Embers Ad Infinitum

While Jiang Baimian was thinking, Bai Chen, who was driving, revealed the places where he thought the real "priest" might hang out:

"After he smokes Flag cigarettes, will he become addicted to them and often need to buy them at the port?"

"Judging from the real 'Priest''s long-term sleep deprivation, he will definitely continue to use similar items as long as they are effective enough." Long Yuehong agreed.

Hearing this, Shang Jianyao sneered:

"But there are only five of us."

Jiang Baimian nodded:

"The possibility of the real 'priest' continuing to buy flag cigarettes is indeed very high, but the problem is that in the port alone, there are many shops selling such cheap cigarettes, and many people go to buy them every day, and the real 'priest' will definitely He won't show up in person, and will definitely use the method of 'hypnotizing' passers-by and letting them act as tools.

"We cannot monitor so many stores at the same time, and it is difficult to identify who among the buyers is a 'tool man'."

"Yes." Gnawa learned Long Yuehong's catchphrase at some point, "It would be great if the port area, including the entire Green Olive District, could have cameras everywhere like Tarnan."

That way, you can invade the municipal system, write programs, screen surveillance videos, and use time and patience to find clues about the real "priest".

"This place really needs renovation." Shang Jianyao agreed.

After a brief silence, Long Yuehong raised a second possibility:

"Surveillance of General Phocas's residence?

"Since you were hinted there and were followed by the real 'Father' puppet, would the real 'Father' be hiding there, or would you often need to go there to communicate with the hidden 'anti-intellectual religion' strong men?

"As soon as we find a target that matches the characteristics of the character, we will ask Lao Ge to confirm it."

Jiang Baimian nodded gently and said:

“This is an idea, but I think it’s unlikely.

"Since there is a puppet, there is no need for the real 'Father' to come forward to communicate in person, just like using the fake 'Father' Sandel."

She continued after careful consideration:

"Judging from the way a true 'priest' does things, he will step out of the darkness and come into the sunshine only when he needs to take action personally."

"So, we need to find a target that the real 'priest' is likely to deal with personally?" Long Yuehong asked in response.

Jiang Baimian nodded and said:

"The current focus of the 'Anti-Intellectual Cult' should be to provoke internal strife in the 'Primary City' and make the situation here chaotic.

“Now that they have taken the first step, we need to know who the key people are that are holding them back from taking the second step.

"This can be done through the company's intelligence network to collect information. Regarding the matter of Varro's involvement in colluding with the 'Salvation Army' and the 'Anti-Intellectual Cult', who is working hard to maintain stability and suppress excessive behavior? Who is the conservative and conservative? There is no obstacle for the reformists to completely break away from each other, or whose death will completely intensify the conflict."

Speaking of this, Jiang Baimian laughed:

"After locking the corresponding target, we may have to act as free and secret bodyguards for a while.

"When the time comes, we will not get involved in the confrontation at the level of the 'soul corridor'. We will just look for opportunities to give the real 'priest' a sap."

Bang bang bang, Shang Jianyao clapped his hands.

He asked slightly expectantly:

"Are we going to see that 'Garibaldi' again?

"Will he switch to a better cafe this time?"

"Maybe it's turned into a restaurant?" Jiang Baimian replied with a smile.

Shang Jianyao's eyes suddenly lit up.

…………

Two days later, the fake "priest" Sandel sent a telegram, saying that he reported to the real "priest" that he was attacked. After barely escaping, he seemed not to be suspected or investigated, but he never received any orders sent by letter.

He felt that the real "priest" should be aware of it, and he might just be a "poison bait" if left alone.

In the process of secretly competing with the real "priest", the "Old Tune Group" became more and more cautious. Not only did they quietly move back to the Ugo Hotel, but they also rented several additional rooms as safe houses.

They no longer send telegrams where they live, fearing that someone will monitor the radio signal and lock the location. They go to a specific safe house every time to handle this matter.

There is another safe house near this safe house specially used for taking telegrams. Its function is to monitor whether the former is exposed and whether there are any suspicious people around.

In similar fields, the "old tune team" quickly accumulated enough experience.

This is a "subject" that Jiang Baimian and others have been exposed to before, but it cannot be said to be in-depth. It is more of a paper talk.

After letting the fake "Father" Sandel continue to lurk, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao went out and went to the Silver Candle Cafe on Bliss Street in the Red Giant Wolf District as usual.

Yes, the intelligence agent "Garibaldi" still chose the same place.

Before going out, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao put on some disguises, and the military green Jeep completed a new round of painting at a modification factory that Bai Chen trusted and turned it into dark green.

This is quite different from what a real "priest" knows.

In fact, there were several "Rootless" camps around the First City, but Feilin's "Sangzi" business group was not here during this time, and Jiang Baimian could not trust the other "Rootless" teams.

In the Silver Candle Cafe, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao, who deliberately showed off their mercenary temperament, each ordered a cup of coffee and sat in their old seats by the window and in the corner.

Bai Chen, Long Yuehong and Gnawa were afraid of encountering an accident, so they did not divide into three teams and all entered the same monitoring position.

While drinking low-quality "Buxia" coffee, Shang Jianyao came up with an idea:

"Our height and race are still too conspicuous in the original city. Even if we are disguised, it is easy to leave an impression on others.

"How about we ask the 'rootless' people to dye our hair? Hey, it's a pity that there are very few contact lenses that can change the eye color in today's world."

Even regular contact lenses are produced in extremely low quantities.

——Ordinary people are short-sighted and do not have the ability to wear glasses. However, for the middle class who live a slightly better life, normal glasses are enough and there is no need to pursue invisible ones.

Only the group of people standing at the top of the dust pyramid have the leisure, materials and motivation to chase contact lenses.

"You can shave your head." Jiang Baimian suppressed his laughter and put forward his own suggestion.

Shang Jianyao actually thought about it seriously.

"That would be more conspicuous." Jiang Baimian quickly dismissed his idea.

To be honest, she couldn't imagine the bald version of Shang Jianyao.

Although that could be stronger.

While the two were talking, a man wearing a thin black coat and a peaked cap, less than 1.75 meters tall, entered the Silver Candle Cafe.

He quickly scanned around and chose to sit behind Jiang Baimian and the others.

When passing by Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian, the man took out his right hand and wiped his face, bringing out a neatly folded and square piece of paper.

The piece of paper fell in front of Shang Jianyao, and he raised his hand lightly to cover it completely.

The man didn't seem to notice and sat in the seat he chose.

He is one of the intelligence agents of "Pangaea" in the original city, "Garibaldi".

This time, he did not introduce himself or ask, but patiently waited for Jiang Baimian to give out new needs.

As for the content he wanted to give back, it was all on those folded pieces of paper.

This includes the details of the assassination of the Prime City senator Soles by the real "priest", the test results of the cigarette butt, the current political situation in the Prime City and the respective roles of several key senators.

The latter two are used to analyze the next goal of "anti-intellectual religion".

Jiang Baimian immediately picked up the cup, took a sip of coffee and said:

"Nothing else happens this time."

Her voice was deliberately suppressed, as if she didn't want to disturb other customers in the cafe.

Shang Jianyao immediately repeated it for her.

"Garibaldi" did not leave immediately. Like ordinary customers, he waited for his coffee and drank it slowly.

Jiang Baimian was also not in a hurry. After a while, he unfolded the piece of paper handed over by Shang Jianyao and browsed it quickly.

Placed on the first page are the test results of the cigarette butt:

"Human saliva has been extracted... There is a mint component in the saliva, which has been compared to 'Ralphie' candy. It contains the rhizome of the Ralphie plant, which can effectively refresh people and cause diarrhea to a certain extent. It is more popular in the First City (note: the diet in the First City can easily cause constipation and indigestion)...The DNA does not match all the samples in the laboratory database, and the identity cannot be determined..."

Seeing this, Jiang Baimian noticed that "Garibaldi" put down his cup and walked out of the cafe slowly.

She lowered her head and continued to read the information.

Suddenly, there was a loud gunshot outside.

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao suddenly raised their heads and looked out the window, only to see a man falling to the street.

He wore a thin black coat and a peaked cap on his head.

"Garibaldi"!

PS: I recommend a book, "I Eat Monsters in the Monster Suppression Division". Qin Shaoyou traveled to a world where monsters were rampant. It just so happens that he is a member of the Demon Suppression Division with the highest reincarnation rate. Looking at the weird painted skins, cunning fox demons, terrifying snake spirits, and evil ghosts pretending to be gods and Buddhas... Qin Shaoyou drooled. Close the door, boil the water, we have a feast today!