Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 591: Wariness Above All

The Underground Ark’s Iron Mountain entrance was no longer hidden, unlike when Jiang Baimian and the others had departed previously. A repaired road that could accommodate two trucks stretched from the foot of the mountain to the cave.

After all, with everyone in Redstone Collection and the mountain monsters knowing about this spot, it couldn’t be used as a secret entrance anymore. It was better to improve the surroundings so that it was easier to escape by car when problems arose.

The Old Task Force drove the jeep to the entrance.

Standing there were four guards in olive-green uniforms with submachine guns. They were now part of the Ark Management Committee.

“Halt!” Although they found the jeep a little familiar, they still dutifully stopped it.

Behind them, deep in the cave, a few cannons and clustered rocket launchers adhered to their programming. They adjusted their bearings and were ready to fire.

Yes, Genava’s program.

As the former interim president and current honorary president of the Ark Management Committee, he had personally modified the Underground Ark’s defense system back then.

Jiang Baimian pushed open the door and asked with a smile, “Don’t you recognize us?”

The four guards in different masks estimated her height and confirmed the number of team members before coming to a realization.

But as Eidolon Nun believers and parishioners of the Vigilance Church, how could they believe them so easily? They remained vigilant and wary, abiding to the maxim that distance was a friend.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian felt someone gently, carefully, and very vigilantly poke her upper arm. Without making any inference, Shang Jianyao’s figure surfaced in her mind.

She turned her head and saw that it was indeed the case.

At some point in time, Shang Jianyao had already taken out the monkey mask with the furry face and protruding mouth. He suppressed his voice and said, “Put it on first. Always be vigilant!”

Although Jiang Baimian didn’t want to imitate him as she watched him put on the monkey mask, she still followed the local folk tradition. She found her graceful monk mask and wore it.

Thankfully, I didn’t throw it away… Long Yuehong put on the fat pig mask amidst joy and sorrow. At the same time, he saw Bai Chen take out the ferocious man mask from her tactical backpack.

Just as the Old Task Force members finished their ‘disguises,’ the guards at the cave entrance took a step back at the same time, lowered their vigilance, and shouted, “Greetings, Presidents!”

They managed to fully match Jiang Baimian and the others’ appearances with the past and confirmed their authenticity.

The reason they didn’t cross their arms and place them in front of their chests while taking a step back was that they found it unsuitable for greeting the presidents. After all, it required the corresponding prayers.

Finally… Jiang Baimian straightened the mask on her face. She then had mixed feelings. Only someone like Shang Jianyao can blend in seamlessly in this magical place like a fish in water…

The only thing she felt gratified about was that the Underground Ark’s guards still had the habits they had developed during DiMarco’s era and adhered to the corresponding rules. They weren’t like the armed forces of the Vigilance Cathedral, the town guards at Redstone Collection’s entrance, or the people from the Public Security Department who had to hide when carrying out sentry duty, preventing others from finding them.

“Wariness is a hint from the Goddess!” Shang Jianyao replied with the Vigilance Church’s etiquette without worrying about the consequences.

Jiang Baimian composed herself and asked, “Where do we park?”

One of the guards pointed to his left. “There’s a parking lot around the bend.”

He then recalled something and quickly reported, “President Xue, the cemetery has been repaired. It’s behind the parking lot.”

The last time the Old Task Force left Redstone Collection, they had the Ark Management Committee’s commissioners organize people to build a cemetery for the dead servants during their leisure time.

“Very good.” Jiang Baimian wasn’t stingy with her praise. She then asked, “Are there so many cars that need parking? Why specially build a parking lot?”

The guard in a comical mask who had just spoken replied, “Yeah. Apart from a few people who are accustomed to living underground, everyone has moved to the ruins to guard their fields. However, we still choose to store many important items in the Ark. It’s safer and easier to defend here.”

The current Underground Ark was equivalent to all the members’ backup warehouses, final refuge shelter, and psychological reliance. Several key departments of the Administrative Committee were set up here. Therefore, members often needed to enter and leave, and many of them had cars.

On the one hand, this was thanks to DiMarco’s era. On the other hand, the management committee deliberately used some of the firearms they had stored in consideration of the need for escorts, wilderness hunting, and the traversing of city ruins. They traded for a batch of derelict vehicles from the Old World and repaired them.

Impressive… Jiang Baimian nodded in relief.

They parked their vehicle and were about to pass through the cave entrance when one of the guards suddenly said, “Wait!”

Jiang Baimian—who was wearing a graceful monk mask—turned her head and asked, “What’s wrong?”

The guard pointed at Long Yuehong’s right arm and quickly said, “I-I remember that President Gu didn’t have a mechanical arm last time. Could he be someone else in disguise now?”

“…” Jiang Baimian and Long Yuehong were speechless. You guys are too vigilant!

Shang Jianyao—who understood and respected Redstone Collection’s folk tradition—helped explain. “He saved a damsel in distress previously and had one of his arms blown off. He could only exchange it for a mechanical arm.”

Long Yuehong’s face heated up when he heard about how he had saved a damsel in distress. He was especially glad that he was wearing a mask. Redstone Collection’s folk tradition is sometimes pretty good…

Upon seeing that the other three honorary presidents were willing to testify for Gu Zhiyong, the guards made way and stopped suspecting him.

…

In basement two of the Ark, in the reception room where DiMarco had previously met the Old Task Force.

On the long sofa opposite Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and the others sat Ulrich, Yu Tian, and Bode—the Ark Management Committee members who happened to be underground today.

Among them, although Ulrich was once one of DiMarco’s three butlers, he hadn’t stood on the enemy’s side back then. He only helped quell the servants’ uneasiness after DiMarco vented his emotions. Therefore, he obtained everyone’s approval. As a key person familiar with the smuggling business and having the corresponding connections, he entered the Ark Management Committee.

Compared to the other councilors—who were servants or guards—he was experienced, sophisticated, and trustworthy. Hence, he was elected as interim president when Genava left.

The term ‘interim’ would be removed after he served for two years without making any mistakes.

Yu Tian and Bode were the first guards to surrender and provide help to the Old Task Force—they were the two cards they had established. Therefore, when Genava was still in the Ark, he had specially given them advice following Jiang Baimian’s suggestion. After they received Genava’s teachings, they were already qualified to carry out their duties as councilors.

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Baimian asked, “Have people from the Salvation Army come to Redstone Collection recently?”

Ulrich was in his forties. His black hair was still neatly combed, and he wore a dark formal suit, which was straight and tidy. However, he was no longer wearing a bowtie like before.

His blue eyes flickered as he thought for a moment and said, “I’m not sure if it’s the Salvation Army because they aren’t dealing with us. They went straight to the Ashlanders—uh, the Ashlandics. Less than 20 of them are Ashlandic. They live in an abandoned building near a few Tan family members, not the hotel camp.”

The Salvation Army had Red River members, and this reflected their philosophy of shared human destiny. But as their sphere of influence was considered a general Ashlandic dominion in the Old World, there weren’t many non-Ashlandics.

“Do you know why they’re here?” Shang Jianyao was rather curious as if he wanted to provide help. Of course, others couldn’t tell because they were wearing masks.

Ulrich shook his head. “I don’t know, but we can observe what the Tan family members or other Ashlandics are searching for or gathering in the future.”

Jiang Baimian nodded and looked at the ceiling above her. “Have some strangers come to the Vigilance Cathedral recently?”

“Yes,” Yu Tian—who had a square face—immediately replied. “Several batches of people from other places now live in the cathedral, but Bishop Antonella didn’t tell everyone the reason or introduce them.”

Inside the Ark, the three commissioners didn’t wear masks.

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and asked, “What about Harbinger Song? What did he say?”

“Nothing,” replied the freckled Bode quickly.

Shang Jianyao suddenly lowered his voice as if he were vigilant of someone and asked, “Did those people quarrel with each other?”

Yu Tian thought for a few seconds and said, “I encountered it once. They sat on both sides of the Kalendaria’s Sacred Emblem and accused each other. One said that vigilance is the outcome, not the reason, while the other said that vigilance is the most important goal. Another was trying to mediate the quarrel and get them to get along peacefully.”

For some reason, Jiang Baimian recalled Kanna—who reared a vulgar parrot.

This Mind Corridor-level Awakened had once shown an ability that made people friendly.

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