Chapter 343 - Bidding (1/2)
Translator: CKtalon
Jiang Baimian’s expression gradually turned solemn. She didn’t say, “Isn’t this too coincidental?”
Instead, she directly made a judgment: There’s something wrong with this!
It was completely understandable for the two of them to have such a dream because of the same encounter. However, it was unbelievable that they woke up at the same time without external interference.
After pondering for a few seconds, Jiang Baimian looked at the door and deliberated before saying, “The boss did it? He’s an Awakened in the dream domain and wants to confirm what we discovered this afternoon? Hmm… If he were really an Awakened, our act back then would’ve been useless. He could clearly sense us approaching the door and returning to the lobby…”
Shang Jianyao nodded before saying in confusion, “He can ask us directly. It’s not like I would lie to him.”
You make it sound like I’ll lie… Jiang Baimian didn’t retort Shang Jianyao and only criticized him inwardly.
She thought for a moment and covered her mouth to yawn. “The boss should already believe that we only heard a strange sound but failed to figure out what went wrong. Sleep and pretend nothing happened.”
This was Ugo Hotel’s ‘custom’: If you don’t ask, so won’t I.
Shang Jianyao cast his gaze at the door and said eagerly, “I’m wondering if the boss knows Oudick.”
“Awakened in the same dream domain might not necessarily believe in the same Kalendaria. Even if they believe in the same Kalendaria, they might not be in the same Church. It’s not rare for Churches that believe in the same Kalendaria to be in conflict because of their different interpretation of the scriptures,” Jiang Baimian replied. She lay down again and prepared to sleep.
Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and sighed. He pulled up the blanket and wrapped himself in it.
Nothing happened again that night. There were no more strange dreams.
The next morning, Jiang Baimian briefly shared last night’s encounter with Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Genava after breakfast that mainly consisted of bread. She also mentioned her guess.
Perhaps it was because they had already encountered a large number of Awakened and even experts with strange and terrifying abilities like DiMarco. Thus, Long Yuehong wasn’t too shocked or afraid; he only sighed with emotion. “As expected of First City. Even a random hotel owner might be an Awakened.”
Jiang Baimian took the opportunity to educate her team members. “Therefore, we can’t think too highly of ourselves. We can’t let loose just because of our past achievements.”
“What do you mean by ‘let loose?’” Genava asked, not understanding.
“It’s the antonym for ‘being down-to-earth and careful.’” Jiang Baimian helped the smart bot add to his vocabulary.
Shang Jianyao looked at Bai Chen and asked curiously, “You said that the boss has a deep friendship with the sheriff here. Do you know how they established a friendship?”
“I didn’t ask.” Bai Chen’s answer was abnormally succinct, just a little short of the words ‘none of my business.’
Shang Jianyao didn’t expect an answer at all and excitedly voiced his guess. “Could it be that he enters the sheriff’s dream every night to create all kinds of scenes to enhance their friendship? After dreaming of him many times, the sheriff feels an affinity with him whenever he sees him; hence, becoming friends with him.”
“Why does this sound a little perverse…” Long Yuehong felt that something was amiss the more he thought about it.
Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and said, “This was probably adapted from an Old World love story in the entertainment catalog.”
“Even if it’s love, it’s perverted.” Long Yuehong insisted on his opinion.
“People can’t be generalized.” Shang Jianyao ‘sincerely’ educated him. “Some people like a more perverted way of showing their love for each other.”
Jiang Baimian didn’t give Shang Jianyao a chance to continue his nonsense. She looked at the time, stood up, walked to the table, and operated the team’s radio transceiver.
She wanted to inform Zhao Zhengqi—the Zhao family’s patriarch—of their findings from yesterday’s investigation and see what he wanted to do next and what he could do.
In order to make a distinction, the Old Task Force communicated with Zhao Zhengqi using the frequency range and password that the Zhao family often used for this investigation. The schedule was also between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
…
In the Zhao family’s study in Weed City.
Zhao Zhengqi—who was drinking tea—saw his eldest son, Zhao Yide, rush in. He wanted to curse, “What’s the rush? You must stay calm in every major event.” However, he instantly recalled a particular incident from before and forcefully shut his mouth.
After carefully putting down the teacup, Zhao Zhengqi asked, “What happened?”
Zhao Yide held a piece of paper and said, “Dad, Zhang Qubing’s team sent a telegram back.”
“That fast?” Zhao Zhengqi took the piece of paper in surprise. He had just received a telegram from Lance last night saying that the investigators had just arrived in First City and had contacted him.
At a glance, Zhao Zhengqi quickly finished reading the already short telegram. “It’s suspected to be related to the Anti-intellectualism Church and Awakened abilities involving Hypnosis.”
Jiang Baimian only said the results and didn’t mention the exact investigation process. At the same time, she hid the matter of ‘memory modification’ to prevent her employer from gaining any direct suspicions.
How did they discover that memories had been modified?