Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 856: “Probe”

After lunch and returning to the hotel, Long Yuehong sighed with emotion. “From the looks of it, the Subhuti figurine might really have ended up in Gitis’s hands. If we submit this clue to the Hunter’s Guild, I wonder how much of the bounty we can exchange for…”

“Wait.” The honest Genava interrupted Long Yuehong. “We worked hard to earn the bounty to pay off the money we owe Gitis. At the same time, we bought Eman and Frances’s answers from her. Now, the way to earn the bounty is to sell Gitis’s secret to the Hunter’s Guild. Isn’t there some logical error in this matter?”

“Indeed.” Shang Jianyao agreed deeply. “We can’t betray Gitis to pay her.”

Bai Chen helped Long Yuehong say, “In the Old World’s entertainment, there are many such matters, but their goal was to renege on their debt.”

“That’s not our style!” Shang Jianyao said righteously.

Jiang Baimian nodded. “It’s mainly because Gitis is relatively friendly to us and keeps her promise during the transactions…”

“She even allowed us to pay later!” Shang Jianyao added.

“In short, I can’t bear to betray Gitis’s secret.” Jiang Baimian rolled her eyes at Shang Jianyao. “Besides, we can’t be completely sure at the moment.”

Long Yuehong thought so too and suggested, “Why don’t we directly find Gitis and communicate with her about this? If the Subhuti figurine has truly landed in her hands, we can promise not to divulge this secret on the spot. The condition is that the debt will be written off while we have the two pieces of information thrown in.”

This was a win-win situation.

“Wait.” Shang Jianyao mimicked Genava. “Isn’t your solution simply to find Gitis and tell her that we know her secret? If she doesn’t waive our debt and gives us information, we’ll hand that secret to the Hunter’s Guild?”

Long Yuehong was rendered speechless.

Shang Jianyao only changed his words slightly and adjusted the sequence before tearing apart the apparent warmth and revealing its true essence: Extortion!

“I-I didn’t mean that…” Long Yuehong wanted to express that he really had no intention of extorting Gitis, but he couldn’t find the right words to explain himself.

It couldn’t be said that it was to facilitate a win-win situation, right? Although he did think so.

Jiang Baimian thought for a few seconds and said, “Gitis is on night duty tonight. We’ll find her when the time comes to purchase the information. Then, Hey can directly ‘make friends’ with her to confirm if the Subhuti figurine is in her hands.

“If we make a mistake in our judgment, we’ll find other clues. If we guess correctly, we’ll get the entire picture before making a decision. Yes, if Gitis doesn’t mention it herself, we definitely can’t say that we’re exchanging our secrecy for money.”

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao agreed without hesitation.

In the evening, Gitis—whose honey-colored hair was casually tied up—entered the Fire & Iron Hotel and completed the handover with her colleague.

The Old Task Force didn’t go to her immediately and instead leisurely went out to fill their stomachs. They waited until it was late at night and when there were no people coming and going in the lobby before walking to the front desk.

Gitis wiped away her dazed expression. “What’s the matter?”

Jiang Baimian smiled. “I want to get more information from you.”

“You still owe me two Grand Knight gold coins,” Gitis reminded them.

She wasn’t distracted at all.

Shang Jianyao immediately replied, “Didn’t we agree on three days? It’s only been a day. Besides, we’ve already cooperated twice and have shown a trustworthy side to each other. In a sense, we’re equivalent to friends…”

As long as Shang Jianyao was given a chance to speak and as long as there was indeed something to communicate about, he could complete Thought Implantation without leaving any traces, making it impossible to guard against him.

Gitis didn’t seem to expect the Old Task Force to attack her suddenly. Her eyes glazed over for a moment. “Indeed. What information do you want this time?”

Jiang Baimian tried her best to make her smile friendly and gentle. “We want to know if the Subhuti figurine is with you.”

Gitis’s pupils dilated as if a basin of ice water had been poured over her head. She looked like she was about to escape the effects of Thought Implantation.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao—who was already prepared—shouted, “We mean no harm!”

Coupled with the Thought Implantation effects from before, Gitis relaxed. She then blurted out, “How do you know?”

Jiang Baimian didn’t answer immediately and consoled her with a smile. “There’s no need to be nervous. If we really wanted to harm you with this matter, Ruin Hunters would be the ones looking for you now.”

Without giving Gitis a chance to speak, Jiang Baimian continued, “Our team has relatively rich experience. We’ve seen the abilities of the Subhuti domain like Heavenly Eyes, Destiny Connection, and Mind Connection. We also know what the Subhuti figurine might involve.

“When you showed your abilities and gave us information without any scruples, you should’ve known that we would suspect you sooner or later. Now, our suspicions have been confirmed.”

A look of enlightenment gradually appeared on Gitis’s face.

Jiang Baimian curiously asked, “Do you think it’s impossible for us to know the abilities brought about by the Subhuti figurine and make the corresponding connections, or is there a reason that compels you to do so?”

This was her greatest confusion. Gitis acted as if she didn’t know much about Awakened.

This time, Gitis didn’t daydream again. She fell silent for a few seconds before saying, “On the one hand, I did underestimate you. On the other hand, I have to make the best use of my time to earn money.”

“Why the hurry?” Shang Jianyao asked curiously.

Gitis’s eyes lost focus. After a few seconds, she replied, “In the past six months, I’ve begun to sense the figurine’s power weakening. It might lose all its magical powers in another year or two or even shorter.”

“That’s normal,” Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao said in unison.

It was abnormal to be able to use it frequently for nearly three years!

Gitis continued, “I have to save up enough money for my parents’ treatment and the money to buy the latest genetic drugs before the figurine loses all its power and deal with the aftermath…”

That’s why she’s a little anxious to exchange her abilities for money…?Jiang Baimian nodded and said, “Is the negative effect of the figurine making you daydream often?”

“No, it’s because I also control several people at the same time. I have to ensure that they don’t show any abnormalities in their daily lives. Furthermore, I also use Heavenly Eyes to gather real-time information on different places in Gesterbourg from time to time.” Gitis ‘sensed’ that the Old Task Force really didn’t have any ill intentions and replied in relatively great detail.

“Synchronized control…” The experienced Shang Jianyao asked excitedly, “Divine Mirror Connection and Destiny Connection?”

Divine Mirror Connection could allow one’s consciousness to split into many, but it wouldn’t create an independent consciousness. Destiny Connection could see the past of all living beings and use one’s consciousness to forcefully occupy a human’s body. It was equivalent to possession or parasitism.

A combination of the two meant that they could control multiple humans at the same time.

DiMarco was an example.

Gitis was stunned for a moment before she smiled bitterly. “You sure know these abilities well.”

Jiang Baimian didn’t continue the topic for the time being and asked, “How did you obtain that Subhuti figurine?”

Gitis’s eyes showed confusion for a few seconds before she said, “The monk hadn’t been in good health since he came to Gesterbourg. Once, he came to my house to solicit food. I found him very pitiful and gave him some leftovers. I also asked where he usually stayed and occasionally sent him some food and clothes. However, my family’s situation wasn’t too good to begin with, so I rarely did so.

“What I didn’t expect was that he actually came to my house one night. He thanked me for my hospitality and wanted to give me the figurine. Back then, I didn’t know that the figurine was so magical and felt that it was nothing, so I took it.

“The moment I received the figurine, I immediately fell into a strange state and knew what power it hid. The monk disappeared, and the next day, he was discovered dead in the factory area…” As Gitis spoke, she bent down and picked up the canvas backpack by her feet.

This was the one she usually carried.

Gitis then took out a wooden figurine from her backpack.

It was brown and about 50 centimeters tall. It simultaneously had a benevolent expression and a bitter expression, identical to the Hunter’s Guild’s mission description.

Jiang Baimian asked in surprise, “You can use its power without directly coming into contact with the figurine?”

The figurine was actually in her backpack!

Jiang Baimian thought that it was hidden in the cabinet at the front desk for Gitis’s convenience. She would open the cabinet slightly and touch its surface when she needed it.

“Yes, after I touch it with my hands first, I can borrow its abilities as long as it’s within a certain range. I will also be affected by it.” Gitis didn’t specify how large the range was.

Shang Jianyao praised sincerely, “Magical!”