Embers Ad Infinitum

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Jiang Baimian deliberated and said, “If the probability of Doctor’s attack was still low before and all our precautions and responses were just a matter of convenience, we have no choice but to consider this possibility seriously now. It seems imminent.”

Otherwise, it was impossible for them not to be able to contact the New World powerhouse sleeping in Ubei.

Too many coincidences often meant that something was inevitable.

While Long Yuehong and the others were shocked, Commissioner Huang sighed and nodded slightly. “That’s indeed the case. Over the years, we’ve contacted people who have entered the New World. We’ll fail at most two to three times out of a hundred attempts, and these two to three attempts had omens that made them foreseeable. It’s completely different from this instance.”

“What omens?” Shang Jianyao—who sought novelty—raised the question regardless of the occasion.

Commissioner Huang casually replied, “Their bodies—which are sleeping in reality—show signs of dying or visible deterioration.”

Without waiting for Shang Jianyao to ask again, he steered the topic back on track. “In the current situation, such an abnormality is enough to indicate that some of your worries and mine aren’t delusions. I was originally just taking the opportunity to provide you with some help. After all, the people, warriors, and the sleeping person in Ubei have to be evacuated because of the nuclear warhead—a simple change of plan is as easy as raising a finger. But from the looks of it, we have to seriously consider how to deal with the Doctor you mentioned. We have to make some adjustments to the previous plan.”

“Without the blessings of a New World powerhouse, can humans escape the Heartless disease’s infection?” Long Yuehong asked anxiously.

Otherwise, a New World powerhouse was equivalent to a nuclear bomb on another level. No matter how Commissioner Huang adjusted the plan, it couldn’t change the outcome that a large number of people here would become Heartless.

Commissioner Huang glanced at Elder Zhang—who was wearing a deep aluminum pot. “Based on my personal experience and the various information I’ve read, nobody can escape the Heartless disease that a New World powerhouse proactively spreads unless they maintain a sufficient distance. Awakened who enter the Mind Corridor might be able to last a little longer, but it’s precisely because of this that such humans often become targets that New World powerhouses focus on. Under the influence of a highly concentrated virus, the little time they can last is easily offset.”

Commissioner Huang’s gaze swept across the Old Task Force members again. “Only robots are guaranteed not to be infected.”

Genava wasn’t proud of this.

Upon seeing that her team leader was in thought, Bai Chen took the initiative to ask on her behalf, “How far do we have to be to maintain a sufficient distance from a New World powerhouse?”

Commissioner Huang shook his head. “Without the data to back it up, we can only say that if one is in Ubei’s southwest city district and the other is in the northeast, they won’t be affected; they won’t be infected with the Heartless disease.”

That’s terrifying… Long Yuehong almost gasped.

They had previously repelled Doctor ‘easily,’ making him feel like a New World powerhouse was nothing more than this. Who knew that once such a big shot really returned to the Ashlands, the danger level would rise exponentially? It was incomparable to attacking through a node.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao’s expression became rather gloomy. His body seemed to be presided over by the timid and ruthless person.

Jiang Baimian composed herself and looked at Commissioner Huang. “How do you want to adjust the plan?”

From her point of view, Commissioner Huang definitely knew New World powerhouses better than them. The plans he formulated would be relatively more effective.

Jiang Baimian had always had the advantage of not being blindly confident and knowing how to listen to other people’s opinions.

Commissioner Huang clasped his hands behind his back and took a few steps toward the window before stopping. “I hope you can understand that my utmost priority will be the ordinary people and most of the warriors in Ubei, as well as the sleeping one. But don’t worry—our Salvation Army doesn’t have the habit of throwing out our partners as bait.”

“No problem!” Shang Jianyao replied abnormally loudly, just short of raising his right hand and pressing it against his left chest.

Wearing the grayish-white aluminum pot, Elder Zhang—who had been listening quietly—nodded slightly.

Since Shang Jianyao had already replied on behalf of the Old Task Force, Jiang Baimian could only maintain her expression and wait for Commissioner Huang to elaborate on the exact plan.

Commissioner Huang took out the pack of wrinkled cigarettes, took one out, and stuffed it into his mouth.

This time, he didn’t have any scruples. He lit it with a match and took a long drag.

Amidst the spreading grayish-white smoke, Commissioner Huang thought for a moment and said, “Assuming that Doctor is the only New World powerhouse who returns this time—yes, the probability is very high. Having New World powerhouses returning in batches only happened in a few cases. The most recent occurrence should be when First City was in chaos.

“If the Eighth Research Institute wants to deal with you, it’s enough for Doctor to return alone. It’s better for the other powerhouses to stay in the New World and interfere with the one sleeping in Ubei, preventing him from providing help.

“With this premise, we know that Doctor has two prioritized targets. The first is you, and the second is the one sleeping in Ubei. The Eighth Research Institute definitely won’t let go of the opportunity to weaken our Salvation Army.

“I’ve already sent a telegram to Pingnan and reported the anomaly here. It won’t be long before our Salvation Army’s other New World powerhouses provide help to the one sleeping in Ubei. In other words, the latter might recover in 15 minutes, half an hour, or an hour later and provide the necessary protection. The core of my plan is to stall for time as much as possible until then.”

Pingnan was the Salvation Army’s headquarters.

“To make a long story short, since the sleeping person has been interfered with, it means that the so-called Doctor will arrive in half an hour or even less,” interrupted Elder Zhang—who was wearing a deep aluminum pot.

Commissioner Huang tersely acknowledged his words and said to the Old Task Force, “The evacuation of the civilians and most warriors toward the northeast won’t change. We’ll head southwest along the Yuelin River and help them draw attention, giving them time to organize themselves and widen the distance between us.

“The people retreating along the Yuelin River will be divided into several batches. With the general direction unchanged, Doctor and his followers will be distracted. At most, they will be able to intercept two to three batches in time.

“You will split up and hide in different teams with the one sleeping in Ubei. Take the opportunity to go as far away as possible.

“I can’t guarantee that you won’t be discovered or locked onto; this really depends on luck. I can only tell you that I’ll personally choose a group of people to pretend to be you and the sleeping person and strive to lure Doctor away. Once he’s exposed, the people still in Ubei will fire ballistic missiles to bombard the corresponding area and destroy his body!”

It seems like the Salvation Army’s consensus is that New World powerhouses can’t resist missiles. Xu Datong—who we previously encountered—said the same thing… Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully.

Shang Jianyao frowned and asked, “Then, won’t the group of people targeted by Doctor be doomed?”

On the one hand, there was a high chance that they would be infected with the Heartless disease. On the other hand, even if they could escape the virus, they would lose their lives due to the subsequent ballistic missiles.

“Yes.” Commissioner Huang nodded frankly. “The current situation is that if the sleeping person doesn’t wake up in time, a portion of the people will have to sacrifice themselves to create a chance of survival for the others. You share this possibility as well. Therefore, I’ll give you a few signal rounds. Once Doctor’s location is confirmed, I’ll fire them at the corresponding spot.”

Don’t you think you’re overestimating us… Long Yuehong felt a headache coming on.

If not for the fact that Doctor’s main goal was the Old Task Force, he felt that he would most likely choose to follow the main team and run as far as he could.

“This plan is fine.” Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and agreed.

The Old Task Force could naturally choose not to listen to Commissioner Huang, but this couldn’t avoid an intense conflict with the Salvation Army before Doctor’s attack, wasting their chances of escape.

In such a situation, it was already considered lucky to have many teams cover their retreat.

Upon seeing that the Old Task Force had agreed with his plan, Commissioner Huang took another drag of his cigarette and said, “I’ll make the arrangements now. I’ll give you ten minutes to prepare; we’ll meet in the hotel parking lot later.”

With that said, he walked out of the room and led the people outside down the stairs. Elder Zhang didn’t say a word and left with the grayish-white aluminum pot.

“Get ready, get ready,” Shang Jianyao shouted as he took out the black trench coat he had obtained and draped it over his body. He then put on his sunglasses.

“What preparations are those?” Long Yuehong asked in confusion.

Shang Jianyao puffed up his chest and looked up. He replied righteously, “Looks better dying in this.”

“…” Jiang Baimian exhaled and said, “We’ve already made the necessary preparations. What’s missing is the company’s reply. Yes, send another emergency telegram to inform them of a confirmed impending attack from Doctor.”