Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 707: Visit

Translator: CKtalon

Shang Jianyao stroked his chin and pinched his cheeks awkwardly. Finally, he gave an ambiguous answer. “It depends. With wise people and the older generation’s supervision, it will definitely be stricter. If not, it will depend on those people’s self-awareness. Sigh…”

As he spoke, Shang Jianyao sighed. He acted like a loyal warrior who was worried about the Salvation Army’s future.

Isn’t that obvious? Long Yuehong criticized Shang Jianyao’s answer in his heart.

This was equivalent to someone asking if the temperatures would drop tomorrow, only to receive an answer: “If a cold draft blows south, it will definitely cool down. If not, the fluctuations will be relatively low.”

Bai Chen expressed her opinion. “From the current situation, I’m more inclined to believe that the person in Room 214 has really handed the nuclear warhead to his subordinate or accomplice. He’s also rather certain that the other party can safely drive the nuclear warhead out of Ubei after using the open plot of forcing the Salvation Army to evacuate the citizens.

“In such a situation, he originally only needed to hold out for the night. Then, he could’ve evacuated Ubei with the hotel guests tomorrow without being discovered. Who knew that he would encounter us?”

The plan of Room 214’s guest actually had a relatively high chance of error. Ignoring the fact that the Old Task Force lacked understanding, to the point of not knowing if there was a subordinate or accomplice, he—who had Heavenly Ears—could monitor everyone’s conversation in real-time in a small environment like the Ashlands Hotel. He could muddle the corresponding memories the moment he discovered any signs of something amiss. Not only did this not cause a huge commotion and attract the attention of others, but he could also last for days or even longer under normal circumstances.

However, he had never considered the fact that the Old Task Force had seen too much of the world. They were powerful, and they had many items and secondary reconnaissance means of detecting bioelectric signals despite the multiple walls in between.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Baimian couldn’t help but have Shang Jianyao’s previous doubts. Is the price paid by the person in Room 214 really hypertension? Are you sure it’s not bad luck?

When it rains, it pours!

After discussing this question for a while, Jiang Baimian suddenly sensed many human consciousnesses coming up the stairs and walking toward them.

“Are they here to capture us?” Not only did Shang Jianyao not panic or fear, but he also had an excited expression.

He probably has no intention of fighting the Salvation Army… From his expression, he doesn’t seem to be scaring Little Red… Jiang Baimian turned her head to glance at him in confusion. “Why are you so excited?”

The honest Shang Jianyao replied, “Once I’m successfully captured, I can join the Salvation Army as a way to redeem myself! I don’t think any faction will refuse a Mind Corridor-level Awakened.”

“…” Jiang Baimian and Long Yuehong were stunned.

After two seconds, Jiang Baimian gritted her teeth and said, “There’s no need to be captured. You can also surrender openly now.”

Shang Jianyao shook his head. “No, this is a betrayal of the company!”

You know what relationships are? Before Jiang Baimian could say a word, Shang Jianyao added, “After I’m captured, the company should be able to understand my thoughts of enduring humiliation to preserve my usefulness.”

Jiang Baimian gradually felt that it was better to slap Shang Jianyao with her left hand than argue with him. After all, the debate would end in the same way.

At this moment, the lucky Shang Jianyao realized that the human consciousnesses coming up the stairs had stopped outside their rooms.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Please come in.” Jiang Baimian retracted her gaze and looked at the door.

The person in charge of opening the door was undoubtedly Shang Jianyao.

Outside the door were Ding Ling and Commissioner Huang, who was wearing the Salvation Army’s black uniform without an epaulet.

Behind Commissioner Huang were several people. Some wore the Salvation Army’s black uniforms, and some wore olive-green clothes representing the Public Security Council.

Commissioner Huang—who was almost 1.7 meters tall—looked back and said to the personnel in charge of protecting him, “Stay outside.”

Nobody had any objections. Nobody said that letting Commissioner Huang enter the room alone violated the security rules. This meant that Commissioner Huang didn’t accept disagreements. It also meant that the security personnel were confident in his strength.

After Commissioner Huang took two steps forward, he thought for a moment and said to Ding Ling, “You don’t have to follow either. Close the door.”

Ding Ling nodded. “Yes, Commissioner Huang.”

She left the room and closed the wooden door.

Commissioner Huang then looked around and smiled at the Old Task Force members. “Don’t worry. Based on the various feedback we received, it’s indeed impossible for you to move the nuclear warhead away. This means that you were really the first to dig out the suspect and handled it in time. I thank you on behalf of the Ubei Supplies Management Committee!”

Shang Jianyao—who was thanked—wasn’t happy at all. He was even a little disappointed.

Commissioner Huang sensed the change in his emotions and glanced at him in confusion, but this wasn’t anything worth paying attention to. Commissioner Huang smiled and sighed. “I previously told you the general situation of the missing nuclear warhead, hoping that you would pay attention to what happened in the Ashlands Hotel and the foreigners here. It’s not that we don’t have the ability to investigate them one by one, but I’ve always adhered to a philosophy: the more helpers we have, the harder it will be for the enemy! As expected, you really discovered a problem, found clues, and resolved a dangerous actor.”

As expected of an old Salvation Army warrior. There’s nothing to criticize about his ways… Jiang Baimian looked at Commissioner Huang—who was much older than her father—and glanced at his white hair. She smiled and replied, “We were just lucky. We only asked two to three questions before we obtained clues. Commissioner Huang, let’s sit and talk. We also feel uncomfortable with you standing there.”

She didn’t mention anything about respect for the elderly because some elders didn’t like being called old.

Commissioner Huang nodded, walked to the suite’s sofa, and sat down.

After Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and the others found their seats, he nodded and said, “Personally, I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with you.”

For some reason, Jiang Baimian felt that Commissioner Huang had emphasized ‘nothing.’

Commissioner Huang continued, “I came over to hear your guess regarding the nuclear warhead’s whereabouts. You’ve already proven that you have outstanding brains.”

“Uh…” Jiang Baimian hesitated about whether to mention the possibility that Room 214’s accomplice might be a family member of Ubei’s Salvation Army’s higher-ups. After all, it was very important for foreigners to avoid arousing suspicion. Not getting involved in the Salvation Army’s internal affairs was their first priority.

Regardless of whether they were deliberately trying to sow discord among the Salvation Army’s factions, their intentions were punishable by death in reality.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao—the mole—had already revealed the two situations the Old Task Force had guessed in detail. “First, he’s indeed a lunatic. He has already installed the nuclear warhead somewhere in Ubei…

“Second, he’s a middleman—or rather, he has accomplices… Some people in Ubei have probably already left the city by now. Will their checks be very strict?”

Commissioner Huang laughed involuntarily. “The second possibility was inspired by Elder Zhang? Will I not be able to figure out things he thought of? From this afternoon to this evening, I’ve personally held down the fort. I didn’t cut anyone slack and only let them pass after a strict inspection.”

Shang Jianyao wasn’t happy because of this. Instead, he sighed.

“Are you trying to question why those people can evacuate from Ubei in advance? Yes, Elder Zhang will definitely ask the same question.” Commissioner Huang stood up and walked to the window. He then pointed at the warriors in charge of enforcing martial law outside and said, “My colleagues chose to stay in Ubei and face the risk of a nuclear blast with me. My subordinates chose to stay in Ubei and face the risk of a nuclear blast with me. Be it the active or the passive ones, the young people outside are staying in Ubei to face the risk of the nuclear blast with me. They are willing to make sacrifices and contributions for this matter. How can I bear to let their families stay in such a dangerous place? How can I not help them eliminate any worries?”

After hearing Commissioner Huang’s words, Long Yuehong—who had resonated with Old Zhang’s indignation—felt that what he said made sense.

Commissioner Huang slowly exhaled and continued, “I can understand Old Zhang’s disappointment, confusion, anger, and suspicion. I’ve also been through that phase.”

He cast his gaze out the window again as if he were looking at the stars in the sky that were mostly covered by clouds.

“I’ve already forgotten which year it was in the New Calendar. Our Salvation Army had absorbed more wilderness nomads than we could. The Old World’s food reserves and various sources we originally had were also expended to a very dangerous extent. Therefore, a great famine happened. Many people starved to death. Do you still remember Hong Guangming? He had a child that died back then.

“After this famine, we acutely realized that we couldn’t continue like this. We have to be responsible for the lives of those who already belong to the Salvation Army. We have to take a long time to strengthen our agricultural and industrial fundamentals and raise our food reserves.

“Back then, many people were confused and felt that we were violating our original oath and giving up on our ideals. Yes, although Old Zhang and the others found it puzzling, they accepted it. After all, the great famine really happened in front of them.

“Later… Sigh, we encountered many problems while reclaiming farmlands and building industry. The most serious problem was that many people wanted to live a peaceful life. It’s impossible for humans to stay stressed all the time.

“Us old folks have seen the Old World’s bustle and know what the goal looks like. However, the young fellows who were born after the Chaotic Era or those who weren’t even seven or eight years old when the Old World was destroyed think that this is good enough. They also want to live a better life on this foundation.

“Everyone has a natural right to yearn for a good life, and we can’t treat everyone as a saint. It’s unrealistic and unscientific to be impartial and selfless. Perhaps everyone can request themselves to be a saint at a specific stage in life. Perhaps a small number of people can always request themselves to be a saint at all stages in life. However, it’s impossible for everyone to demand that they themselves are saints all the time. Most people are selfish.

“In the face of this situation, we can only accept reality and adjust our management system and methods bit by bit to mobilize more people’s motivation. During the process, many problems inevitably arose. This was unacceptable to Elder Zhang and the others, but us old fellows have indeed been working hard to resolve them. We can only go further through compromise. It might be better to turn back and resolve them after we resolve the corresponding predicaments.”

Shang Jianyao quietly listened and didn’t interject.