Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 816 Ceningmis

There’s also the danger of a very serious Heartless infection there? Jiang Baimian’s eyelids twitched when she heard Smith.

Before this, she had neglected this problem.

There were two reasons for this. The first was that the captured Eighth Research Institute’s commissioner had clearly said that they had entered the city and had made preparations to be quarantined in advance to resolve the danger that the Heartless disease would sweep through the world again. The second was that the subsequent dangers in the cities that experienced the Heartless disease outbreak in the Chaotic Era mainly came from the Heartless’s attacks and their own kind’s strife, not the constant infection.

Therefore, Jiang Baimian understood the situation in the sense that there wouldn’t be much danger as long as they didn’t cross the Eighth Research Institute’s ‘isolation zone.’

Now, she realized that the situation didn’t seem like it.

A large number of Ruin Hunters later went, but they still couldn’t escape the Heartless disease’s threat.

As long as one enters, there’s a high chance of them being infected with the Heartless disease, regardless of whether they pass through the isolation zone? Or is the Eighth Research Institute actually isolating the entire area? But did the Eighth Research Institute not leave behind any obstacles that allowed the Ruin Hunters to pass through? As Jiang Baimian’s thoughts raced, she heard Shang Jianyao ask in confirmation, “Really?”

Smith nodded solemnly. “Although I’ve only heard of these things, many Ruin Hunters I know and those who have been there have indeed never returned. At least I’ve never encountered them again.”

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly. “Actually, I’ve been wondering about something: That city and the surrounding area have only been destroyed by the Heartless disease for about ten years. How does nobody know its exact location? If it could feed hundreds of thousands of residents, that faction had more or less transacted with the outside world and used their products to exchange for the necessary resources.”

It was already rather impressive to be able to ensure a basic food supply chain in such an area. Even if they had a large number of factories that could produce weapons, bullets, cloth, and other things, there was a high chance that they lacked the corresponding raw materials.

Even a faction like Pangu Biology–which was hidden deep underground and had already established an internal ecosystem-had to buy ores, oil, and other supplies from the outside world.

It was unlikely that the city could be like Pangu Biology or the Eighth Research Institute, which were famous for their secrecy. They had preserved their exact location very well. The fact that the Old Task Force of Shang Jianyao’s father could find them back then proved many things. Old He from End Year City also said that he had occasionally encountered people from that city more than ten years ago. Now, Jiang Baimian roughly knew the answer: After the news of the city’s destruction by the Heartless disease spread, almost everyone who knew its exact location rushed over in an attempt to take a share of the loot. In the end, only a few returned alive and didn’t dare to eye it any further.

Smith smiled awkwardly. “I once wanted to go over and get some supplies to sell, but I didn’t dare to do so after hearing those rumors. We usually don’t talk about that city, and we’re no longer the kind of people who have to worry about the next meal all the time and need to risk our lives to snatch supplies. Only by staying alive can we have more opportunities.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao applauded him.

Jiang Baimian asked about the exact situation before the city was destroyed and obtained a satisfactory answer. It was only then that they figured out the complete name of the target location: Ceningmis.

This was an ancient name that was somewhat different from the current Red River language. It meant the King’s Forest.

According to Smith, the forest there had long been seriously damaged due to Icefield’s southern expansion. Later, humans in the city and the surrounding area cultivated more farmlands and cut down a large number of trees. The forest then failed to live up to its

name.

The next morning, outside the icy ruins.

Long Yuehong sat in the backseat of the jeep and watched Shang Jianyao extend half of his body out the window before waving enthusiastically at Smith and the Rootless, who were heading south to return to the White Knights’ sphere of influence.

“Goodbye! We must meet again!” Shang Jianyao shouted, but he didn’t implant the corresponding thoughts. After he sat back in the driver’s seat, Long Yuehong said solemnly, “Are we still going to Ceningmis?”

It was so dangerous that there was a high chance they would be infected with the Heartless disease the moment they entered.

At this moment, snow started to flutter outside the window, but it wasn’t too heavy. The wind was also relatively gentle.

“Why not?” Shang Jianyao asked in response. “Since there’s still a large amount of hidden Heartless virus there and the possibility of it spreading, we can’t ignore it. Yes, when the time comes, we’ll get Old Ge to send the nuclear bomb in and detonate it remotely. With a boom, the apocalyptic crisis will be resolved.”

You make it sound so noble and righteous… I thought you would play the family card. After all, that’s where your father last appeared… Jiang Baimian deliberated for a moment and said to Long Yuehong and Bai Chen, “I thought about it for a long time yesterday and have some ideas. The most terrifying thing about the Heartless disease is the unknown. One doesn’t know how the disease is contracted or when the disease will act up.

“However, we already have a lot of understanding of the Heartless disease. We clearly know that it’s related to the New World. We have three speculations about the Heartless disease’s source: The first is a New World powerhouse. The second is a node that connects to the New World. The third is humanity’s faith in the Kalendarium and even some New World powerhouses. Then, where does the Heartless virus—which remains active in Ceningmis-originate?”

Genava didn’t snatch the chance to answer from the carbon-based humans and allowed Bai Chen to answer. “The third method can be ruled out. There are no longer any living humans to provide faith to, so there are only corpses and a small number of Heartless left.”

After so many years, it was very difficult for Heartless—who didn’t know how to carry out industrial production to maintain their original scale. Furthermore, although the climate in that area was relatively warm and arable, making it different from other places in Icefield, people could still freeze to death in winter.

Long Yuehong said, “The New World effect brought about by faith shouldn’t be able to create such a large-scale Heartless disease either. Ever since the mid to late Chaotic Era, there have been many places with faith. But apart from Ceningmis, we’ve never heard of any place suffering from such a serious outbreak.

“As for the New World’s powerhouses, I can’t find a reason why they had to destroy Ceningmis or even stay there all this time. They didn’t even let go of the Ruin Hunters who subsequently entered.”

Shang Jianyao smiled. “Maybe it’s something like Yama Tiger-he can’t return to reality, control his body, and do anything about it.”

“Now that you mention it, it does seem like it.” Long Yuehong nodded as he thought about it.

After Yama Tiger fell asleep, the human settlements on Lake Heart Island were also destroyed by the Heartless disease. Although not all of them contracted the Heartless disease, the rest didn’t last long under the continuous Heartless infection and the Heartless attacks.

As for the people who subsequently went to the island to explore, they would also be infected with the Heartless disease once they stayed longer than a certain limit.

“I think there’s still a difference.” Bai Chen voiced her opinion. “As Ruin Hunters, they definitely won’t want to explore any secrets after entering Ceningmis. Instead, they want to obtain supplies as soon as possible. Even if the Heartless interfere, they can fill their cars in a few hours, assuming the area hadn’t been plundered. To put it simply, they should be able to leave Ceningmis the next day. They won’t stay more than three days. It’s impossible for so many people to be unlucky enough to encounter the area where a New World powerhouse is sleeping, right?”

Jiang Baimian added, “The entire Ceningmis should be much larger than Lake Heart Island. If it’s only active in the periphery or even at the city’s edge, it might not be a problem even if one stays for more than three days.”

She meant that it was impossible to create a situation like that with a New World powerhouse.

Jiang Baimian then concluded, “Either a certain Kalendaria’s body of descent is sleeping there, the investigation back then created a mega New World node, or there a large number of New World nodes that are distributed across different parts of Ceningmis.”

“Why didn’t the Eighth Research Institute’s people get infected with the Heartless disease when they entered? They also claim that they didn’t find my father despite searching the entire city.” Shang Jianyao took this to heart. “Can’t they do more? This can save us a lot of time!”

He was filled with disappointment toward the Eighth Research Institute.

“Maybe the Eighth Research Institute has also grasped a way to eliminate New World nodes, but the effects aren’t permanent. When the Ruin Hunters rushed over, the New World nodes were already restored. It’s also possible that the Eighth Research Institute didn’t search the entire city and deliberately avoided the most dangerous area.” Genava voiced his analysis.

Long Yuehong nodded. “The Eighth Research Institute still has powerhouses from the New World like Professor Li, Vice President, and even the legendary darkness to provide protection. It shouldn’t be that easy to contract the Heartless disease.”

“We do too!” Shang Jianyao immediately took out the Life Angel necklace and lowered his hand. “The night is long; the Arbiter of Fate blesses thee!”

“…” Long Yuehong and the others were speechless.

Our background isn’t much worse than the Eighth Research Institute…

Shang Jianyao emphasized righteously, “Our mission to explore Ceningmis was approved by the company. We will definitely obtain Big Boss’s blessing.”

That might really make sense… Jiang Baimian muttered silently.

“When the time comes, I’ll hold the Life Angel necklace and enter Ceningmis with Old Ge to determine if the problem there is a New World node, a New World powerhouse, or the remains of a certain Kalendaria.” Shang Jianyao requested to be the vanguard.

Jiang Baimian fell silent for a moment before saying, “Alright.” She continued, “According to Smith’s description, it’s only a two to three-day drive between Ceningmis and here. We’ll go over now. Hey, you have to keep your mental state in tip-top condition.”

The time taken she was referring to was based on the speed cars could travel at in Icefield.