Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 343: Bidding

Jiang Baimian’s expression gradually turned solemn. She didn’t say, “Isn’t this too coincidental?”

Instead, she directly made a judgment: There’s something wrong with this!

It was completely understandable for the two of them to have such a dream because of the same encounter. However, it was unbelievable that they woke up at the same time without external interference.

After pondering for a few seconds, Jiang Baimian looked at the door and deliberated before saying, “The boss did it? He’s an Awakened in the dream domain and wants to confirm what we discovered this afternoon? Hmm... If he were really an Awakened, our act back then would’ve been useless. He could clearly sense us approaching the door and returning to the lobby...”

Shang Jianyao nodded before saying in confusion, “He can ask us directly. It’s not like I would lie to him.”

You make it sound like I’ll lie... Jiang Baimian didn’t retort Shang Jianyao and only criticized him inwardly.

She thought for a moment and covered her mouth to yawn. “The boss should already believe that we only heard a strange sound but failed to figure out what went wrong. Sleep and pretend nothing happened.”

This was Ugo Hotel’s ‘custom’: If you don’t ask, so won’t I.

Shang Jianyao cast his gaze at the door and said eagerly, “I’m wondering if the boss knows Oudick.”

“Awakened in the same dream domain might not necessarily believe in the same Kalendaria. Even if they believe in the same Kalendaria, they might not be in the same Church. It’s not rare for Churches that believe in the same Kalendaria to be in conflict because of their different interpretation of the scriptures,” Jiang Baimian replied. She lay down again and prepared to sleep.

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and sighed. He pulled up the blanket and wrapped himself in it.

Nothing happened again that night. There were no more strange dreams.

The next morning, Jiang Baimian briefly shared last night’s encounter with Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Genava after breakfast that mainly consisted of bread. She also mentioned her guess.

Perhaps it was because they had already encountered a large number of Awakened and even experts with strange and terrifying abilities like DiMarco. Thus, Long Yuehong wasn’t too shocked or afraid; he only sighed with emotion. “As expected of First City. Even a random hotel owner might be an Awakened.”

Jiang Baimian took the opportunity to educate her team members. “Therefore, we can’t think too highly of ourselves. We can’t let loose just because of our past achievements.”

“What do you mean by ‘let loose?'” Genava asked, not understanding.

“It’s the antonym for ‘being down-to-earth and careful.'” Jiang Baimian helped the smart bot add to his vocabulary.

Shang Jianyao looked at Bai Chen and asked curiously, “You said that the boss has a deep friendship with the sheriff here. Do you know how they established a friendship?”

“I didn’t ask.” Bai Chen’s answer was abnormally succinct, just a little short of the words ‘none of my business.’

Shang Jianyao didn’t expect an answer at all and excitedly voiced his guess. “Could it be that he enters the sheriff’s dream every night to create all kinds of scenes to enhance their friendship? After dreaming of him many times, the sheriff feels an affinity with him whenever he sees him; hence, becoming friends with him.”

“Why does this sound a little perverse...” Long Yuehong felt that something was amiss the more he thought about it.

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and said, “This was probably adapted from an Old World love story in the entertainment catalog.”

“Even if it’s love, it’s perverted.” Long Yuehong insisted on his opinion.

“People can’t be generalized.” Shang Jianyao ‘sincerely’ educated him. “Some people like a more perverted way of showing their love for each other.”

Jiang Baimian didn’t give Shang Jianyao a chance to continue his nonsense. She looked at the time, stood up, walked to the table, and operated the team’s radio transceiver.

She wanted to inform Zhao Zhengqi—the Zhao family’s patriarch—of their findings from yesterday’s investigation and see what he wanted to do next and what he could do.

In order to make a distinction, the Old Task Force communicated with Zhao Zhengqi using the frequency range and password that the Zhao family often used for this investigation. The schedule was also between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

...

In the Zhao family’s study in Weed City.

Zhao Zhengqi—who was drinking tea—saw his eldest son, Zhao Yide, rush in. He wanted to curse, “What’s the rush? You must stay calm in every major event.” However, he instantly recalled a particular incident from before and forcefully shut his mouth.

After carefully putting down the teacup, Zhao Zhengqi asked, “What happened?”

Zhao Yide held a piece of paper and said, “Dad, Zhang Qubing’s team sent a telegram back.”

“That fast?” Zhao Zhengqi took the piece of paper in surprise. He had just received a telegram from Lance last night saying that the investigators had just arrived in First City and had contacted him.

At a glance, Zhao Zhengqi quickly finished reading the already short telegram. “It’s suspected to be related to the Anti-intellectualism Church and Awakened abilities involving Hypnosis.”

Jiang Baimian only said the results and didn’t mention the exact investigation process. At the same time, she hid the matter of ‘memory modification’ to prevent her employer from gaining any direct suspicions.

How did they discover that memories had been modified?

“Anti-intellectualism Church...” The previous assassination made all the nobles in Weed City familiar with this religion. The same went for Zhao Zhengqi.

Just as he muttered this name, Zhao Yide said in horror, “Dad, haven’t we never been able to figure out which entity was cooperating with the Anti-intellectualism Church? We only suspected that First City wanted to wipe us out and directly annex us. Could it be... Could it be Yixue...”

As the second son of the Zhao family’s direct line of descent, Zhao Yixue would inherit everything in the Zhao family as long as Zhao Zhengqi and Zhao Yide died. When the time came, he would have a high chance of uniting Weed City with First City’s support while there was a void in power from the Castellan and other nobles’ demise.

Zhao Zhengqi clearly thought of this as well. His expression turned extremely ugly and gloomy.

After dozens of seconds, he slowly said, “Yixue might’ve been hypnotized.”

This was the most acceptable answer he could think of.

“That’s right.” Zhao Yide didn’t retort. “What should we do next?”

“Get Zhang Qubing’s team to confirm if it’s really the Anti-intellectualism Church. Tell them that we won’t be stingy with our payment. It won’t be a problem even if we have to pay them with one or two manors.” Zhao Zhengqi now felt that the Anti-intellectualism Church was the real threat.

If his second son continued mixing with the Anti-intellectualism Church, the Zhao family would never have a day of peace until everyone died or was converted. There would be no exceptions.

Even if the Anti-intellectualism Church no longer thought much of the countryside nobles in Weed City and focused all their efforts on First City, Zhao Yixue’s participation would implicate the entire Zhao family.

After a pause, Zhao Zhengqi said in a deep voice, “Also, inform the Castellan immediately. We might very well have to use his relationship and strength in First City. I believe he definitely would find pleasure in exterminating the Anti-intellectualism Church. Sigh...”

He weighed the pros and cons and felt that with the Zhao family’s strength and their connections in First City, they wouldn’t be able to deal with a large organization like the Anti-intellectualism Church even with Zhang Qubing and October Xue’s team.

Only by uniting all the factions in First City that hated this Church would they have a sufficient chance of winning.

“Alright.” Zhao Yide quickly agreed.

His brother had colluded with the Anti-intellectualism Church, and the first target was very likely him!

...

Jiang Baimian smiled and teased, “Heh, the Zhao family sure is generous.”

If they could really obtain two manors, it wouldn’t be a problem for the Old Task Force to exchange for the military exoskeleton and mechanical arm by saving up another 2,000 to 3,000 Oray.

Since the Old Task Force felt that there was nothing wrong and that it was fair, Lehman likely wouldn’t find it problematic. After all, this profiteer had played dirty back then. Furthermore, the Old Task Force would give him detailed information regarding Lars when the time came.

“Shall we go to the southern suburbs now?” Bai Chen asked in confirmation.

Shang Jianyao was a man of action and had already walked to the door. Genava followed closely behind.

Jiang Baimian smiled and shook her head. “There’s no rush; we’ll go in the afternoon. In the morning, we’ll go to the Golden Apple Zone and observe the situation around the main target. If we can discover the hidden protectors because of this, we can then formulate a targeted plan.”

“How many cars are we driving?” asked Long Yuehong.

“One is enough. Two will make us too eye-catching. Also, remember that we will only pass by once. We can’t circle around repeatedly; we will be discovered.” Jiang Baimian hid the radio transceiver as she spoke.

After leaving Ugo Hotel, they chose the military-green jeep. This was because their destination was Golden Apple Zone, where the original city nobles lived. Cars that were in bad shape were very eye-catching.

The problem of it being modified wasn’t a problem in that zone. Countless nobles’ vehicles had additional equipment installed over their original bulletproof systems.

As their car moved, Long Yuehong cast his gaze out the window and looked at the scenery by the road and the pedestrians on the street.

Suddenly, a female figure jumped over. Her back was hunched, and her eyes were turbid and bloodshot.

“The fifth...” Long Yuehong muttered in confusion.

The fifth Heartless patient. This was the fifth Heartless patient along these streets in recent times.

As the public security officers in grayish-blue uniforms chased after her, Jiang Baimian slowed the car and frowned. “Isn’t this happening too frequently?”

Although it was normal for more cases to appear in the surrounding area for a certain period of time after a Heartless disease outbreak, and there was often no connection between patients, the frequency of the initial ‘epidemic’ was surprisingly high.

Even though Jiang Baimian knew that this should be within reasonable limits based on statistics, it gave off a different and more impactful feeling.

“It’s considered normal. The higher frequencies I’ve experienced also happened in First City.” Bai Chen voiced her thoughts.

“Also in First City? Is there something wrong here?” Jiang Baimian looked out the windshield and deliberated before saying, “It seems like we have to gather the medical records of these incidents and see if we can discover anything.”

Investigating the Heartless disease’s source was also the Old Task Force’s primary job because it was very likely related to the cause of the Old World’s destruction.

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao replied eagerly.