Embers Ad Infinitum

Fortunately for Jiang Baimian, because the wilderness wanderers blocked the central square and attacked North Street, Odik could not return to the Hunter Guild and could only stay in the City Lord's Mansion.

In this way, they would not only be able to return the car, but they would also not need to contact him repeatedly to seek opportunities to interrogate the fake "priest".

This is not something you can do with a special pass.

After entering the city lord's palace and seeing Odik in the side hall, Jiang Baimian threw the car keys over and asked bluntly:

"Is the fake 'priest' awake?"

Her subtext was "Have you completed the first round of interrogation?"

Odik nodded lightly and said:

"He undoubtedly believed that he was the 'priest', and his prepared plan was to lure us into the bait, find an opportunity to 'hypnotize' me, and make me become his accomplice. In the process, he relied on the seeds planted in advance to cause a huge commotion , to create the most suitable environment for the final assassination."

"If it weren't for knowing that City Lord Xu was in the Hunter Guild and he almost died, this plan would sound quite real at first glance." Jiang Baimian commented.

Shang Jianyao immediately added:

"Too bad he's too weak to afford such a plan."

These words made Odik suddenly feel a little embarrassed, because facing such a "weak" opponent, he hardly played any role, and fell into sneezing hell not long after the beginning.

Jiang Baimian wasted no time in glaring at Shang Jianyao, and asked instead:

"Have you figured out the whereabouts of Lei Yunsong, Lin Feifei and their companions?"

This is her biggest concern.

Odik shook his head:

"The fake 'priest' handed them over to a man nicknamed 'Mute', intending to use them to frame them after the assassination was successful.

"He doesn't know what the 'mute' looks like or where he lives. He only relies on the contact method agreed within the 'Anti-Intellectual Cult' to communicate. But now it's too chaotic outside North Street and we can't use the corresponding means to contact him."

After Jiang Baimian listened, he said thoughtfully:

“Could this ‘mute’ be the real ‘priest’?

"The contact and communication between him and the fake 'priest' is actually a kind of 'hypnosis'?"

"It's possible." Odik also speculated in this regard.

Their current consensus is:

The fake "priest" is an awakened person who has been hypnotized or had his memory tampered with by the real "priest". Therefore, he sincerely believes that he is the real "priest" and completes various tasks according to the instructions of the higher-ups of the sect.

And that high-level person is most likely the real "priest".

At the same time, he may also be a "mute" collaborator.

At this time, Shang Jianyao suddenly asked:

"Why do fake 'priests' also 'hypnotize' themselves?"

"The real 'priest' is specifically looking for awakened people who can 'hypnotize'? Only in this way can a perfect substitute be created." Jiang Baimian guessed.

If the fake "priest" cannot "hypnotize", not only will others not believe that he is the real "priest", but he himself will also doubt it, thus shaking the corresponding cognition.

Odik subconsciously said:

"How to accurately find the awakened person who can 'hypnotize'..."

Not only are the number of awakened people very small, but they are also used to concealing the characteristics of their abilities.

Before he finished speaking, Odik suddenly paused because he had already thought of the answer.

Shang Jianyao said excitedly:

"Every time the 'anti-intellectual religion' gives birth to a group of awakened people, a 'priest' must be chosen."

The field of the "last person" in March is in hypnosis and memory. Although it cannot be said that the number of awakened people in the corresponding field will definitely have an absolute advantage in the sect that believes in him, it will definitely not be small.

"When the number of awakened people with the ability to 'hypnotize' reaches a certain number, are they put together, locked up somewhere, and 'kill' each other? In the end, what comes out is a real 'priest' and multiple fake' priests '?" Jiang Baimian tried to translate Shang Jianyao's words.

The more she thought about it, the more she thought it might be true.

This is perfectly in line with the teachings of "anti-intellectual religion"!

"The vast majority of people don't need brains. They are just puppets. The thinking is left to the corresponding chosen one..." Jiang Baimian said with emotion and humor, "My previous understanding of 'anti-intellectual religion' It's still too shallow. They actually do this in the group of awakened people who are the backbone of the sect. It's really a combination of knowledge and action..."

What kind of spirit is this!

While sighing, Jiang Baimian noticed from the corner of his eye that Shang Jian Yaoyin was a little ready to make a move.

She had every reason to suspect that this guy wanted to compete for the identity of the real "priest".

Although Jiang Baimian does not think that he will definitely be able to use the "reasoning clown" to get rid of the real "priest", and may even be reversely "hypnotized" by the other party, or tamper with the memory, the final result may be that the real "priest" will work hard. After cleaning up the mess for this fake "priest", he decided to kick him out of the ranks of "priests" out of disgust. Then he was surprised to find that this guy took away all the fake "priests" and reorganized a new team. The "Brotherhood of Priests" leaves only the true "priest" alone and alone.

Huh... Jiang Baimian breathed out and decided to put these random thoughts behind him.

Since there was no way to learn the whereabouts of the real "priest" and Wei Yu from the fake "priest", Jiang Baimian had no choice but to ask:

"Have you met City Lord Xu? Have you asked him about the details of the attack?"

She wondered if she could find any details that could be traced from this matter.

Odik did not hide anything and told the story of the attack that he learned from Xu Liyan in detail. Of course, this did not include the characteristics of the mechanical monk Jing Nian's ability, so Xu Liyan simply skipped it.

Now, he admires the abilities of Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao, but he feels that their minds may be a little abnormal, and this may be the price to pay.

Similarly, Jiang Baimian also trusted his ability to use the influence of dreams to obtain confessions, and did not request to personally interrogate the fake "priest".

As he listened, Jiang Baimian's expression gradually became serious, while Shang Jianyao's face showed no change.

After Odik finished speaking, Shang Jianyao asked excitedly:

"Does Zen Master Jing Nian know Zen Master Jing Fa?"

"We should know..." Odik replied in an uncertain tone.

Although there were not many mechanical monks and most of them knew each other, as he was not a mechanical monk, he still did not dare to make a definite judgment.

After this conversation, Jiang Baimian spoke thoughtfully:

"I think there is something wrong with this attack. There are at least three aspects that seem strange."

"Which three places?" Odik also thought this was strange, but he couldn't see what the problem was for the moment.

Jiang Baimian raised his fingers and said:

"First, judging from the timing of the attack and the circumstances at the time, it seems that what the fake 'priest' did here was in vain. Whether it was transferring you from the guild or triggering a riot among the wanderers in the wilderness, it did not add any additional help to the attack itself. , think about it, under normal circumstances, you will not stay in the guild all the time, you will definitely be looking for clues outside, and the riot only affects the city defense army and the city main guard, as well as Zen Master Jing Nian and the four bodyguards who are inside the guild. It heightens the tension a little bit and they don't get distracted or distracted at all."

"Yeah." Odik agreed.

The plan of the real and fake "priest" seems very sophisticated, but upon closer consideration, it seems that there is no need for the fake "priest" line to exist at all.

Jiang Baimian raised another finger:

"Second, after mastering Zen Master Jing Nian's true identity and ability characteristics through the 'Real Illusion' in advance, the subsequent treatment of the real 'Father' was simply, simply..."

Seeing this, Shang Jianyao helped and added:

"Like he has no brains."

Jiang Baimian did not refute and continued:

"When City Master Xu opened the door, there was no need for him to answer and pretend that he was a real bodyguard. He should have immediately used the 'real illusion' to influence Zen Master Jing Nian again and let the four 'hypnotized' bodyguards take care of City Master Xu. Rather than letting go of the most threatening point and swarming against the target.

"If 'Father' adopts this plan, you should only be able to see the portrait of Lord Xu."

Odik said after careful consideration:

"Perhaps, in a hurry, the 'hypnosis' was not sufficient and he had to guide him, so the other bodyguards would violate their duties and shoot the city lord?"

This is Zen Master Jing Nian’s explanation of the situation at that time.

"This is indeed possible." Jiang Baimian raised a third finger, "Let's not mention whether Christina from the Hunter Guild is his companion or whether she was innocently involved. With the resources controlled by the 'Father' and the people behind it, In terms of power, his final choice of shooting was too crude.

"At that distance, if you throw a grenade, get some poison gas, and tie a high-performance remote control bomb invented by the Orange Company, Zen Master Jing Nian will not be able to protect it even if he wants to, or it will be too late."

What she means is that the person who sneaks into the bodyguard ranks may not be the "priest" himself, but other "hypnotized" dead soldiers. Anyway, the four bodyguards believe that there are five people in the team - this only needs to be done under the influence of "real illusion" Project the appearance of the dead soldier, not the priest himself.

"It's true that something is not right..." Odik thought about it carefully and felt that if the female hunter on the other side had planned it, City Lord Xu would have died countless times.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao clapped his hands and suddenly realized:

"I understand."

Seeing Odik looking at him, he said seriously:

"'Father' is teasing City Lord Xu!"

When Odik's mouth twitched slightly, Jiang Baimian exhaled and said:

"It seems that 'Father' doesn't want to kill City Lord Xu.

"Then why did he go all out to attack City Lord Xu with his true form?"

At this moment, a word came to Odik's mind:

"Hypnosis!"

"Priest" tried his best to close the distance between himself and Xu Liyan, achieve eye contact, and thus "hypnotize" the other party!

This was also Jiang Baimian's answer. She asked hurriedly:

"Where is City Lord Xu now?"

"In the noble meeting hall, discuss with all the nobles how to deal with the riots caused by the wanderers in the wilderness..." As Odik said this, he suddenly figured out something.

This may be the meaning of "Priest" starting a riot among the wanderers in the wilderness!

"Let's go!" Odik suddenly turned around and rushed out of the side hall.

At the same time, he took out his mobile phone.