Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-870-30041322

In the safe house, Gitis looked at Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao and anxiously asked, "Can you help me get the Subhuti figurine back?"

She was a little desperate in this matter.

But after losing the various abilities brought about by the Subhuti figurine and having her avatars die one after another, she seemed to have returned to being the helpless girl from back then. She knew the Old Task Force, and they were the only people who could provide certain help and be trusted in this matter.

"No problem!" Shang Jianyao had a righteous expression. He had always been sincere to his friends.

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged it. "We will investigate the surroundings according to the location of the attack you provided and search for traces of the attacker. However, don't have too much hope. Her ability is Invisibility, so there might not be any witnesses."

In fact, she determined that the assassin only used two pistols every time she attacked. The other party couldn't carry any heavy items while invisible. In that case, the assassin holding the Subhuti figurine might not be able to maintain her invisibility and would have to evacuate by normal means.

Jiang Baimian didn't tell Gitis this guess because she was afraid that it would spark hope in her—the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

"I understand." Gitis nodded slowly.

Although she had lost her abilities, she had experience and knowledge compared to three years ago. She hadn't only become prone to being distracted and often having headaches.

Be it Aester, Eman, or Frances, they were all people in high positions. They had plenty of experience, and these memories provided sufficient catalysts for Gitis's growth.

As Jiang Baimian's thoughts raced, she suddenly smiled and asked, "Do you mind calling the police? Do you mind providing the Hunter's Guild with the Subhuti figurine's whereabouts?"

Gitis thought for a moment and asked with uncertainty, "You mean to use the Hunter's Guild and the officials to search for the attacker?"

"Yes." Jiang Baimian smiled and said, "As long as we provide clues that the victim obtained the Subhuti figurine at some point in time but was taken away by the assailant, a large number of public security officers and Ruin Hunters will help us complete the complicated investigation and comb through the corresponding clues. This can save us a lot of energy, so why not?

"Of course, this also requires us to take a certain risk. When the assailant is found, we will be one step behind and be unable to retrieve the figurine. This results in it falling into the hands of the officials or mission issuer. We respect your opinion on the exact choice."

Upon seeing that Gitis didn't blame the Old Task Force and didn't believe that their request for cooperation had resulted in the Subhuti figurine being snatched, she felt that this lady was really a nice person. Therefore, she did her best.

"We can still earn a sum of money this way…" Gitis nodded thoughtfully.

Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian expressed their admiration.

After confirming the direction, Jiang Baimian exhaled and emphasized, "It's best if you don't have any hopes regarding this matter. If I were the assailant, I would definitely leave Gesterbourg as soon as possible before anyone can react. That way, it will be a fool's wish to find her in the vast wilderness and endless Icefield."

Gitis couldn't hide her disappointment, but she expressed her understanding. "I couldn't contact you immediately, nor did I dare."

Back then, she had too much to deal with. Furthermore, she didn't have Heavenly Eyes or Heavenly Ears.

From then on, she was prepared to lose the Subhuti figurine completely.

"It's fine, it's fine," Shang Jianyao consoled. "How long until you Awaken?"

Gitis deliberated over her words and said, "I have a feeling that it'll happen within a year. As for when, it depends on when I encounter the corresponding opportunities."

"Could it be the Subhuti domain?" Shang Jianyao asked.

"It's very likely." Gitis was still quite a distance away from Awakening, so she didn't dare to give an affirmative answer.

Jiang Baimian took off her backpack. "Pick an item. Although you can't use it now, that day will come."

"This pen can create the same hobby for 100 people within 300 meters. That hobby will be of a very high priority, surpassing most things. The price is anger, and it's very easy to lose your reason.

"This pair of glasses can create a maze illusion within 400 meters or distort a target's senses, completely trapping them in an illusion. The price is fear of water."

Gitis thought for a while before saying, "I want those glasses."

She felt that anger as a price was very troublesome. However, the fear of water could be avoided in advance.

"Alright." Shang Jianyao was in charge of picking up the Maze Glasses and putting them in Gitis's backpack.

The Pen of Hobbies belonged to the Old Task Force from then on. It was currently in Jiang Baimian's custody.

Jiang Baimian then pointed at the Gauss rifle and other items she had brought along. "The weapons and ammunition are yours, and the money is ours. How about that?"

To the Old Task Force, if they really took the weapons and ammunition, they had to exchange them for coins so that they could replenish their supplies in the future. Therefore, it was better to just take the money and throw these things to the local.

Gitis estimated the price and nodded slightly. "Alright."

Due to the existence of the Gauss rifle, the price of this batch of weapons and ammunition exceeded those gold and silver coins. Therefore, Gitis felt that there was no problem. Furthermore, although she had already lost her avatars, she still knew and had come into contact with the underground black market.

After all, she was previously a successful intelligence peddler.

Jiang Baimian slowly exhaled. "This cooperation is almost over. The biological agent I gave you will arrive in two days. We'll give it to you at the hotel."

This wasn't something worth hiding—many people knew that Gitis often bought drugs and biological agents for her parents.

Gitis finally received good news, and her expression relaxed significantly.

Before bidding farewell, Shang Jianyao enthusiastically asked, "Do you have enough savings to buy the latest genetic enhancement drugs? If it's not enough, we can lend you some."

We can only squeeze out one Grand Knight gold coin at most. What's the use? Jiang Baimian criticized inwardly and didn't stop him.

At most, they could apply for some funding from the higher-ups!

We've already found the Eighth Research Institute's exact location. If we ask for more funding, who can say no?

As for the biological agents from before, they were used to bribe key figures and were necessary expenses for the mission.

Gitis was stunned for a moment. She didn't expect these people to really plan on lending her money.

She sized up Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao and smiled. "You are also people with true chivalry."

I'm not; I'm not worthy. Only Hey is qualified… Jiang Baimian knew herself well.

Gitis then restrained her smile. "There's no need. In the past three years, I've actually saved up enough money to buy the latest genetic enhancement drugs. However, a large portion of it was kept aside for my parents' illnesses. As long as the biological agent you provide is effective, I can bear the cost of the genetic enhancement myself."

"Excellent!" Shang Jianyao smiled sincerely.

After taking a few steps toward the door, he suddenly turned around and said to Gitis, "Does the death of your avatar count as a bloody disaster?"

"Definitely." Gitis didn't hesitate at all.

"So this is how the bloody disaster was achieved…" Shang Jianyao came to a realization.

Back then, he had prophesied about them. As a collaborator, Gitis was definitely one of them at that moment.

Jiang Baimian nodded and reminded Shang Jianyao, "But we can't let down our guard tonight until past midnight."

After leaving the safe house, the two of them visited the crime scene and searched for possible witnesses. However, it was too quiet there, and it was during working hours. Nobody noticed what had happened in the alley until the smell of blood spread.

For the time being, nobody said that they had seen the attacker's photo printed by Genava.

Jiang Baimian suspected that either the person had arranged a car outside the alley and had made an immediate getaway after obtaining the Subhuti figurine, or she had backup. After handing the Subhuti figurine to the other party, the person directly turned Invisible.

"We'll start with her symmetry OCD tomorrow." Jiang Baimian saw that it was dark and that they hadn't slept for three days and two nights, so she could only stop the investigation.

The next morning—after having some beauty sleep—they went to the Hunter's Guild first, planning to submit this 'clue.'

"What? The mission has been canceled?" Shang Jianyao was shocked and disappointed.

The staff member simply replied, "The mission issuer has confirmed that his subordinate has obtained the Subhuti figurine."

"And that's it? Isn't this tricking everyone into coming to Gesterbourg?" Shang Jianyao was indignant.

The staff member sighed and said, "The mission issuer has already paid nearly 30 Grand Knight gold coins for the clues gathered in the early stages."

Many Ruin Hunters—who had gained something—were rather satisfied.

Jiang Baimian pondered for a moment and replied, "From the looks of it, the person who issued the mission is the assailant?"

Or rather, the assassin handed the Subhuti figurine to the mission issuer's subordinate.

The person who issued the mission was clearly not the Eighth Research Institute. Otherwise, the assassin wouldn't have turned a blind eye to Professor Qin and Qiao Chu.

Jiang Baimian suspected that the assassin might've betrayed the Eighth Research Institute after the last time and was currently working for the mission issuer.

"Yes!" Shang Jianyao turned to the door. "Let's report it to the Public Security Department!"

They could also receive a reward for the clue. Every bit counted!

Jiang Baimian nodded and secretly felt sorry for Gitis for a few seconds.

The Subhuti figurine was unlikely to be recovered. It had already been moved out of Gesterbourg.

…

A few days later, the Old Task Force handed the biological agent they had received to Gitis and confirmed its effects.

After seeing Smith, they drove the jeep—which had been replenished with supplies—and left Gesterbourg for Icefield.

After the jeep left the fortifications, Shang Jianyao looked back and regretfully said, "I wanted to see if the White Knights' latest genetic enhancement drug was useful to us…"

"We're broke," Jiang Baimian replied concisely.

Bai Chen drove forward without slowing down.

Destination—Ceningmis.