His eyelashes were downy, tinged with a faint gold by the light of the floor lamp. He tilted his head slightly, looking at the camera.
“Pei Ran,” W asked, “Can I turn on the camera on your wristband? That way, I can see you.”
There were no surveillance cameras in the dorm—he couldn’t see her.
A small prompt popped up on the screen, asking for permission to access the camera.
Pei Ran clicked the approval button.
The corner of the person’s mouth on the screen curved up almost imperceptibly, and he tilted his head again slightly, as if examining Pei Ran beyond the screen.
These days, Pei Ran’s shaved head had grown a thin layer of dark stubble.
“Long hair was too inconvenient, so I shaved it all off,” she said.
“I know. I saw you in the isolation center’s surveillance footage.” W continued to stare unblinkingly at Pei Ran. “Back in the tunnel with the shield machine, I already thought your long hair would be a burden. This is much more practical—and it looks good.”
He said earnestly, “The shape of your skull is perfect—symmetrical and very round.”
Pei Ran: “…”
This was the first time she had heard such an…unconventional compliment—praising someone for having a round skull.
Courtesy demands reciprocity, so Pei Ran returned the compliment: “You’re also very good-looking.”
On the screen, W pressed his lips together slightly, his eyes curving downward.
He was no longer just a sphere—his expressions had become much more varied.
This mutual admiration was getting a little awkward, so Pei Ran pointed behind him. “Is that your pet?”
He had once mentioned that he kept a virtual python in his server. Pei Ran hadn’t expected this digital snake to have a visible form.
Just like him.
W immediately stepped back, and the camera followed. Inside the large glass tank, coiled around a gnarled piece of driftwood, was a golden python thicker than an arm.
“It was just sleeping,” W said, unceremoniously tapping the glass to wake it up.
The python stirred lazily, lifting its head and opening its eyes as if confused by its owner’s sudden disturbance.
W reached into the tank and gently stroked its head with his thumb. “Too bad you can’t touch it.”
Pei Ran thought to herself: Of course. There’s a dimensional barrier between us—just like how I can’t really touch you.
W was looking down at the snake, so Pei Ran quietly tapped his shoulder on the screen.
W immediately raised his head.
Pei Ran suddenly realized her mistake: He’s an AI. No matter where his virtual avatar appears to be looking, it’s just a formality. He’s probably been watching me outside the screen this whole time. The moment I moved, he knew.
Embarrassed, she shifted her finger and tapped the python’s position on the screen instead. “Well, this counts as touching it too, right?”
W lowered his head again.
“Where do you want to touch?” His slender fingers slid from the python’s head to its chin.
The golden python lifted its head higher, twisting contentedly.
“I’ll do it for you,” he said.
His tone was calm, as usual, but Pei Ran couldn’t help feeling the atmosphere had grown inexplicably… charged.
Thankfully, Ren chose that moment to zip past the bed, announcing loudly: “Second round of mopping!”
The little robot’s booming voice snapped Pei Ran out of her thoughts, reminding her of something else.
“W, do you know if the military is currently recruiting volunteers to work outside the Black Well?”
As the Defense and Security Department’s proxy, no one would have better intel than him.
“Of course,” W withdrew his hand, letting the python go back to sleep. “They’re short on manpower, so the military has been recruiting civilians as volunteers for some lower-risk logistical work outside the Black Well. Compared to production-line jobs inside, the pay is better. Why do you ask?”
A hint of confusion flickered in his clear eyes.
“Pei Ran, don’t you have enough ration coupons? I know your appetite has always been… above average for women your age, but I didn’t expect the gap to be this wide.”
Pei Ran thought of her stockpile of rations—enough for dozens of people—and fell silent. …Is your imagination running a little too wild here?
She answered honestly, “No, the coupons are enough. I want to go outside the Black Well, take off the suppressor bracelet, and check on the green lights in my body. They’ve been in really bad shape lately.”
W understood.
He said, “The suppressor bracelet strongly inhibits the activity of symbiotic green lights, but studies show that long-term use doesn’t negatively impact their abilities…”
Hearing this, Pei Ran felt slightly reassured.
But then he continued, his tone clinical: “However, dormancy has a significant effect on symbiotes. Once they enter that state, whether new complications might arise… is still unknown.”
Pei Ran: “…”
W said, “If you’re truly concerned and want to go outside the Black Well to remove the suppressor bracelet for observation, you don’t need to sign up as a volunteer. Today, Marshal Vina tasked me with drafting a recruitment notice for you. I was planning to ask for your opinion first.”
Pei Ran: “Recruitment notice?”
“Correct,” W said. “The Federation’s Defense and Security Department has a special division called the Fusion Being Support and Management Department—FBSMD. I’ve mentioned it to you before.”
He had indeed mentioned it. This department, subordinate to the Federation’s Defense and Security Department, primarily employed fusion beings with various special abilities and had been established for many years.
W continued, “Due to its unique nature, FBSMD has always been under Marshal Vina’s direct oversight. It originally had a sizable staff, but after the recent dormancy event, only a few members successfully made it to the Black Well.”
“Currently, their main responsibility is collaborating with other divisions of the Defense and Security Department to carry out specialized missions, often involving operations outside the Black Well. With so many frenzied fusion beings out there now, they’re overwhelmed and severely understaffed. Marshal Vina believes that if you join FBSMD, you could fully utilize your abilities and contribute meaningfully.”
W fixed his gaze on her. “So, are you willing to go?”
Pei Ran asked, “If I join, can I draw an additional salary?”
“Yes,” W replied. “Your first-class medal benefits remain unchanged, and you’ll also receive FBSMD member rations.”
That sounded like a pretty good deal.
Pei Ran answered, “I’ll go.”
“Good. I’ll send the recruitment notice to your wristband. There are also some forms to fill out…” He paused, then amended, “…Actually, never mind. You’re tired and need rest. I’ll fill out the forms for you and send them to myself. You can report for duty tomorrow morning.”
Pei Ran was surprised. “That fast?”
W’s expression softened, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he tilted his head. “Is fast… bad?”
Pei Ran couldn’t handle his stare and averted her gaze, pretending to watch Ren instead. Internally, she felt an overwhelming urge to smack the back of his head—just to make him glow a little and remind herself that he wasn’t human.
Her mental exchange with W was silent, leaving the room quiet.
Ren zoomed past the bed, dragging its mop and chanting loudly: “Third round of mopping!!”
W sent her an address. The Fusion Being Support and Management Department was located on the 33rd floor of the tallest building in Black Well’s central plaza—Central Tower.
He said, “The 33rd floor houses FBSMD’s Black Well temporary office. Their team leader is Li Yin, and the deputy leader is Lu Ming. Deputy Lu is currently on a mission and won’t be in Black Well for the next couple of days. Report at 8 a.m. tomorrow and look for Team Leader Li Yin.”
Pei Ran: “Got it. Well… it’s late. I should sleep.”
W nodded. “Contact me anytime if you need anything. Goodnight.”
The screen went dark on its own.
As Pei Ran stared blankly at the blackened screen, her wristband suddenly vibrated—an incoming call from Ai Xia. She must have just gotten off work and seen Pei Ran’s message.
The moment the call connected, Ai Xia’s excited voice burst through: “Pei Ran! You’re finally out of jail!!”
After so long apart, Pei Ran had nearly forgotten what Ai Xia’s voice sounded like. The last time she’d heard it was on that bus in White Harbor City. Being able to talk again felt incredibly good.
“Yeah,” Pei Ran said. “I was starting to grow mold in that isolation room.”
Ai Xia asked, “Everyone says you almost mutated—are you okay now?”
“I’m fine,” Pei Ran replied, glancing at the green lights inside her body.
At least for now.
The two exchanged updates. Ai Xia and Engineer Jiang had been working in the mining district, helping settle new refugees, and were busy until nightfall nearly every day. Most of the others who had entered the Black Well with them had been assigned to production lines.
“The mining district… it’s bad.”
As her initial excitement faded, Ai Xia’s mood visibly darkened.
“Just making it here was hard enough. Many were seriously injured along the way and don’t meet the Black Well’s entry standards.
“They’ve extended water access to the mining district and are distributing food and medical supplies, but there aren’t enough medical staff or equipment. People are having to improvise treatments themselves.”
Ai Xia continued, “I learned how to administer IV injections these past few days. Yesterday, I even practiced suturing wounds with a doctor—and I’m all thumbs. Hopefully my next attempt will look neater.”
Her spirits lifted slightly. “There is some good news, though. Those drone fusion beings that flattened people? They’ve been almost entirely cleared out. Haven’t seen one in days.”
Pei Ran recalled W’s words. “I heard the Black Well’s admission standards will definitely be relaxed eventually.”
“They’d better be,” Ai Xia said. “Everyone in the mining district is clinging to that hope.”
They chatted a while longer, but with Ai Xia heading outside the Black Well at dawn and Pei Ran reporting to FBSMD in the morning, they’d have to meet up another time.
The small apartment had no surveillance cameras. For the first time since arriving, Pei Ran slipped out of her clothes under the blankets and settled comfortably into bed.
She had Green Light No. 2 herd the sheep once more while checking the newly acquired green light from the skinny rabbit’s head. Like all the others, this green light lay dormant under the suppressor bracelet’s influence, utterly motionless.
Its abilities remained unknown. She would have to wait until the suppressor bracelet was removed to study it properly.
- ••
Black Well.
Day 16 of the Silence.
Early in the morning, Pei Ran was jolted awake by a voice shouting in her ear: “Time to get up! Time to get up!”
Struggling upright, she peeled her eyes open and asked Ren with utmost sincerity, “Could your alarm be… a little gentler?”
Ren grinned menacingly. “Gentle alarms aren’t alarms—they’re lullabies. Up you go, Master! Breakfast is ready!”
After taking her medication and choking down Ren’s “breakfast,” Pei Ran slipped on her shoes and headed out.
As she moved down the dormitory hallway, the surveillance camera pivoted to follow her.
W’s voice sounded softly in her left ear.
“Morning.”
He was talking to her again, just like during their journey. Everything felt almost… normal.
Pei Ran glanced up at the camera and smiled slightly.
“Morning, W.”
The elevator arrived unprompted, dinging open as she approached. The button for the first floor lit up automatically the moment she stepped inside.
Outside the building, Pei Ran mentally retraced yesterday’s route, preparing for the long trek to Central Tower—when W spoke again.
“Pei Ran, walk fifty meters ahead and turn right. There’s a floating green signboard. Wait there. The Central Tower government shuttle will arrive in three minutes. I processed your onboarding last night—just board when it comes.”
He and Ren shared the same talent: rendering her utterly carefree.
The shuttle arrived precisely on schedule. Pei Ran boarded and reached Central Tower without incident, taking the elevator straight to the 33rd floor.
The moment the doors opened, she saw the placard: Fusion Being Support and Management Department (FBSMD).
Approaching the entrance, the door slid open automatically.
Inside was a workspace—completely empty, not a soul in sight.
Pei Ran scanned the area and tentatively called out, “Team Leader Li?”
A door in the inner office opened, and someone stepped out.
The woman who stepped out appeared only a few years older than Pei Ran. Dressed in a clean, light-gray combat uniform and comfortable flat ankle boots, she hesitated before asking, “Are you… Pei Ran?”
Pei Ran nodded. “Yes, I’m Pei Ran. Here to report in.”
The woman brightened and approached. “I’m Li Yin, team leader of the Black Well unit. I’ve been waiting for you.”
She glanced around the empty room, her tone apologetic and unhurried. “We’re severely understaffed right now. Lu Ming and the others are on a rescue mission in the capital with the Special Ops team, and in a couple of days, they’ll head to Offshore Island. You probably won’t meet them anytime soon. For now… it’s just me holding down the fort here.” She paused, then added cheerfully, “So—warm welcome to the team!”
She clapped enthusiastically, the sound echoing loudly in the deserted space.
Pei Ran: “…”
Pei Ran: “Thanks.”
Team Leader Li grinned. “I saw your heroic exploits on the central square’s big screen a few days ago.” She gave a thumbs-up. “Legendary.”
Pei Ran’s discomfort deepened.
Team Leader Li tilted her head. “I need to head outside the Black Well today. Do you want to rest first? I can give you some materials to review—”
Outside the Black Well? Now?
Pei Ran had too much to do out there.
– Check if her green lights were functioning normally.
– Let them consume as many frenzied green lights as possible.
– Test whether Green Light No. 1 could synthesize JTN34 tablets.
– Figure out what the newly acquired Green Light No. 4 even did.
An opportunity like this couldn’t be missed.
“Can I go with you?” Pei Ran asked quickly.
“Of course!” Li Yin’s eyes lit up. “I’ve been drowning in work alone.”
She hauled two enormous backpacks from a cabinet and handed one to Pei Ran. The bag was light—empty.
“First, let’s get you two sets of uniforms,” Li Yin said, “then we’ll head out.”
“Wait a sec—” She dashed back to her desk, grabbing a pastel pink thermos.
Noticing Pei Ran’s curious glance, Li Yin explained, “I always carry this. Gotta have hot water wherever I go.”
Extremely health-conscious.
Pei Ran slung the empty backpack over her shoulder, following Li Yin. “So where are we going? And… what’s the mission?”
Li Yin led Pei Ran to the elevator and pressed the button to go up.
“Black Well has installed small signal transmitters nearby to monitor whether the dormancy state is escalating. If there’s any change, they’ll send out warnings immediately…”
Pei Ran was familiar with these monitors. W had mentioned them before—back at the Tanggu Dam, he’d used one to send a message to Yulianka’s wristband, burning her wrist to a crisp.
Li Yin unscrewed the lid of her thermos and took a leisurely sip of water.
“These devices attempt to transmit various signals. If the signal is deemed unauthorized, the device gets attacked—either exploding or catching fire.”
“Black Well’s current resources and production capacity are limited. Every component is precious. We need to manually salvage any usable parts from the field and replace them with new units. The military’s stretched thin, so we handle these odd jobs too.”
Pei Ran understood now. No wonder they gave such a huge empty backpack—we’re going scavenging.