Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 556: Board of Directors

Jiang Baimian meant that the person in charge of Shang Jianyao’s second review was most likely a higher-ranking member of the company or a Mind Corridor-level Awakened with special abilities.

Of course, these two possibilities overlapped. They couldn’t rule out the possibility that someone was a high-ranking M1 and above, as well as being a Mind Corridor-level Awakened with special abilities.

Shang Jianyao didn’t mind. “In any case, there’s really something wrong with my mind.”

“...” Jiang Baimian seriously thought about the price she would choose if her Awakening experiment succeeded.

She didn’t discuss this topic any further because her goal was only to remind Shang Jianyao to be more vigilant. As long as there were no problems on principality, the company would definitely be very tolerant of a Mind Corridor-level Awakened.

At this moment, Long Yuehong nervously said to Jiang Baimian, “Team Leader, how should we respond to the review?”

Jiang Baimian smiled. “If anyone else in the company hears you say that, you will be fired today and exiled to the surface.”

Long Yuehong immediately felt uneasy.

“Then, what should we say?” Bai Chen took the initiative to resolve Long Yuehong’s embarrassment.

Jiang Baimian looked around and chuckled. “You should say: How are we to cooperate with the review?”

She cleared her throat and added, “After my efforts, the review of the three of us is limited to the Security Department. It will follow standard operating procedures. In other words, we won’t encounter any Awakened, nor will we encounter machines like lie detectors. Just respond according to the plan by... Uh, cooperating.”

Phew, Team Leader is really capable... Having a background and abilities really changes things... Long Yuehong clearly heaved a sigh of relief. “Alright.”

During this critical period before he left the Old Task Force and acquired the subsequent treatment, he didn’t want any problems arising from the review. Of course, he didn’t think there were many problems with himself.

When he counted them with his fingers, there were only four.

First, he helped Shang Jianyao hide his identity as an Awakened.

Second, he hid some matters related to Du Heng and Xiaochong.

Third, he didn’t report the scene Shang Jianyao had seen or heard from Yama Tiger.

Fourth, they hid the fact that Genava had actually joined the Old Task Force.

The first point had been exposed, and they were prepared to push the blame onto Shang Jianyao’s abilities. Long Yuehong was most worried that this was equivalent to deceiving the company. The punishment would be very serious if they were discovered.

Apart from this, he felt that Old Ge’s matter wouldn’t escape their notice if he encountered an Awakened with special abilities. The second and third problems weren’t a problem. After all, there were only a few corresponding memories. Unless the other party had an extremely clear goal, it would be difficult for them to find such details that hadn’t appeared many times even if they could flip through memories.

To put it simply, although this definitely couldn’t be described as searching for a needle in a haystack, it was equivalent to finding a specific island in the vast sea. Furthermore, they didn’t know what characteristics this island had.

As for the military exoskeletons, the Old Task Force planned on letting it be known.

Upon seeing Bai Chen and Long Yuehong nod slightly, Jiang Baimian reminded them, “If things don’t work out, come clean immediately. Don’t worry about Hey and me.”

She meant that she had a background and that Shang Jianyao had strength. Even if they were punished for this, it definitely wouldn’t be anything serious.

After Long Yuehong and Bai Chen agreed, Shang Jianyao took the initiative to talk about last night’s encounter and asked, “How should I explore next?”

“Woah, haven’t you always been very opinionated?” Jiang Baimian teased.

Shang Jianyao said seriously, “We have to use our collective intelligence. The 13 of us can simulate a discussion between the Kalendarium.”

Thirteen people... Long Yuehong was stunned for a moment.

“Thirteen people?” Bai Chen didn’t hide her confusion.

Shang Jianyao pointed at himself. “We have ten now.”

Jiang Baimian raised her hand to press the corners of her mouth and sighed. “First, we have to analyze whether the fear or psychological trauma represented by this scene comes from before or after the room owner entered the Mind Corridor.”

“Why can’t it be a dream?” Just as Bai Chen said that, she came to a realization. “Yes, apart from Awakened that have already entered the New World or the legendary Kalendarium, the dream shown by a room can’t be maintained for long. Shang Jianyao can come to a conclusion by entering again tonight to see if there are any changes.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao applauded.

Jiang Baimian was even more gratified. “Little White, you’re becoming more and more proactive in our discussions. You’re also very clear-headed.”

She continued, “Actually, even the Awakened who have entered the New World should have their dreams retain the easily changing characteristic. This is different from the repeated manifestations of psychological trauma. As for the Kalendarium, they are another type of creature. We aren’t able to do any analysis at present, but Shang Jianyao’s luck shouldn’t be that bad to have the first room end up as a Kalendaria’s dream.”

“That’s right, that’s right. I’m not Little Red.” Shang Jianyao was very confident about this.

Long Yuehong tried to retort, but he lacked confidence. His current understanding was that his luck was sometimes good and sometimes bad. When it was good, he could survive a near-fatal injury. Otherwise, he could encounter anything bad.

But most of the time, his luck was still at a normal level!

Shang Jianyao seemed to have changed his personality and changed the topic. “According to my analysis, the danger represented by that scene isn’t too great.”

“Yes.” Jiang Baimian nodded. “If the room’s owner only explored the ruins and encountered so many Heartless after entering the Mind Corridor, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to think of a way to escape even if they can’t eliminate them. It’s unlikely that they will leave behind psychological trauma. Unless... Unless they encountered an extremely terrifying object in this exploration and later on. But if that’s the case, their psychological trauma shouldn’t have retained the early scenes. Think about it—is your fear of certain things focused on the actual deal? Are the trivial details before and after not that clear?”

“Yes.” Long Yuehong thought for a moment and gave an affirmative answer. When he now recalled his injury, he only remembered his battle with Asus and Christina. He no longer had any impression of the others he encountered along the way.

Bai Chen fell silent for a moment before nodding.

Jiang Baimian continued, “That’s how memories are. The psychological trauma will definitely be more obvious. The scene it shows will definitely be something very terrifying back then, just like the situation in Room 1215.”

“I don’t sense any other danger.” Shang Jianyao stroked his chin, indirectly confirming Jiang Baimian’s words. He then added in a very showy manner, “Since that scene represents a trauma before the room owner entered the Mind Corridor, with their strength back then, they most likely escaped danger by hiding and moving without considering their companions. I plan on imitating them.”

At this point, Shang Jianyao questioned himself. “We’re all Mind Corridor-level Awakened. Can’t we be bolder? We’ll deal with whatever comes our way. If we kill those Heartless, we should be able to clear the mental trauma.”

As the Shang Jianyaos argued, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen’s expressions were relatively normal. This was because such things had happened more than once on their way back to Pangu Biology.

After the Shang Jianyaos finished arguing, Jiang Baimian voiced her thoughts. “The number of Heartless in that scene might very well be related to the room owner’s mental fortitude to a certain extent. After all, it’s unlikely that they can count the number of Heartless they encountered back then and could only conjure them by relying on their ‘senses.’ In other words, you won’t be able to eliminate all the Heartless until this psychological trauma’s corresponding psyche is exhausted.

“Your mental strength is definitely much weaker than the room owner’s. In terms of probability, the chances of you encountering a newly advanced rookie like yourself are almost zero. Therefore, you might not be on par even if it’s only a psychological trauma.”

More importantly, there was no way to eliminate a batch today and another batch tomorrow. If one could recover, so could the other party.

Shang Jianyao agreed with this judgment. “It’s better to hide and move. I’ll try my best to fire as little as possible to prevent attracting more Heartless.”

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly and said, “From the current situation, this scene is relatively suitable for the current you. It’s better than being strange, mysterious, or suspenseful.”

After discussing this matter, the four Old Task Force members went out one after another at 2 p.m. and headed to the designated location for review.

Shang Jianyao first met Mei Shou’an at the underground building’s third floor’s C-14 project team. He then took the elevator to the fifth floor under the other party’s guidance.

This floor came under the Administrative Zone.

It was only then that Mei Shou’an turned his head to Shang Jianyao and said, “Director Su Yu is in charge of the second review.”

Shang Jianyao was no stranger to this name; he often heard it on Newspoint.

There were a total of five board directors. They were Ji Ze, Lin Yang, Huang Renhui, Su Yu, and Li Lingyun.

Among them, Ji Ze was the vice-president ranked first and took on overall responsibility on behalf of Big Boss. Lin Yang was the vice-president in charge of all the production departments. Huang Renhui was the chief scientist and the decision-maker of the research system. Li Lingyun was another vice-president who was in charge of logistics, including supplies allocation, employee entertainment, and so on. Su Yu was in charge of foreign matters and was the immediate superior of the Security Department’s minister.

Of course, if he wanted to command the Security Department’s operations, he had to discuss it with the Board of Directors and obtain authorization. He couldn’t do whatever he wanted.