Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-560

Apart from the photo and the title, there was no additional introduction on the cover. Shang Jianyao took a few serious looks at it before returning the periodical and magazine to their original spots.

He then carried the Berserker assault rifle and sneaked in the other direction of the city along the room owner's covert route. As for the determination of the areas that the room owner passed by, Shang Jianyao had already found the pattern.

The more realistic and reasonable the details were, the more likely it was that the room owner had once taken it. The messier, more contradictory, and more warped it was, it meant that the room owner had never stepped foot in it back then. The situation presented itself due to the subconsciousness's self-completion—a mixture of multiple experiences.

His subsequent progress proved the correctness of this pattern, but this didn't mean that Shang Jianyao had a smooth journey.

He still suffered many attacks because the process of the room owner hiding and moving was also filled with twists and turns. He found himself in danger several times and barely escaped by relying on his strength and a certain amount of luck to find a new route.

To Shang Jianyao, as long as he was careful, it wouldn't be a problem for him to deal with the Heartless—who didn't have any special abilities—even if he couldn't sense human consciousness in the psychological trauma of another. But once he fired, a large number of Heartless would rush over and force him to move.

Later, he gave up on the Berserker assault rifle and switched to using the United 202 and Ice Moss with silencers.

This was effective, but it didn't completely resolve the problem. This was because the Heartless that attacked him would also produce sounds. They attracted the horde which swarmed him.

Shang Jianyao wasn't in a rush; he treated this as a real-life RPG game. He controlled his mental expenditure as he evacuated using a raid as facilitation evacuation. He memorized a few dangerous situations and prepared to avoid them the next time he reloaded.

When he was almost mentally exhausted, he decisively made many Heartless fall into an indescribable depression. He then took the opportunity to escape and left Room 522 along the safe route he had previously taken.

These Heartless were already Superior Heartless with special abilities!

495th floor, Zone B, Room 196.

Shang Jianyao opened his eyes and muttered to himself, The number of enemies along the room owner's route decreases, but the quality increases… They might've come into contact with something special in the city ruin later… Iron Mountain ruins?

As his thoughts raced, Shang Jianyao heard a familiar voice with a childlike tone on the radio. "Good evening, everyone. I'm Newspoint broadcaster, Hou Yi. It's 8 p.m. now…"

Everything seemed to turn serene again.

…

Shang Jianyao had breakfast in the staff cafeteria on the 495th floor the next morning before taking the elevator.

Long Yuehong was coincidentally behind him.

As Shang Jianyao watched the elevator door close, he chatted with Long Yuehong. "What did you eat this morning?"

"My mother used the leftovers from last night to make a large pot of noodles." Long Yuehong was rather satisfied with this.

Many employees of Pangu Biology had such a habit. If they didn't have many leftovers from the first night and couldn't use it for lunch, they would combine everything together and use them as toppings for noodles the next day.

This was in the same vein as the Rootless camp's Hodgepodge. It was a habit developed during times when supplies were lacking.

Shang Jianyao glanced at Long Yuehong and changed the topic abruptly. "Why did you bring the computer?"

Long Yuehong held his laptop, including the mouse and electric plug.

Long Yuehong tersely acknowledged it. "I'm not sure if the bonuses will be handed out today. It's impossible to train all day since our bodies can't take it. Sigh, it's quite boring with nothing to do in the office."

"Are you despising the Old World entertainment material I chose?" Shang Jianyao felt 'aggrieved.'

Over the past few days, whenever Long Yuehong had nothing to do in Room 14 on the 647th floor, he would go over to Shang Jianyao's desk and watch Old World drama serials with him while Bai Chen and Jiang Baimian paired up.

Long Yuehong scratched his head with his left hand. "Not really. It's more convenient this way."

As they spoke, they arrived on the 647th floor and entered Room 14.

Bai Chen was already inside, and Jiang Baimian was actually absent. However, she didn't make everyone wait too long.

She appeared at the door a few minutes later.

"I was summoned by Minister Xenny at the last minute," Jiang Baimian said with a smile. "The bonuses have been confirmed. They will be officially distributed in the afternoon."

"Huzzah!"

"Banzai!"

Shang Jianyao was the one who shouted, "Huzzah;" same for "Banzai."

Upon seeing Bai Chen and Long Yuehong's expectant expressions, Jiang Baimian walked to her seat and smiled. "First, all our harvests will be ours. The items we handed over will return soon."

This was the most important point. It had to be known that the Old Task Force had handed over three different military exoskeletons, a Chameleon-type bionic artificial intelligence armor, the Six Senses Beads, and the Life Angel necklace. Among them, they were previously only permitted to keep one military exoskeleton.

Now, the higher-ups had decided to return all the items and help repair them. It made Jiang Baimian heave a sigh of relief in satisfaction.

She then added, "However, there's a premise that certain items have to be kept by the department's specialized institutions. We can only check them out when we are out training or completing missions."

With the previous explosion as a precedent, how could the company allow employees to possess military exoskeletons and magical items in the company? Jiang Baimian and the others had previously needed to apply for their guns.

It would be troublesome if something happened.

If it weren't for the fact that biological prosthetics and mechanical arms were inseparable from the owner—an insurmountable problem for the company that required them to relent—Long Yuehong would probably be a one-armed hero for a period of time.

"It's only right." Long Yuehong immediately supported the higher-ups' decision.

"What a pity…" Shang Jianyao felt a sense of regret.

Bai Chen's focus had already shifted elsewhere. "What other rewards are there?"

Jiang Baimian didn't answer immediately. Instead, she frowned and said, "Minister Xenny also mentioned something else—the Life Angel Necklace. The company has dealt with it to a certain extent. They have ensured that the effects remain the same, but they have given Shang Jianyao an additional layer of insurance. It's said that it can be used to resist the repercussions of his rash actions at critical moments. Shang Jianyao will be informed of the exact situation from future confidential information."

"That's simple; I can guess it now." Shang Jianyao laughed. "After they learned that there were foreign auras left in my Sea of Origins, they planned on giving me another one of their own auras. When the time comes, I can throw an ally's aura into the Sea of Origins and get their help. After that, it's easier when we are all one big family."

"This is also a form of monitoring." Jiang Baimian nodded slightly. "In that case, the company has an Awakened in the Arbiter of Fate domain which has explored the Mind Corridor's depths?"

Bai Chen voiced her opinion. "Since the company's Awakened experiments have some level of success, they should've accumulated Awakened in different domains even if the probability is very low."

Jiang Baimian didn't discuss this rather sensitive matter. She smiled and continued talking about the rewards. "We completed a very difficult mission that nobody has succeeded in for many years. The company is rather satisfied and has decided to promote me to D9. Heh heh, I previously thought that I would have to complete at least two or three more missions to have a chance. Shang Jianyao, Long Yuehong, both of you have been doubly promoted. You are now D7 team-leader employees. Little White, you've been promoted to D6."

Upon seeing that the rewards were much more generous than expected, Long Yuehong couldn't help but quickly calculate. My basic salary has increased by another 1,000, reaching 4,800 contribution points. My additional monthly allowance is 1,100 contribution points. In other words, I can receive 13,200 contribution points at the end of the year…

When I get married, the apartment I can get will most likely have a small bathroom… If I'm transferred out of the Security Department, I can be promoted again and can be the Rec Center's PIC… I've only been working for slightly more than a year…

As Long Yuehong calculated happily, Jiang Baimian glanced at Shang Jianyao. "I don't really understand your choice either. It's not like I have to be a team leader. After all, the few of us have always gone with mutual discussions. Alright, I won't say anything else since it's decided. There are other rewards this time."

"You're clearly very happy." The honest Shang Jianyao always spoke his mind.

Jiang Baimian's smile froze on her face for a second as she resisted the urge to raise her left hand. She looked at Bai Chen and said, "My report mentioned that your laptop was lost in First City. Therefore, the reward this time is the latest laptop model…"

"Ah…" Long Yuehong made a sound.

Jiang Baimian nodded at him. "We didn't turn in our supplies this time, so we didn't receive any additional contribution points. The rewards are mainly physical items and opportunities. Apart from the laptop, we can apply to exchange the Chameleon-type bionic artificial intelligence armor for another model or the latest model from the same series. We can apply for another one before the next mission. In addition, there's also a chance for genetic modification, an opportunity to transfer out of the Security Department's front line, and a chance to transplant a better biological prosthetic limb for free. These were tailored for our team—the higher-ups have seen our contributions.

"Little White, I'll have a chat with you later. Some genetic modifications are very dangerous, and some are relatively safe. I still have a certain level of experience and knowledge in this regard, so I can give you advice. I don't want to lose members out of combat.

"Little Red, if you're satisfied with the mechanical arm, give Little White the opportunity to transplant the biological prosthetic limb and allow her to top it up with contribution points for the best model. Right, you can make the transfer application today."

Long Yuehong was stunned for a moment. "O-okay."