Embers Ad Infinitum

He, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen were standing on high ground, looking down at the smart bot below.

As they didn’t know how many companions the fleeing enemy had, how strong they were, how large their perception range was, or if there were any traps, the Old Task Force erred on the side of caution. They decided to send only Genava to follow the tracks. The four carbon-based humans used binoculars and the surrounding terrain to tail from a few kilometers away. They paid close attention to their teammate’s actions and were prepared to launch a long-range attack at any moment.

This was something that couldn’t be helped. After all, smart bots had high tolerance for mistakes. If they really encountered an accident, the probability of him surviving was far higher than that of Jiang Baimian and the other carbon-based humans.

More importantly, smart bots were also immune to most Awakened abilities and didn’t need to worry about having a detectable human consciousness.

In order to ensure Old Ge’s safety, the four carbon-based Old Task Force members unanimously decided to let the other party wear the Blackmarsh Iron Snake bionic artificial intelligence armor this time to enhance his defense.

There was a saying in the Old World: Flesh covering metal only led to a quick death; metal covering flesh stood a chance of living.

Genava could be considered as metal covering metal; he was substantial and sturdy enough.

Flesh covering metal generally referred to humans riding motorcycles and bicycles, with flesh lumps placed over steel. Metal covering flesh referred to humans riding motorcars where their flesh was being protected by steel.

Genava raised his steel arm—which was covered in black scales—and waved at his companions, indicating that he had received their encouragement. He then began to follow the traces of blood, footprints, and other clues into the distance.

Jiang Baimian looked at the sky that had darkened to the point that it reached the level of Cenningmis’s main city district and exhaled. “In such an environment, only Old Ge can leave no traces.”

“That’s right, that’s right.” Shang Jianyao echoed.

Long Yuehong glanced at them, raised his binoculars, and observed Genava’s every move so that he could timely understand what the other party had encountered.

At this moment, the four carbon-based humans were fully armed. Three wore military exoskeletons, and one wore the Chameleon—that one person was Long Yuehong

They weren’t stingy with their electricity. They planned to attack the enemy once she was found.

Through the binoculars and the military exoskeleton’s corresponding functions, the four Old Task Force members saw Genava speed ahead.

This meant that the clues hadn’t stopped until now. The traces remained on the ground.

“Old Ge circled around a pile of rocks...

“Old Ge crossed a stream...

“Old Ge entered an abandoned village and passed through it...

“...”

Finally, Jiang Baimian couldn’t take it any longer and cut Shang Jianyao off. “There’s no need for a commentary. We can all see it.”

Shang Jianyao shut his mouth in disappointment, feeling regretful that he hadn’t fully enjoyed his role as a commentator.

Jiang Baimian cast her gaze at Genava again and relied on the communications system embedded in the military exoskeleton to say, “Old Ge, stop for a moment. We’ll shift positions. If you continue forward, the angle here won’t be too good. Furthermore, we’re too far away; it’s not conducive for us to provide you support.

“Pay attention to your surroundings and guard against any accidents.”

After receiving Genava’s affirmation, Jiang Baimian summoned Long Yuehong and the others and moved to the second surveillance spot.

This surveillance spot wasn’t predetermined because they had no idea which direction the enemy had fled in. This surveillance spot was one of the few suitable places they had specially chosen while watching Genava’s pursuit.

The Old Task Force’s carbon-based humans were augmented by equipment, so it didn’t take them long to reach their designated spots.

It was a water tower.

Jiang Baimian and the others stood firmly on the small, steel balcony at the top of the water tower and observed Genava’s situation again.

There was nothing abnormal.

Genava continued his pursuit.

As they watched, a scene suddenly surfaced in Long Yuehong’s mind-it was a comical picture from the Old World’s entertainment.

He suppressed his voice and shared his feelings with Bai Chen. “Don’t you think the current situation is a little like that picture? The one where a group of people watches one person doing all the work.”

“It does!” Before Bai Chen could speak, the attentive Shang Jianyao agreed. He then sighed. “Poor Old Ge.”

You make it sound like you weren’t the one who cheered Old Ge on... Jiang Baimian didn’t voice her criticism.

After a while, Genava slowed down.

At this point, the traces seemed to decrease in number, making it harder to capture them. This didn’t stump Genava. With the help of various equipment and modules, he continued forward bit by bit in his pursuit.

After an unknown period of time, when night was truly about to arrive, Genava stopped and pointed at a building in front of him. “The enemy should’ve entered here.”

The building belonged to a town at the edge of Ceningmis, near the northern mountain pass. It was originally the tallest building in the area, but it was later modified to resemble an outpost.

“How about we blow up that building?” the ruthless Shang Jianyao suggested.

The honest Genava replied, “But according to my detectors, there are no living creatures inside.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” The Shang Jianyao that sought novelty was disappointed.

“She moved ahead of time? A trap?” Jiang Baimian muttered to herself and instructed Genava, “Old Ge, enter and search. Be careful.”

“Alright.” Genava always followed orders.

His report was then constantly transmitted to Shang Jianyao and the others through the communications system. “There are traces of human life at the bottom. It’s very new...

“They also rear animals... The soil outside the side window smells like shit...

“I found a storage room. There are some supplies inside, but not much. There are traces of movement...

“There’s an observation spot on the top floor. You can see the paths that lead north and west into Ceningmis...

“Preliminary judgment indicates that three to four people and a large animal once lived here...

“I found relatively clear tire tracks on the east side of this building. I have reason to believe that the humans here had hastily evacuated a few hours ago with most of their supplies. Their destination is the Ceningmis main city...”

Jiang Baimian listened carefully and frowned. She muttered to herself, “This doesn’t make sense... There are only so many people from the Eighth Research Institute in Ceningmis? Besides, the combat strength of the one we injured is one of the best...”

From what she knew, there had to be at least dozens of Eighth Research Institute personnel in Ceningmis. They were in charge of eliminating the investigators and watching the area that overlapped with the New World. Among them, there might be more than five Mind Corridor-level Awakened. Furthermore, they carried items that could directly contact the Eighth Research Institute’s New World powerhouses.

Unexpectedly, according to Genava, there were only three to four people and a gigantic black feline creature. Furthermore, they chose to evacuate in a hurry instead of regrouping to form a stronger siege because the person who attacked the Old Task Force had suffered a serious injury.

“Could it be that they aren’t from the Eighth Research Institute?” Long Yuehong muttered.

Bai Chen shook her head. “No, the commissioners we captured confirmed that the Eighth Research Institute has quarantined this place. They will definitely leave someone behind to guard it.”

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged it. “There’s also the existence of the large feline creature. It can’t be that coincidental.”

At this moment, Shang Jianyao laughed. His voice reached Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and the distant Genava. “The answer is very simple: The Eighth Research Institute doesn’t value this place enough, so they only sent a small team to guard it.

“And why don’t they give it importance? It’s because outsiders who enter Ceningmis’s main city are basically throwing themselves to their deaths or becoming Heartless. The few who survive are more or less protected by the Kalendarium. The Eighth Research Institute can’t do much about them either...”

He repeated what he had said during his discussion with Genava.

Jiang Baimian nodded and thoughtfully said, “This guess is very reasonable, but the problem is: Why would the Eighth Research Institute send such a small team to guard Ceningmis in such a situation? Do they think they have too many Awakened at the Mind Corridor level? What are they guarding?”

“We can only ask them,” Shang Jianyao replied sincerely.

Jiang Baimian immediately said to Genava through the communications system, “Old Ge, track the tire tracks and see where those people went.”

Genava tracked them to the edge of Ceningmis.

After night fell, it was so dark that one couldn’t even see their fingers. At a glance, it seemed like some dangerous existence was sleeping deep in the depths.

After observing for a while, Genava said to Shang Jianyao—who was a few kilometers away, “That group of people seems to have entered the main city. Aren’t they afraid of contracting the Heartless disease?”

Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen didn’t dare to approach too closely. They could only send Shang Jianyao to provide support.

“Maybe they also have someone protecting them.” Shang Jianyao ‘wasn’t surprised’ and didn’t mind.

After he and Genava rendezvoused with the rest and reported this matter, Jiang Baimian deliberated for a moment and said, “There are too many mysteries here, and our power supplies are almost below the safe zone. Next, we’ll go to the White Knights’ sphere of influence and charge up. We’ll then come back and explore further.”

As far as the Old Task Force knew, the nearest human settlement of the White Knights was none other than Gesterbourg, which the Rootless team had set off from.