Embers Ad Infinitum

Translator: CKtalon

Pangu Biology replied rather quickly for once. “Gather all items and act according to the Salvation Army’s plan.”

Long Yuehong—who had always been loyal to the company—couldn’t help but grumble, “That’s equivalent to not saying anything.”

To be honest, he didn’t expect the company to provide any substantial help. After all, they were worlds apart. Unless Pangu Biology grasped fantasy technology like spatial folding, curvature navigation, and wormhole travel, they could only watch helplessly.

Long Yuehong originally hoped that the company could at least provide some exploitable information on New World powerhouses or get the intelligence agents lurking in the Salvation Army to provide some help.

In the end, there was nothing!

After some thought, he found a reason for Pangu Biology. The company didn’t have much information on New World powerhouses either. There was nothing that could allow the Old Task Force to resist the New World’s returners. Furthermore, the Salvation Army carried out strict inspections. No intelligence personnel from the company could successfully infiltrate their borders. Even if they joined the Salvation Army, they were in the periphery of power. They were useless.

At this moment, Long Yuehong heard rustling. He turned his head and saw Shang Jianyao take out a neatly folded piece of paper.

“What’s this?” Long Yuehong asked in confusion.

Shang Jianyao smiled back. “Other preparations.”

Other preparations… Jiang Baimian had a bad feeling.

Shang Jianyao then unfolded the piece of paper, revealing the various patterns depicted on it—Blessings from all Kalendarium!

Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, and Jiang Baimian fell silent. They watched helplessly as Shang Jianyao placed the Blessings from all Kalendarium on the table. He bowed once, twice, and a final third bow.

“What kind of preparation is this?” the honest Genava asked.

“A prayer for blessings,” Shang Jianyao replied seriously. “As the saying goes, sharpening a spear at the last minute beats doing nothing.”

So you do know that it’s a last-minute effort! Jiang Baimian roared inwardly. However, she was still looking forward to it.

The Old Task Force had received the attention of many Kalendarium, and they might be chips of one or many of ‘Them.’ In theory, they would more or less be protected.

Of course, they couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Kalendarium were spreading their net. In that case, the Old Task Force definitely wouldn’t receive any additional help if they couldn’t survive Doctor’s onslaught and reach their expected ‘destinations.’

After Shang Jianyao finished paying his respects to the Blessings from all Kalendarium and put away the piece of paper, Jiang Baimian signaled for Long Yuehong and the others to stuff the radio transceiver into the box and carry the crates containing the military exoskeletons and bionic artificial intelligence armor on their backs.

While doing so, she said with a frown, “I’m only worried that Commissioner Huang’s plan won’t achieve its goal. Do you still remember the assassin? She’s Doctor’s subordinate and is good at hiding herself. She might be hiding somewhere nearby now to gather information for Doctor. When the time comes, it won’t be a secret which team the one sleeping in Ubei and we will be in. Doctor doesn’t need to gamble to easily lock onto the target.”

“We’ve previously told Commissioner Huang about the assassin’s abilities and the corresponding price. He should be wary.” Bai Chen wasn’t too worried about that. “The Salvation Army should have a way and the ability to avoid such spies.”

The price the assassin paid was symmetry OCD.

“That’s right, that’s right.” Long Yuehong quickly echoed.

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly. “That’s true. We can remind Commissioner Huang later.”

The Old Task Force—who had long made preparations—quickly packed their items and carried them on their backs. They planned on going downstairs later and heading straight to the jeep to stuff everything in. They would then follow Commissioner Huang’s arrangements and mix in with the troops before leaving Ubei by following the Yuelin River.

Before long, they heard loud and noisy rotary sounds.

Jiang Baimian looked up and saw seven to eight dark-colored armed helicopters approaching from the distance.

They landed in the Ashlands Hotel’s empty parking lot one after another.

“I see…” Jiang Baimian’s heart palpitated as she roughly understood Commissioner Huang’s strategy.

These helicopters had their labels smeared, and their appearances were almost the same. After the teams boarded the helicopters, they would lift off and circle back and forth. The ‘assassin’ on the ground wouldn’t be able to tell which helicopters the Old Task Force and the one sleeping in Ubei were in.

She couldn’t follow behind the helicopter like she was tailing a car; there was a speed restriction and a height problem. Furthermore, the helicopter had limited space. After it was filled with people and equipment, there was no way to squeeze in another ‘invisible person.’ This eliminated the possibility of the other party sneaking into the right team.

Yes, an assassin can hold onto a helicopter’s landing skids and be airborne as well. However, Commissioner Huang will likely take precautions against this… Jiang Baimian heaved a sigh of relief and said to her team members, “Alright, let’s go down. It seems like we have to bid our jeep farewell for the time being.”

It was obvious that the Old Task Force would evacuate in one of the helicopters. When they reached safety, their jeep would be driven over by the Salvation Army to rendezvous with them.

“Yes, Team Leader!” Shang Jianyao and the others replied in unison. They then followed Jiang Baimian, carried their tactical backpacks and different crates, left the room, and went down the stairs to the bottom.

At this moment, many cars had already appeared in the Ashlands Hotel’s parking lot. Hundreds of Salvation Army warriors in black uniforms stood in an orderly manner near the hotel’s back door.

In addition to them, there were about a number of civil servants in neat blue uniforms.

Jiang Baimian looked over and saw two familiar faces. The first was Director Hong Guangming from Ubei’s Entry Office, and the second was the hotel manager, Shen Kang.

These people weren’t standing in an orderly manner. Their expressions were varied and indescribable.

Shen Kang knew Hong Guangming. He suppressed his voice and asked, “Director Hong, why did Commissioner Huang suddenly get us to gather here?”

From his point of view, Director Hong was an old subordinate of Commissioner Huang. He should know some inside information.

Hong Guangming—who was less than 1.7 meters tall and had his left arm and right leg electronically modified—stroked his sparse white hair and replied in a nasty temper, “Who should I ask if you’re asking me?”

Shen Kang remained uneasy. “Don’t tell me they want to investigate us? If there’s no problem, we will follow the troops. If there’s a problem, we will be cannon fodder…”

Hong Guangming turned around and glared at Shen Kang angrily. “What problem? What problem can there be? Everything here was a result of us fighting for it. What’s wrong with getting more benefits? Saving all of humanity? Who still believes in this nowadays? They’re just shouting slogans! Look at the people above them. Most of them don’t believe it themselves. Everyone can see how their children are doing!”

Shen Kang looked at Hong Guangming’s mechanical left arm and right leg and didn’t dare respond. He could only mutter inwardly, Weren’t you so loyal back then?

As the two of them conversed, Commissioner Huang led his staff and security guards to the steps. In an abnormally loud voice, he said to the young warriors in the black uniforms and the civil service personnel in blue uniforms, “Everyone, some of you will be chosen to carry out a difficult mission. This mission is very dangerous, but don’t worry. I’ll participate personally!”

Upon seeing everyone look at him, Commissioner Huang nodded and added with a serious expression, “I can’t lie to you. According to the Salvation Army’s tradition, such missions have to be explained in advance. I can’t tell you about the confidentiality clauses involved. I can only tell you that this mission is very important and will affect the Salvation Army’s foundation. Its danger level is…”

At this point, Commissioner Huang paused and said, “There’s no chance of survival!”

He didn’t mention that only two to three batches might end up like this. There was still a chance of survival for the others. After all, nobody knew which two to three teams would be destroyed.

Upon hearing that there was no chance of survival, the entire parking lot suddenly went into an uproar.

The originally disciplined Salvation Army warriors revealed panicked and terrified expressions. They were willing to accept orders and fight a bloody battle with the enemy, but this didn’t mean that they weren’t afraid or didn’t want to retreat when facing a suicide mission.

The civil servants who had been away from the front line for years or had never experienced such things were even worse. They cast their gazes at the warriors as if they were saying: “This is your problem; don’t implicate us.”

Commissioner Huang’s gaze swept across the faces as he sighed silently. “This time, we will do it voluntarily. Anyone who is willing to step forward will be rewarded according to the highest standards. Your family will also receive the corresponding preferential treatment. Alright, those who are willing to participate in this mission, take a step to the left!”

The entire parking lot suddenly fell silent. Many people looked at each other, but their legs went limp, making it difficult for them to take that step.

After dozens of seconds, only a few people showed any intention of participating.

At this moment, someone shouted, “Old Huang, don’t make things difficult for these young children. Leave it to us old bastards!”

Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and the others looked over and saw 20 to 30 people wearing different aluminum pots walking into the parking lot.

The leader was Elder Zhang—who was wearing the faded Salvation Army uniform.

Elder Zhang walked to the front of the team and turned to face Commissioner Huang. He then took off the aluminum pot on his head, revealing his white-haired, wrinkled face.

He looked at Commissioner Huang and laughed self-deprecatingly. “Many people think that old folks like us are conservative, stubborn, rigid, and have psychological problems; they wish we could die earlier. Now, it’s just as they wish; we can show some of our remaining enthusiasm.”

With that said, Elder Zhang’s expression turned solemn. He pressed his feet together and said, “Regimental Commander Huang, Zhang Wangyuan from the Second Battalion reporting for duty!”

Following him, the old Salvation Army warriors wearing aluminum pots removed the aluminum pots that blocked their eyes and ‘protected’ their heads one after another. They straightened their bodies and shouted, “Regimental Commander Huang, Liu Ming from Regiment HQ reporting for duty!”

“Regimental Commander Huang, Zhou Kaiqi from the Third Battalion’s Charlie Company reporting for duty!”

…

Hong Guangming—who was standing among the civil service personnel—looked at the familiar faces and suddenly wore a dazed expression. He seemed to have returned to the past, to the era when his blood still boiled.

Commissioner Huang fell into a daze for a moment before he nodded with emotion. His already upright body became straighter as he pulled his feet together and pressed his legs tight.

Upon seeing this, Hong Guangming’s mind buzzed. He felt that he couldn’t suppress the burning blood in his heart.

He limped out of the team and saluted solemnly to Commissioner Huang. “Regimental Commander Huang, Hong Guangming from the Second Battalion’s Alpha Company Hong Guangming reporting for duty!”

Commissioner Huang exhaled in relief. Following this, he stretched his right hand with a solemn expression and pressed it to his left chest. He then looked around and shouted loudly, “For all of humanity!”

Elder Zhang, Hong Guangming, and the others raised their right hands and pressed them to their left chests. They replied in the most solemn and pious manner, “For all of humanity!”

The young Salvation Army warriors and the civil servants watched this scene in a daze, momentarily unable to come to their senses.

At this moment, a small speaker with a blue bottom and a black surface boomed at maximum value while placed beside the feet of Shang Jianyao—who was wearing a black trench coat and black sunglasses.

“I don’t want to die in lonely defeat;

“I don’t want to forever live underground.

“The materialist scams;

“The scurrying ants;

“People with no ideals don’t get hurt;

“He doesn’t get hurt!”