Embers Ad Infinitum

Hearing Lehman's words, Jiang Baimian, who was wearing a mask, laughed:

"What a coincidence."

After a pause, she added:

"I thought your commission was related to 'United Industries' and required us to go somewhere else."

Seeing the goodwill shown by this team of mysterious relic hunters, Lehman smiled and said:

"If you are willing, I also have many commissions related to 'United Industries'."

Shang Jianyao asked enthusiastically:

"What's there?"

Isn't this a polite remark... Lehman was speechless for a moment.

When it comes to United Industries, he has always believed that good skills are inferior to good relationships.

Jiang Baimian chuckled secretly, and while instructing Long Yuehong to continue helping Bai Chen cook, he said to Lehman:

"Tell me about your commission, but we may not accept it."

Huh... Lehman breathed a sigh of relief:

"It's like this. When I was an employee of a military-industrial enterprise in the United Industry, I was saved by a relic hunter.

"His name is Lars. He is a little younger than me. He has good marksmanship and excellent fighting skills. He is a 'senior hunter'.

"Later, we met often. He helped me a lot, and I gave him a lot of commissions, which made him live a pretty good life..."

After briefly talking about the past, Lehman finally said:

"Anyway, he's my best friend."

"What's wrong with him?" Jiang Baimian asked.

Long Yuehong, who helped Bai Chen cook, also pricked up her ears.

This story sounds interesting.

Lehman's expression slowly became heavy:

"He's missing.

"He disappeared from Red Rocks almost a year ago."

"Did he say anything to you before he disappeared?" The person who asked this question was not Jiang Baimian, but Shang Jianyao, who crossed his chest with one hand and touched his chin with the other.

He only needs a pipe to imitate the famous detective in the radio drama.

Lehman slowly exhaled and said:

"The gathering place where he came from was attacked, and his only sister who was still alive was kidnapped and became a slave.

“He has been pursuing the whereabouts of his sister, and one day, he happily told me that he found clues that confirmed that his sister had been sold to the Red Stone Collection and had probably become a servant of the ‘Underground Ark’.

"I thought it wouldn't be too difficult to redeem a person from the 'Underground Ark', so I told him that as long as I could confirm that his sister was there, I could fund him with supplies and let him complete the transaction.

“He set off to Red Rocks very quickly, and a friend of mine told me that he did come, but within a few days he never showed up again.

"He just disappeared."

Speaking of the latter part, Lehman's tone was very gloomy.

"Do you suspect that his disappearance is related to the 'Underground Ark'?" Jiang Baimian asked.

"Maybe he had a conflict with some people in Hongshiji, and was quietly killed, tied with rocks, and sunk into the lake." Shang Jianyao provided another possibility.

On the dusty earth, except within a few major forces, order and chaos coexist everywhere, and murder and robbery are often performed.

Lehman shook his head:

"In other settlements, this may happen, but in Hongshiji, you also know that all the townspeople like to hide, and there are no business entanglements. It is difficult for outsiders to have conflicts with them. Uh, I also asked La Ers took the letter I wrote to some of my friends and asked for care."

"For example, Herwig?" Jiang Baimian asked with a smile.

"Yes." Lehman did not deny it.

Before Herwig died, he was Lehman's main partner at Redstone, and he could not be called a friend too much.

Shang Jianyao suddenly became excited:

“Could it be Herwig?

"Herwig's wife doesn't have a very good relationship with him. Lars is living in their house and is a very capable hunter. Will the two of them soon have an emotional entanglement? When Herwig discovers it, he becomes angry. Killed by mistake?"

What are the company’s radio dramas and radio stories usually broadcast on? Um, why is this story so familiar? It was based on Weller's affair with his boss's wife, which was discovered on the spot, and mixed with the fact that Bishop Renato suffered from "unintentional illness" and Herwig died of fear in the ventilation duct? Jiang Baimian gradually figured out the source of Shang Jianyao's inspiration.

Lehman shook his head without hesitation:

"impossible."

"What evidence do you have?" Shang Jianyao said he couldn't accept it.

Lehman hesitated for a moment and clasped his hands:

"It's impossible for him to have an affair with Theresa because he likes men."

This... Jiang Baimian looked at the arms dealer in front of him, and gave Shang Jianyao a look, telling him not to continue "reasoning" and saying, "I understand, it was Lars and Herwig who were having an affair. When Lesa found out, she became furious and asked the adulterer, Bishop Renato, to help kill the male third party."

The messiness and complexity of this story aside, it will definitely take an emotional toll on Lehman.

Shang Jianyao looked back with regret and closed his mouth.

Jiang Baimian turned to ask:

"Then did you find any clues later?"

Lehman waited for a few seconds before saying:

"I found out that he visited the Visa Trading Company and met with a steward in Dimarco named Ulrich.

"Besides this, there are no other clues. I mobilized my manpower and asked many people from Hongshiji to help me, and I found nothing related to the 'Underground Ark'.

"I even looked for Ulrich myself, but he said that Lars disappeared after knowing that his sister unfortunately died of illness. Yes, Lars's sister did enter the 'underground ark' and became a servant inside. , but fell ill and died within a few months.”

Died of illness? Jiang Baimian suddenly thought of what Vier said before:

DiMarco is very cruel and likes to take out his anger on his servants without taking human life seriously.

Lehman glanced at the woman wearing a delicate monk mask, and then said after careful consideration:

“Recently, I learned a piece of news through Herwig.

"The 'Underground Ark' has an exit somewhere in Iron Mountain, and people often come and go."

Tieshan is the place to the north of the ruins of the city, where mountain monsters live. On the other side of the Tieshan Mountains, there is a ruin that was famous in the chaotic era, called "Tieshan City".

This is consistent with the information provided by Vier... Jiang Baimian asked thoughtfully:

"How did Herwig know?"

Lehman had no intention of hiding anything for the deceased:

"He knew it from Ankhbas, who heard it from the mountain monsters."

Also, Anherbas and the mountain monster have been secretly trading... Wait, the "Underground Ark" has an exit somewhere in Iron Mountain... It must not be far from the place where the mountain monster lives. If Dimarco wants to betray the red stone The intelligence gathered was completely undetectable... Jiang Baimian quickly connected the things.

"Where exactly?" she asked.

Lehman took out a hand-drawn map, pointed at the red circle on it and said:

"here."

He immediately described what the signs on the map represented so that "Qian Bai Team" could accurately find their destination.

After talking about this, Lehman took out another photo:

"This was taken not long before Lars disappeared."

Jiang Baimian took the photo, glanced at it, and found that Lars was a very manly young man.

He has short flaxen hair, a straight nose, light blue eyes, and a light beard around his mouth. His biggest feature is a small cyan birthmark on his forehead.

As for height, I can’t tell from the photo.

After Jiang Baimian finished reading the photos, Leman thought about it and said:

"I don't expect you to promise me now. I just hope that you will help me pay attention to it during the investigation of the 'Underground Ark'.

"If you can discover his whereabouts or relevant clues by the way, you can come to me at any time and ask for reward."

He's very good at life... Well, otherwise he wouldn't have become an arms dealer with a rich net worth... The only problem is that he only uses this kind of calculating look and low profile on people who are stronger than him... Jiang Baimian Nodding gently:

"We'll keep an eye on it for you."

"What reward can you give?" Shang Jianyao interrupted and asked.

This time, Jiang Baimian did not glare at him, because this was what she wanted to ask.

Lehman showed a slight smile:

“For example, newer exoskeleton devices, but you may have to wait a year or so before you have a chance to get one.

"Similarly, there is also the T1 multifunctional robotic arm, which will give me more than half a year, uh, not responsible for transplantation.

"In addition to these, there are also armored vehicles, tanks, and various types of artillery..."

Jiang Baimian listened quietly and reminded:

"You don't have to have high expectations."

…………

After seeing off Lehman and having lunch, the "old tune team" drove the jeep toward Iron Mountain in the north.

"Could this be a trap?" Long Yuehong said warily on the way.

Jiang Baimian laughed:

"Let's not talk about whether there is a necessary reason to deal with us. Even if there is, the strength of our team has been improved. Now we are a team that can truly destroy a homeless settlement."

Knowing that the team leader was talking about the military exoskeleton device, Long Yuehong suddenly felt happy.

While talking, they followed the map's instructions and spent nearly two hours finally arriving at Iron Mountain and finding the exit of the "Underground Ark" located in a hidden place at the foot of the mountain.

This is a valley with a path leading to a cave. The entrance to the "Underground Ark" is deep in the cave.

Jiang Baimian did not let Shang Jianyao and others get closer immediately. Instead, he found a high point nearby that was convenient for monitoring, hid himself, and watched the entrance of the cave closely.

Time passed by minute by second, the sky gradually became dark, and Long Yuehong squatted a little impatiently.

He turned his head, looked at Shang Jianyao who was hiding behind a few trees, and asked casually:

"Don't you find it boring?"

"I am a stone now, and a stone will not feel boring." Shang Jianyao said without squinting.

"..." Long Yuehong couldn't help but reply, "Stones can't talk."

"I play the role of a talking stone." Shang Jianyao explained calmly.

I'm so stupid, really... Long Yuehong cursed herself in her heart, thinking it would be more interesting to squat.

At this moment, two people came out of the cave, carrying a heavy sack.