Embers Ad Infinitum

Translator: CKtalon 

Upon hearing that Murray and Benito were about to return to the Eighth Research Institute with their mission completed, Shang Jianyao grinned and revealed his pearly teeth as he praised, "That's pretty good."

This meant that the Old Task Force had a chance to tail and investigate.

Jiang Baimian didn't comment and asked, "When did you join the Eighth Research Institute?"

The long-haired artist, Murray, yawned and said, "I've been in the research institute since I was born…"

According to his description, the Eighth Research Institute's current personnel composition was divided into three categories. The first was the survivors of the Old World's destruction who married each other and left behind descendants. Back then, the Eighth Research Institute hadn't suffered much damage, nor did many people contract the Heartless disease—it was very similar to the situation in Ceningmis. The second was the batches of fresh blood that the Eighth Research Institute's commissioners brought back from the Ashlands over the years. The third was the children born by the 'natives' and these fresh blood.

Murray came under the third category, and Benito was in the second category.

The Eighth Research Institute's children would undergo tests when they were young and memorize all kinds of prices and their corresponding domains. When they were 17 or 18 years old, they would end off with an Awakening as their graduation exam.

Those who could successfully Awaken would undergo further studies. They would then be assigned different jobs according to the price they paid and the abilities they obtained. Some were in charge of internal affairs, some were commissioners, and some became reviewers or researchers.

Those who couldn't Awaken could only do odd jobs, participate in all kinds of production lines, be research assistants, farm in the hot spring valley, or take on a lower-ranking administrative position. As for cleaning the research institute, that was left to ordinary robots.

In the Eighth Research Institute's system, such people were considered ordinary employees. They could at most be promoted to Research Assistant unless they had outstanding scientific talent.

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Similarly, they had to rely on their qualifications or make considerable contributions to have a chance of being provided genetic enhancement serums.

Awakened were 'graduate students' who were one level higher than ordinary employees in the beginning and enjoyed all kinds of benefits. When they completed their studies and completed the many missions assigned to them, they would be promoted to lecturers.

Murray and Benito were at this level.

Normally speaking, if they could stay in Gesterbourg for another year or two without committing any mistakes, they could be promoted to Research Assistant when the rookies took over.

They currently had no hope of being promoted to Researcher. The non-negotiable condition was that they had to enter the Mind Corridor.

If the Researchers had made great contributions and had yet to explore the Mind Corridor's depths, the Eighth Research Institute often gave them a more honorary title—Associate Professor.

All Awakened who had explored the Mind Corridor's depths were Professors, but not every Professor was a member of the Professors' Association. Only those who had obtained the recommendations of at least half of the quartet—Vice President, Charlie, Professor Li, and Doctor—could enter the ranks of Eighth Research Institute's core team.

The employees in the research institute liked to call the members of the association 'tenured professors.'

Jiang Baimian muttered softly after hearing that, "In the Old World, researchers and professors are often equivalent. It's the same for research assistants and associate professors."

Murray had the carefree bearing of an artist. "An advancement system that can carve out the different levels is needed after all."

"Then, you can use tenured professors, level one, level two, and level three professors," Shang Jianyao said sincerely. "You guys read too little and play too few games. If it were me, it would be like this: Foundation Establishment Professor, Half-step Perfected Professor, Perfected Professor, Connate Professor…"

"Stop!" Jiang Baimian quickly stopped him from speaking when she saw that he was making Murray's head spin. She then turned her head and asked Murray, "Is the person who can erase memories on a large scale an Associate Professor or a Professor?"

"Professor, but he's not a member of the Professors' Association. He's working hard toward that goal." Murray didn't hide the truth.

Explored the Mind Corridor's depths… Jiang Baimian asked further, "What's his name?"

"He's Ashlandic, and the Red River name is Chris, but he prefers us to call him Professor Qin," Murray replied. "As for what he looks like and what price he paid, do you think we will remember?"

"I understand." Shang Jianyao revealed a sympathetic expression. He then curiously asked, "Why is there only a Vice President and no President?"

"As far as I can remember, there has never been a President." Murray shook his head. "Back then, a few surviving Old World employees were still alive. They always avoided the topic and didn't even tell their children."

The Eighth Research Institute's President seems to involve a secret. Furthermore, there's a high chance that he didn't die when the Old World was destroyed. Otherwise, those old employees wouldn't have avoided the corresponding question 20 to 30 years ago… Jiang Baimian made a certain guess.

It was very normal for the Eighth Research Institute's President to die when the Old World was destroyed. It wasn't worth fussing over, and there was nothing to hide unless his name itself had some kind of magic or contained a secret. Only then would the old employees keep their mouths shut.

"Can you see the stars usually?" Jiang Baimian changed the topic.

If they could, she and Genava could use various natural references to directly determine the Eighth Research Institute's location.

Murray shook his head, indicating that it was strictly forbidden.

After asking about the matter for a while and roughly understanding the composition of the Professors' Association and many details of the Eighth Research Institute, Jiang Baimian signaled Shang Jianyao with her eyes.

Shang Jianyao walked up according to the plan and communicated with Murray in a questioning and conversational manner.

After his patient guidance, Murray deeply realized that this was a trustworthy team. The reason they were investigating the Eighth Research Institute was that it had produced a traitor who wanted to subvert the Professors' Association and rule over everything.

In order to help this team resolve the Eighth Research Institute's internal problems and not alert the enemy, Murray needed to secretly contact them before returning to the Eighth Research Institute and give them the agreed time and place to meet the 'escorts.'

"Looking forward to working with you." At the end of the conversation, Shang Jianyao smiled and stretched out his right palm.

Murray smiled back and shook his hand. "Looking forward to working with you."

At this moment, Benito finally woke up.

Shang Jianyao immediately said to Murray, "Wait outside. We want to confirm if he's on the traitor's side."

This was a 'reasonable' request, and Murray readily agreed.

Shang Jianyao did the same to Benito. Not only did he obtain his trust, but he also asked the same questions he had posed Murray.

Their answers matched.

Jiang Baimian then called Murray back and said to him, "There's no problem with Benito either. You have to cooperate sincerely in the future."

Murray and Benito shook hands.

"This is our contact information." Jiang Baimian tore off a piece of paper and handed it to Murray.

Shang Jianyao asked, "How much money do you still have?"

"Seven to eight Grand Knight gold coins," replied Benito.

"That little?" Shang Jianyao had a look of disappointment. "As commissioners of the Eighth Research Institute, you guys are actually that poor?"

Murray immediately felt a little ashamed. "Seven to eight Grand Knight gold coins is enough to last us more than half a year. Besides, we get our money from Mor. His house is now under the custody of Gesterbourg's sheriff."

Shang Jianyao sighed. "Seven to eight it is. Look, we've fulfilled our promise and didn't harm your lives. You should also give some compensation for this. For example, six Grand Knight gold coins."

Jiang Baimian didn't stop him because she couldn't tell Sheriff Yergai their whereabouts in exchange for the bounty since she wanted to use them as bait to capture the Eighth Research Institute's 'escorts.'

Without the five Grand Knight gold coin bounty, the Old Task Force didn't know how to face Gitis for the time being.

They couldn't really use the nuclear bomb or Genava as collateral, right?

Upon thinking that it made sense, Murray and Benito took out gold coins from their bags, gathered six, and handed them to Shang Jianyao.

The rest should be enough for them to live until they were recalled to the Eighth Research Institute.

"Not bad." As Shang Jianyao handed the Grand Knight gold coins to Jiang Baimian, he praised Murray and Benito. "You uphold the spirit of fair transactions."

Jiang Baimian put away the gold coins and thought for a moment. "It's best if you disguise yourselves and move elsewhere. There should be a backup safe house, right?"

"Mor has two, but they aren't in this block," replied Benito.

"That's good." Jiang Baimian heaved a sigh of relief. "Do it as soon as possible."

She planned on using Benito's portrait and information that the sniper had been active in the vicinity tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to fleece some—no, redeem some bounty from Sheriff Yergai.

This was worth a Grand Knight gold coin!

After bidding Murray and Benito farewell, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao continued visiting Genava to check the stack's circuits, hoping to convince the sheriffs or other Ruin Hunters that came after them that they hadn't found anything.

After about ten minutes, they ended the job, returned to the jeep, and shared the situation with Bai Chen and Long Yuehong.

Long Yuehong frowned and said, "Therefore, the next plan is to wait for Murray and Benito to be summoned back before following them to the meeting place and capturing the Eighth Research Institute employees in charge of escorting the commissioners to obtain the Eighth Research Institute's exact location?"

Wasn't this a little too simple?