Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 802 VIP

The jeep drove along the road in Cliff Village toward the five-story building that served as the public office.

As far as Jiang Baimian knew, this was actually a scenic area in the Old World. The arable land was relatively limited, but it became a settlement for many wilderness nomads after the Old World was destroyed because of its excellent location. It was named Cliff Village.

In the beginning, the villagers had to cross the bridge every day to farm in the farmlands in the mountains and hunt in the surrounding area. Not only was it tiring, but it was also rather dangerous. After all, the mountains were tall and slippery, and there were many ferocious beasts. From time to time, bandits would pass by. The ammunition in the village was depleting with each use, and there was a lack of replenishment.

But even so, they often lacked clothes and food.

Later, Cliff Village encountered Pangu Biology and became a vassal. They received a large number of reinforcements and quickly developed to a level where they could be self-sufficient. Of course, this form of self-sufficiency was only relative to other settlements. Once they left Pangu Biology, Cliff Village was nothing. The easiest way to elucidate this was that the high-yielding seeds they were currently planting required Pangu Biology’s constant supply. Otherwise, the production of second and third-generation seeds would rapidly decrease, making it impossible for them to satisfy the villagers’ daily consumption. In order to have their fill and protection, Cliff Village was loyal to Pangu Biology. Every Pangu Biology employee enjoyed VIP treatment when they came here.

As the jeep drove through the village’s roads, the villagers they encountered stopped to greet them. They smiled at Shang Jianyao and the others, who had opened the windows to observe the people outside.

Before long, the Old Task Force arrived at the village office.

In front of this ancient five-story building was a small square. Almost twenty children were playing games like Five Stones and Hopscotch.

Upon seeing Jiang Baimian and the others in gray camouflage alight, a few children ran over. They weren’t as reserved as adults and asked in a cacophony, “Do you guys have candy?”

“Any chocolate?” “Is there anything delicious?” After asking, they emphasized in unison, “We can buy it with money!”

As they spoke, the children took out golden or silver coins and wrinkled notes from their pockets.

Jiang Baimian looked over and realized that they belonged to some country in the Old World.

She shook her head and smiled. “We were thinking of buying things from you.” The Old Task Force had come to Cliff Village to investigate the Pangu Biology project team’s whereabouts and to replenish supplies for entering Icefield.

The children immediately felt a little disappointed and returned to their companions’ side.

Bai Chen retracted her gaze and sighed. “This place is indeed wealthier than Moat Town.”

Under normal circumstances, a piece of paper from the Old World was either used to wipe one’s ass or to be given as toys to the children; it wasn’t worth fussing over. However, the Old World’s coins were real metal. They were small, but every bit counted. When accumulated, they could also be exchanged for other supplies. To many wilderness nomads and Ruin Hunters, even a coin was valuable.

In Cliff Village, children by the side of the road could easily produce a few coins. It was obvious that this place was different from other human settlements.

“They joined the company relatively early and have developed in all aspects.” Jiang Baimian also sighed with emotion.

How nice… It would be even better if the company had no problems… Long Yuehong was touched.

Bai Chen nodded. “Moat Town will become like this in the future?”

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and said, “It might not be comparable to here, but it’ll definitely be stronger than before.”

As she walked to the office, she casually explained, “The main reason Cliff Village is doing so well now is that they have a geographical advantage. Most of the companies’ teams that want to go to Icefield will choose to obtain their last batch of supplies here. These supplies aren’t free; they are fair transactions.

“You definitely want to ask: but how can Cliff Village have that many supplies? It’s definitely not enough just relying on themselves. Every spring, summer, and autumn, the company will have many convoys come over and sell the corresponding supplies to them. This forms a cycle.”

To put it simply, this place is equivalent to the company’s supply depot. The people in Cliff Village are equivalent to employees guarding the warehouse, and they receive the corresponding perks? Long Yuehong interpreted it through his experience.

“Is that so…” Shang Jianyao revealed an ‘I completely understand’ expression.

Jiang Baimian looked at Genava–who was wearing a robe that made it impossible to tell that he was a robot-and added, “Ever since Cliff Village became rich in supplies, many caravans and Ruin Hunters that come to Icefield will choose to trade here and get supplies.”

“The business center in this area?” Bai Chen nodded in enlightenment, combining her experience in Weed City, First City, and the knowledge provided by the Old World’s entertainment.

Jiang Baimian tersely grunted. “But apart from the company’s employees, nobody else can cross the bridge or enter the village. They can only trade in an abandoned town on the opposite bank. Spring has just started, and nobody has come over yet.”

As they spoke, the Old Task Force members went up the stairs and arrived at the public office entrance. The village chief was already aware of the arrival of a team from Pangu Biology and was personally waiting there.

He was in his fifties. Although his hair was white, he was very hale and hearty. His face was rather ruddy, and his wrinkles didn’t appear eye-catching. “Are you guys going to Icefield?” The village chief’s words had a clear accent. He was a little surprised because this team had too few people. Over the years, the Pangu Biology team he had seen going to Icefield had a large group of people. They had at least four to five cars. “That’s right,” Jiang Baimian replied with a smile. “We’re going to Icefield to complete a mission.”

“Why don’t you go in the summer? What mission is so urgent?” The village chief knew very well how cold Icefield was in spring.

He was only asking casually, and he didn’t expect Jiang Baimian and the others to answer. After all, this definitely involved some level of confidentiality.

Jiang Baimian pointed into the public office and said, “Let’s talk inside.”

At this moment, Shang Jianyao interrupted indignantly. “You don’t know her?” The village chief led the Old Task Force two steps forward and arrived at a relatively bright spot. He carefully examined Jiang Baimian for a while. “I remember. I’ve only seen one lady so handsome and tall.”

“That’s more like it.” Shang Jianyao revealed a gratified expression.

Jiang Baimian forcefully suppressed her embarrassment and smiled. “It’s not too strange to go to Icefield in spring. I just heard that a scientific research team from the company went over last week.”

The village chief walked into the lobby and went to the sofas. “That’s different. The weather is what scientific researchers want. It’s obvious that you aren’t scientific researchers.”

“Who said so? We’ve also done scientific research!” Shang Jianyao indicated that he was looking down on them.

Jiang Baimian’s heart stirred, but she didn’t stop him from speaking.

Shang Jianyao added smugly, “We’ve participated in scientific research projects as volunteers.”

The village chief muttered, “How can being a volunteer count as participation? Many people in our village were volunteers.”

Jiang Baimian took the opportunity to ask, “Many?” “Quite a number,” the village chief replied with a sigh. “However, this happened a few years ago. For more supplies and better treatment, many villagers agreed to volunteer. They thought that they could leave something for their families even if they died. Sigh, there aren’t many of them now. Everyone can eat their fill and have their own livelihood.”

“I see…” Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao said in unison.

The former casually asked, “Did many of the village’s volunteers return?”

“About half.” The village chief wasn’t too sure. “Some were fine, some were sick, others had something extra or something missing.”

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged his words and didn’t continue the topic.

After chatting for a while, the village chief pointed upstairs and said, “It’s getting late. How about you guys stay on the second floor? Everyone from the company lives in the public office. Dinner will be served to you later.”

“Alright.” Jiang Baimian had no objections.

Shang Jianyao curiously asked, “Is it free?”

“Accommodation is free, but meals aren’t.” The village chief smiled. “But for people from the company, the first meal is on us.”

“What do you mean by first meal? We’ll leave in the morning and come back at night. Can this be considered the first meal again…” Before Shang Jianyao could finish speaking, he was forcefully dragged into the stairwell.

After entering the room, Long Yuehong looked around and said, “These conditions are better than the hotel we stayed in at Redstone Collection.”

It was almost comparable to the Salvation Army’s hotel for foreigners. It was clean, tidy, and relatively spacious. The bed and other furniture didn’t smell musky.

Bai Chen didn’t mind such matters and looked at the door. “Volunteers who can be released shouldn’t be involved in important secrets.”

She meant that the surviving volunteers in the village might not know much.

Jiang Baimian smiled. “That’s good. It won’t alert the company, and much key information is hidden in ordinary details.”