Embers Ad Infinitum

The original city is not like Weed City at night. There are only one or two areas that are noisy. There are sounds coming from different places here from time to time.

It wasn't until after midnight that the city really became quiet.

After encountering the fourth "unintentional" patient, the "Old Tune Group" lost the mood to "walk" around, and after a hasty circle, they returned to the "Ugo Hotel" and rested separately.

The next morning, after completing recovery training and having a simple breakfast of energy bars and compressed biscuits, they decided to split up in order to seize the time:

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao went to find the Zhao family's liaison in the original city to find out whether there had been any changes in the manors in the suburbs in the recent period. After that, they decided whether to launch a preliminary, peripheral investigation based on the situation; Bai Chen, Long Yuehong and Gennava went to the Hunters Guild in the First City to sell them information about the giant white wolf's abilities. At the same time, they inquired about the whereabouts of Han Wanghuo.

After having two military exoskeleton devices and Gnawa, Jiang Baimian was relatively assured of the strength of Long Yuehong and Bai Chen.

Moreover, the "old tune team" will not inquire about the situation of the two descendants of O'Rei today, and what they are going to do is almost not dangerous.

As for the company's liaison officer, Jiang Baimian had already made an appointment with him via encrypted telegram on the time and place to meet in the evening.

In this way, Jiang Baimian drove Shang Jianyao in a military green jeep to the Golden Maisui District, south of the Red Giant Wolf District.

Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, and Gnawa's team will find a way to get another vehicle to carry two military exoskeleton devices in case of emergency.

Golden Wheat Sheaf District, Orao Street, Harvest Bathroom.

Jiang Baimian observed the surrounding environment and parked in a parking lot attached to a suspected bathroom.

This is not big, because the urban areas to the east and south of the Red Giant Wolf District are not places where most ruin hunters can afford to live. The public security situation is relatively good, and there is little need to ask for help from ruin hunters, while on the gray soil The number one car "production" has always been in various ruins, but those vehicles are often not usable directly and must be repaired or modified. At the same time, the professional nature of ruin hunters requires that they must have transportation. Therefore, ruin hunters Where people are not active enough, car ownership is low.

Residents living in similar areas may live better, or safer, than the relic hunters, but they neither have enough power to obtain vehicles nor the channels to purchase the few new cars, and they do not trust the relic hunters very much. For vehicles that have been repaired and towed from the ruins, there is always a suspicion that they will soon be completely broken.

Of course, there are always exceptions to everything. Otherwise, who would sell the extra vehicles that the ruin hunters worked so hard to get back?

The Harvest Bathhouse has only three floors, and its porch is supported by white stone pillars decorated with unrefined reliefs.

At this time, the bathroom was not open yet, but after Jiang Baimian reported the name "Partner Mr. Zhao", he still successfully met the boss Lanster.

Lanster is a taller man from Honghe, only slightly shorter than Shang Jianyao. He is in his thirties, with fluffy brown hair and bright blue eyes.

Wearing a black coat, he led Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao to his office while introducing the situation of Fengshou Bathroom in the tone of discussing business with his partners:

"We have four steam baths, eight hot pools, and four cold pools, all divided into men and women... We have dedicated waiters to provide relaxation programs..."

As Bai Chen introduced before, the bathrooms in the original city often double as brothels.

While talking, three people entered the office.

Lanster sat on the leather armchair and asked warmly and enthusiastically:

"Are you sent here by Councilor Zhao?"

"Yes." Jiang Baimian nodded.

The Zhao family has two liaisons in the original city, one is overt and the other is undercover. The overt one is Lawn, the owner of Lawn's Bakery diagonally across from the Harvest Bathroom, and the dark one is Lanster. Only the head of the family, the future head of the family and the specific executor can do it. Someone who knows.

Of course, this was only Zhao Zhengqi's statement. Jiang Baimian suspected that the Zhao family had more than two liaisons in the original city.

The reason they visited Lanster instead of Lawn: Two weeks ago, Lawn reported that there was no problem at the estate.

Just as Lanster was about to smile and say a few words, Shang Jianyao suddenly asked:

"Are you a believer of the Melting Pot Sect?"

His expression was unusually serious.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian's subconscious reaction was to raise his right hand and cover his face.

Because she completely understood Shang Jianyao's "logic":

There is a "steam bath" here. The core of the mass ceremony of the "Melting Pot Sect" is the steam bath, so the owner here is a believer of the "Melting Pot Sect".

According to this logic, the owners of most of the bathrooms in the First City are believers of the "Melting Pot Sect".

As soon as Jiang Baimian raised his right hand, he saw Lanster's expression change.

The smiling bathroom owner's expression turned completely calm.

Uh... Jiang Baimian's right hand paused in the air.

Lanster looked at the two of them back and forth, then asked in a lowered voice:

"What exactly do you want to do?"

He stood up, left his seat, and started... Jiang Baimian didn't respond, counting down in his mind "dumbly".

At the same time, Shang Jianyao stood up suddenly, took two steps sideways, and twitched like a burn.

After dancing this weird dance, Shang Jianyao solemnly blessed:

"May the breath of the gods bathe you."

Lanster subconsciously stood up and danced as if he was being burned by the hot breath.

After a few actions, he said in surprise:

"Are you also a believer in the New World Gate?"

Shang Jianyao nodded heavily and explained seriously:

“Just a little bit.

"When I was in Tarnan, I had already set a date for my baptism, but something happened and I had to leave early."

He looked regretful.

"Yes." Jiang Baimian nodded in agreement.

She didn't say whether she was ready to join the religion.

"It turns out he's a church member." Lanster breathed a sigh of relief, "No wonder he knew I was practicing faith."

No, the blind cat just hit a dead mouse... Jiang Baimian muttered and asked curiously:

"Did the sect ask you to serve Congressman Zhao?"

Lanster laughed and said:

"No.

"This is just a job. I have to support myself and my family while practicing my faith."

"That's it..." Jiang Baimian expressed understanding.

Shang Jian Yao asked:

“Is there communion here?”

Lanster sat down again and shook his head:

"I didn't add this service because I was afraid of being exposed, but believers in this area gather together in secret every week to share the Holy Communion."

"I don't know if we can participate?" Shang Jianyao hesitated for a moment, but still took Long Yuehong and the others with him.

Lanster smiled and said:

"Just wait until the 'devotees' baptize you."

Jiang Baimian no longer gave Shang Jian Yao a chance to change the topic, and turned to the topic:

"What happened to Representative Zhao's manor?"

Lanster hesitated and said:

“The relic hunters I hired reported that strangers were coming in and out of the manor every day.

"They were afraid of exposing themselves, so they didn't dare to use a camera. Well, they didn't have a camera. They could only rely on their memories to draw the faces of those strangers."

As he spoke, he opened the drawer and took out a stack of paper.

Shang Jianyao took it excitedly, flipped through a few pages, and said happily:

"They can draw worse than me!"

Jiang Baimian felt that this was not a problem of poor quality, but that the portraits had no characteristics and it was impossible to identify who they were.

Lanster did not dwell on this issue and continued:

“And the stewards of the several estates I came into contact with all said there were no strangers.

"At present, the investigation has only reached this extent."

It seems that Zhao Zhengqi found someone to enter the manor to investigate through an open line of law... Jiang Baimian thought about it and said:

"Can you create an opportunity for us to have direct contact with a steward from those manors? Without entering the manor."

"This is simple." Lanster smiled, "There is a steward named Zhao Shouren who likes steam baths very much and will come every few days. Counting the time, he should come today."

"Really?" Jiang Baimian asked subconsciously.

"You can wait here, maybe you can see him at noon." Lanster pointed to the ceiling and said, "There is a room on the second floor where you can rest."

At almost noon, the Harvest Bathhouse officially opened, but only two steam baths, two hot pools and two cold pools were activated.

Not long after, Lanster knocked on the door where Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian were resting:

"Zhao Shouren is here, in the steam room."

"I'm going to visit him." Shang Jianyao smiled.

Lanster immediately glanced at Jiang Baimian:

"How about you go into the women's bathroom and take a steam? It's right next door."

Jiang Baimian is also a curious person, and he pondered briefly:

"good."

At this time, Shang Jianyao suddenly said:

"Be careful not to short-circuit."

This taunt... Jiang Baimian clenched his left fist, wanting to hit Shang Jianyao in the abdomen.

But she controlled herself, because after thinking about it, she felt that Shang Jianyao's words were a kind of concern.

But the bioprosthetic limb will not short-circuit when exposed to steam.

Back on the first floor, Shang Jianyao entered the men's bathroom, took off his clothes, showered, and then wrapped a large white bath towel around his waist.

He immediately pushed open the door of the steam room, only to see white mist and steam steaming inside.

Vaguely, he saw a person in the corner, also shirtless and wrapped in a large bath towel.

Shang Jianyao walked over, sat next to him, looked at the steam spreading from the red-hot stones, and said with a smile:

"What a coincidence. You are shirtless, and I am shirtless. You are taking a steam bath, and I am also taking a steam bath, so..."

The man was stunned for a moment, turned his head to look at Shang Jianyao, and asked in surprise and joy:

"Are you here too?"

He looked like they had known each other for a long time.

Seeing this, Shang Jianyao seized the opportunity, exchanged a few words, confirmed that the other party was Zhao Shouren, and elevated the relationship to the level of life and death brothers.

"I heard that there are many strangers coming to your manor?" Shang Jianyao finally asked.

Zhao Shouren was startled and replied in a very confused manner:

"No."