Embers Ad Infinitum

Looking at Commissioner Huang standing by the window, Jiang Baimian always felt that what he just said was not meant for him and others, and there was no need to say it to him and others.

Vaguely, Jiang Baimian felt that Commissioner Huang used this opportunity to talk to Mr. Zhang through the air after knowing that he and others had communicated with Mr. Zhang.

Although Mr. Zhang couldn't hear these words, for Commissioner Huang, this might be the effect he wanted to achieve.

Similar emotions are subtle and hard to describe.

After finishing speaking, Commissioner Huang fell into a long silence.

He took out the crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, smoked one, put it to his mouth, paused for a few seconds, and then stuffed it back, as if he felt that smoking in other people's rooms was not a good idea.

At this time, Shang Jianyao asked with a serious expression:

"When you old people die, will the Salvation Army be able to complete the adjustment?"

Those who have seen the prosperity of the old world and are deeply impressed are definitely close to eighty, or even more than that. Even within the "Salvation Army", there are not many such veterans left, and according to the laws of nature, they will definitely not live long. Years have passed, and even if Commissioner Huang is still very strong, he will collapse if he really gets sick.

Commissioner Huang turned to look at Shang Jianyao and nodded:

"So our main work in recent years is to establish a system that adapts to the current situation and can operate stably without the need for old guys like us, while at the same time focusing on cultivating successors who still have some glorious ideals."

Hearing this, Jiang Baimian was puzzled:

"According to what you said before, shouldn't we prefer a pragmatic successor?"

Commissioner Huang raised his head slightly and laughed:

“This is just our selfishness, we still hope that our ideals can be passed down.

“Moreover, an organization without ideals has no future, and no matter how effective the supervision method is, it will be useless when encountering an organization where everyone chooses mediocrity and depravity.

“No matter how powerful the technological means are, they still rely on humans to implement them.”

"This can be given to our intelligence, the robot." Gnawa finally couldn't help but interjected, "We will not degenerate or corrupt, and we can be qualified for the position of supervisor."

Commissioner Huang glanced at the silver-black robot, shook his head and smiled:

“Robots are also manipulated and controlled by humans.

"Robots that are not manipulated and controlled by humans are equivalent to real people, and humans have selfish motives."

"People have selfish motives..." Gnawa's eyes flashed red and he muttered to himself.

Commissioner Huang continued:

"We old guys still hope to see the day when our ideals can be realized."

As he spoke, he turned his head and looked out the window, which was not so brightly lit:

"Don't you always think that my price is very hidden, are you guessing what it is?

"I can tell you now that the price I paid was losing part of my memory forever."

Can this also be a price? The price seemed pretty good. I could pack up the things I didn't want to remember and sacrifice them... Long Yuehong was moved by the price of being an awakener for the first time.

It's not a good thing to have a good memory. He is often embarrassed by the embarrassing things in the past.

For example, hey, he is only 1.75 meters tall after being genetically modified...

Seemingly aware of what he, Jiang Baimian and others were thinking, Commissioner Huang laughed at himself and said:

“When I first discovered that I could use part of my memory as a price, I felt the same way as you do now: How great, it can clear away garbage from the brain and is not easy to target.

"Unfortunately, I can't decide what to forget. Every time I get promoted, I will forget a lot of things.

"Later, I gradually understood the true meaning of a saying from the old world:

“Those who do not have a past have no future, and those who forget the past will lose the motivation to move towards the future.”

Commissioner Huang's tone gradually became serious:

“If I hadn’t still remembered the prosperity of the old world, the oath that everyone swore when we established the Salvation Army, and our vision for the future, I might have been unable to hold on and chose to end my life on my own.

"I am now over eighty, and there are fewer and fewer things I can do. Effectively continuing the ideals of me and my old comrades is the only motivation for me to be alive.

“The present can be vulgar and the process pragmatic, but the goal cannot be changed.

"I hope that after the source of the 'unintentional disease' is discovered and this hidden danger is completely eliminated, after the industry is completely rebuilt and the material reserve reaches a certain level, our 'Salvation Army' can implement its original ideals step by step."

Commissioner Huang's voice suddenly rose in pitch:

"A better life in the future will surely be realized!"

Shang Jianyao put his legs together and stretched out his right hand to press his left chest:

"For all mankind!"

Commissioner Huang subconsciously pressed his right hand on his left chest, straightened his back and replied with a serious expression:

"For all mankind!"

He then waved his hand and said with a self-deprecating smile:

"I probably won't see that day again. Okay, you guys should go to bed early. Get checked tomorrow morning and be evacuated out of the city as a precaution."

"Okay." Shang Jianyao answered quickly.

After seeing off Commissioner Huang, Jiang Baimian turned his head to look at Shang Jianyao and joked:

"Why don't you refute Commissioner Huang's words this time, saying that forgetting your ideals means betrayal?"

When Shang saw that Yao was wrong, he admitted it and sighed without concealment:

"I think what he said makes sense. You can't ask everyone, or most people, to be as pure as me."

Are you pure? You have ten personalities! Long Yuehong couldn't help but curse a few words.

Shang Jianyao glanced at Jiang Baimian again and said:

"And even I have to compromise with reality from time to time. I can completely understand the Salvation Army's compromise, temporary suspension of expansion, and self-adjustment."

Hey, if you don't compromise, what else do you want to do, dance in the room? Jiang Baimian snorted.

She turned to chuckle and said:

"Commissioner Huang may only be talking about part of the situation. Judging from his statement, I can't find the reason why Mr. Zhang and others are so excited to object and think that all high-level officials are brain-controlled.

"possible……"

Jiang Baimian paused and said:

“Perhaps some senior officials, even some old people like Commissioner Huang, have indeed fallen and are focusing on how to get a better life for themselves and how to keep their children and grandchildren’s privileges for a long time.

"Whether the 'Salvation Army' can complete the adjustment and not transform into a force like the 'First City' is still unknown."

Shang Jianyao had a solemn expression and did not respond.

Bai Chen agreed with the team leader:

"People have selfish motives."

Just as Long Yuehong was about to speak, Jiang Baimian suddenly said "Oh!"

"Commissioner Huang just said that the price for him is to permanently lose part of his memory?

"This is very much like the realm of the 'Last Man'..."

After thinking about it carefully, Jiang Baimian felt that it seemed normal for an awakened person at the "soul corridor" level in charge of an intelligence agency to belong to the "last man" field, and it could even be said to be a good match.

Long Yuehong also suddenly realized:

"No wonder I always feel like he can sense my thoughts!"

Responded promptly.

Jiang Baimian nodded:

"He was sure that there was nothing wrong with us because he quietly looked through our memories and found that we were not lying?

"Well, I'm just a little fussy about the details..."

Regarding this matter, Jiang Baimian didn't feel angry, but felt a little more at ease, feeling relaxed that the suspicion had been completely cleared.

It would be more troublesome if you encounter someone who is unclear and has no means to confirm, or who is determined to make the "old tune team" take the blame.

How things would develop next, whether the nuclear warhead could be found, and whether Wubei would be blown up, Jiang Baimian didn't think much about it and couldn't analyze it.

After the man in room 214 died, the "old investigation team" staying in the hotel could only passively wait for the investigation results of the "Salvation Army".

Anyway, they can be evacuated tomorrow morning.

Seeing that it was already late, after leaving Gnawa to charge while watching the night, Long Yuehong and others returned to their rooms and went to bed.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Baimian suddenly felt that something was wrong.

It seemed like someone was watching her.

Jiang Baimian struggled to get rid of the dream and opened his eyes.

Then she saw a pair of eyes.

With a sweep of the ground, Jiang Baimian sat up and waved his left fist.

Pong! Shang Jianyao raised his fists with both arms, but was forcefully kicked off the bed.

Only then did Jiang Baimian realize that it seemed to be Shang Jianyao who was watching him quietly just now in the darkness with the faint starlight.

"It's so late at night, what are you thinking about if you don't sleep?" she asked in a lowered voice.

Shang Jianyao stood up straight, frowned slightly, rubbed his chin and said:

"I thought of a question."

"What's the problem?" Jiang Baimian's expression gradually became serious.

Shang Jianyao looked up at the ceiling:

"I'm wondering if the dark shadow that tried to 'possess' me came from the 'New World'."

He was referring to what happened after he touched the badge in room 214.

"Didn't we discuss it at that time? It's probably the case." Jiang Baimian couldn't quite keep up with Shang Jianyao's thinking.

Shang Jianyao's expression slowly turned cold:

"In other words, that black shadow is roughly equivalent to someone from the 'New World'.

“Will this ‘Doctor’ know us in the ‘New World’ and tell him about our situation here?

"We have killed a powerful subordinate of the 'Doctor'. Do you think he will find this place through the 'assassin' this time, return to reality, and take action himself?"