Embers Ad Infinitum

The heavy snow has stopped long ago, but there are still white residues on the roofs and roadsides, covered in silver.

Jiang Baimian ignored Shang Jianyao's attempt to squeeze a huge snowball. He smiled and said to Lei Yunsong and Lin Feifei:

"We'll have a good chat when we get back to the company."

The previous turmoil happened too suddenly. Before they could get the self-assembled radio transceiver, the task was completed. They could only contact Chen Xufeng again, the intelligence officer in charge of Yecao City affairs, and reported the general situation to the company through him. , and helped Lei Yunsong’s team apply for basic supplies.

In the end, the company asked Chen Xufeng to prepare two vehicles, enough food for more than half a month, and corresponding weapons and ammunition for Lei Yunsong's team, so that they could return to the underground building as soon as possible to report on their work and receive psychological evaluation and trauma treatment.

Lei Yunsong, whose eyes seemed not to be fully opened, responded to Jiang Baimian while pressing the car door:

“You must not forget the people who come into contact with ‘Mechanical Paradise’.

"They must hold some of the secrets of the destruction of the old world!"

In the previous exchange, Lei Yunsong and Lin Feifei, who had recovered, told the story of the reason why their group went to Wild Grass City and the subsequent encounters:

They found several broken chips from intelligent robots in a wilderness wanderer settlement to the south.

After repairing, cracking and data restoration, they extracted some useful information.

This information told them that those chips came from the robot guards of the "Mechanical Paradise" - they were attacked by enemy forces during a certain commercial transaction and suffered heavy losses, and some components were lost.

In addition to its origin, the term "master brain" appears repeatedly in this information, giving people the feeling that it has occupied various industries in the "Mechanical Paradise" - no matter which aspect of life, it cannot escape its control.

In addition, some time points in the information indicate that the "Master Brain" may have existed and been put into operation before the destruction of the old world.

In order to confirm these things and obtain more intelligence, Lei Yunsong's team chose to come to Weedong City and start the investigation from the local Hunters Guild - they cooperate closely with "Mechanical Paradise".

It was obviously impossible for a wilderness wanderer from a humble background to be treated equally. In order to make the inquiry go smoothly, Lei Yunsong deliberately chose the best hotel and showed in his words and deeds that there was a big force behind him and others.

They didn't know exactly when they were attracted by the "anti-intellectual religion" "priest". They could only confirm that they met the sickly man after going to North Street and visiting the city lord.

In response to Lei Yunsong's "request", Jiang Baimian said "hmm":

“In the end, it all depends on the company’s arrangements.

"The clues you uncovered may very well hold you accountable to the end."

Upon hearing this, Lei Yunsong took a breath and said:

“After we return, we may not have the opportunity to go out on field duty.

"Our group will probably be disbanded."

After doing old tune work for so long, they still have certain feelings and obsessions about this matter, so they very much hope that Jiang Baimian's team can take over this line, investigate it, and give them an answer.

Jiang Baimian said with relief:

"It depends on the final evaluation results. The chances are quite high."

Lei Yunsong glanced at his team members, smiled and said:

“That’s actually a good thing.

"We all have families and families. Every time we leave the company and come to the surface, we are very nervous, fearing that we will never go back. No, we almost lost it this time.

"It's a blessing in disguise that I can take advantage of this opportunity and transfer them all to back office. I no longer have to worry about my wife, children, parents and brothers. Anyway, I have been working in the dust for several years and have been to many places. I am much better than most employees in the company. Well, it’s time to be content.”

When you say that, I can tell with my toes that you are a little reluctant... Hey, there are very few company employees who are used to life on the surface who don't miss the outside world, even if it is full of danger... Jiang Baimian cursed a few words, and piled on He smiled, waved his hand and said:

“No matter what the final result is, it’s a good thing, at least I got back alive.

"Bon Voyage!"

"See you later!" Lei Yunsong and the others also waved, opened the car door and got in.

After watching their vehicle drive towards South Street, Jiang Baimian slowly exhaled and said to Shang Jianyao beside him:

"How many times have you tasted it, why do you still have expectations?"

Shang Jianyao was biting the huge snowball he pinched again.

"I'm just thirsty," he replied vaguely.

Jiang Baimian said "tsk" and walked towards the bulletproof off-road vehicle Xu Liyan gave him:

"It's time for us to do something."

As she spoke, she turned around and waved to Bai Chen and Long Yuehong behind the window on the second floor, indicating that they were busy with their own affairs.

After all, the Eugene slave-catching team is still outside the city, and the task of hunting down the "kidnapper" is still pending.

The latest news that Bai Chen found out was that after a brief battle, the Eugene gang decided on a new leader and inherited the slave arrest warrant.

The new leader obviously does not want to find Eugene. He just wants to catch a "real murderer" to show his loyalty and convince the public.

Throwing away the huge snowball in his hand, Shang Jianyao got into the driver's seat and started the car.

——Because Long Yuehong did not open the window, Shang Jianyao gave up the idea of ​​throwing snowballs at him, which would damage the glass.

"There are two things to do next." Jiang Baimian, who was in the passenger seat, leaned back, took out Chen Xufeng's "reply letter" and said simply, "First, find Xu Liyan and show that we are people from 'Pangu Creatures'. A mutually beneficial relationship can be established; second, interrogate the fake 'priest' personally to learn as much as possible about the 'anti-intellectual religion' situation."

This is a new task assigned to them by the company.

Because Shang Jianyao had been obsessed with playing in the snow for the past two or three days, Jiang Baimian was worried that he didn't listen carefully at all, so he had to repeat it again.

"It's a mutually beneficial relationship now." Shang Jianyao sounded like he and Xu Liyan were life-and-death brothers.

Jiang Baimian sneered:

“How long can this last?

"The company also saw that there was a gap between Xu Liyan and the 'First City', so it thought about whether it could win over them.

"If we can succeed, even if you develop from 'brotherly love' to 'cutting off robes and severing righteousness', we won't have to worry about not being able to get out of Weed Grass City."

The interest relationship is the easiest to change and the most stable relationship.

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and then asked:

“What is a mutually beneficial relationship?”

"It means that we are not together in name, but we can make money together, enjoy blessings together, and if there are difficulties, um, we will give some support depending on the situation. In short, we can easily bury a nail and make the "First City" uncomfortable. Directors I must be very satisfied." Jiang Baimian explained casually.

"Why are they like children?" Shang Jianyao commented.

Jiang Baimian rolled his eyes.

…………

As the city lord's life-and-death friend, Shang Jianyao met Xu Liyan without any effort.

Next to him was still the mechanical monk Jing Nian covered in robes.

As soon as he saw Jing Nian, Shang Jian Yao shook his body slightly with a strange rhythm, and then was stared back by Jiang Bai Mian.

"City Master Xu, I have something to discuss with you." Jiang Baimian indicated with his eyes that this was not suitable for Zen Master Jingnian to hear.

Xu Liyan smiled and shook his head:

"With my relationship with Jian Yao, if you have anything to say, just say it.

"Well, never mind Zen Master, we have a confidentiality agreement and the monks have always been trustworthy."

Jiang Baimian did not insist, pulled out the chair opposite the desk and sat down.

She smiled slightly and said:

"City Lord Xu, have you ever considered increasing your own strength?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Jianyao glanced sideways at the team leader and closed his mouth tightly.

Xu Liyan's expression suddenly became serious:

"How do you say this?"

Jiang Baimian's eyes swept from Xu Liyan to the mechanical monk Jing Nian, and then back again:

"Just like this attack, once the enemy breaks through the bodyguard blockade and restricts Zen Master Jing Nian's activities, City Lord, you are like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, and others can rub it as they want.

"I know that you can hire a lot of bodyguards, including the 'senior hunters' of the guild. Normally, it is difficult for someone to assassinate you, but you are not afraid of ten thousand, just in case. If your strength can be enhanced, then in At a critical moment, it might be a winning shot.

"You should be very clear that there are too many weapons and humans beyond conventional weapons in this world."

For Xu Liyan, the "Priest" incident was the most dangerous situation he had ever experienced since he was born. Whenever he thought of himself trembling and helpless at that critical moment, he became frightened and uneasy, so he had nightmares for several days. .

"Then what should we do?" Xu Liyan tried hard to sound less anxious.

Jiang Baimian smiled:

“On earth, there are many ways to improve yourself, but there are very few ways to go beyond the norm:

"The first is to become an awakened person, but this really depends on fate. You don't have to try hard or have power to succeed; the second is to upload your consciousness and become an 'immortal person'. This is indeed a good thing for human beings in their later years. It's not a small temptation, but City Lord, you are still young, and there are still many things you haven't enjoyed yet; the third is mechanical transformation. Considering your relationship with the 'Primary City', it's not that difficult, but you may not be able to get the best equipment, and , the image is not that good either..."

After talking a lot, Jiang Baimian changed the subject:

"You see, my biological prosthetic arm doesn't look abnormal in appearance, but it has abilities beyond humans."

Silvery arcs of electricity danced between her fingers.

Xu Liyan was silent for a moment and said:

"Are you from 'Panguage Creatures'?"

"Yes." Jiang Baimian responded with a smile, "Compared to immature genetic modification, biological prosthetic technology is already quite reliable."

Xu Liyan looked at her quietly for more than ten seconds, and finally asked:

"What do you want?"

Jiang Baimian laughed:

“We want very little.

"You are still alive, you still control Weedy City, and you still maintain the freedom of Weedy City. For us, that is enough.

“If we can still buy some items here that we can’t buy through normal trade, we would be very grateful.

"City Master Xu, you cannot maintain balance by placing weights on one side of the scale."

Xu Liyan thought for a moment and did not answer directly:

"I'll think about it again."