Embers Ad Infinitum

"The target of the 'anti-intellectual cult' won't be the two of them, right?" Long Yuehong asked uncertainly after reading the information projected by Gnawa.

He felt that there were still too many choices. After all, if the contradiction between the reformists and the conservatives intensified, the assassination of any senator from both sides, or a powerful person who had not entered the Senate, might lead to the outbreak of internal strife, just like pouring water into a barrel. A lit match was missing from the gunpowder.

Jiang Baimian thought for a while and said:

“There are definitely more, but I am more inclined to think that the target of the ‘anti-intellectual cult’ is General Phocas.

"Shang Jianyao and I received hints at the general's residence that the 'anti-intellectual cult' had already penetrated there to a certain extent, and that General Phocas was either one of their men or the next target.

"Well, the probability that Inspector Alexander is the target of the 'Anti-Intellectual Cult' is low. He is one of the two giants of the 'Primordial City', and the protection he receives must be the highest level. Even if the 'Anti-Intellectual Cult' dispatches all eight elders, most of them will be They can't succeed. Their only hope is that there are traitors and moles around Alexander, and this is beyond our control. Even if they want to secretly serve as free bodyguards, there is a high probability that they will be discovered and arrested as an accomplice of the 'anti-intellectual cult' .

"As for other veterans, the sensational death and various reactions brought by it are not as good as General Phocas. Moreover, we don't have enough manpower to cover everything. We can only choose the most likely one, and leave the rest to the company. Let’s see if there are any gains.”

After listening, Shang Jianyao smiled and said:

"This is fate."

This time, Long Yuehong probably understood what he meant:

The "old team" who had not planned to return to General Phocas's mansion had to monitor it again.

When the time comes, if there is any celebration banquet, Shang Jianyao will definitely not miss it.

Jiang Baimian ignored Shang Jianyao, nodded and said:

"Then make a plan to monitor General Phocas's residence. The first prerequisite is that it cannot be discovered by people from the 'anti-intellectual religion' nor the general's security personnel."

"The key point is the public toilets in that area!" Shang Jianyao made the suggestion seriously.

"Ah?" When Long Yuehong was a little confused, Jiang Baimian, Bai Chen and Gnawa turned their heads at the same time and looked at the projected page of information.

That's the lab report on the cigarette butts.

The saliva extracted from it contains an ingredient called "Ralphie" sugar.

It is a cheap candy made from the rhizome of the red stone plant nicknamed "Bai Chi" and mixed with mint. It is not very sweet, but it is very refreshing and makes people sober.

The only problem with it is that it can cause a certain degree of diarrhea, making people eat it for free. However, this negative effect was very popular in the city when the diet was prone to constipation and indigestion.

——Those lower-class citizens who could not afford "Ralphie" candy would regularly eat the rhizome of a plant called "rhubarb" and make it onto the table as a stew. This is similar to the "freeloader" effect, only relatively soft.

Therefore, in order to refresh themselves, a real "priest" will often smoke Flag cigarettes and eat "Ralphie" candies, which may cause him to suffer from diarrhea for a long time.

Although it sounds a little gross and funny, monitoring the public restrooms in the neighborhood surrounding General Phocas's mansion might actually be fruitful.

At the same time that Long Yuehong suddenly realized it, Shang Jianyao had already imagined the scene:

"When I rushed into the toilet, the real 'priest' had taken off his pants and his buttocks were naked. He was squatting there and could only stare at me."

Long Yuehong fantasized about it, thinking that the real "priest" might commit suicide in shame and anger.

"Be careful of being hypnotized by looking at each other." Honest Gennava did not understand Shang Jianyao's humor.

…………

Two days later, before formally monitoring the area around General Phocas's residence, the "old tune team" who had made arrangements went to the wolf den again and handed over the remaining parts of the introductory textbook on the Gray Language to Su Na and others.

"Study hard. There are many people in the dust who died tragically because they wanted to master the language and knowledge." Bai Chen looked at these women and reminded them in a cold tone.

She didn't say that the "anti-intellectual religion" people, that is, the real priest who almost blew up the "Wolf's Den" before, hate normal people who want to think and learn. This is because she is worried about scaring these people who have not yet fully stood up. Women with insecure heels.

"Yeah." Su Na nodded vigorously, "Actually, we don't think it's hard to learn a language. We've mastered the words and characters little by little, and can understand part of other people's meanings without using a translator. This makes us very, very happy."

Jiang Baimian nodded gently and said:

"This is best. I think your fast food restaurant is almost ready. The corresponding ingredients will be available the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Tomorrow is the day for the delivery of the Left Bank Estate.

When trading arms with Lehman, Jiang Baimian will add an additional clause: Within three years, no matter who transfers the manor to, the manor's output must be sold to Suna and their fast food restaurant at the lowest price with only a small profit.

Three years later, Su Na and the others either couldn't continue to operate in the original city, moved to other places, or changed their livelihoods, or they had already established a firm foothold.

Suna and the others couldn't help but exchange a few words about this, full of expectations.

Seeing the "Old Tune Team" preparing to leave, Su Na remembered something and said quickly:

"Ogg seems to have something to ask you for."

"Og?" Jiang Baimian repeated the name.

This is the former boss of "Wolf's Den" and a backbone of the "Black Shirt Party".

Ogg, who had a thick beard and was no longer slightly obese, saw Shang Jianyao with a smile on his face as soon as he came out of the toilet.

For some reason, he shuddered and hurriedly put on a smile and said:

"good morning."

"I heard that you came to see us for something?" Shang Jianyao asked on behalf of Jiang Baimian.

Ogg nodded hurriedly:

"Yes. In fact, the second boss Terrence came to you and told you that he had information about the 'Holy Desire' sect and asked you to meet him."

The second boss is the specific title of the "Black Shirt Party". In the Gray Earth Organization, he is roughly equivalent to the deputy gang leader, but he has greater autonomy and is more like a partner.

Information about the "Holy Desire" sect? Jiang Baimian didn't say much, nodded and said:

"good."

After leaving the "Wolf's Den", she suddenly laughed and said:

"The real 'Priest' is really haunted."

"Is there something wrong with Terrence?" Bai Chen asked keenly.

Jiang Baimian looked back at the "Wolf's Den":

"Since the real 'Father' has been here, it is impossible for him not to notice that there is something wrong with the relationship between Ogg and the others and the Gray Earth women like Suna. And with his ability to tamper with memories, he can easily figure out that Ogg and the others belong to ' The Blackshirts', taking orders from Terrence, became what they are now because of what happened to them.

“So, Shang Jianyao’s ‘reasoning clown’ ability should have been exposed to the real ‘priest’.

"And it's such a coincidence that Terrence suddenly wants to see us at this time."

She paused and said:

"I suspect that Terrence's 'reasoning clown' effect has been quietly eliminated by the real 'priest'. He is now extremely awake and has gathered the strong men of the 'Black Shirt Party' and the clergy of the 'Transcendental Spirituality' Order, thinking Set a trap for us and come back with revenge."

"Then, what should we do?" Long Yuehong was most afraid of the team leader saying that he would use his tactics to defeat the other party. He was also afraid that by doing nothing, the "Wolf's Den" would be taken over by the "Black Shirt Party" again.

Jiang Baimian looked at Shang Jianyao with a smile:

"Let's talk to him."

…………

In the Red Giant Wolf District, in a cafe with a phone call, Shang Jianyao, who was disguised, picked up the receiver and dialed Terrence's home number.

The person who answered the phone was a member of the "Black Shirt Party". He quickly called Terrence, the second boss of the "Black Shirt Party" and a member of the "Transcendental Spirituality" Order.

"It's me, Zhang Qubing." Shang Jianyao directly stated his name.

Terrence was silent for two seconds and said with a smile:

"When are you coming over as a guest? I miss you very much and I have something to communicate with you."

Shang Jianyao asked without any concealment:

"Don't you trust me anymore?"

Terrence was silent again.

Shang Jianyao smiled and said without hesitation:

"I know who is instigating the relationship between us. You must know that he is an 'anti-intellectual cult' person and has deep cooperation with the 'Holy Desire' sect."

Terence said nothing.

Shang Jianyao continued:

"If you change your mind, you can send a telegram to this frequency band at this time tonight, and we will call you back depending on the situation..."

He repeated the specific time and frequency band twice before hanging up the phone and walked out of the cafe, which was closely monitored by the other four members of the "old tune team".

At nine o'clock in the evening, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao, who had taken turns leaving the area around General Phocas's residence, returned to their resting place and turned on their radio transceivers.

——The surveillance position they selected was quite far away from General Phocas's residence to avoid being discovered by the other party's security personnel. They relied more on the height of the building, telescopes, and Gnawa for observation.

Not long after, a telegram came in:

"The 'Holy Desire' sect has been active in the recent tensions in the 'Primary City' and is suspected of being deeply involved. If you agree to cooperate, I hope to meet. The specific time, place, and method are up to you."