Embers Ad Infinitum

Kanna didn’t specify how she would stall the Virtual World’s owner, and it wasn’t Jiang Baimian’s place to ask. After all, it might involve the other party’s secrets.

She chose to trust this Mind Corridor-level Awakened, and she chose to trust Pangu Biology—which had sent them to Kanna.

At the very least, the company believes that Kanna can resist the Virtual World’s owner. Perhaps her abilities restrain the other party to a certain level… Jiang Baimian said to herself.

It was obvious that the Awakened in charge of protecting Avia and Marcus were most likely not at the Mind Corridor level—they only had the Virtual World ability. Otherwise, with Avia and Marcus’s daily arrangements, they definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it alone. On the one hand, it took effort and energy. On the other hand, their abilities had a limited range. They couldn’t directly affect the entire city or even an entire zone.

Jiang Baimian put herself in the shoes of the Mirror Church’s higher-ups and believed that three to five Mind Corridor-level Awakened that had grasped the power of Virtual World would take turns guarding Marcus and Avia. Otherwise, it would be unrealistic for a Mind Corridor-level Awakened to protect Avia or Marcus 24/7 without rest.

It might not be a problem to do it for a week or even a month for short periods, but the mission’s time limit was definitely on the order of decades. Any human—as long as they weren’t Kalendarium—couldn’t persist at such high intensities.

Furthermore, if they had already entered the Mind Corridor and had Virtual World, they could be considered powerhouses anywhere in the Ashlands and could be considered an upper-echelon member. They should be enjoying themselves instead of toiling all year round without rest until death. Nobody was willing to do so.

Until death here could either refer to the death of the Virtual World’s owner or Avia and Marcus’s death.

Therefore, Jiang Baimian knew that she couldn’t simply designate the known price of claustrophobia on Avia’s protectors. Who knew if it was the same Mind Corridor-level Awakened!?

For different Awakened, the price might not be the same even if one or two of their abilities were the same. Unless the Old Task Force was indeed lucky, it happened to be the Mind Corridor-level Awakened from before that was in charge of protecting Avia today, and they could use the Bangle of Blindness to think of a way to scare the other party away, they would still have to mostly rely on Kanna’s help.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao applauded Kanna.

Kanna glanced at him. “Why are you clapping?”

“You said it very well,” Shang Jianyao replied sincerely. “Besides, I think we’re friends now.”

Kanna smiled and walked to the door. “Make haste. If the riot at the Senate ends, we will be a joke if we still haven’t reached Round Hill Street.”

14 Round Hill Street was where Avia lived.

Jiang Baimian chased after her and asked cautiously, “Are you going over yourself, or are you taking our car?”

Kanna asked in amusement, “Do you want me to run over by myself? I can barely make myself float, but I can’t fly.”

She spoke warmly and didn’t put on any airs. She didn’t look like a Mind Corridor-level Awakened at all. She was closer to an elder sister only a few years older than the Old Task Force members.

Uh… Her basic ability is to interfere with matter and can affect the air and her body to some extent? Jiang Baimian instantly deduced this important information from Kanna’s words.

She was more surprised that Kanna made such a casual mention of it. There was no need to explain this, even if both parties were Pangu Biology employees.

Jiang Baimian had no choice but to suspect that this was either Kanna’s personality or a manifestation of her price.

“Haha, it’s been a long time since I had such a good chat. In First City, there are many things I can’t share with the people around me. The risk is too great,” added Kanna.

There’s no need to explain. Any explanation is just a cover… Even Long Yuehong—who was slow in this regard—sensed something amiss.

“That’s right. It’s really depressing not having anyone to share it with.” Shang Jianyao shared the same feelings.

The quintet quickly left the garden villa at 15 Emperor Street and got into the Old Task Force’s military-green jeep.

In order to show her respect, Jiang Baimian gave the passenger seat to Kanna and squeezed Shang Jianyao into the middle of the backseat.

As the car started and drove toward Round Hill Street, Jiang Baimian’s heart palpitated as she asked, “Madam Kanna, your father seems to have a lot of say in First City’s medical and biological fields?”

As the military’s representative in these areas, Kanna’s father, Meyers, had long become an Elder.

“Yes.” Kanna didn’t deny it.

Jiang Baimian immediately asked, “Then, do you know what the military’s biochemical experiment in—uh, a certain town in North Anheford is?”

Kanna laughed. “The company asked me about it, but I’m not too sure either. I only heard my father mention it once or twice, and it seems to be related to attempting to direct a mutation.”

This is indeed one of the most important cutting-edge projects in the biological domain… Jiang Baimian didn’t continue the topic. As she paid attention to the surrounding buildings and the checkpoints that were no longer strict but very solemn, she casually asked, “Madam Kanna, how did you Awaken naturally?”

“Just like that. I suddenly entered Star Cluster Hall when I was sleeping one day,” replied Kanna in a relaxed tone. She then smiled. “However, I’m not sure if it’s really a natural Awakening. Maybe the company added certain elements to our daily lives for experiments like doing strange eye exercises and radio workouts.”

She did find this very strange.

Shang Jianyao agreed. “Some religions have categorized them as their rituals.”

According to this logic, Awakened per capita in certain countries in the Old World would be high? Sigh, even if eye exercises and radio workouts really help the Awakening to a certain extent, the successful cases definitely don’t include me… It’s been so many years, but I haven’t Awakened… Jiang Baimian sighed inwardly.

Long Yuehong didn’t believe that eye exercises and radio workouts were of any help to Awakening. They weren’t of much use in their jobs, much less Awakening.

He had done them growing up, but his height remained ordinary. It was only through genetic enhancement that he didn’t become short-sighted!

Bai Chen—who was driving the jeep—stared ahead, maintaining a moderate speed so as not to attract suspicion.

As Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Shang Jianyao conversed with Kanna, she revealed a thoughtful expression.

Before long, the car drove into Round Hill Street and approached Unit 14—a building with classic architecture.

Jiang Baimian and the others’ expressions turned serious as they looked at the houses—which were propped up by stone pillars, had green vines coiled around them, and had abnormally exaggerated doors.

At this moment, Kanna said, “Stop the car first.”

Bai Chen didn’t ask why. She reduced the car’s speed and parked the jeep by the roadside.

After Kanna pushed open the door, she turned around and said to the Old Task Force members, “Watch for my signal later. If I raise my right thumb, go in and find Avia. If I raise my left index finger and middle finger, think of a way to cooperate with me to deal with the Virtual World’s owner.”

“Alright.” Jiang Baimian didn’t waste her breath.

They then watched Kanna walk toward Avia’s house openly without hiding her existence.

“Is this a one-on-one challenge?” Shang Jianyao was a little excited.

“Ignore this for now. Little Red, Little White, equip the military exoskeletons,” Jiang Baimian ordered.

Just as she said that, she suddenly saw a window open on the third floor of Avia’s classic-looking villa.

Behind the window was an old lady in a black beanie. She still wore a dark robe despite it being summer. She had blue eyes and very light makeup. Her clothes and accessories were rather exquisite.

The moment she saw Kanna, the old lady smiled and raised her right hand to greet her.

Kanna smiled back, and then her body suddenly became lighter. Lifted by the wind, she ‘walked’ toward the window.

The old lady turned her body and asked in a friendly manner, “Do you want coffee or tea?”

“I prefer tea. Don’t put any strange things like lemons or syrup.” Kanna first landed by the window before drifting into the room and finding an armchair to sit in.

The old lady immediately instructed the servants to prepare tea and desserts. She then sat in the reclining chair opposite Kanna and chatted with her.

They acted like good friends who had known each other for a long time.

During this process, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Shang Jianyao felt their surroundings turn clear. They seemed to have finally surfaced from the water.

This made them suspect that the old lady was the Mind Corridor-level Awakened protecting Avia.

Long Yuehong was wearing a military exoskeleton outside the jeep. Upon seeing this, he—who imagined that a huge battle would erupt—widened his eyes and blurted out, “Actually, we’ve already infiltrated the Mirror Church? This Virtual World owner is from the company?”

Is that why she had a good chat with Madam Kanna and stopped maintaining the Virtual World?

Jiang Baimian turned around and looked at Shang Jianyao. “Look at her. She made ‘friends’ without doing anything!”

According to Kanna’s previous words, she suspected that the current situation was the result of a certain ability.

Shang Jianyao replied with a yearning expression, “I don’t really understand, but I think it’s very strong.”

At this moment, Kanna raised her right arm and secretly gave a thumbs up while adjusting her sitting posture.

Jiang Baimian and the others immediately tensed up.

It was up to them next.