Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-631

Chapter 631: Them

The eyes behind the sunglasses were one big, one small… Upon hearing Genava’s words, Oudick’s ravings echoed in Long Yuehong’s mind: “A person on the left, a person on the right, with a small picture frame in the middle! One of your eyes is big, and the other is small. You’re not a good person. I’ll help you dig them all out!”

The black-robed man in the sunglasses was the person Oudick saw in his ‘nightmare’ before he went crazy? Did he come out of the building we previously rented because he was sent by the nightmare to search for clues? These thoughts exploded in Long Yuehong’s heart like muffled thunder, making him dizzy and tense.

If it were just a person with one big eye and one small eye, Long Yuehong would’ve most likely written it off as a coincidence. After all, although there weren’t many people with similar appearances and flaws, there wouldn’t be just one or two. The probability of encountering one by chance wasn’t low.

However, it seemed too much of a coincidence that this person appeared at the Old Task Force’s former rented apartment.

Too many coincidences often meant that something was wrong!

The True Self Church just said that the nightmare has subsided and that there is no need to worry, but we encountered someone suspected to be the person Oudick saw in his dream? Long Yuehong gapped his mouth and realized that his team leader, Bai Chen, and Shang Jianyao were silent.

As if sensing his gaze, Jiang Baimian—who was in the passenger seat—turned around and glanced at him before looking at Shang Jianyao. “Cool it.”

Her voice was calm and gentle, calming the tumultuous waves in Long Yuehong’s heart.

The jeep maintained its original speed and drove toward the Red Wolf Zone. Jiang Baimian casually glanced at the rearview mirror.

The golden-brown-haired man in sunglasses and trench coat had long disappeared from the street.

After the jeep entered the Red Wolf Zone and circled around to the Senate, Jiang Baimian asked Genava, “Old Ge, where did the target go?”

“After he left the building of our previous rented apartment, he entered the alley diagonally opposite us,” Genava replied truthfully.

He couldn’t see any further. After all, he was only a smart bot. He didn’t have a satellite companion or the corresponding auxiliary equipment, nor had he Awakened Heavenly Eyes and Heavenly Ears.

Jiang Baimian nodded. “He might be living nearby.”

Long Yuehong finally couldn’t help but ask for confirmation. “Team Leader, is this the person Oudick mentioned—the one with one big eye and one small eye?”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped. “Congratulations, you got it right!”

He was very excited, and he was filled with the urge to try something.

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly and said, “Highly suspected to be so. First, he coincidentally appeared at the entrance of our former rental. Second, he wore sunglasses. He clearly wanted to hide the characteristics of him having one big and one small eye. With double the coincidence, it’s most likely not one. I suspect that he’s the nightmare’s accomplice and contributed to Oudick’s madness.”

Shang Jianyao clapped his hands and smiled. “A person on the left, a person on the right, a small picture frame in the middle. I wonder if he’s the one on the left or the one on the right…”

“In short, he isn’t the middle one.” Bai Chen voiced her opinion.

“That small picture frame represents the nightmare?” Long Yuehong made an inference.

Jiang Baimian made a terse grunt. “Maybe.”

She then explained, “I told you to cool it mainly because I was worried that the area would be under the nightmare’s watch. Once we overreact, we might very well be exposed.”

“Yes.” Long Yuehong nodded in understanding. He even felt that his team leader had done the right thing. He then asked, “What should we do next?”

Jiang Baimian fell silent for a moment. “We still have to rely on the True Self Church. On the one hand, we don’t know enough about nightmares. On the other hand, we are restrained in First City. There’s too much danger. In addition, contact Oudick’s fellow parishioner—a believer of Dawn’s Morning Star—through Mrs. Laurice. We need to be prepared on both ends.”

She wasn’t too sure that the True Self Church would pursue the investigation.

“Sure, sure.” Shang Jianyao—who was sitting on the left in the backseat—raised his hands and feet.

…

Apart from hiring someone to deliver a message to Mrs. Laurice midway, getting the reply, and arranging a meeting place, the Old Task Force didn’t do anything out of caution.

It was only in the afternoon that they slowly drove from their rented apartment to the Green Olive Zone.

They passed by Ugo Hotel again.

Long Yuehong turned his head and saw a calm, white-haired elder standing at the front desk right at the end of the lobby.

This hotel had a new boss.

Long Yuehong silently retracted his gaze.

The Old Task Force’s jeep circled around the hotel, crossed the street, and arrived at the True Self Church’s stronghold.

They successfully met Dreambreaker Cliff in the innermost room on the first floor of the apartment.

Cliff—who was wearing an old robe—asked in confusion, “Is there anything else?”

Jiang Baimian took a step forward and said in a deep voice, “We have new clues to the nightmare and discovered one of its goons. I wonder if your Church is interested in cooperating?”

Cliff fell silent.

Jiang Baimian deliberately said agitatedly, “Boss Ugo is an Awakened. Even in your Church, such a person should be equivalent to a bishop. No religion will be indifferent to a bishop’s death.”

Cliff fell silent for a while before letting out a long sigh. “The nightmare has already subsided. If we provoke it again, we will definitely suffer an intense counterattack. This might very well trigger an extremely terrifying change. It wasn’t easy for peace to be restored in this area. Unless we have the confidence to completely eliminate the nightmare, we won’t take the initiative to start a dispute. I think Ugo—who has returned to the Kalendaria’s embrace—can understand our decision.”

He spoke very tactfully, but his attitude was very clear.

Jiang Baimian looked at Shang Jianyao, who didn’t hide his disappointment. She lowered her head and laughed self-deprecatingly. “We were letting it get to our head. Sorry.”

…

In an apartment in the Red Wolf Zone.

The Old Task Force—who had come here according to the agreement—knocked on the room on the left on the seventh floor.

It was Laurice who opened the door. Compared to the last time they met, she looked much better and was in a rather good mood.

“Welcome,” said the brown-haired, green-eyed lady with a smile.

Jiang Baimian was stunned for a moment before she blurted out, “Is this your and Oudick’s home?”

“That’s right.” Laurice looked confused. What kind of strange question is that?

Jiang Baimian asked, “So Oudick fell sick here previously?”

“Yes.” Laurice didn’t know why she was asking.

Jiang Baimian fell silent for a few seconds before turning to criticize Shang Jianyao and the others. “Seriously, how can you block someone else’s door? That’s too rude!”

Laurice smiled as well. “Come in.”

Not far behind her, Oudick stood there and smiled at the Old Task Force members before waving his hand.

“Let’s chat in the study.” He pointed at a room to the side.

As he was at home, he didn’t wear the thick, dark coat. Instead, he wore a floral plush shirt and black pants.

While Oudick walked to the study, Jiang Baimian suppressed her voice and asked Laurice in concern, “How was he after he returned?”

“Pretty good.” Laurice smiled. “He will occasionally be irritable and mutter to himself, but he will deliberately avoid me, secretly slap the table, and shout with his voice lowered. Therefore, he still has to go to a mental hospital to receive treatment once a week and for medicine purchases.”

Amidst her worry, unconcealed happiness surfaced on her face.

Relieved, Long Yuehong sized up Oudick and Laurice’s home.

It was an ordinary three-bedroom apartment that was relatively spacious.

The study room wasn’t big. Other than the bookshelf was a desk, a short sofa, and a few chairs.

“Have a seat.” Oudick pointed at the short sofa and the three chairs beside it. “Sorry, it’ll be a little cramped.”

“You’re too polite,” Shang Jianyao replied politely.

As Jiang Baimian sat down, she asked, “How long until your parishioner arrives?”

“In ten minutes,” Oudick replied calmly.

After they sat down, Shang Jianyao asked, “Is it far to the Golden Waters from here?”

“Very,” Oudick said as he recalled. “You have to pass through half of First City. There’s a large no-man’s-land between United Industries and the Gold Coast…”

Upon seeing that Oudick and Shang Jianyao’s questions and answers were reasonable and natural, Long Yuehong couldn’t believe that this person had been a lunatic not long ago.

After a while, Laurice brought a lady over.

This lady wore a dark hunting suit and was about the same age as Oudick. She had blond hair, blue eyes, and rough skin. She was the typical example of the Red River ethnicity.

“Julia.” She briefly introduced herself.

After Jiang Baimian and the others finished introducing themselves, the lady smiled politely. “Thank you for your ‘treatment’ of Oudick. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to meet Laurice.”

She emphasized the word ‘treatment.’

“It’s only right.” Shang Jianyao had a matter-of-fact expression.

Julia’s expression turned serious as she asked, “How long can this last?”

Shang Jianyao smiled and replied, “As long as he’s such a person, nobody can truly overturn this point. It can last forever.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Baimian took the initiative to say, “We’ve discovered clues to the nightmare. I wonder if you’re interested in cooperating?”

Julia glanced at Oudick and said, “The matter is in the past, and the dreams returned to normal last night. Without absolute confidence, we don’t want to take the risk. There’s no need for you to continue investigating. Fighting such nightmares is a long-term matter. There’s not much meaning to chance upon clues.”

Jiang Baimian chose to remain silent.

After chatting for a while, the Old Task Force bade farewell.

Oudick walked them to the door.

As the door closed, Long Yuehong saw Oudick’s warped smile from the corner of his eye.

The latter shouted in confusion, “A person on the left, a person on the right, with a small picture frame in the middle! One of your eyes is big, and the other is small. You’re not a good person. I’ll help you dig them all out!”

Long Yuehong slowly retracted his gaze.

After returning to the car, everyone fell silent.

After a while, Long Yuehong indignantly said, “They don’t care that their fellow parishioners were killed or harmed!”

Jiang Baimian, Bai Chen, and Genava didn’t know how to respond.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao suddenly sat up straight and slowly but firmly said, “They might not care, but I’ll care!”