Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 550: Ability Limits

If one wanted to find a figure with sufficient presence in Pangu Biology while rarely appearing in public, most employees only had one answer: Big Boss!

This true ruler of Pangu Biology almost never interfered with the company’s daily operations. She handed it over to the Board of Directors and would only give speeches and blessings to her employees through the radio system during festive seasons.

If they considered her as an Awakened who had entered the New World and retained her physical body, all of this seemed explainable and very reasonable. Of course, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao still had a limited understanding of the company’s higher-ups, especially the latter.

They only knew about the ones that often appeared in the news. Therefore, they couldn’t rule out the possibility that Pangu Biology had many similar New World-level Awakened. However, these people weren’t like Big Boss—they would occasionally appear and make their presence known. Even if they woke up, they would at most meet members from their small circle and secretly deal with certain matters.

Upon hearing Shang Jianyao’s answer, Jiang Baimian subconsciously looked around and confirmed that there were no additional electronic products in the room. She said with a serious expression, “Watch your words and actions.”

Without waiting for Shang Jianyao to respond with ‘weren’t you the one asking,’ Jiang Baimian laughed. “This is actually a good thing. It means that we have someone to rely on and that we aren’t inferior to other factions. I’ve always wondered if Big Boss gets bored from staying at the bottom basement with her rarely coming out. Think about it—we’ve been in the company for so long that we yearn to go to the surface, much less a big shot like her who should’ve experienced the Old World’s destruction. From the looks of it, there’s indeed a reason.”

Ignoring the promotion of the employees, Jiang Baimian—who came from a family in management—knew that ever since Pangu Biology was established or migrated into the underground building, Big Boss had always been the same person. She had never been replaced.

This made her occasionally wonder if they had secretly changed personnel so that most people didn’t notice. After all, Pangu Biology was ahead of other large factions in cloning technology.

Otherwise, with Big Boss’s age exceeding 90, the voice played from the radio shouldn’t appear so magnetic and melodious. She sounded more like a mature woman in her thirties, like Jiang Baimian’s immediate superior—the Security Department’s deputy minister, Xenny.

The honest Shang Jianyao immediately retorted Jiang Baimian. “Maybe she just likes to play games in her room, just like Xiaochong.”

Jiang Baimian replied angrily, “Xiaochong also goes out for walks occasionally. He even rides a horse!”

At this point, she paused and hesitantly said, “There should be more than one powerhouse in the company that has entered the New World. Otherwise, there’s no way for it to fend off large factions like First City. Big Boss should be the most special one among them, something like Xiaochong?”

Shang Jianyao revealed a thoughtful expression. “Then, what pets does she have...”

“I mean in terms of level, not identity.” Jiang Baimian sighed helplessly.

In her and Shang Jianyao’s hearts, Xiaochong’s identity was the King of the Heartless, a slave owner of mutated creatures, and a poisonous sore in the Ashlands.

Without giving Shang Jianyao a chance to divert the topic, Jiang Baimian asked, “You didn’t wait to modify your room the moment you returned, explore the Mind Corridor, and experiment with your abilities, right?”

Shang Jianyao revealed a terrified expression. “How do you know?”

Jiang Baimian chuckled. “I can guess it with my toes! It’s about time!”

She picked up her cup, drank a mouthful of warm water, and curiously asked, “Have you figured out the limits of those abilities?”

While waiting for Long Yuehong’s injuries to recover in First City and on the return trip to Pangu Biology, Shang Jianyao had been exploring his newly obtained abilities and the qualitative changes that occurred due to the advancement. But due to Du Heng’s exhortations, he didn’t do anything major to his room or the Mind Corridor. He ended up obtaining inaccurate feedback from the various details.

Shang Jianyao nodded, and his expression became serious. “Roughly. Thought Guidance can be done using the method of Thought Implantation or in the form of Inference Clowning. The premise is that both rely on words and that the target can hear them clearly.”

Jiang Baimian recalled Wu Meng’s bizarreness and asked with interest, “In other words, the target will be affected no matter where they are?”

“Yes, the limits of this ability are the intersection of my sound transmission range and the target’s hearing. It’s not fixed.” Shang Jianyao revealed a look of anticipation as he spoke. “If we want to use electronic products to enhance the range of influence, I need to inject power in them. I’m still inferior to Wu Meng now, and the broadcasting effects will be much worse.”

“That’s very normal. You’ve just advanced, so how can you compare to Wu Meng? Even Wu Meng—who has been sealed for many years—isn’t someone the current you can compare to.” Jiang Baimian laughed. “It seems like the telecom fraud we previously imagined has some basis to be realized. It’s just that the various facilities in the Ashlands are backward. Ignoring the telephone, only a few people can listen to the radio. If it were the Old World, you would definitely be like a fish in water.”

“That’s right, that’s right.” At some point in time, the one in control of the body had become the obsequious Shang Jianyao.

He then became rash and bold. “If I use the team’s landline to call the board members, can I easily ‘persuade’ them?”

“The premise is that they don’t know about this ability and that they aren’t powerful Awakened themselves.” Jiang Baimian decided to stop the increasingly dangerous discussion and asked, “What about the other abilities?”

Shang Jianyao directly said without needing to recall anything, “The qualitative change that Literary Hipster-Corny Person underwent is its range reaching 80 meters. These two abilities are actually very similar in many aspects, which is the reason for the fusion. However, there are still certain differences. Literary Hipster is more inclined to make the other party empathetic or have self-pity. Corny Person makes the target irrational while liking to do the opposite.”

As if afraid that Jiang Baimian wouldn’t understand, he gave an example. “If I’m injured by the target and am on the ground, unable to move, Literary Hipster can make the other party recall the injuries they’ve suffered or similar instances that they’ve seen or heard. From there, they will develop empathy and shed tears, deciding to let me live. As for Corny Person, it’s more likely that they will become arrogant and decide to humiliate me. They won’t be in a rush to finish me off, and I’ll end up having a chance to escape as a result.”

“I feel like the word ’empathy’ is about to be corrupted by you.” Jiang Baimian couldn’t help but laugh. “What about self-pity?”

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said, “When I hurt the target, they won’t attempt to counterattack. Instead, they will sigh with emotion and say, ‘I’m sorry for being born human,’ or they will sing some sad songs that touch them. If there is liquor, they might very well choose to get themselves drunk.”

“S-seriously...” Jiang Baimian couldn’t find the words to describe it. “What about the range and number of people that can be affected with Limbs Immobility?”

“120 meters.” Shang Jianyao stroked his chin and sighed. “If I chose Increased Distance, the range would definitely exceed 200 meters.”

In Awakened battles, the distance was sometimes more important than abilities.

“Accept what you’ve chosen. It’s useless to regret it anyway,” Jiang Baimian consoled him.

Shang Jianyao continued, “The number of people that can be affected by the three abilities is currently 20. The range of Electromagnetic Interference is 120 meters. Based on the ability with the furthest range, Matter Interference is relatively weak with a range of only 50 meters.”

“It’s already amazing. As expected of an Awakened at the Mind Corridor level,” Jiang Baimian praised him as a team leader. She then revealed a thoughtful expression. “Awakened who have explored the Mind Corridor’s depths seem to have an intrinsic difference from ordinary Mind Corridor-level Awakened. The former’s aura can be separated and left in a room in the Mind Corridor, or it can be combined with an item in reality and be fixed, becoming a magical item. The latter can’t do that.

“Therefore, apart from obtaining some useful items, will it also have the effect of tempering oneself during the exploration of those mind rooms? Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a difference in intrinsic strength when one explores deeper...”

“I haven’t tried it yet.” Shang Jianyao smiled. “In any case, I didn’t hide it from the company this time. I should receive some guidance in the future.”

“You didn’t try?” Jiang Baimian was surprised. “With your personality, how can you hold back?”

“People are different; every me has their own thoughts. Sometimes, we have to respect the results of the vote,” Shang Jianyao replied in all seriousness.

Jiang Baimian was speechless.

At this moment, Bai Chen and Long Yuehong entered the office one after another.

After sharing their previous discussion, Jiang Baimian said to her three team members, “Hit the gym and get some training to stay in tip-top condition. Also, remember to cut your hair later. It’s better to look tidy.”

“Yes, Team Leader!” Shang Jianyao’s response was the same as always, without a hint of change.

Long Yuehong and Bai Chen replied in unison.

After entering the training room, Shang Jianyao glanced at Long Yuehong and did a single-hand push-up. “Let’s compete.”

Long Yuehong swung his right arm in exasperation and amusement. “Are you sure?”

He could now stand upside down with one finger. Of course, it had to be done using his right hand’s finger.

Shang Jianyao smiled and replied, “How am I to steel our determination to get another mechanical arm in the future without competing?”

What a strong obsession... Long Yuehong couldn’t help but mutter.

At this moment, Bai Chen interrupted. “Actually, we should be qualified to apply for bionic artificial intelligence armor. It doesn’t have to be a mechanical arm.”

Upon hearing this, Long Yuehong’s eyes darted around as he deliberated and asked, “Little White, you seem eager to carry out missions on the surface? Isn’t it nice to live peacefully in the company?”

Bai Chen glanced at him and pursed her lips. “This stability is too fragile. Maybe I’ll contract the Heartless disease next month.”