Embers Ad Infinitum

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Translator: CKtalon

Under the setting sun’s rays, the Old Task Force’s jeep drove along the familiar street. It slowly advanced through the signs—hairstyling, supermarket, barbecue, foot bath, hotpot, police, clothing, and other signs that were hanging diagonally or missing.

Cars were randomly parked along the road, clearly ravaged by the elements. It seriously hindered traffic, but it didn’t mean that the jeep couldn’t pass through.

“It’s still the same old.’ Shang Jianyao—who was in the backseat—sighed.

For some reason, a sentence that originated from the Old World’s entertainment naturally surfaced in Long Yuehong’s mind: “He lita cigarette and started recounting his tale.”

The driving Bai Chen looked ahead and said, “It’s getting dark. Where are we camping tonight?”

“The place from last time, of course!” Shang Jianyao replied before Jiang Baimian could. “We have feelings for it!”

His small speaker came from there.

Who has feelings for this godforsaken place? Jiang Baimian muttered silently and nodded. “Same old place—at least it’s familiar.”

Bai Chen tersely acknowledged her words and turned the jeep to the left before entering the estate without a complete name. They then alighted, brought their items, tuned into a unit in the first building on the right, and familiarly arrived at the sixth floor.

After opening the door to the innermost room, a putrid smell drilled into their noses.

“The layout is no different from when we left.” Shang Jianyao looked around as if he didn’t smell anything.

The coffee table, the television cabinet, the dirty cloth sofa, the emerald-green cups, the round table, the recliner, and other items were all in the same position. They appeared frozen in time and had never been moved.

Jiang Baimian nodded. “It seems like no Ruin Hunter has been here.”

She then ordered, “Check the rooms and eliminate any latent dangers.”

The four people from the Old Task Force immediately split into two teams. One team walked to the bathroom, and the other went to the end of the corridor and opened the door to the child’s bedroom.

Jiang Baimian looked over and saw a person lying quietly on the bed.

The person was covered in a blue blanket with a small golden star. The exposed parts had already turned to bones, leaving only a cluster of white, messy hair.

Shang Jianyao fell silent for a few seconds before saying, ‘Let’s go somewhere else.”

Alright.” Jiang Baimian could understand his feelings.

The corpse in front of them likely belonged to the room’s original owner-the little gir] named Nan Nan in the photo album.

She had become a Heartless. She grew up year after year and gradually aged, but she never forgot where her home was. Every time the lights lit up at night, she would return to rest and flip through her photos.

‘When the power was cut, she would become a cruel Heartless and hunt outside.

In the blink of an eye, more than two years had passed. When the Old Task Force encountered her again, she had already become a corpse.

After briefing Long Yuchong and Bai Chen about the situation, Jiang Baimian led her team members to the same unit on the eighth floor.

It was also where they had stayed.

After settling down, Long Yuehong sighed with emotion. “I didn’t expect her to be dead..”

“It’s very normal.” Bai Chen consoled him. “Not many ordinary Heartless can live to the age of 40. They only lasted until a few years ago because of Xiaochong’s protection.”

After the previous incident, Xiaochong was scared away by Du Heng, Pangu Biology took over a portion of the area, and many Ruin Hunters came and went. The ‘environment here had completely changed.

This made Jiang Baimian vaguely feel like they had become villains.

Shang Jianyao sat by the floor-to-ceiling railed windows. He looked out and sighed. “It would be nice if there’s no Heartless disease.”

“This is our team’s mission,” Jiang Baimian replied in a joking manner, trying her best to lighten the mood in the team.

Long Yuehong looked out the window and exclaimed, ‘It’s already dark. Why aren’t the lights switched on.”

Before he could finish speaking, he shut his mouth.

The reason Swamp Ruin 1 could have electricity at night and replay the city’s former dazzling night scene was that the nearby hydropower station was still being ‘maintained. It was still working because Xiaochong was playing games near the underground engine room at the City Intelligence Network

Control Center. From time to time, it would power the entire city.

Now, there was no Xiaochong or the Superior Heartless with a certain level of intelligence.

Bai Chen also came to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out. She acutely noticed: “There’s light over there.”

At the edge of the concrete jungle, balls of yellow or pure white light flickered.

There were definitely not many of them, but they were rather eye-catching in the setting sun.

Jiang Baimian exhaled and said, “That should be where the company’s garrison is stationed. They must’ve been to the City Intelligence Network Control Center to keep this ruin powered.”

That’s true. Having electricity and not having electricity are two completely different concepts. It’s the same for those being stationed and day-to-day living… Long Yuehong came to a realization.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao excitedly stood up, rushed to the dining area, and pressed the switch.

The white light lit up.

“There’s indeed electricity!” Shang Jianyao was rather happy.

Jiang Baimian’s eyes darted around. “Turn it off. It’s too eye-catching at night.”

After Shang Jianyao switched off the lights, Jiang Baimian looked around and said, “The arrangement for tonight is: Have dinner first, then rest for an hour. We’ll then go to a nearby block on foot to search for bookshops and other places to determine if this is Dajiang City.”

“We’re searching for information tonight?” Long Yuehong blurted out in surprise.

One had to catch their breath before hanging themselves.

Jiang Baimian smiled. “We should be carrying out operations at night and resting during the day. Otherwise, it’s very easy for us to encounter the company’s exploration team. Furthermore, we have to be constantly worried that a drone will fly over our heads. You don’t want this, right?”

“Okay.” Long Yuehong nodded without hiding anything.

He still hoped that Shang Jianyao’s discovery was a misunderstanding and that they were still loyal employees of Pangu Biology.

Bai Chen said, ‘If we act at night, it’s best to plan a route in advance.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Otherwise, Big White will easily get lost.” Shang Jianyao agreed.

Jiang Baimian gritted her teeth and said, “Let’s head toward the blown-up secret laboratory. On the way, welll circle around the City Intelligence Network Control Center and not approach it.”

The blown-up secret laboratory had long become worthless after Pangu Biology’s years of excavation. As for the City Intelligence Network Control Center, it was of great importance. There was a high chance that it was guarded by the company’s troops.

“Alright.” Long Yuehong and the others didn’t object.

At 8 p.m,, the Old Task Force began taking action according to the plan.

In order to reduce any commotion, they didn’t drive. However, Bai Chen and Long Yuehong put on their military exoskeleton and Blackmarsh Iron Snake bionic artificial intelligence armor. If they really encountered something, they would drag Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao with them and run at full

speed. They wouldnt be slower than the jeep and would be more agile.

Shang Jianyao held the Berserker assault rifle and relied on the dim starlight in the sky to carefully walk along the street. Jiang Baimian didn’t know whether to praise him for not being careless and being sufficiently careful, that he always did things according to the tactical manual or should she mock him

for being unnecessary and for liking to act?

With the Old Task Force’s current perception and detection standards, there was really no need to follow those instructions to the tee.

After circling around the City Intelligence Network Control Center, the Old Task Force arrived at a street behind it that led to the secret laboratory.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao turned around and shouted in a direction, “Stop!”

As his voice echoed, a figure jumped down from the street window.

It was a male Heartless. His hair was messy, his eyes were turbid, and his body was hunched. He was about 30 years old.

He originally wanted to pounce at the Old Task Force and complete the hunt, but he stopped and didn’t move.

Shang Jianyao walked over and politely asked, “Do you know which city this is?”

The Heartless roared, and his bloodshot eyes were vigilant and filled with hatred.

Shang Jianyao was not discouraged. “You should say, ‘This is Dajiang City.”

‘The Heartless’s mouth quivered as a difficult and strange voice sounded from his throat. “This is Dajiang City.”

“It’s indeed Dajiang City!” Shang Jianyao slapped the Berserker assault rifle’s side.

Is this considered getting an answer through torture? Long Yuehong muttered.

Shang Jianyao then waved his hand and said to the Heartless, “You can leave now.”

Therefore, the Heartless obediently left.

‘The next second, Shang Jianyao looked at Jiang Baimian and asked curiously, “You actually didn’t reprimand me.”

Jiang Baimian rolled her eyes. “Your actions reminded me of something.”

“What is it?’ Shang Jianyao asked.

Jiang Baimian tersely grunted. “Do you still remember the strange things we encountered here? After the lights were switched on, all the Heartless seemed to return to normal. They did their own things and stopped attacking humans.”

“Yes,” Bai Chen and Long Yuehong nodded.

‘That had left a deep impression on them.

Jiang Baimian exhaled and said, “Back then, I found it unbelievable. Now that I think about it, I feel that it might be the effect of Thought Implantation. And it’s most likely because of Xiaochong.”

Xiaochong implanted different thoughts into every Heartless in this city ruin, making them do things according to the corresponding thoughts once the lights are switched on? The more Long Yuehong thought about it, the more he felt that his team leader’s guess was close to the truth.

Shang Jianyao slapped the Berserker assault rifle’s side again. “Xiaochong is indeed from the Master Zhuang domain!”

What’s there to be happy about… This is very terrifying, alright? Long Yuehong criticized inwardly as he guarded his surroundings.

As his gaze moved, he suddenly saw the words on a sign by the street being illuminated by starlight that left the dark clouds. “Dajiang City.”

Long Yuehong was surprised and delighted. He pointed at the signboard and said, “Team Leader, it says what place this is over there!”

This is really Dajiang City!

Just as he said that, he saw the entire signboard clearly: “Dajiang City’s Elite Middle School.”

This.. Long Yuehong’s pupils instantly dilated as if he had been struck by lightning.