Embers Ad Infinitum

“Anhebus’s brother?” Jiang Baimian asked in a confirmatory tone. She immediately understood where Anhebus’s information regarding the Vigilance Church’s Awakened came from.

Han Wanghuo nodded very firmly. “Yes, I remember it very clearly.”

Just as he said that, Tan Jie suddenly said a name. “Baz.”

Baz was in the Vigilance Cathedral at this moment. He was the key witness in the testimony against Anhebus.

Shang Jianyao—who was guarding the door—didn’t say a word. He had already turned around, opened the door, and walked out.

Jiang Baimian immediately said, “To the cathedral.”

She didn’t believe that Tenebrarum Brand would assassinate Baz in the cathedral—that would be too insulting to the intelligence of the rest of the Vigilance Church’s clergymen. Besides, the Kalendaria—Eidolon Nun—might really be watching them. However, nobody could guarantee anything when it came to Awakened matters. After all, they didn’t know what price the other party had paid. What if they lost their minds like Shang Jianyao?

Han Wanghuo didn’t object. He left the hotel camp with Tan Jie and got into his car.

His car was a common black SUV. It was in terrible condition as if it could be scrapped at any moment.

The six people in the two cars quickly arrived at the fortress-like Vigilance Cathedral and entered the hall that was mainly colored danger red and holy gold.

Jiang Baimian looked at the white door, which was half-open. Like the symbol hidden in the darkness behind the female figure, Jiang Baimian searched for the hiding cathedral guards according to her senses.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao and Han Wanghuo shouted at the same time.

The latter shouted, “Your Grace!”

The former shouted, “Fire!”

Tan Jie expressionlessly swept his gaze between the two of them before closing his mouth.

This is indeed the fastest way to find someone… Let the people come out by themselves without having to find them… Jiang Baimian’s eyes darted up as she sighed.

In less than a minute, Song He—who was wearing a black robe and had slightly white sideburns—came in from the side of the hall. He looked around and calmly asked, “Captain Han, what’s the matter?”

Before Han Wanghuo could answer, Shang Jianyao asked, “Where’s Baz?”

“Exchanging hiding techniques with Viel,” Song He said calmly.

Shout… At this moment, Long Yuehong silently said a word in his heart.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Shang Jianyao shouted, “Baz!”

Baz—who was wearing an iron-black mask—soon jogged into the hall and happily said, “You’re here again?”

This is a good friend!

Shang Jianyao frowned and asked, “Why didn’t you come out when I shouted ‘fire?'”

Baz replied without stuttering. “I can’t blindly believe such a claim.”

“Very vigilant,” Shang Jianyao praised before saying, “Take off your mask; I have to see if you’re the real person. I can’t blindly believe you.”

Baz had no objections. He took off his iron mask and revealed his slightly square face with freckles.

Shang Jianyao nodded in satisfaction.

Song He patiently waited for their conversation to end before turning to look at Baz and casually asking, “Where’s Viel?”

“He’s hiding. I’m looking for him.” As he spoke, Baz looked around as if he were searching for Viel.

Song He turned around and asked again, “Why are you here?”

The fierce-looking Han Wanghuo honestly said, “Harbinger Song, we want to meet Tenebrarum Brand.”

“The Tenebrarum cloister themselves under the Goddess’s watch. Unless there are special circumstances, they do not entertain others,” Song He explained calmly.

Han Wanghuo touched the two scars—one horizontal, one vertical—on his face. “I suspect that Brand has something to do with the Ashlanders who died from excessive shock a few years ago.”

His yellowish-white eyes met Song He’s gaze without backing down.

Song He fell silent for a moment before sighing. “You can speak to him from the outside.”

With that said, he turned around and led Shang Jianyao and the others out the hall’s side door before turning into the corridor at the back.

Before long, he stopped in front of a dark-red wooden door.

“Brand, Captain Han from the Public Security Department is looking for you.” Song He switched to the Red River language and spoke in a moderate voice.

About ten seconds later, a slightly hoarse voice sounded from behind the tightly shut door. “Public Security Department, Han Wanghuo?”

He seemed to have not communicated with anyone for a long time, making it very difficult for him to speak.

At the same time, Jiang Baimian respectively glanced at Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Shang Jianyao. She used an inconspicuous gesture to signal them to raise their vigilance and be prepared to inject their companions with the FECA biological agent.

Han Wanghuo took a deep breath and asked seriously, “Brand, are you an Awakened?”

The slightly hoarse voice fell silent for a moment before saying, “Yes.”

Han Wanghuo asked, “Do you have the ability to make people die from excessive shock?”

The slightly hoarse voice spoke fluently. “It’s called Extreme Terror.”

Han Wanghuo closed his eyes and took a step toward the door. “Were you the one who caused Ashlanders to die from excessive shock two to three years ago?”

He didn’t have sufficient evidence because too much time had passed. Furthermore, Redstone townsfolk liked to hide. Most of the time, nobody could determine the whereabouts of others.

The slightly hoarse voice sighed after a while. “I thought you would quickly find me, but I didn’t expect you to wait until now.”

As he spoke, Jiang Baimian realized that Brand had walked to the door step by step from the electronic feedback.

“You admit it?” Tan Jie took a step forward and interrupted. He spoke in Ashlandic.

It was unknown if Brand understood his words, but he said in a deep voice, “Ever since I obtained my abilities, anger has always been burning in my heart. I want to kill everyone who has harmed me and the Red River people. Sometimes, even just exchanging gazes makes me unable to control the anger in my heart.

“It was only when Bishop Renato came to me and counseled me for a while, suggesting that I cut off all human contact and cloister myself in the dark room to pray that I obtained a long-awaited peace under the Kalendaria’s gaze. Captain Han, I thought you would’ve quickly narrowed it down to me.”

The price he paid is the loss of control over his emotions? Before it worsens, the condition pertains to anger? Jiang Baimian analyzed the situation inwardly.

Han Wanghuo fell silent for a few seconds before blaming himself. “You became a Tenebrarum half a year after the last case. I didn’t make enough connections.”

“Is that so? I don’t know. It seems like Bishop Renato chose to announce it six months later.” Brand came to a realization.

Tan Jie had already turned his head to look at Harbinger Song He. “Will the Church protect this murderer?”

Tan Jie had switched to the Red River language. His tone hid anger, but no corresponding expression appeared.

Song He calmly replied, “His current situation is equivalent to being sentenced to life imprisonment in the Old World. They can only leave the room unless the Church encounters a serious crisis. They will then sacrifice their lives to contribute to the Kalendaria.”

Tan Jie fell silent for a while before saying, “Just because he’s an Awakened?”

Without waiting for Song He’s response, he retracted his gaze and spoke to the tightly shut dark-red wooden door. “You really are despicable. You don’t even dare to face what you’ve done.”

Behind the door, Brand’s breathing suddenly became heavier.

Song He’s expression changed slightly, and his eyes turned dark.

At this moment, Brand roared, “Damn it! I’m only willing to suffer because of the Kalendaria’s attention! Have I ever been afraid of anyone?”

His anger overflowed, bringing with it the strange dimming of the surrounding light. It was as if the sun outside was blocked by drifting clouds.

Accompanying the rapidly darkening environment was a sudden acceleration of everyone’s heartbeat. It was as though an indescribable terror was hiding behind the door.

This terror was like a flood that had been gathering strength for a long time. It could break through the dam at any moment and drown everyone.

Tan Jie—who was right in front of the ‘flood’—felt like a hand was tightly gripping his heart.

Extreme Terror was about to descend!

Tan Jie’s expression didn’t change. He drew his pistol and aimed at the door as if he was prepared.

As he prepared to attack, Brand laughed from behind the door. “Do you think you can make me use Extreme Terror on you just by agitating me? I won’t!”

Upon hearing Brand’s words, Jiang Baimian took a deep breath to calm her heart before looking at Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao nodded slightly.

“Please calm down,” Song He said at that moment.

Tan Jie struggled for a moment and put away his pistol.

The sense of impending danger vanished, and the light in the corridor returned to normal.

“For Brand, the current situation is more unacceptable than directly executing him.” Song He’s voice was as calm as ever.

Tan Jie fell silent for a moment before saying, “But he still has hope.”

Behind the door, Brand seemed to be walking away. “Hope is what’s most torturous.”

Tan Jie was just about to say something when Shang Jianyao interrupted. “You didn’t do it right.”

“Oh?” Tan Jie turned his head and looked at him emotionlessly.

Shang Jianyao sincerely said, “If I were you, I would’ve directly told him that I wanted to kill him, not secretly agitate him and attack him during the chaos.”

At this moment, Brand stopped behind the door. “You’ve also awakened? You just used Provocation? Heh heh, Provocation is really effective against people who are prone to anger like me. Fortunately, Harbinger Song can make everyone friendly and eliminate hostility.”

Jiang Baimian’s eyes lit up when she heard that; she wished Brand could say more.

Harbinger Song He coughed. “Tan Jie, I won’t stop you if you officially suggest revenge. However, you have to think it through. A prepared Brand can take at least one person down with him.”

Han Wanghuo then looked at Tan Jie. “If you’ve decided to take revenge, I’ll help you.”

“You?” Tan Jie sounded a little surprised.

This was a matter with a one-in-two chance of death!

“This is the sheriff’s responsibility,” Han Wanghuo said calmly.

Tan Jie fell silent.

Jiang Baimian resisted the urge with great difficulty and didn’t tell them that they could still be given emergency treatment after a shock. They would then be treated with surgery later.

Uh, with Redstone Collection’s medical standards, it might depend on luck… Jiang Baimian acutely sensed Shang Jianyao’s stirrings and glared at him to stop him from spouting nonsense.

Upon seeing that Tan Jie didn’t say anything else, Han Wanghuo directed a question toward the door again. “Brand, did you kill Helvig as well? He died from excessive shock the day before yesterday.”