Embers Ad Infinitum

Floor 646, Office of the Deputy Minister.

After Jiang Baimian knocked on the door and entered, he smiled and sat down opposite his immediate boss.

Xiyu is a woman who appears to be in her thirties, with long chestnut hair and chestnut eyes.

She was wearing a white shirt underneath, and a dark black, well-tailored short top with only two buttons on the abdomen.

In terms of dress alone, Xiyu looks neat and tidy, but her slightly curved long chestnut hair and the light smile hanging on her face add a bit of gentleness to her, making people feel close and trustworthy.

The Deputy Minister of Security picked up the azure ceramic teacup, took a sip, and smiled at Jiang Baimian leisurely:

"I came here to see you for a few things."

After getting started, she picked up a document on the table:

“This is the result of a review of those situations you previously reported.

"What you need to pay attention to is the different confidentiality levels of different information. Determine which ones can be used to chat with ordinary employees, which ones can only be used for communication at a certain level, and which ones are not approved and can only be discussed internally, or informed that they have the corresponding permissions. senior level.”

Jiang Baimian instinctively stretched out his right hand to take it, but Xi Yu did not pass the document forward.

She brushed her hair around her ears:

"But, you won't be able to use this document for the time being."

"Huh?" Jiang Baimian heard the elegant meaning of Xian Ge and had a vague guess.

Xiyu did not explain immediately. After handing the document to Jiang Baimian, he gently propped his elbows on the table:

"You have done a good job regarding the 'Life Sacrifice' cult, and the corresponding rewards will be distributed after the preliminary conclusion of the case. When you can get it depends on the progress of the subsequent investigation, and it may not be soon, so don't be too anxious."

She thought for a moment and added:

"Tell your team member named Shang Jianyao to cooperate with all inquiries in the next two or three days.

"This matter is the responsibility of the action cluster directly under the management, and I can't interfere too much."

The Operation Cluster Director and her deputy minister are at the same level and both belong to the M1 management.

"Okay, I will tell him." When Jiang Baimian answered, he felt a little guilty for no reason.

She couldn't guarantee that Shang Jianyao wouldn't get confused when being questioned.

Not to mention that she couldn't guarantee it, neither could Shang Jianyao himself.

Xiyu obviously did not hear the slightest abnormality in Jiang Baimian's tone, and said instead:

"The board of directors held an emergency temporary meeting last night, and by the way, the matter of Shuiwei Town was also finalized."

"What's the result?" Jiang Baimian did not hide his concern.

Xiyu smiled gently and said:

"Sign a friendly cooperation clause first."

Jiang Baimian was slightly relieved when he heard this.

The terms of friendly cooperation are in the official language and translated into simple and easy-to-understand terms:

Establish a client relationship.

Although this is definitely not as good as the plan to accept Shuiwei Town as a whole, it is still within the range that Jiang Baimian can accept.

Xiyu didn't rush to continue. He picked up the azure ceramic cup, blew on the tea leaves floating on the water, and took a sip.

After moistening her lips, she kept her smile and said:

"We will launch a series of transactions with Shuiwei Town, and will also send an action team there to help train their armed personnel and re-establish a more effective command system.

“If they apply, we will also deploy civilian personnel to help them straighten out their internal management mechanisms and eliminate many conflicts before they break out.

“After that, the people we send there will slowly screen the candidates and provide them with the opportunity to formally join the company.

"After ten years, if the friendly relationship between Shuiwei Town and us continues and their performance is recognized, then we can consider accepting them as a whole."

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly:

"So fine."

This is a mature and prudent plan, and it is more acceptable to Shuiwei Town.

Before Xiyu could speak, Jiang Baimian asked with understanding:

"Minister, do you want to send us to Shuiwei Town to negotiate?"

Therefore, the intelligence review document is temporarily useless.

"It's easy to worry if I talk to you." Xiyu smiled and praised, "You are the people who are responsible for this matter, so of course I have to let you go. After three to five days, you will bring a radio transceiver and The corresponding battery goes over. If we can reach an agreement, we will leave the machine, give us the frequency band, and let Shuiwei Town send us a telegram. You will attach an agreed password as proof. If we can't reach an agreement, you will bring the telegram. Take the plane to Weed City."

"Weed City?" Jiang Baimian was a little surprised.

This is the "Primary City" border city located on the edge of the Monk Wasteland. It is a relatively open place where many relic hunters are active.

The Wu Shoushi and An Ruxiang teams that the "Old Tune Team" met before were from Weedao City.

Xiyu nodded:

"This is your second mission.

“You know, besides you, there are other old tune groups.

"One of the groups lost contact after entering Weedong City and sending back a telegram. It has been nearly three weeks now.

"We have asked the company's intelligence personnel in Weedao City to conduct tracing, but there is no feedback yet.

"Your task is to cooperate with intelligence personnel to figure out the truth behind the disappearance of that group, and take appropriate retaliation, or follow the new clues discovered by that group and conduct your own investigation."

The main investigation is "investigation of the cause of the destruction of the old world."

"Isn't this too high a view of us?" Jiang Baimian suppressed his eagerness to try, "Our team has only been established for more than three months. Besides, how long ago did the last mission end?"

Xiyu looked at Jiang Baimian, smiled slightly and said:

"I trust you.

"Besides, the company has a certain amount of power there that you can mobilize."

"Why does it have to be done by our newly established 'old investigation team'? Can't we send other teams or other intelligence personnel?" Jiang Baimian was still a little puzzled.

As she spoke, she suddenly woke up:

"Minister, do you want us to leave the company temporarily?"

Xiyu nodded gently, smiled and praised:

"As expected of you."

She retracted her elbows that were resting on the table and explained briefly:

“The investigation into the ‘Sacrifice of Life’ sect is not going so well, and many clues have been interrupted.

“This is not a problem that can be solved in a short period of time. We are worried that the hidden cultists will take some revenge after the matter calms down a little.

"And who do you think is most likely to be retaliated against?"

"Shang Jianyao and me." Jiang Baimian answered without any hesitation.

Xiyu said "hmm":

“Although I can use you as bait, I don’t think I can let you take this risk.

"You are relatively fine. You live in the management area, and your entry and exit are strictly controlled. Your father has always been secretly protected. Shang Jianyao is more dangerous. In addition, there is a small possibility of angering other team members."

Having said this, Xiyu leaned back and breathed out silently:

"So, we decided to make the simplest choice and send you to the surface, away from this vortex.

“Believe me, things with the ‘Life Ritual’ Order are definitely more troublesome than you think.

"Go ahead and stay on the surface for a few months and come back in spring. By then, the problem should be solved."

Jiang Baimian approved this plan and asked slightly worriedly:

"What about the families of the other team members?"

Mainly refers to Long Yuehong.

"Then don't worry too much. There are so many layers between us, and it's not their turn to express their anger. Those who carried out the pursuit at that time were more qualified than them. Moreover, we will also take care of it to a certain extent." Xiyu simply explained, "If they retaliate irrationally, we can dig out their roots very quickly."

Seeing that Jiang Baimian no longer had any questions, Xi Yu picked up a document and ended the topic:

"This is the information of that group. You can read it over the next few days and then prepare a mission plan for me.

"Haha, although the plan can never keep up with changes when executing a task, the process that needs to be followed still has to be followed."

Jiang Baimian took the document and smiled:

“Can I apply for a military-grade exoskeleton device or bionic smart armor?”

"What do you think?" Xiyu asked with a smile.

Jiang Baimian suddenly shrank.

Seeing this, Xi Yu added:

"If you can get your own military-grade exoskeleton device or bionic smart armor, then I can make the decision and keep it in your group."

"Okay!" Jiang Baimian's smile suddenly became bright.

This made Xiyu a little suspicious that her weakness just now was fake.

…………

When Jiang Baimian returned to Room 14 on the 647th floor with two documents, Long Yuehong and Bai Chen had already arrived.

She deliberately made her expression serious, looked around and said:

"Two things."

Bai Chen's expression became more solemn and he slowly stood up from his seat, while Long Yuehong felt the muscles in his back tighten instantly.

At this time, Shang Jianyao's voice rang:

"Team leader, you are laughing."

Jiang Baimian could no longer hold back his expression and laughed and cursed:

"Where did I laugh?"

"I guessed it." Shang Jianyao looked serious.

"..." Jiang Baimian took a breath and slowly exhaled it, then turned to Bai Chen and said, "The approval from Shuiwei Town has been received."

Seeing that there was no trace of gloom in Jiang Baimian's smile, Bai Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief and asked impatiently:

"What's the result?"

Jiang Baimian repeated what Vice Minister Xiyu said and finally said:

"The task of contacting us has been handed over to us, and we will set off in three days."

Bai Chen had no objection to the method of first vassaling and cooperating, then examining and accepting, and rarely took the initiative to say:

"Even if the task is not given to me, I will apply to participate."

Otherwise, there is no way to rest assured.

"This is good." Long Yuehong also said with emotion.

He still vividly remembered the scene of those children studying in Shuiwei Town.

Shang Jian Yao asked inexplicably:

"Can you apply for more cans to trade this time?"

"You can trade more within your own share, but it will be more troublesome on the way. It is already winter and there is very little food." Jiang Baimian laid out all the pros and cons.

Bai Chen asked keenly:

"On the way afterwards?"

It only takes more than a day to come back from Shuiwei Town, maybe even less than a day, and there is no need to look for extra food.

Jiang Baimian glanced at Long Yuehong and sighed:

"Isn't there a second thing?

"We still have to go to Weed City."

Long Yuehong blurted out:

"How long will this take?"

The girl he had just met through introduction was getting along well with her. After a while, they might be able to establish a relationship.

"It can take as little as more than a month, or as long as three or four months." Jiang Baimian showed a kind smile and did not say anything.