Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 429: Aftermath

Jiang Baimian’s gaze didn’t pause on it for long as she moved it to the next piece of news without it showing.

After the eight people in the teams and Ferrington had finished passing around the newspaper, she asked, “Anyone discovered anything worth paying attention to?”

As there were outsiders around, Genava could only act as an ordinary robot.

The blond, blue-eyed Fars shook his head. “They all look like very normal news.”

At this point, he laughed self-deprecatingly. “Actually, I’m a person who especially likes to flip through old newspapers from city ruins. This allows me to imagine what kind of life that era’s people led and how much better it was. Sometimes, they make me forget the current Ashlands and think that life isn’t that bad. Yes, this newspaper is no different from the newspapers I’ve read. It’s the same in form and content.”

Wang Fugui, Waite, and Gray also spoke one after another, saying that they hadn’t found any valuable news from the Fakh Post.

Jiang Baimian deliberated and said, “But it doesn’t seem like Wu Meng is pulling our leg by getting Ferrington to take away this newspaper.”

Wang Fugui thought for a moment and said, “Maybe it’s because we aren’t knowledgeable enough. Can I copy the newspaper’s content? Heh heh, I can consult knowledgeable people in the future.”

“No problem,” Jiang Baimian agreed readily.

Shang Jianyao pointed at the backpack on Wang Fugui’s back. “Are you going to copy it by hand? I think it’s more convenient to borrow a camera and take photos of every page. It will be easier as an electronic document.”

Inside was an old computer model that lagged terribly.

“But nobody here has a camera.” Wang Fugui had a look that said: “Don’t I know it’s easier this way?”

Shang Jianyao smiled smugly and pointed at Genava. “Multifunctional.”

Are you going one big round just to promote Old Ge? Jiang Baimian criticized inwardly.

With Genava’s help, Wang Fugui and Gray obtained an electronic copy of the newspaper. Fars, Waite, and Ferrington didn’t have computers, nor did they think that there was any valuable information in the newspaper. They only wrote down the abstracts of a few articles by hand.

After watching them leave, Jiang Baimian looked around, raised the newspaper, and pointed at the International Biotechnica Expo. “Noticed anything?”

Shang Jianyao immediately smiled. “Northern Company.”

Shouldn’t the point be ‘genetic research results?’ Long Yuehong muttered but didn’t say anything.

Bai Chen nodded. “It reminds me of a certain place in the north, a certain hospital in the north...”

The former was where the vegetable in the Blackmarsh Wilderness’s steelworks factory underwent experimental treatment. The latter was a secret organization’s front company where Jiang Xiaoyue voluntarily participated in an experiment to escape her coma.

The two were suspected to be one.

“The common term is ‘northern?'” Genava tried to analyze Bai Chen’s train of thought.

“Yes,” Jiang Baimian affirmed. “I had the same thoughts. Unfortunately, this is only a general newspaper. It doesn’t have a detailed report on the International Biotechnica Expo, and it doesn’t explain what the Northern Company’s results are.”

Shang Jianyao smiled. “That’s simple. I remember that every area has specialized scientific newspapers. The reports regarding the corresponding matters will definitely be more detailed. As long as we return to Wasteland Ruin 13 and search places like the library, we should be able to obtain something useful.”

“This...” Jiang Baimian hesitated and said, “Without knowing Wu Meng’s true goal, I think it’s better not to explore that place again for the time being.”

“That’s right, that’s right!” Long Yuehong quickly echoed. He believed that their previous two explorations of Wasteland Ruin 13 were a result of Wu Meng’s influence. Otherwise, why would he be so bold as to agree and join in on the expedition?

Jiang Baimian smiled and said, “We’ll come up with a subsequent plan according to the situation after we visit Xiaochong.”

After hesitating for two seconds between seeing his friend and adventuring, Shang Jianyao couldn’t wait to leave this advance base camp and return to First City.

At this moment, Long Yuehong muttered, “Why aren’t we associating genetic research to the company?”

He was referring to the genetic research results showcased by the Northern Company, not the vegetable awakening technology.

When genetic research was mentioned, the first thought of the more knowledgeable people in the Ashlands was: Pangu Biology.

Jiang Baimian chuckled. “The location isn’t right; the company is far in the northwest. If we really want to connect ‘northern’ and ‘genetic,’ the White Knights are more suspicious.”

“That’s true.” Long Yuehong heaved a sigh of relief.

At this point, they couldn’t continue because they lacked sufficient clues.

After the sky turned dark, the Old Task Force members—who had eaten dinner—left the castle’s main building and walked to the parking lot. As they advanced, they suddenly saw a figure descend from the sky and slam into the concrete ground.

Bang!

Blood quickly seeped out from beneath the man’s head. His body also convulsed a few times before he stopped moving.

“He committed suicide by jumping off a building, or was he thrown down?” Long Yuehong couldn’t see too clearly because of the distance.

Shang Jianyao took the lead and walked over, looking like he wanted to check if the other party could still be saved. Jiang Baimian, Genava, and Bai Chen followed behind.

Long Yuehong was stunned for a second before he quickly chased after them.

“He jumped down from the hotel window.”

“It should be a suicide...” The Ruin Hunters watching the area discussed the situation they had seen and made judgment.

After passing them, Long Yuehong’s eyes suddenly widened.

The person lying on the ground had stopped breathing. His blue eyes were wide open, and his blond hair was dyed red with blood.

Fars!

This was Fars from the lone Hunter team! Fars—who had explored Wasteland Ruin 13 with the Old Task Force!

After the expedition ended and everyone returned safely, he actually chose to jump and fall to his death.

At this moment, Long Yuehong’s mind was filled with the Hunters who had committed suicide in Wasteland Ruin 13.

Five of them committed suicide by jumping off a building.

It’s Fars now. Who’s next... Long Yuehong felt a chill run down his spine.

The next second, Jiang Baimian said in a deep voice, “Hey and I will find Wang Fugui. Old Ge, find Gray and Ferrington. Little White and Little Red will find Waite and confirm that they are fine. Also, keep an eye on each other along the way. Don’t ignore any strange behavior.”

Among them, they could only be certain that Genava—the smart bot who had yet to enter Wasteland Ruin 13—wasn’t affected.

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao replied immediately.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Old Task Force quintet split into three groups and rushed into the castle’s main building, heading for the camp hotel on the fourth floor.

...

Bang!

Shang Jianyao directly slammed Wang Fugui’s door open.

Wang Fugui—who was facing the east and raising his hands like an eagle spreading its wings—jumped in fright and reflexively rolled to the side.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped and praised, “Very experienced.”

“What’s wrong?” Wang Fugui was surprised and confused. Although this fellow looked abnormal, it was still rather abnormal for him to be so abnormal.

“Fars committed suicide by jumping off a building,” Jiang Baimian said in a deep voice.

Wang Fugui’s eyelids twitched as his eyes suddenly widened.

“What about the others?” he blurted out.

“We haven’t made confirmations yet.” Jiang Baimian was waiting for Genava, Bai Chen, and Long Yuehong to report the situation through the walkie-talkies.

...

In the other room, Genava mimicked Shang Jianyao and slammed open the wooden door.

Inside, Gray was dancing around a stove under the light on a hot summer night.

Upon sensing the commotion, he suddenly stopped and looked up at the door. At the same time, he assumed a dodging posture.

He didn’t sense human consciousness, so he wasn’t prepared to counterattack. He then saw the robot with red eyes twitch its limbs and dance.

“...” Gray was dumbfounded.

Genava finished dancing and explained, “Hey said that politeness means equality.”

“W-what’s wrong?” Gray was confused.

Genava replied in a slightly synthetic male voice, “Fars committed suicide by jumping off a building.”

“What?” Gray was abnormally horrified.

...

At the door of Waite’s room.

During Long Yuehong’s moment of hesitation, Bai Chen had already raised her right foot and kicked the lock.

With a bang, the door flew open.

What Long Yuehong saw was a patch of red.

Waite was lying in a pool of blood, and his face was abnormally pale. He was already on his deathbed.

There was a dagger in his chest. From the slanted angle, it was likely driven into his chest using his right hand.

He had also committed suicide.

Long Yuehong felt a chill run down his spine, but he instinctively rushed over and habitually checked Waite’s injuries. Bai Chen looked around and picked up the walkie-talkie.

At this moment, Waite seemed to see Long Yuehong. He opened his mouth, but he couldn’t make a sound. With unfocused eyes, he moved his right hand and pointed to the side.

On the hotel’s provided table was a piece of paper pressed down with a ballpoint pen.