Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-693

Long Yuehong also noticed the situation and said in alarm, "Are they here to capture us?"

After all, they could be used to exchange money with First City or even be used as hostages.

As a wanted criminal, he still had some self-awareness and faced the corresponding psychological pressure.

"Doesn't seem like it." Bai Chen shook her head. "They should be heading toward the center of Ubei City."

The Old Task Force's current hotel, Ashlands Hotel, was located at the edge of the city.

"Maybe they are giving us more latitude for now to keep a tighter rein on us afterward. When the time comes, they might suddenly turn back." Shang Jianyao began to showcase his rich imagination.

The honest Genava denied his guess. "It might be better off to say that it's a cover to draw our attention while an elite team is secretly deployed to carry out an arrest mission."

Shang Jianyao's eyes lit up as he clapped. "As expected of the former mayor of Tarnan—you're indeed more comprehensive than I am! Your solution is indeed more effective and pragmatic."

He had always been one to admit his mistakes and provide deserving praise.

Jiang Baimian facepalmed with her right hand. "Can't you guys think of something better? Why must it involve yourselves!? We did nothing bad in the Salvation Army—uh, nothing at all. We even kindly shared information with them for free. Why would we be targeted?"

"Bounty!" The honest Shang Jianyao gave a reason.

The cowardly but careful Shang Jianyao added, "Equipment!"

The Shang Jianyao that liked to joke was in charge of ending the conversation. "Beauties!"

"Thank you very much!" Jiang Baimian gritted her teeth.

As they casually chatted, Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian cast their gazes at the door at the same time. After a few seconds, there was knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" Shang Jianyao was rather excited. He seemed to have already imagined a long novelization of the subsequent developments—one derived from Genava's hypothesis and the current situation.

"It's the hotel manager; we met just a while ago. I have something to inform you," the person outside the door quickly replied.

Jiang Baimian signaled Shang Jianyao with her eyes and got him to open the door and do whatever the situation called for.

Jiang Baimian didn't know if her eyes had expressed the latter meaning, but it didn't matter. She felt that Hey would've done the same with his enthusiasm and dramatic nature.

Shang Jianyao bent his back like a cheetah that was ready to pounce and walked to the door step by step. He then opened the door and realized that it was indeed the hotel manager he had seen in the lobby—an ordinary, balding, middle-aged man.

"What do you want to tell us?" Shang Jianyao wore an obvious look of disappointment and spoke coldly.

The hotel manager cleared his throat and said, "Here's the thing. Ubei will be under martial law from this moment forth. You can't leave the hotel unless you obtain the administration committee's permission."

The Ubei Administrative Committee was a subordinate organization of the Ubei Supplies Management Committee. They were mainly in charge of administration and foreign registrations in this core city.

As they had previously observed the situation to lay the groundwork, the Old Task Force members weren't that surprised by this sudden development and found it reasonable.

Jiang Baimian curiously asked, "Why did martial law suddenly begin? What happened?"

"There's no need for you to…" Just as the hotel manager said these words, he saw Jiang Baimian walk over and hand over two negotiables.

They were made of red plastic. The top one read: "5 kilograms of pork."

The hotel manager was first stunned before a smile gradually appeared on his face. "Since you have a pass and were led here by a captain-level warrior, it's fine to tell you."

As he spoke, he took the two pork negotiables, skillfully checked them, and placed them in his pocket.

"Here's the thing." He subconsciously used his catchphrase. "Some important military supplies were previously lost at a Salvation Army secret base. Intelligence now indicates that they have reached Ubei's underground market. If these military supplies aren't properly kept under lock and key, they will cause devastating damage to all humans in a large area.

"In order to prevent such a situation from happening, our Ubei Supplies Management Committee has announced the enactment of martial law. They will also transfer troops stationed outside the city to be in charge of this matter. They will strive to find the dangerous items as soon as possible and remove the alarm."

After all, he had received ten kilograms of pork negotiables from the other party. The hotel manager told them everything he knew without holding anything back. He was rather sincere.

Long Yuehong secretly hissed. This problem sounds a little serious! If something really went wrong with those military supplies and happened to be near this hotel, won't we be implicated?

Jiang Baimian nodded with a solemn expression. "This does require martial law. Hmm… Will this affect us?"

Upon seeing the hotel manager cast a vigilant gaze at her, Jiang Baimian smiled and said, "As you know, we brought some supplies and exchanged for some negotiables. If we encounter a search, we will inevitably suffer some losses."

Actually, that wasn't what was important. It was the three military exoskeletons and the two sets of bionic artificial intelligence armor.

When the time came, they might have to send Shang Jianyao to 'communicate.'

"No, no." The hotel manager heaved a sigh of relief. "We Salvation Army warriors won't do such a lowly thing."

Shang Jianyao revealed a relieved expression.

The hotel manager added, "As for officials, they have other channels, so they won't think much of those few supplies of yours. Besides, the date on the pass indicates that you just entered the city today. It definitely has nothing to do with the military supplies that were lost. They won't send anyone to search you."

"That's good, that's good." Jiang Baimian didn't hide the change in her emotions.

Shang Jianyao was the same, but his relief turned to disappointment.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian looked around and lowered her voice. "Do you know what those military supplies are?"

She wasn't just curious. If she could figure out what it was, she could understand the corresponding harm they could bring and take precautions in advance.

"There's no information on that." The hotel manager indicated that he also wanted to know.

This left them on edge.

He then pointed out the door. "I've to inform the other guests. Sigh, I'm requested to inform them face-to-face. I can't do it over the phone."

As an outward-facing facility, every room in the Ashlands Hotel had a telephone installed.

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and asked, "Are there many people coming from outside your sphere of influence?"

"There is still quite the number," the hotel manager replied truthfully. "Some are merchants who do cross-border trade. Although our Salvation Army has rebuilt the industrial system, we still have many shortcomings due to problems with resources and technology. We need to import some, such as coal, mechanical arms, some electronic equipment, solar charger boards, and high-performance batteries. Others are Ruin Hunters. They want to officially settle down and become one of us."

"Oh, oh." Shang Jianyao nodded repeatedly.

The hotel manager casually said, "You can also submit an application. According to the law issued by the Supplies Management Committee, you are qualified to submit an application and undergo the corresponding inspection as long as you can stay within the borders for three years. The admission rate is still quite high. However, it's impossible for you to be assigned a job in the next three years. You have to feed yourselves. Thus, most of these people choose to continue being Ruin Hunters."

"Isn't it said that all who can be saved will be saved to the best of your abilities?" Shang Jianyao was a little disappointed again.

"That's something from ages ago!" The hotel manager laughed. "There are limited resources."

Bai Chen—who had been listening quietly—asked, "Are the city ruins and various ruins in your Salvation Army open to foreigners?"

Isn't this too generous?

This was an outward-facing facility, so the hotel manager could be considered knowledgeable. He smiled and said, "A large portion of them are territories outside our control, and the corresponding resources aren't enough for us to send troops to watch them. You should've seen many similar situations when you came from First City."

This was the norm in the Ashlands.

Even an entity as strong as the Salvation Army could only control the settlements and some of the surrounding areas along the repaired roads.

Upon seeing October Xue and the others nod, the hotel manager continued, "Some are still within our control, but due to insufficient resources, there's no need to explore and search them on a large scale. It's better to leave them to Ruin Hunters to deal with. Heh heh, most of the things they find are still traded to us ordinary people. Our Salvation Army can only ensure that everyone has something to eat and a place to live. We also have blankets and clothes to wear in the winter.

"Many items can't be manufactured due to insufficient resources and the different emphasis on production, or we can only produce a small amount. Supply can't meet demand, and they have to make up for it through the Ruin Hunters' harvests. Our family now has three umbrellas, and all of them were exchanged from them.

"To them, officially becoming one of us means stability. They don't have to worry about having food or shelter this winter, only to have none the next."

It's enough to have food, shelter, and clothes. This is the dream of many wilderness nomads… Jiang Baimian didn't ask anything else and watched the hotel manager leave the room. She then sighed at her team members. "I knew it. Most of the time, trouble comes knocking at us even if we don't cause trouble in the Ashlands. If we were unlucky and happened to be near that batch of missing military supplies, we might die without knowing why!"

Therefore, they had to continue down the path of the long night in fear until dawn arrived.

Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and the others agreed with this.

As the hotel manager had expected, the Old Task Force wasn't searched. Daybreak steadily arrived overnight.

Not long after they had a simple meal of hotel-provided yellow cornbread, Ding Ling appeared again.

This group of people was relatively dangerous, and she was the one who brought them here. She had to finish what she started until they left Ubei.

Without waiting for her to speak, Shang Jianyao took the initiative to ask, "What's that batch of military supplies? It actually resulted in martial law being enacted over the entire city?"

Ding Ling looked at the closed door, hesitated, and deliberated before saying, "It seems to be a nuclear warhead."

"…" Jiang Baimian was momentarily at a loss for words.