Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 805 “Lying In Wait”

It was rare for someone to be willing to listen to his past experiences, so Old Zhao stood at the warehouse door and recounted his experiences as he recalled. However, the experiments he participated in were conducted in Icefield over and over again. He either wore single-layer clothes, thick clothes, or cotton coats for varying periods before entering a simple room to be examined. There was nothing to highlight; it was boring and mundane.

Jiang Baimian determined that Old Zhao and the others experienced temperatures ranging from -30°C to 6°C according to the information provided by the company and the information on Icefield she had gathered. It was available at all stages and was very detailed.

If it were already above zero degrees, how could it be considered an experiment to determine a human’s resistance to cold? As a former researcher, Jiang Baimian felt that the experimental goal didn’t match the experimental plan. She suspected that the data the company really wanted wasn’t on cold resistance.

Jiang Baimian deliberated and asked, “What were the tests done during the physical examination?”

Old Zhao seriously recalled for a moment. “We were checked everywhere-head, neck, chest, stomach, limbs…”

I can’t tell what data they wanted to gather… Long Yuehong muttered inwardly. “What left the deepest impression on you?” Shang Jianyao’s focus was always wrong.

“Aren’t all inspections the same?” Old Zhao didn’t quite understand the question. “I only remember that the simple rooms were relatively cold.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped in satisfaction. He seemed to receive the answer of what left the deepest impression, the cold. Old Zhao was clearly stunned by his applause. The village chief beside him was also confused.

Jiang Baimian secretly sighed and helped explain. “This colleague of mine likes to joke, say things that others can’t understand, and make strange actions.”

“Oh…” Old Zhao came to a realization. “There was such a person among the volunteers back then.”

“Could he be my brother from different parents? What happened to him later?” Shang Jianyao asked anxiously.

Old Zheng shook his head. “I don’t know; he’s from another settlement. He was alright in the beginning, but he later showed a side that liked to joke. Later, the experiment ended, and I returned to the village. I’m not sure where he went.”

“Some people only reveal their true selves when they are familiar with others,” Shang Jianyao said in a tone of ‘I can understand very

well.’

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and remembered this matter. She then asked, “How many people returned alive from that experiment?”

Old Zhao counted with his fingers. “Sixty to seventy percent. The in-charge said that very few people died in this experiment. If it weren’t for the fact that many volunteers were recruited from various settlements and that their bodies seemed fine on the surface but weak inside, they wouldn’t have had 30 to 40% deaths. Sigh, most of the ones who lived had all kinds of frostbite. Some developed brain problems from the cold and went crazy.”

Mental problems due to the cold? Jiang Baimian had never done such experiments, nor had she read the corresponding report. She wasn’t sure if this was normal.

She turned to look at Genava.

The robed Genava shook his head, indicating that he didn’t have the corresponding knowledge in his database.

Jiang Baimian didn’t ask any further. First, acting too curious with an attempt to dig deeper made it easy to arouse suspicion. Second, Old Zhao clearly didn’t know much. He should’ve said almost everything he could remember.

“It’s so tough being a volunteer. Back in the day, I…” Shang Jianyao’s act of sharing his past was forcefully stopped.

Jiang Baimian interrupted him. “Alright, let’s go in and choose supplies.”

The village chief was very tactful and immediately said to Old Zhao, “Open the door. I’ll lead our guests in.”

When Old Zhao opened the warehouse door, Jiang Baimian casually asked the village chief about the previous topic. “Was the company’s scientific team that went to Icefield last, last week large?”

“Nope,” the village chief replied casually. “Just five to six cars and about 20 people. Half of them seemed to be volunteers.”

With that said, the village chief smiled awkwardly. “Compared to you guys, it’s quite large.” Jiang Baimian smiled and changed the topic. “How many days did they stay in the village?”

“Three to four days. Yes, slightly less than four days.” The more the village chief recalled, the more certain he became.

At this moment, the warehouse door opened. He led the Old Task Force inside.

Jiang Baimian tersely grunted. “They must’ve replenished their supplies for this trip to Icefield, right?”

“It was alright. Half of their cars were filled with all kinds of machines-uh, apparatuses.” The village chief shook his head.

Jiang Baimian immediately revealed a curious expression. “What cars did they drive? How did they fit in so many apparatuses?”

“Just ordinary SUVs. The trunks had been modified,” replied the village chief casually.

Jiang Baimian then raised a few questions about the scientific research team that didn’t seem confidential in nature and obtained satisfactory answers. The Old Task Force then began to choose supplies according to their needs.

After the corresponding supplies were moved out of the warehouse and into their jeep, Jiang Baimian browsed through the bill given by the village chief and used her electronic card to pay with her contribution points.

There was still some time before noon. Jiang Baimian led Shang Jianyao and the others into Cliff Village for a walk.

Most of the villagers were busy in the fields. A few stayed at home, doing needlework while watching their children or handling different matters in the public office.

They became very enthusiastic seeing the Old Task Force. From time to time, villagers wanted to invite Shang Jianyao and the others to their homes as guests.

An old lady—who was older than the village chief-was originally suntanning by the window. Upon seeing the Old Task Force pass by, she quickly stood up, walked out the door, and shouted, “Young lads, young lasses, come to my house for lunch!” Before Jiang Baimian could respond, Shang Jianyao took the initiative to say, “We can’t help you join the company!” The old lady was first stunned before she smiled. “I’m already old. How would I dare to think about entering the company? I’m just happy to see the company’s personnel. If it weren’t for the company taking us in and giving us a way out, how could I have lived to this age and even have several children? I don’t even have to be out in the fields anymore!”

Jiang Baimian took a step to the side and shielded Shang Jianyao. She smiled and said, “We appreciate your kindness, but we have something else to do at noon.”

She was embarrassed to freeload on their food when she saw that this family clearly wasn’t as wealthy as the village chief.

The old lady waved her hand regretfully. “You have to come to my house for dinner if there’s a chance in the future!” Jiang Baimian and the others waved their hands in response.

After walking a little further away, Long Yuehong sighed with emotion. “The company is really respected and welcomed here…”

If it were in the past, he would definitely be proud of his identity as a Pangu Biology employee. But now, he felt nervous and melancholic just thinking about it.

Jiang Baimian nodded. “Regardless of the goal, the company has done many beneficial things for settlements like Cliff Village. It has brought concrete benefits and clear hope.”

“That’s right.” Bai Chen agreed.

The Old Task Force had specially detoured to Moat Town and realized that it had changed a lot. It was a little prosperous.

The honest Genava analyzed the situation. “This might be because the Chaotic Era and the early years of the New Calendar are like nightmares to most settlements. It’s like they lived in hell.”

Only when there was a comparison would there be gratitude.

Old Ge, there’s no need for you to make it sound so deep at a time like this… Jiang Baimian couldn’t help but criticize inwardly.

After circling around the area, the Old Task Force returned to the public office. They planned on having lunch by ordering food delivered to their room after resting for a while.

Long Yuehong stood by the window and looked at the distant mountain stream and bridge. He asked in concern, “Team Leader, what should we do next? Track that scientific research team in Icefield? But they’ve been gone for more than two weeks. Any traces they left behind will most likely be swallowed by the snow.” Jiang Baimian was sitting by her bed, stretching her legs and stretching her muscles.

Upon hearing Long Yuehong’s question, she smiled and said, “We’ll rest here for a week.”

“A week?” Long Yuehong and Bai Chen were clearly a little surprised.

Isn’t this too long a break?

Shang Jianyao came to a realization. “You want me to get all the secrets of Room 506’s owner as soon as possible?”

“That’s one reason.” Jiang Baimian smiled. “The other reason is that I’ve just calculated that with the number of people in the scientific research team and the supplies they carried, they can’t stay in Icefield for a full month. Although the deaths of the volunteers will reduce the food consumption, petrol remains a fixed expenditure. Such scientific research teams will definitely reserve sufficient supplies for their return journey to prevent any accidents. In other words, they will return to Cliff Village in about a week to replenish their supplies. “It’s indeed very difficult to track them in Icefield, but we can wait for them here.”

Clap! Clap! Clap! Shang Jianyao clapped

Long Yuehong finally understood the meaning of his team leader’s previous questions.

Some seemingly unimportant details could actually play such a major role!

He was just about to say something when he suddenly saw a convoy approaching from the distance on the other side of the highway bridge opposite Cliff Village.

Long Yuehong frowned and said to his companions, “A convoy has come to Cliff Village, but they don’t look like they come from the company. The cars are all in derelict conditions.”