Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 645: Different Block

Translator: CKtalon

Clearly, what Jiang Baimian noted was also held in great importance by the others. Bai Chen pursed her lips and said, “The poisonous sore has the ability to Awaken humans or animals?”

From her point of view, Bai Xiao was clearly the white wolf’s name.

It had suddenly appeared in the North Shore Mountains last year and ‘led’ a large number of Ruin Hunters away, causing them to commit suicide in Wasteland Ruin 13 in different ways. Before this, nobody had ever seen a creature with such a special appearance.

The Old Task Force’s original guess was that the white wolf was mainly active in Wasteland Ruin 13, so the outside world didn’t know of its existence. It only appeared to the world when Wu Meng sent it to the North Shore Mountains to complete a certain mission. But now, Wu Meng seemed to be implying that it was a mutated creature he had specially transformed last year. It was only an ordinary white wolf in the past, so it naturally wasn’t discovered by humans.

It was most likely more difficult for ordinary animals to mutate and obtain special abilities than for humans to Awaken. At the very least, Awakened could be often encountered while similar mutated creatures were rare.

Therefore, Wu Meng—who could mutate ordinary creatures—had a high chance of Awakening humans.

“This might be one of the reasons why he’s called a poisonous sore,” Jiang Baimian said hesitantly.

The next second, Shang Jianyao’s face occupied her vision. “Were you also affected by Wu Meng?”

Jiang Baimian didn’t glare at Shang Jianyao and instead explained seriously, “It’s not like I completely believe him. I’m only communicating this possibility.”

Although Wu Meng had been interrupted before he could finish speaking, the Old Task Force members felt that it was necessary to pay attention to the possibility that he had unknowingly implanted a certain thought into them.

The three Ruin Hunters’ suicides left a deep impression on them. It was precisely because of this that Shang Jianyao repeatedly questioned them when he realized that something was amiss. In such a situation, it was a show of responsibility.

But with Jiang Baimian’s understanding of this fellow, she knew that he most likely had thoughts of mocking, joking, and teasing her. However, this was completely acceptable when there was a need for seriousness.

“That makes sense.” The honest Shang Jianyao agreed with Jiang Baimian.

Long Yuehong—who was wearing the Blackmarsh Iron Snake bionic artificial intelligence armor—looked around. As he guarded against any accidents that might happen, he joined the discussion. “Why can poisonous sores Awaken animals or even humans?”

“Did you get it wrong? It’s obvious that animals are harder to Awaken than humans,” shouted the honest Shang Jianyao.

Long Yuehong argued, “I said that because Wu Meng has shown the ability to mutate ordinary animals, but he hasn’t proven if this can be done on humans.”

“You really believed it?” Shang Jianyao laughed.

“Stop, stop, stop!” Jiang Baimian quickly stopped their meaningless conversation.

At this moment, Bai Chen tried to answer Long Yuehong’s question. “A poisonous sore might be related to the New World, and Awakening might be as well.”

She made this deduction based on the fact that Awakened had to find the door that led to the New World in the Mind Corridor.

After the Old Task Force members fell silent for a moment, Jiang Baimian looked at the rows of bookshelves and said, “I actually believe in Wu Meng’s ability to mutate ordinary animals and Awaken humans. However, this isn’t because his thoughts have been implanted in me but because I made some connections.”

Shang Jianyao restrained his smile and stroked his chin with his free hand. “Xiaochong?”

“Yes.” Jiang Baimian nodded slightly. “He has Nightmare Horse, Slumber Cat, and many Superior Heartless by his side.”

The former corresponded to mutated creatures, and the latter was closer to Awakened.

Bai Chen helped her team leader finish her sentence. “From Du Heng—Teacher’s words, we can infer that he also thinks of Xiaochong as this world’s poisonous sore or rotten flesh.”

This matched the fact that Wu Meng—a poisonous sore—had a white wolf by his side.

The only difference was that Xiaochong wasn’t sealed. He clearly had more subordinates.

Long Yuehong looked enlightened. “It’s no wonder there are so many Superior Heartless and mutated creatures in Swamp Ruin 1…”

These might’ve been unconsciously or consciously produced by Xiaochong!

Long Yuehong sighed. “I thought this situation was related to the secret laboratory that Qiao Chu destroyed.”

Shang Jianyao glanced at him and curled the corners of his mouth. “It might not be unrelated. Do you still remember that there’s a secret laboratory in this ruin?”

Just as he said that, Jiang Baimian sighed. “The relationship between Superior Heartless, mutated creatures, and the secret laboratory might be indirect…”

She paused and said, “What those two secret laboratories brought might very well be poisonous sores.”

Hiss… Long Yuehong was momentarily speechless. He vaguely felt that his team leader’s guess might be the answer.

Only something at the poisonous sore level matched the secret laboratory’s importance!

“But these two secret laboratories don’t correspond to any research institute…” Bai Chen raised her doubts.

At least there was no evidence that Swamp Ruin 1 and Wasteland Ruin 13’s secret laboratory originated from one of the Old World’s nine research institutes.

The various problems the Old Task Force had discovered so far pointed at the nine research institutes. The Eighth Research Institute was the most suspicious.

“Make bold assumptions and verify them carefully.” Jiang Baimian smiled. She then looked around. “Alright, let’s end our exchange here. Make the best use of your time to find the city map and figure out where the Holm Fertility Center is.”

Shang Jianyao, Bai Chen, and Long Yuehong spread out a little and searched for the corresponding map in the bookshelves.

“It’s quite well-preserved…” Jiang Baimian’s gaze slid past the books, eager to take them out and flip through them.

Researching all kinds of Old World books had always been her hobby. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the time now.

In less than five minutes, Bai Chen—who knew more about the various shops in city ruins—found a map of the Fakh region on an exhibition rack not far from the cashier.

This area was made up of three cities. The Old Task Force’s current location was Holm.

“Our destination is three blocks away.” Jiang Baimian—who wanted to study the map—could only stand behind Bai Chen and study the map using her height advantage.

Bai Chen focused on the map and deliberated before saying, “That’s the nearest route, but it will take us through the central area. The risk is very high. Shall we circle around the periphery?”

Jiang Baimian shook her head. “It’s very likely that First City’s army is patrolling the periphery. That might be even more dangerous.”

Shang Jianyao immediately echoed, “Yeah, yeah. It’s better to go straight through.”

“Why?” Long Yuehong tried to help Bai Chen.

Shang Jianyao sincerely replied, “It saves time.”

“…” Long Yuehong was first speechless before he made a terse grunt inwardly.

Without knowing which route was more dangerous, saving time seemed to be an important reason. This could allow the Old Task Force to explore the target location better, and it could also allow them to retreat from Wasteland Ruin 13 relatively calmly. There was no need to be in a rush.

After a brief moment of thought, Bai Chen gave up on her idea.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian roughly scanned the books near the door and didn’t discover any valuable clues.

With Shang Jianyao as the lead, the few of them left the bookshop and walked toward the Holm Fertility Center.

Just as they left the block and entered a new place, Jiang Baimian suddenly looked at the second floor of the house by the side. She sensed many weak bioelectric signals there.

They seemed to combine into a whole and showed their independent nature. Almost at the same time, a large patch of green gushed out of an open yellow window on the second floor.

This seemed to be made of countless green, translucent specks. As soon as it landed, it wobbled as if it wanted to prop up a figure.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao squeezed their triggers at the same time. However, the bullets they fired passed through the liquid-green figure without causing any damage.

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment, turned her head, and shouted softly, “Fire!”

Bai Chen—who was wearing the Chameleon bionic artificial intelligence armor—disappeared from her spot. When she appeared again, she was already close to the strange creature.

She raised her Merfolk biological prosthetic limb and aimed her palm at the target.

Crimson flames spewed out an instant later, enveloping the figure formed from countless green algae.

The figure violently shook a few times before suddenly splitting up, wanting to scatter. However, the flames didn’t extinguish because of this. They remained attached to the ‘body’ until they were reduced to ashes.

The strange creature ultimately failed to leave anything behind.

“What’s this? An aggregated body formed from some microorganism mutations?” Long Yuehong muttered. However, we previously measured that there was no radiation here!

Jiang Baimian slowly nodded. “I’ve never seen this before.”

The Old Task Force—who couldn’t come to an effective conclusion—could only continue forward in confusion.

They weren’t attacked again, even when they were about to leave the current block.

“Did you notice?” Jiang Baimian looked around. “Wu Meng didn’t attempt to ‘communicate’ with us again.”

She didn’t sense any weak electric signals.

Shang Jianyao smiled. “Maybe the electrical appliances here are broken.”

“Maybe…” Jiang Baimian was stunned for a moment. “Could there have been a very strong electromagnetic storm here? Were the strange creatures from before born because of this influence?”

Nobody answered her.

Decades had passed. Without careful research, nobody could identify the corresponding traces at a glance.

The Old Task Force quickly entered a new block.

Bai Chen—who was walking to the side—observed her situation and swept her gaze across the various buildings that had decades of history even in the Old World.

This was a street infused with history.

Suddenly, she saw a pale face pressed against glass.

There were a few cracks on the face’s surface, and the muscles inside were brown like beef jerky.

“There’s no human consciousness.” Shang Jianyao also noticed the face.

Jiang Baimian frowned.. “Bioelectric signals are also very weak, unlike a human’s.”