Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 557: ‘Messing Around’

Shang Jianyao met Director Su Yu of the Security Department in Room 506.

The latter’s name sounded elegant, but he was a rugged and audacious man. He was 1.8 meters tall and had a buzz cut. The elements had left marks on his face.

Unlike Shang Jianyao’s generation, Su Yu—who was in his forties—had undergone imperfect genetic enhancement and couldn’t be considered a Chosen One. This was reflected in his appearance. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face. He definitely couldn’t be considered ugly, but his skin was bumpy and unbearable to look at. But even discounting these things, he couldn’t be considered handsome. He could only be considered average.

Su Yu was a board member who had risen up the ranks from the Security Department’s front line, and he continued maintaining an obvious military style. Upon seeing Shang Jianyao and Mei Shou’an enter, he said to the guards in the room, “Wait outside.”

These guards were part of a brigade directly under management and wore all kinds of bionic artificial intelligence armor.

Shang Jianyao looked over, and his gaze stopped on one of them.

The bionic artificial intelligence armor this person wore was covered in fine black scales, but it didn’t appear heavy. This reminded Shang Jianyao of the Blackmarsh Iron Snake he had killed on his first mission.

The guards didn’t persuade Su Yu of their need to remain to ensure his safety. They left the office and closed the door behind them.

Upon seeing this, Su Yu—who was wearing the Security Department’s gray combat uniform—pointed at the sofa and smiled. “Let’s have a chat there.”

His attitude wasn’t considered warm, but it was rather amiable.

Shang Jianyao didn’t stand on ceremony at all. He followed behind Su Yu and sat on one end of the long sofa, with Mei Shou’an on the other.

After they sat down, Su Yu—who was in an armchair—laughed. “At the Mind Corridor level, many things aren’t that important anymore. I kept saying that there was no need for a review, but they insisted on following the procedures. I called you over today mainly to understand three things. I won’t ask anything else.”

“Deal,” Shang Jianyao replied very seriously.

Su Yu was a little stunned for a moment before he recalled Mei Shou’an and Dr. Lin’s reports. He then gained a deeper understanding of some of the descriptions.

He leaned forward slightly and clasped his hands, his expression turning serious. “First, I want to know your opinion of the company.”

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said, “First, there are still too few singing competitions and dancing activities organized by the Rec Center. Second, the canteen’s menu can get everyone’s opinions by announcing a few days in advance. Third, there are some programs on the radio that need improvement…”

“…” Although Mei Shou’an had expected this fellow not to answer the question at hand, he didn’t expect the latter to deviate so ridiculously. He couldn’t help but wonder if the other party’s language teacher was qualified.

Su Yu was experienced. Back in the Security Department, he had experienced all kinds of storms, and it wasn’t rare to see Awakened with ridiculous prices. At this moment, he didn’t mind and shook his head with a smile. “I’m asking about your attitude toward the company.”

His face seemed flushed, and his forehead was actually sweating in the cold room.

Shang Jianyao replied very simply, “I was born and raised in the company. I didn’t go to the surface until I graduated from university.”

Su Yu was rather satisfied with this answer. “Yes, the company is our home. If we want to obtain more or change anything, we have to work hard to improve ourselves. When you are on par with me or stronger than me, will the Board of Directors not have a seat for you? It’s not like there’s a restriction on the number of people.”

At this point, Su Yu glanced at Mei Shou’an and said to Shang Jianyao, “According to the company regulations, Mind Corridor-level Awakened can directly receive M1 treatment. However, you previously told Old Mei that you wish to stay in the current Investigation Unit for the Cause of the Old World’s Destruction but aren’t willing to be the team leader. This makes things very difficult for us. No matter how many promotions Old Jiang’s daughter gets, she will be a D9 at most. She can’t enter management and can’t lead an M1 employee. Are you sure you want to maintain the status quo and give up on the treatment of being an M1 to promote step by step?”

Shang Jianyao nodded very firmly. “We are worried about harming them if I lead a team alone.”

As he spoke, he pointed at his head.

Su Yu tersely acknowledged his words. “You can also choose to stay in the company, but this involves the second question. Old Mei also asked you before, and I’ll repeat: What is your pursuit—or rather, what do you want to do?”

Shang Jianyao’s already upright upper body became increasingly straighter. “Saving all of humanity! For this goal, we have to investigate the Heartless disease’s origins and the reason for the Old World’s destruction.”

Su Yu laughed. “It’s no wonder you’re willing to listen to Old Jiang’s daughter. You guys are essentially the same kind of people. That solves one of my problems. I previously wondered who I should send to Wasteland Ruin 13 to explore the Holm Fertility Center. From the looks of it, continuing to leave it to your team is the best choice.”

“When we request help, we should receive help.” Shang Jianyao bluntly raised conditions.

“No problem. Everyone is working for the company.” Su Yu paused for a moment and said, “Although you’ve given up on M1 treatment, I still have to give you some normal perks. For example, knowledge related to the Mind Corridor, additional allowances in the form of contribution points, etc.”

Shang Jianyao only thought for a second before saying, “Can the additional allowance be directly given to the Eleventh Orphanage?”

“Sure.” Su Yu naturally wouldn’t refuse such a small request.

Su Yu had always been swift and decisive. He didn’t waste his breath and raised the third matter he wanted to know. “Tell me how you became a Mind Corridor-level Awakened. There’s no need to mention anything that involves your psychological trauma; I just want a rough understanding. I might be able to give you suggestions.”

Shang Jianyao revealed an expression of reminiscence. “Things were originally very normal. After practicing my abilities for two to three months, I pushed open the door that led to the Sea of Origins and defeated islands formed from my inner fears.”

Su Yu suddenly interrupted. “Then, who told you what these islands truly represented?”

“An Official Hunter named Du Heng, who calls himself an antiquarian,” Shang Jianyao replied frankly. “I encountered him on my first mission to Blackrat Town.”

Su Yu’s expression didn’t change. “Please continue.”

Shang Jianyao had always gone with the flow. “We later attacked the Underground Ark owner, DiMarco, in Redstone Collection to save the slaves. He used Destiny Connection to invade my Sea of Origins. In order to deal with him, I transferred all the aura in one of the items I previously obtained.”

Upon hearing this, Mei Shou’an couldn’t control his expression. This fellow really did such a thing! It’s a miracle that he’s still alive!

Su Yu frowned and asked, “Don’t you know that there will be very serious repercussions?”

“I didn’t know back then,” Shang Jianyao replied firmly. “When two parties meet on a narrow path, the brave wins!”

Su Yu and Mei Shou’an fell silent for a moment.

It was rare to see someone act so boldly and foolishly!

After a few seconds, Su Yu asked with an unchanged expression, “What happened next?”

Shang Jianyao rambled on. “We destroyed DiMarco’s body because he was caught off-guard. In the subsequent battle, I used the item’s aura to hold him back for a while, preventing him from successfully occupying my body. This resulted in his consciousness gradually collapsing, leaving only some in my Sea of Origins.

“On this trip to First City, we hunted the real Father and obtained the Bangle of Blindness from him. Things developed, and I also brought the Bangle of Blindness’s aura into the Sea of Origins for a while.”

Don’t stuff everything into your mind world! As a researcher, Mei Shou’an—who strictly adhered to experimental procedures—couldn’t help but roar inwardly. If he had such a researcher as his subordinate, he would definitely send them to the mines to eat dirt!

Su Yu didn’t say anything, nor did he know what to say. He could only sigh. This fellow is really lucky. Nothing happened to him despite doing so.

Shang Jianyao continued recalling. “During the early-August uprising in First City, in order to make the me guarding the elevator compromise at a critical moment, I chose to ‘summon’ the powerhouse with the corresponding aura.”

Su Yu almost couldn’t hold it in any further. Isn’t this too rash?

He wondered if it was thanks to heaven’s grace that this fellow was still alive.

“The one guarding the elevator—my embodiment of cowardice—quickly gave in. We successfully entered the Mind Corridor and obtained new abilities. The auras in the Sea of Origins fought a chaotic battle before they respectively returned home.”

At this moment, in Shang Jianyao’s Mind Room 131, eight Shang Jianyaos held down one Shang Jianyao.

The one pressed to the ground was the honest Shang Jianyao. He kept shouting, “You can’t lie; you have to tell the truth! We mainly relied on Xiaochong’s aura to survive this hurdle! Don’t be vague with your words!”

The eight Shang Jianyaos ignored him and firmly controlled him. They continued letting the calm and intelligent detective, Shang Jianyao, control their body.

After hearing Shang Jianyao’s description, Mei Shou’an was a little dazed. He actually succeeded in entering the Mind Corridor like me by messing around!? Is this scientific? This doesn’t make sense!

Su Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed involuntarily. “Your experience can’t be replicated.”

If anyone else were to make such an attempt, eleven out of ten would die—even those who help from the sidelines might be killed!

“It’s mainly because everyone has to face something different in the end.” Shang Jianyao actually began to discuss the matter seriously.

It was obvious that Su Yu and Mei Shou’an had no intention of discussing it with him.

The former recalled their conversation and realized something. “In other words, your team once finished off a Mind Corridor-level Awakened?”

DiMarco—who had Destiny Connection.

Shang Jianyao stretched out his palm, flipped a finger, and calmly replied, “More than one.”