Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao exchanged a look, then Jiang Baimian considered her words and said:
“Of course, we would be delighted to have helpers.
“When the time comes, you can explore your areas, and we can explore ours. We can then communicate and share any gains.”
She wasn't sure what kind of accidents they would encounter in Icefield City. Having the "Salvation Army" send strong individuals to participate and share the risks was indeed a good thing. Moreover, when investigating the Buddhist holy land, the "Old Task Force" hoped to obtain the truth, not to acquire any items. Furthermore, the relevant truths didn't necessarily have to be kept secret.
If there wasn't a major conflict of interest, cooperation was a viable direction.
Committee Member Huang nodded:
“I understand your meaning.
“We still need to have some internal discussions about what measures to take next.”
As he spoke, he took a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a lighter, as if to help him think.
Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao didn't disturb him. They opened the door and walked out.
After retrieving their weapons and getting into the jeep, Shang Jianyao said very enthusiastically to Ding Ling:
“Committee Member Huang has something to tell Director Hong, let's go to the immigration office now.”
Why does it always feel like this guy's EQ is catching up to Old Ge? Or rather, the more honest he is, the more annoying he becomes? Jiang Baimian muttered to herself, without speaking.
Ding Ling asked in confusion:
“What is it?”
“He said that Director Hong giving us a pass was nonsense! This time, it's lightly brushed over as an exception, and in the future, even if it's for the sake of the children, he needs to pay attention to the way he does things and not violate regulations." Shang Jianyao's ability to summarize was quite good.
The only problem was that the source of Hong Guangming's reprimand was the "Old Task Force," and he acted as if he wasn't a member of the team.
Ding Ling was silent for a few seconds, then said:
“There’s no need for you to convey that. I’ll find an opportunity to say it.”
In a more appropriate manner and in more appropriate language… Jiang Baimian supplemented her in her heart.
People need face, and trees need bark. It's perfectly understandable.
Seeming afraid that Shang Jianyao, an outsider whose behavior was abnormal, would disagree, Ding Ling looked ahead and sighed:
"Several of Hong Grandpa's children died in the Great Expansion, Great Construction, and Great Salvation during the early New Era. This last one is his only child he had in middle age, and he treasures him very much.
“He might be a bit spoiled. His youngest son doesn't like to work and doesn't want to go to a hard job. That's nothing. Hong Grandpa can still arrange a good job for him, but he doesn't know when he got mixed up with the children of several committee members, and he's always drinking red wine produced in the 'First City' manor, using the latest electronic products imported by the 'Orange' company, and driving high-end cars from 'United Industries.' How can his level and position afford to enjoy these?”
Shang Jianyao nodded solemnly:
“I think it's necessary for me to talk to these people and tell them to endure hardship first and enjoy life later, to purify their ideals.”
Good heavens, is he planning to directly perform "thought guidance"? Jiang Baimian secretly "tsk"-ed.
Ding Ling couldn't understand where Shang Jianyao got such a strong sense of responsibility and initiative. It had nothing to do with him.
“Uh.” She pondered for a moment and said, “Pursuing a better life is human nature. When they get older and have a sense of responsibility, they should get better.”
Ding Ling was practically saying, "We'll handle our own affairs, so you don't need to worry about it."
“Alright.” Shang Jianyao looked disappointed.
…………
Inside the "Ashen Earth Hotel," Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Genaeva took turns guarding the window, monitoring their jeep within sight.
“I wonder when the team leader and the others will be back…” Long Yuehong replaced Bai Chen and looked out the window, muttering to himself in a low voice.
It was summer, and the hotel didn't have air conditioning, an industrial product that wasted energy. He felt that standing by the window and catching the breeze was more comfortable than staying deep in the room, surrounded by the sweltering heat.
While casually scanning his gaze, Long Yuehong suddenly saw a strange person.
He was wearing a "Salvation Army" black uniform that had been washed to the point of fading, his body was slightly leaning forward, and he had a gray-white deep aluminum pot on his head, only revealing the area below his nose.
That group of lunatics? Long Yuehong quickly recalled the similar people he had encountered when he first entered the city and Ding Ling's evaluation.
What he was wondering now was why there was such a lunatic in the "Ashen Earth Hotel."
“Xiao, Bai, Old Ge, situation.” Long Yuehong quickly turned around and summoned his companions.
He was afraid that he would miss something if he relied on himself alone.
As Bai Chen and Genaeva walked to the window, Long Yuehong noticed that the lunatic with the aluminum pot on his head was moving quite slowly, and this seemed to be because he could only see the area around his feet—this person's aluminum pot was larger and deeper than the ones the "Old Task Force" had encountered before.
As he moved forward, the person with the aluminum pot came to the "Old Task Force's" jeep.
Clang!
He bumped into it headfirst without any warning, and the whole person sat down on the ground in a daze.
Uh… For some reason, certain things called touch-and-go scams from the entertainment materials of the Old World suddenly appeared in Long Yuehong's mind.
“Should we go take a look?” Long Yuehong saw that the person wearing the aluminum pot hadn't gotten up for a while and asked Bai Chen with some concern.
Bai Chen thought for a few seconds and said:
“We can.”
She turned to Genaeva and said:
“Old Ge, you stay here and help us monitor the surrounding situation.”
“Okay.” Genaeva was definitely a trustworthy partner in this regard.
After receiving a reply, Bai Chen grabbed the window frame with both hands and flipped out. Relying on the pipes and protrusions outside, she landed on the ground in a few simple movements.
Since having the "Gun Talent" genetic modification project done, her reaction, judgment, and coordination had improved greatly. Even in non-specialized free climbing of buildings, she performed well.
Moreover, it was only the third floor.
Long Yuehong, who wasn't wearing a military exoskeleton device, followed Bai Chen rather tremulously and also "descended quickly" to the outside of the first floor.
His movements were relatively stiff and not so natural.
Bai Chen turned around, saw this scene, and nodded slightly:
“I was still thinking of giving you a hand.”
“It's not like it's something too difficult.” Long Yuehong unconsciously sucked in his stomach and straightened his chest.
Bai Chen didn't say much. She turned around and walked towards her team's jeep.
The person wearing the gray-white aluminum pot was still sitting there, not getting up, giving the impression that the collision had given him a concussion.
Long Yuehong squatted down with some concern and asked:
“How are you? Are you alright?”
The man didn't answer him.
Long Yuehong tilted his head to the side, looked at Bai Chen, pointed at the aluminum pot, and used body language to ask if he should take it off to see the target's condition.
Bai Chen nodded slightly, indicating that it was okay.
She always felt that this group of people, whom Ding Ling called lunatics, might be hiding some secrets and weren't as absurd and comical as they appeared.
Although the "Old Task Force" had no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of the "Salvation Army," it was necessary to be wary of others.
Long Yuehong didn't hesitate any longer. He stretched out his hands, pressed on the gray-white aluminum pot, and lifted it up with force.
Sunlight suddenly shone on the head that was originally hidden inside the aluminum pot.
He was an old man with messy white hair and facial skin like tree bark with very obvious wrinkles.
The old man, who was breathing lightly and whose eyes lacked focus, instantly regained his senses and subconsciously raised his arms to shield his face:
“What are you doing! What are you trying to do!
“Are you the harmful spirits sent by that group of fallen ones? Give me back my pot!”
The other party's urgent tone and intense reaction exceeded Long Yuehong's expectations. He awkwardly covered the aluminum pot back down again for a moment.
The old man, who had regained the protection of the aluminum pot, gradually calmed down. He reached out and groped the ground, slowly standing up.
“Sorry, we just saw you fall here and were worried that something was wrong.” Long Yuehong explained apologetically, “I don’t know who you’re referring to as the fallen ones. We’re relic hunters from outside and plan to pass through your ‘Salvation Army’ to get to the Icefield.”
The old man had a very straight back. Although he was old, he didn't appear hunched over:
“It’s precisely because you’re outsiders that you’re even more suspicious. If I lose protection like this and am secretly controlled by that group of fallen ones using instruments, they won’t be suspected.”
As expected, he’s one of those people who are worried about brain control… Long Yuehong was completely certain.
Bai Chen took the initiative to change the subject:
“Why do you think that group is fallen and secretly controlled by instruments?”
The old man snorted:
“Isn’t it obvious?
“Over the years, they've forgotten to save the humans on the Ashen Earth who haven't yet escaped hunger and cold, forgotten that everyone is equal, with no distinction between high and low, noble and lowly, forgotten the oaths everyone has taken not to use the power in their hands to eat more and take more, to sleep with other people's wives and daughters, forgotten to restrain their families and not let them resell supplies, interfere in various affairs, causing public resentment and ruining the atmosphere!
“I've scolded them to their faces, but they said that I was an old fossil, my brain was stiff, I didn't know how to adapt, and I couldn't see the trend of development, and that I was destined to be abandoned by the times.”
The old man wearing the aluminum pot took a breath, his voice rising slightly:
“I think the ones with the problem are them. They must be brainwashed to be so willingly degenerate and forget their original ideals!
“Yes, they must be brainwashed!”