything abnormal in the past few days? Things that rarely happen in the past count.”

Shen Kang seriously thought about it. “No, things were the same just like every other day.”

“Really?” Jiang Baimian tried her best to hint at him. “For example, someone fought, someone was injured, someone was sent to the hospital, and something was stolen.”

Shen Kang frowned slightly. “I think so, but also not…”

It’s only been two to three days, but you can’t remember that a resident had their antihypertensive drugs stolen from their room and was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment? Could it be that you’re also an Awakened, and the price is forgetfulness? Uh… As Jiang Baimian muttered silently, she suddenly had a thought and couldn’t help but ‘visualize’ Eidolon Nun’s gaze.

At this moment, Shen Kang touched his forehead and said, “I remember. An unlucky fellow drove out to do something, but his antihypertensive drugs and other things left in the room were stolen. He was delayed and came back only much later. Perhaps it’s because he only had enough antihypertensive drugs on him or in the car for one dose, so he couldn’t continue his medication and became dizzy.

“When he realized that his antihypertensive drugs in the room were gone, he was so angry that his blood pressure shot all the way up, and he fainted on the spot. Fortunately, an attendant was with him back then. He quickly called for an ambulance. Otherwise, he might not have been saved!”

As expected… Jiang Baimian was just about to ask which room it was when Shang Jianyao asked in shock, “Are the thieves here that rampant?”

Shen Kang sighed and said, “Sigh, there are too many foreign Ruin Hunters. Some will find an opportunity to get a sum of supplies and leave when they feel that they have no hope of settling down. We never imagined that someone would be bold enough to enter and steal from the neighboring rooms!”

“Poor fellow.” Jiang Baimian spoke first. “Is he still in the hospital? Which room did he stay in?”

Shen Kang thought for a moment and said, “He came back before martial law was enacted. Room 214. What’s his name again? I can’t remember.”

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged his words and pointed at the stairs. “Good luck to him. We’ll be heading back first.”

She and Shang Jianyao bade him farewell and walked to the stairs, going up step by step.

As she passed by the second floor, Jiang Baimian suddenly frowned and muttered to herself, “What was I trying to do? Why did I forget…”

Shang Jianyao recalled and said, “I don’t remember you mentioning it to me.”

“We’ll talk about it later.” Jiang Baimian threw this matter to the back of her mind.