Embers Ad Infinitum

Jiang Baimian was a little stunned when she heard Shang Jianyao’s question. She hesitated and said, “Probably not…”

Her voice dragged out into a whisper. This was because she didn’t know much about the situation in the New World. She couldn’t be sure if the experts there knew each other, nor did she know if Doctor had spread the information about her team to people he was familiar with.

After a brief pause, Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged and said, “Even if Doctor knows that we’re in Ubei, it’s unlikely he can make it in time. Ignoring the event in which the assassin happens to be nearby out of sheer luck, Doctor shouldn’t be able to return completely even if there’s such a coincidence. His body is still in the Eighth Research Institute and is worlds apart from Ubei. Unless he can teleport, I don’t think he can make it in time.”

The Old Task Force would be examined after dawn and leave Ubei.

“But our understanding of New World powerhouses is limited to what Wu Meng said.” The honest Shang Jianyao argued.

Jiang Baimian nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with being careful. Let’s first confirm if we’ve fallen into a dream.”

Her understanding of Doctor was: the nightmare’s minion who controlled a series of dream domain abilities.

As she was unprepared and didn’t instruct the auxiliary chip, she couldn’t monitor if she had fallen asleep.

Shang Jianyao was immediately excited. “Alright!”

He—who had been blasted to the window—turned around and looked out at the dim lights. His figure appeared in the glass.

Looking at his reflection in the ‘darkness,’ Shang Jianyao said in a deep voice, “I was dreaming yesterday at this time. There’s no fundamental difference or great change between today and yesterday. So…”

His gaze suddenly glazed over as his eyes slowly lost focus. He seemed to have entered a sleepwalking state.

From the looks of it, we aren’t affected by a dream yet… Jiang Baimian heaved a sigh of relief, jumped up, and landed beside the window. Seizing this opportunity, she slapped Shang Jianyao awake.

Shang Jianyao suddenly snapped to his senses and looked around. “Doctor probably hasn’t arrived yet…”

If Little Red were here, he would definitely say: “Don’t have such a strong persecution complex…” Jiang Baimian criticized inwardly and nodded slightly. “I’ll set up the instructions for the auxiliary chip. Then, I’ll report this matter to the Salvation Army at dawn. I don’t think they will watch a New World powerhouse descend in Ubei without doing anything. Besides, their relationship with the Eighth Research Institute isn’t harmonious at all.”

In other words, it was basically impossible to rule out the possibility that Doctor knew the Salvation Army’s higher-ups and had secretly reached a certain level of tacit understanding.

In such a situation, Jiang Baimian was definitely unwilling to neglect a large faction like the Salvation Army, which she could rely on.

She often said that people weren’t born differently, but when it came to success or failure, it depended on who’s using the tools available.

“Alright.” The ruthless but timid Shang Jianyao was very satisfied with this solution.

He and Jiang Baimian quickly packed their items, put on their tactical backpacks, walked out of the room, and came to the living room.

At this moment, Genava was charging as he looked at the darkness and the street lamps outside the window as if he were in deep thought.

“Old Ge, what’s on your mind?” Shang Jianyao asked curiously. He seemed to have forgotten that Doctor might attack.

This Shang Jianyao was not the same Shang Jianyao.

Genava turned his metal neck and said, “I’m wondering what my selfishness is since all humans are selfish…”

“Have you figured it out? If you don’t, I’ll get Big White to make one up for you on the spot,” Shang Jianyao asked in concern.

Hey, what are you saying? Jiang Baimian expressed her indignation at the slander. Of course, she used her eyes instead of words to express this injustice.

Genava sighed, and the wind produced a strange sound in his metal mouth. “My selfishness is likely the pursuit of the definition of being human and to prove the meaning of my existence. For this reason, I’ve always held back from returning to Mechanical Paradise to save my wife and daughter. Their relevant memories might’ve already been completely formatted…”

“Sigh…” Shang Jianyao sighed as well. “Just treat it as if they encountered an Awakened in the Last Man domain. You can nurture your feelings for each other after rescuing them.”

“Without the memories of the past, and perhaps even have their personalities and components completely changed, are they still my wife and daughter…” Genava fell into deep thought again.

Shang Jianyao was momentarily unable to answer such a philosophical question. He could only solemnly promise, “After we figure out the source of the Heartless disease and the reason for the Old World’s destruction, we’ll accompany you back to Mechanical Paradise to save your wife and daughter! When the time comes, we can try to resolve any problem.”

In the world, not all problems have an answer or a solution… Jiang Baimian muttered but didn’t interject.

At this moment, Genava realized that they had woken up a little early. “What’s wrong? Did you discover anything abnormal?”

“It’s fine.” Shang Jianyao had a nonchalant expression. “I just thought that Doctor might attack.”

Even as a smart bot, Genava was almost confused by the logic behind this sentence.

“It’s not a trivial matter if Doctor might attack.” Genava was one who clarified matters and got to the bottom of things. “Why did you suddenly link the matter to him?”

The honest Shang Jianyao quickly explained his guess.

After careful analysis, Genava let out a slightly synthetic voice. “Although the possibility is relatively low, we do need to take precautions.”

The conversation between the trio woke up Bai Chen and Long Yuehong. They came out one after another and figured out what had happened.

The Old Task Force waited for more than an hour before the sky finally lit up.

Ding Ling also came over and knocked on their door according to their prior agreement. Upon realizing that Jiang Baimian and the others had serious expressions, the experienced Salvation Army border sentry captain frowned slightly. “Did someone disturb you last night?”

After finishing off the resident in Room 214, she didn’t think there was anything in the Ashlands Hotel that could make October Xue’s team have such an expression.

Jiang Baimian had long deliberated over her words. “Here’s the thing. Last night, didn’t we say that we were invaded by a strange black figure when we touched the brooch? Fortunately, our robot, Genava, was around to release a high-voltage electric current, putting a stop to this matter.”

“Yes, what’s wrong with that?” Ding Ling was rather confused.

This was something that had been explained and confirmed last night.

Jiang Baimian looked around and cleared her throat. “We suspect that the black figure originated from the New World.”

New World… Ding Ling’s eyebrows twitched.

Jiang Baimian continued with an innocent expression. “When we were previously pursued by the Eighth Research Institute, we were targeted by a New World powerhouse. In the middle of the night, we suddenly thought: If the black figure that might’ve originated from the New World knows the powerhouses that have their sights on us and knows our characteristics, doesn’t that mean that the powerhouse might rush over at any moment, return to reality, and take action personally?”

Being targeted by a New World powerhouse… Rush over at any moment, return to reality, and take action personally… On the one hand, Ding Ling felt that she should be numb. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but twitch the muscles on her face. Who are these people? Why were they so randomly associated with the New World!?

It had to be known that before accompanying this team to Ubei, she didn’t even know that the New World represented an Awakened’s level. She only thought that it was another world that humans had been searching for—a world that symbolized beautiful hope and a bright future. It was no longer a world with the Heartless disease, famine, cold, mutated, and pollution.

After the Old Task Force shared the information with the Salvation Army through her, she obtained the corresponding clearance to understand this information. In the end, she really encountered something related to the New World in just a few days. Furthermore, it was somewhat related to the nuclear warhead theft!

October Xue and the others should’ve been targeted by the New World powerhouse before they came to our Salvation Army, but they’ve always acted normal and haven’t shown any anxiety… Ding Ling was momentarily at a loss for words. Should she praise the Old Task Force for being bold or for being knowledgeable and not having to sweat over the big stuff?

Upon seeing that the border outpost captain was silent, Jiang Baimian added, “If a powerhouse from the New World returns to reality in Ubei, I’m worried that something unpredictable will happen. Therefore, I’m reporting it to you in advance.”

Ding Ling finally came to her senses and hurriedly said, “Alright, I’ll report it to Commissioner Huang immediately.”

She didn’t delay. Giving a gesture, she turned around and left the room.

…

In less than 15 minutes, the Old Task Force members were led to a room on the first floor of the hotel.

Commissioner Huang was alone in the room. He was still wearing the black Salvation Army uniform with no epaulet.

Upon seeing Jiang Baimian and the others, he said authoritatively, “You guys only know how to surprise me! If someone from the New World were to really return and take action personally, there’s no chance of you winning. Most of Ubei’s citizens might die with you.”

“Why do you say that?” Shang Jianyao asked.

Commissioner Huang fell silent for a moment. “That’s because you’ve never seen the horror of a New World returner.”

He paused and said, “New World people can take the initiative to spread the Heartless disease to the surroundings.”