Embers Ad Infinitum-Chapter 857: Other Identities

Long Yuehong inexplicably felt a sense of déjà vu when he heard Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Gitis’s conversation.

Gitis’s experience was really like a replica of some protagonists in Old World entertainment. As she had good intentions and kindness, she obtained the gift of an inconspicuous figure before his death. From then on, she transcended the ordinary and trod her own path.

Jiang Baimian looked at the Subhuti figurine and retracted her surprise. “Put it back. It won’t be good if anyone sees it.”

Gitis sized them up deeply and increasingly believed that the Old Task Force had no ill intentions.

After she placed the Subhuti figurine back into her backpack and placed it by her feet, Shang Jianyao asked, “Then?”

“What then?” Gitis suspected that she had missed some of the conversation because she was distracted controlling the other bodies.

But at this late hour, her other bodies had basically gone to bed. She no longer needed to do any ‘maintenance.’

Shang Jianyao had an expression that looked as though the ‘story was unfinished.’ “What happened after the monk died?”

Gitis combed her honey-colored hair and recalled. “Back then, my parents were sick and couldn’t work anymore. Although my family had some savings, it definitely couldn’t last long. Furthermore, they were on long-term medication.

“I knew that I could no longer rely on my family to save money and buy old genetic enhancement drugs to enhance myself. Without the genetic enhancement, it would be very difficult for me to join the army as a woman. I could rely on my contribution to become a Squire step by step or even advance to a Knight.

“During that period of time, I found everything much gloomier. The figurine’s magical properties gave me hope.”

“The sky in Gesterbourg is dark to begin with,” Shang Jianyao pointed out.

Jiang Baimian glared at him and asked Gitis, “Why did you choose to be an intelligence peddler?”

Gitis smiled, but she no longer diverted her attention to maintain the other bodies’ activity. This time, she didn’t give off a mysterious feeling. “It’s too expensive to buy genetic enhancement drugs from formal channels. Back then, I considered going to the underground black market to take a look—this required information.

“Through this matter, I got to know Mor and realized that being an intelligence peddler was lucrative. Furthermore, it’s very suitable for the abilities attached to the figurine. Mor also said that he’s old and that his energy can’t keep up. He will slowly enter retirement in the future.”

“Then, why are you a part-time receptionist?” Jiang Baimian didn’t understand.

Shang Jianyao helped explain, “Life requires a normal job. Being a worker, waitress, or Ruin Hunter isn’t suitable for Gitis. She often has to space out and can’t focus.”

“Yes,” Gitis admitted frankly. “Although the salary as a hotel receptionist is relatively low, I’ll be free most of the time. Besides, didn’t you notice? This is the center of Gesterbourg. It’s about the same distance to the settlement’s southeast and northwest border, making it easier for me to ‘monitor.'”

“I really didn’t notice that.” Jiang Baimian nodded slightly. Then, she suddenly changed the question. “Which other bodies are you controlling?”

Gitis smiled. “Seven or eight. You’ve seen one identity, Aester.”

“Aester?” Long Yuehong blurted out in surprise. The United Mining Association’s director is actually another identity of Gitis?

Jiang Baimian recalled the conversation with Aester and realized that apart from being too easily exhausted and being a little pensive, there was nothing that reminded her of Gitis.

“Good acting!” Shang Jianyao praised.

“This identity has been used for almost two years. There had to be many problems in the beginning. Even people close to Aester now can’t discover that Aester’s soul has changed.” Gitis wasn’t proud.

Shang Jianyao suddenly straightened his face and asked seriously, “You killed Aester?”

“No.” Gitis shook her head. “His body collapsed a few years ago, so he definitely wouldn’t be able to live to this day under normal circumstances. However, I took a fancy to his identity, status, resources, and dying state. I specially found an opportunity to meet his dying self and asked him if he wanted to make a deal. The transaction’s content was that I would complete a request of his. He would then lend me his body when it couldn’t be further maintained.

“He agreed, hoping that I could help him fulfill a wish—to retrieve the remains or relics of his mistress and two children from Ceningmis. I know how dangerous Ceningmis is, so I could only tell him that I’d try my best and that I couldn’t guarantee anything. He still agreed to the deal.”

Jiang Baimian nodded. “Since Aester has become your other identity, why are you worried about money?”

Would a large merchant—who had many private mines, a certain amount of rare metals, and hard liquor channels—lack the money to buy new genetic enhancement drugs?

“It belongs to Aester’s family. I’m only helping Aester safeguard it now and can’t use it,” Gitis replied rather seriously. “If I’m willing to violate my creed, there are too many ways to change my life and treat my parents with the help of the figurine.”

Creed… You aren’t a knight yet… Long Yuehong muttered inwardly.

Clap! Clap! Clap! 

Shang Jianyao clapped and praised sincerely, “How law-abiding.”

Jiang Baimian wasn’t stingy with her smile. “Were the other bodies also traded with those on their deathbeds?”

“Two aren’t. One coveted the money I earned by selling information and wanted to kill my entire family and plunder everything.’’ I directly shattered his consciousness and occupied his body.” The corners of Gitis’s mouth curled up slightly. “The other is the Eman you know—the vice commander of Gesterbourg’s Courage Knights and Grand Knight Havel’s assistant.”

“What did he do?” Shang Jianyao didn’t hide his curiosity.

Gitis looked at the lights on the street outside. “On the one hand, killing Eman was Frances’s last wish.”

“Frances? The local Hunter’s Guild’s president, Frances?” Jiang Baimian asked with a complicated expression.

Bai Chen and the others had rather interesting expressions.

“Yes.” Gitis chuckled. “Frances is my other identity.”

Good heavens, three of the five people on the list are you… It’s no wonder you dared to take on the deep inquiry mission and receive a Grand Knight gold coin each. Isn’t this using Destiny Connection to flip through memories? Long Yuehong didn’t expect the truth.

Shang Jianyao was ‘shocked.’ “Smith is you too?”

“No, Smith is someone who’s relatively easy to obtain information from, and so is Mor. Yes, as long as you pay him enough.” Gitis shook her head in denial. “Just seven to eight bodies leave me in a daze. I feel like I can split up at any moment, so I really don’t dare to add any more.”

She didn’t mention how many bodies she controlled and even left some leeway.

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said, “You have to learn how to reconcile yourselves.”

Gitis looked confused, unable to understand what this meant.

“Why did Frances kill Eman?” Jiang Baimian steered the topic back on track.

Gitis paused before saying, “Eman is a strict person. He will also mete out excessive punishment to the people around him despite them making small mistakes.

“Frances’s son originally followed him as a knight, but he accidentally made a mistake and angered Eman. Normally speaking, that mistake would only result in ten lashes, but Eman doubled it and did it himself.

“Frances’s son was seriously injured because of this, and he later contracted other diseases due to bad luck before finally losing his life.” Gitis paused and said, “I agreed to Frances’s request for another reason: After obtaining so much information, I learned that many people in the factory contracted diseases, were injured, were overly exhausted, and even died. It’s not that there’s no way to resolve it, but a large number of people above are unwilling to resolve it, believing that this will reduce the benefits they obtain.

“Eman is the representative of this group of people. Heh heh, he will even showcase his chivalry from time to time and donate to the hospital or charity—how touching.

“When I found an opportunity to shatter his consciousness and occupy his body, his breakdown, pain, and weakness were no different from ordinary people and low-ranking knights he looked down on.”

“What about now? Has the factory’s situation changed?” Shang Jianyao was concerned about this matter.

“There have been certain changes under Eman’s hard work,” Gitis replied.

Shang Jianyao was very gratified. “He’s a real knight now.”

Undead Knight… Long Yuehong couldn’t help but criticize inwardly.

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and asked Gitis, “What disease did your parents contract?”

“My father has a serious lung disease, and this has something to do with the factory’s environment. My mother broke down from exhaustion.” Gitis revealed a sad expression. “I’ve been buying the corresponding drugs and biological agents for them, but I can barely maintain their health. They haven’t deteriorated, but they haven’t improved much.”

Unfortunately, the biological agents we carry with us are either used to stall time for the dying or treat all kinds of external wounds and infectious diseases. They aren’t suitable… Yes, there’s a nutritional biological agent that can be used for physical collapse. Although this targets the recovery of the serious injuries Little Red experienced back then, it can also improve the physical condition of people suffering from exhaustion… Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully.

“We have a biological agent that should be useful to your mother. I want to use two to exchange for Eman and Frances’s answers and three Grand Knight gold coins.”

Two coins were for the money they still owed Gitis, and one was used to replenish their food reserves.