Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 791 Excuses

When the Old Task Force ended their training and returned to Pangu Biology, spring’s rain began to drizzle, washing away the dust. If it were any other time, Long Yuehong would definitely sigh with emotion. Why is it raining again? It was raining the past three out of five times we returned. Furthermore, he was definitely just chit-chatting when he said this. In fact, he was secretly excited and smiling. He couldn’t wait.

But this time, he didn’t say anything while sitting in the back row. His mouth was tightly shut; he was no different from a statue.

There was silence in the jeep.

After the Old Task Force approached and confirmed their identities, the silver-white door at the entrance to Pangu Biology’s underground building slowly moved back like a behemoth opening its mouth.

The jeep drove in and stopped at the designated spot. Jiang Baimian and the others alighted one after another and underwent safety checks.

“Why did you guys return so quickly this time?” The captain on duty today was a middle-aged man that Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and the others didn’t know. He had a crew cut, and his eyes were small. He looked rather old.

The Old Task Force didn’t know this person, but this person was no stranger to their feats out in the wild. After all, be it Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, or Long Yuehong, their characteristics were very obvious.

Coupled with the fact that this person had an easygoing personality, he directly raised the question curiously. A smile appeared on Jiang Baimian’s face. “It’s just training this time. After the previous mission ended, we stayed in the company for months. After finishing the new year, I was afraid that they would lose their touch. Therefore, I first organized a training session to let them get used to it.” The captain came to a realization. “I knew it. I recently heard that you guys went outfield, and doesn’t your fieldwork last at least two to three months?”

“Not really,” Jiang Baimian replied with a smile. “Our first mission was only about a month. I forgot about the details, but it wasn’t long.”

She smiled and was filled with the relaxed feeling of returning home from the company. After passing the safety inspection, the Old Task Force went through various procedures and returned to Room 14 on the 647th floor.

“I have to change the game.” Shang Jianyao took out his laptop, sat up straight, and thought about the serious question of what to change.

During this period of time, he had been obsessed with entering the Sea of Origins daily to play games for Xiaochong to ‘see.’ He stopped exploring new rooms.

Such attempts couldn’t do without serious preparation. Long Yuehong didn’t know if he should sympathize with Shang Jianyao’s hard work or envy his ‘abuse of public office for personal gain.’

Unfortunately, the rift that represented Xiaochong showed no reaction.

Jiang Baimian glanced at Shang Jianyao. “It’s just your first day back; there’s no need to keep thinking about work. Get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow. Why don’t I give you two more days

off?”

She acted like she usually did when she returned to the company after finishing a mission.

“Aren’t we still waiting for the test results?” Shang Jianyao said with bright eyes. “I plan on playing racing games.” “What’s the reason?” Jiang Baimian asked curiously.

Shang Jianyao replied smugly, “We can race in reality, but Xiaochong can’t…”

At this point, he laughed. “Because he’s too short to reach the pedal. Hahaha!”

If I were Xiaochong, I would definitely make a good friend like you use the bathroom once an hour. There will be no exception even in the dead of the night! Long Yuehong criticized inwardly.

Shang Jianyao continued, “Therefore, just because we aren’t interested in racing games doesn’t mean that Xiaochong doesn’t like it.”

“That makes sense. Go ahead and play until the results are out.” Jiang Baimian didn’t harp on the topic.

She sat in her team leader’s seat and thought about how to write the report for this training session. She also recalled the scene of being watched by Eidolon Nun from time to time.

After three hours, all kinds of tests were done. Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Shang Jianyao left the Old Task Force’s office one after another.

Jiang Baimian switched on the computer and wrote the report.

At the end of the report, she submitted an application to the higher-ups. She said that the members could head out to carry out missions while the effects of their recent training remained fresh after some preparations.

For this mission, she planned on going to the city ruin where Shang Jianyao’s father had last appeared to search for traces of him and his teammates. She also wanted to investigate why a large-scale Heartless outbreak had happened after the New Calendar, causing the city to be destroyed.

After that, the Old Task Force would head to the area mentioned by the Eighth Research Institute captives to search for clues. The Eighth Research Institute commissioner that the Old Task Force had captured in First City had said that the ones sent outfield didn’t actually know the Eighth Research Institute’s exact location. People would escort them in and out every time, blindfolding them and stuffing their ears the entire time. The Icefield where they released the signal to wait for the escort was the Old Task Force’s destination.

After writing the application, Jiang Baimian exhaled silently and continued typing on the keyboard.

“The field participants this time are still me, Shang Jianyao, Bai Chen, and Long Yuehong.

“Bai Chen has a psychological trauma of abandoning her companions because of her past experience. During training, I communicated with her a few times and realized that she’s very resistant to such matters. She can’t accept the idea of switching to internal affairs for the time being. This can be seen from the fact that she hasn’t started preparing for pregnancy since she got married. Although she will definitely accept the company’s mandatory order, as comrades and companions, I still hope that she can lead a healthy life in the future. “And Long Yuehong has indicated that he would stick to Bai Chen’s decisions.

“Therefore, I’m requesting special permission to let Bai Chen and Long Yuehong participate in this mission. I’ll continue persuading them during this mission. At the same time, I’ll let them see that the Old Task Force’s mission is indeed about to be completed.

“As long as we can find the Eighth Research Institute’s exact location, Shang Jianyao and I will focus on internal affairs in the future. When the time comes, Bai Chen definitely won’t resist…”

Using Bai Chen’s psychological trauma as an excuse to prevent her and Long Yuehong from staying in Pangu Biology was an explanation that the Old Task Force had discussed on their return trip. Otherwise, according to the rules, they didn’t have to go out on missions as newlyweds.

Jiang Baimian had previously specially mentioned to Deputy Minister Xenny that she wanted them to become internal agents and lead a stable life. Once she changed her mind out of the blue, it was very easy for the higher-ups to have the idea that something abnormal had happened.

Under normal circumstances, having these thoughts surface didn’t matter, but the Old Task Force couldn’t undergo an investigation! Therefore, they discussed and believed that there had to be a reasonable reason.

Back then, Bai Chen had said that she originally wanted to stay in the team and wait for the last mission to end. The reason was already there, so there was no need to find another one.

After drafting the report, Jiang Baimian gently leaned back in her chair and pinched her temples.

She had to admit that Shang Jianyao’s hiding the truth and only revealing the matter during training was very meaningful.

She suspected that in the first month after the two of them had their memories deleted, the company’s corresponding Awakened often came to ‘examine the brains of the team members to prevent any accidents. Back then, apart from Shang Jianyao, the other three didn’t know a thing.

As for Shang Jianyao, the one who abhorred evil was most likely hiding in Xiaochong’s rift with the corresponding memories.

Today, Jiang Baimian believed that the company should’ve already slacked off in this regard. After all, it was impossible for them to treat it as endemic. Furthermore, if the corresponding Awakened frequently used their abilities on the Old Task Force, they would definitely expose their existence.

With Shang Jianyao and the others’ strength, it was impossible for them not to notice all this while.

But even so, Jiang Baimian still made Long Yuehong and Bai Chen recall the scene of Eidolon Nun’s gaze whenever they remembered to.

After calming down her indescribable emotions, she submitted the report.

495th floor, Zone C, Room 11, Long Yuehong’s parents’ house.

After dinner, everyone sat in different spots to watch an Old World entertainment program.

Long Yuehong deliberated for a moment and spoke before Gu Hong and Long Dayong could. “Mom, Dad, Little White and I might have to go outfield in the near future.”

Gu Hong’s eyes widened. “You guys just got married and haven’t even had children. How can you go outfield? That doesn’t make sense!” She looked like she wanted to reason with Long Yuehong and Bai Chen’s immediate superior, Jiang Baimian.

Long Yuehong’s eyes stung slightly as he shook his head at Bai Chen, indicating for her not to speak and for him to handle it himself. He forced a smile and pretended to explain, “Haven’t we been to the surface many times? We also know many friends and have done some things. I think we should make another trip and bid farewell to the past to wrap things up. Only then can we be at ease when we transfer to internal affairs.”

Long Dayong nodded slightly, and Gu Hong came to a realization. “It’s no wonder you haven’t had children after so long. So you want to go out again.” This is all Shang Jianyao’s fault… Long Yuehong muttered inwardly. Bai Chen took the initiative to respond. “Yes, we can prepare for pregnancy when we return.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Hong’s expression relaxed as she smiled. “It shouldn’t be dangerous to meet friends, right?”

“It’s fine,” Bai Chen replied on Long Yuehong’s behalf, preventing him from showing any hesitation.

Gu Hong and Long Dayong heaved a sigh of relief.

“Good evening, everyone. I’m Newspoint broadcaster, Hou Yi. It’s 8 p.m. now…” Shang Jianyao sat in the Rec Center. As he listened to the familiar, slightly childlike, and sweet voice on the radio, he quietly watched his neighbors play cards, chess, and chat. People came and went.

His expression was calm and focused.

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