Embers Ad Infinitum

Unlike when Jiang Baimian and others left last time, the entrance to Tieshan "Underground Ark" is no longer so hidden. A repaired road that can accommodate two trucks running in parallel extends from the foot of the mountain to the cave.

After all, this place is already well-known in the Red Stone Collection and among the mountain monster groups. It can no longer be used as a secret entry and exit point. It is better to improve the surrounding environment to make it easier to drive away when encountering problems.

So, the "Old Tune Team" drove the Jeep all the way to the entrance.

There stood four guards armed with submachine guns and wearing olive green uniforms, who were now part of the Ark Management Committee.

"Stop!" Although they thought the Jeep looked familiar, they still dutifully blocked it.

Behind them, deep in the cave, several artillery pieces and cluster rocket launchers followed the programmed settings, adjusted their aim, and were ready to go.

Yes, Gnawa programmed it.

As the former interim president and current honorary president of the Ark Management Committee, he single-handedly transformed the defense system of the "Underground Ark".

"Don't you recognize us?" Jiang Baimian pushed open the car door and asked with a smile.

The four guards wearing different masks visually checked her height and confirmed the number of group members, probably realizing who the visitor was.

However, as believers of "Yougu" and members of the Vigilant Sect, how could they believe so easily, and still keep their eyes full of vigilance and their distance as a friend?

At this time, Jiang Baimian felt someone poke his upper arm gently, cautiously, and very vigilantly.

Without any reasoning, Shang Jianyao's figure directly appeared in her mind.

She turned her head and saw that it was true.

Shang Jianyao didn't know when he had taken out the monkey mask with a furry face and a sharp mouth, and said in a lowered voice:

"Wear it before you put it on.

"Be vigilant forever!"

Seeing this guy put on a monkey mask, Jiang Baimian didn't want to imitate him, but he still followed the local customs, found a delicate monk mask, and put it on his face.

Fortunately, I didn't throw it away... Long Yuehong put on the fat pig mask half thankfully and half sadly.

At the same time, he saw Bai Chen take out a vicious man's mask from his tactical backpack.

As soon as several members of the "Old Tune Team" finished their "disguise", the guards standing at the entrance of the cave took a step back at the same time, removed most of their vigilance, and shouted loudly:

"Hello, presidents!"

Now, they have completely matched the images of Jiang Baimian and others with those before and confirmed that they are correct.

——The reason why they don’t take a step back and cross their arms in front of their chest is because they feel that this etiquette is not suitable to use when shouting that the president will grow up. After all, it needs to be paired with a corresponding prayer.

Finally... Jiang Baimian straightened the mask on his face.

She immediately had quite complicated feelings:

In this crazy place, only people like Shang Jianyao can blend in seamlessly, like a fish in water...

The only thing she felt gratified about was that the guards of the "Underground Ark" still retained the habits developed during the Dimarco era and abided by the corresponding regulations. Unlike the armed forces who were vigilant about the church, the town guard members at the Red Stone Market entrance, and the public security Those in the office have to hide themselves so that no one can find them when performing guard duties.

"Vigilance is a reminder from God!" Shang Jianyao responded with the etiquette of the vigilant sect without hesitation at all.

Jiang Baimian adjusted his mentality and asked:

"Where does the car park?"

One of the guards pointed to his left side:

"There's a parking lot around the corner."

Then, he remembered something and quickly reported:

"Report to President Xue that the cemetery has been repaired and is located behind the parking lot."

When the "Jiu Tiao Group" left Hongshiji last time, they asked the members of the Ark Management Committee to organize manpower to build a cemetery for the servants who died in vain during the off-season.

"Very good." Jiang Baimian did not hesitate to praise him.

She turned to ask:

"With so many cars to park, do you have to build a special parking lot?"

The guard who just spoke answered with a funny mask on his face:

"yes.

"Now, except for a few people who are accustomed to living underground, everyone has moved to the ruins and guarded their fields. However, we still choose to store many important items in the Ark. It is safer and easier to defend here."

The current "underground ark" is equivalent to a backup warehouse, last refuge and psychological support for all members - several key departments of the management committee are located here, so there are often members who need to come in and out, and many of them have cars.

On the one hand, this is the accumulation of the Di Marco era. On the other hand, the management committee took into account the needs of escorting, hunting in the wilderness, and traveling within the ruins of the city. They deliberately used part of the arms reserves to trade a batch of rags from the old world. vehicle and repairs were made.

Looks decent... Jiang Baimian nodded with satisfaction.

When they parked their vehicle and were about to pass through the cave entrance, one of the guards suddenly said:

"Wait a moment!"

"What's wrong?" Jiang Baimian, who was wearing a delicate monk mask, turned his head and asked.

The guard pointed at Long Yuehong's right arm and said quickly:

"I, I remember that President Gu didn't have a robotic arm last time.

"Could he be someone else pretending to be him now?"

"..." Jiang Baimian and Long Yuehong were speechless.

You are too cautious!

Shang Jianyao understood and respected the folk customs of Hongshiji and helped explain:

"The last time he heroically saved a beauty, one of his arms was blown off and he had to replace it with a robotic arm."

Hearing that the hero saved the beauty, Long Yue's face turned red and she was extremely glad that she was wearing a mask now.

The folk customs of Hongshiji are sometimes quite good...

Seeing that the other three honorary presidents were willing to testify for Gu Zhiyong, the guards moved out of the way and no longer had any doubts.

…………

Inside the Ark, on the second underground floor, in the reception room where Di Marco met the "Old Tune Group" before.

Sitting on the couch opposite Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao and others were Ulrich, Yu Tian and Bode, three members of the Ark Management Committee who happened to be underground today.

Among them, although Ulrich was once one of Dimarco's three butlers, he did not help the evildoers. He only helped to comfort the servants after Dimarco vented his emotions. Therefore, he was recognized by everyone as a Key people who are familiar with the smuggling business and have the corresponding channels have entered the Ark Management Committee.

Compared with other committee members who were servants or guards, he was experienced, seasoned and convincing. He was elected as the interim president when Gnawa left.

When he has been in office for two years and has made no mistakes, the word "temporary" will be removed.

Yu Tian and Bode were the first guards to surrender and provide help to the "Old Tune Group". They erected the two signs. Therefore, when Gnawa was still in the Ark, he specifically mentioned them according to Jiang Baimian's advice. After receiving Gnawa's words and deeds, they have been able to perform their duties as committee members qualifiedly.

"Have anyone from the Salvation Army come to Hongshiji recently?" After the greetings, Jiang Baimian asked.

Ulrich was in his forties, his black hair was still neatly combed, and he was wearing a dark formal suit, but he no longer wore a bow tie and a straight dress as before.

His blue eyes moved slightly, and he said thoughtfully:

“I’m not sure if they’re from the Salvation Army, because they didn’t deal with us and went directly to those Grayspeakers, uh, Graylanders.

"There are less than twenty of them, all Gray Earth people, living in an abandoned building near several members of the Tan family, not a hotel camp."

The "Salvation Army" has members from the Red River people, which embodies their concept of one human being with a common destiny. However, because their current sphere of influence in the old world belongs to the Gray Earth people's rule in a broad sense, the number of non-Grey Earth people is not large.

"Do you know what they are here for?" Shang Jianyao was quite curious, as if I was planning to help.

Of course, because of the mask, others can't see this.

Ulrich shook his head:

"I don't know, but we can observe what the Tan family members or other Gray Earth people are collecting later."

Jiang Baimian nodded gently and looked at the ceiling above his head:

"Have some strangers come to the Alert Church recently?"

"Yes." Yu Tian, ​​who had a Chinese character on his face, immediately replied, "Several groups of people from other places moved directly into the church, but Bishop Antoniola did not tell everyone the reason or make an introduction."

Inside the Ark, none of the three committee members wore masks.

"Where's Warden Song? What did he say?" Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and asked.

"I didn't say anything." It was Bode with freckles who rushed to answer.

Shang Jianyao suddenly lowered his voice and asked as if he was wary of someone:

"Did those people have any quarrels with each other?"

Yu Tian thought about it for a few seconds and said:

"I encountered it once.

“They sat on either side of the Holy Emblem and blamed each other.

"One says that vigilance is the result but not the cause, the other says that vigilance is the purpose and the most important thing, and the other is there to persuade those who are quarreling so that they can live in peace."

For some reason, Jiang Baimian suddenly thought of Kang Na who had a foul-mouthed parrot.

This awakened person at the "soul corridor" level once showed an ability to make people friendly.