Pei Ran saw that, in the illusion, not far away, between the undulating and crisscrossing rift valleys, there was a large flatland.
That was the western entrance of Black Well.
However, the aircraft did not fly directly to the western entrance, but instead began to slowly descend at some distance away and landed steadily.
The illusion disappeared, and the heavy rain and thunderstorm returned.
Pei Ran firmed her resolve and said to W, “We go west.”
The aircraft turned its direction and plunged straight into the most violent storm.
Lightning struck down one after another, splitting the sky and cracking the earth, as if it wanted to tear everything in the world apart.
The downpour was torrential, pouring down desperately as if it didn’t cost anything.
The icy rain soaked through her clothes, streamed down from the brim of her hood, and blocked Pei Ran’s vision, but the storm hitting the front window of the cockpit had already made everything outside invisible.
Only the lightning flashed ceaselessly, like rising and falling camera flashes, shining at an extremely close distance.
The Black Falcon ignored everything, striving to maintain its flying posture, piercing through bolt after bolt of lightning, resolutely advancing forward.
Suddenly, the rain gradually lessened.
Flying a bit further, it miraculously stopped.
The aircraft had charged into the fiercest part of the thunderstorm and, against all odds, escaped death, leaving it behind.
The sky was still dark. Below was no longer the sea, but the boundless land of the Eastern Manya Continent, where clusters of dark houses and trees could vaguely be seen.
Pei Ran turned her head and saw that Abu was still unconscious, eyes peacefully closed. Nan Yi’s eyes, on the other hand, were wide open, full of disbelief, his whole face saying: We flew out just like that?
Keep going forward, Abu will definitely wake up, and Black Well will definitely be reached.
The mechanical spider also relaxed, crawling onto Pei Ran’s shoulder and crouching down, gazing together with her at the pitch-black night sky ahead.
W said, “Pei Ran, I have good news.”
Pei Ran: “Speak.”
“I re-checked the surveillance at the entrance of the temporary resettlement point for the mining district refugees, repeatedly comparing everyone’s facial and body structures, and found Kuchi. She did come to Black Well and entered the resettlement point in the mining district.”
He sent a photo.
The photo was taken from a surveillance camera, but after being enlarged it was very clear. However, the Kuchi in the photo did not look like a young girl. She appeared to be a slightly overweight, short-haired middle-aged man, wearing a bulky plaid quilted jacket and carrying a hiking backpack.
“She had plastic surgery?”
“Yes, not just plastic surgery — she deliberately gained weight too, completely changing her appearance.”
She was injured. The front of her jacket was half open, revealing blood seeping from her abdomen.
W said, “She seems to be seriously hurt. Making it to Black Well was already no easy feat.”
If Kuchi was indeed at the refugee resettlement point in the mining district, that would be perfect. Finding her meant they could find the legendary File No. 10.
The Black Falcon flew across the dark, silent continent, continuing toward the northwest. On the horizon behind them, a sliver of dawn gradually emerged.
As the sky brightened, the land below was no longer yellow — it had turned into the reddish-brown color Pei Ran was familiar with.
W said in Pei Ran’s ear, “I checked the coordinates. We’re on the right course — Black Well is just ahead.”
Someone lightly knocked on the back of the pilot seat.
Pei Ran turned around and saw Nan Yi, exhausted from surviving the night, deeply asleep.
But Abu had opened her eyes and sat up.
She was the one who knocked: [Are we almost there?]
Pei Ran gave her a faint smile. Walking forward along this trajectory of fate, just like the illusion from the prophecy she had seen with her own eyes, she lifted her hand and tapped out the words:
[Yes, Black Well is just ahead. We’re almost there.]
She turned back around and soon saw the flatland outside Black Well’s western entrance from a distance.
She only glanced at it once, not flying directly over, but instead searched for another landing spot nearby.
In the illusion of the prophecy, she had done the same — Pei Ran knew exactly why.
People who lived on the offshore islands were either rich or powerful. Owning a private aircraft and being found by her wasn’t all that strange. But actually flying Xing Wuxian’s Black Falcon S801 into Black Well — someone with intentions might recognize it.
Pei Ran piloted the Black Falcon into a smooth descent, landing on a flat area.
As soon as the aircraft landed, Nan Yi suddenly jolted awake and looked around.
Pei Ran turned to him, gave a thumbs-up to reassure him, then opened the hatch, jumped down first, and helped Abu down after her.
Abu was in bad shape, swaying like she could collapse at any moment. Nan Yi also got off the aircraft.
Pei Ran pointed in the direction of Black Well’s western entrance, then looped Abu’s arm around her own neck and supported her forward.
After walking some distance, Pei Ran called up Green Light No. 1 in her mind.
No. 1 had slept enough — it woke up as soon as she summoned it.
Pei Ran activated Green Light and quietly wrote:
[The Black Falcon is blown to pieces.]
She paused, then continued writing:
Look—not—rec—og—niz—
Green Light jumped once more to the right.
Pei Ran wrote: [able]
This time, Green Light stopped.
The last two times she used it on the offshore island, the situation had been too urgent to experiment. Turns out it had completely digested the lunatic-state light particles inside it and had upgraded — it could now write eleven characters.
Pei Ran didn’t rush to put a period. On a whim, she added a comma in the middle.
[The Black Falcon is blown to pieces, look—not—recognizable]
The comma was successfully added and didn’t count toward the character limit.
That was wonderful.
With punctuation, the meaning could be expressed more clearly, with less ambiguity. At this rate, maybe one day she could use Green Light No. 1 to write a short essay.
Pei Ran drew a period.
A massive explosion sounded behind them with a loud bang.
All three of them turned their heads at once.
The Black Falcon, which had been quietly resting on the red earth, suddenly exploded for no apparent reason. Flames shot up, and countless fragments scattered all over the ground.
Just as Pei Ran had written — completely blown to bits, with no way to tell what it used to be.
Nan Yi and Abu weren’t all that surprised.
In this state of stillness, it was completely normal for things to explode — especially since it had just spent the entire night barely holding itself together through flight.
Nan Yi’s expression was full of relief — relief that it had waited until now to explode and hadn’t taken the three of them with it in the sky.
Amid the sound of the aircraft’s explosion, W said, “I’ve already informed Black Well that you’ve returned. The vehicle sent to pick you up is already on the way.”
He was very thoughtful — sending someone to pick them up, saving them the trouble of walking.
This time back, Pei Ran noticed that many of the nearby rift valleys now had temporary metal bridges built across them, making it easier for antique vehicles to drive through. Everything in Black Well was steadily getting on track.
On the red horizon, two military vehicles could be seen heading in their direction.
This difficult journey had finally come to an end.
- ••
Black Well.
Day 19 after entering the Silence.
Central Tower, small conference room on the top floor.
The Temporary Decision-Making Committee was holding a routine regular meeting. On the virtual screens in front of every seat, the same content was being displayed — the population growth curve of Black Well.
Security Agent W was briefing the committee members on the current situation.
“Since Black Well opened its gates to refugees, the population growth curve has been less than ideal. There is still a large labor shortage across our production lines.”
W said, “However, the number of people stranded in the mining district’s temporary resettlement point — those who don’t meet the requirements to enter Black Well — is growing rapidly. The resettlement point will soon need further expansion.”
W switched the screen to display the growth curve of refugee numbers in the temporary resettlement point.
He said, “I still strongly recommend easing the entry requirements for Black Well.”
Marshal Vina waited until he finished speaking, then said to everyone, “I very much agree with the Agent’s view. Our top priority is to fill the labor shortage. Black Well has been open for many days now, and the mass influx of refugees we previously feared has not occurred. I believe it’s necessary for us to begin moderately loosening the entry conditions.”
General Eugene nodded.
“In terms of age, we can be a bit more lenient as well. Many people over sixty are still capable of working. And as for educational background, there’s no need to set the bar so rigidly — healthy laborers are already extremely valuable.”
Marshal Vina said, “I reviewed the report W submitted last night in detail. At present, the largest group stranded in the mining district consists of the injured.”
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Park Myeong-cheol said, “The problem is, what Black Well needs is healthy labor. A large number of wounded will only increase the burden. Our medical system is already under considerable pressure.”
Marshal Vina asked W, “What about your previous projections for future population growth in Black Well?”
The screen immediately changed to display a series of charts.
Marshal Vina looked at them closely and frowned.
W said, “This is a forecast based on current statistical data. At present, the number of children entering Black Well is extremely low — almost negligible. And under the current circumstances, the willingness to have children is very low. However, if Black Well can maintain its current state of stability and safety, things may gradually improve over time.”
Just surviving was already difficult. No one wanted to have children. Black Well had no next generation.
Finance Minister Vasani said, “Regarding the issue of birth rates, I actually have an idea…”
Marshal Vina: “Go ahead.”
Chief Executive Basserway glanced at his watch, then leaned over and reminded quietly, “Marshal Vina, perhaps we can continue the discussion later. We need to head to the Red Zone now — it’s time.”
Marshal Vina paused for a moment, then nodded. “Right. I would’ve forgotten if you hadn’t reminded me.”
Black Well, West Entrance.
Pei Ran and Abu stepped down from the military vehicle, performed the routine iris scan, and allowed the soldiers to put on the suppression wristbands. To their surprise, a group of people was already waiting there.
Most likely, they were all here to receive Nan Yi.
Sure enough, several military personnel came forward to greet Nan Yi with polite small talk.
W had also arranged a vehicle to take the injured Abu directly to the hospital.
But Abu didn’t get in. Her gaze was fixed on Nan Yi — the person she had risked a blow to the head to save. She didn’t look away until he got in the car and left.
Then she looked at Pei Ran.
“These past few days, sometimes I can occasionally see farther into the future. Just a few scattered fragments — not anything I try to see; they just show up on their own in my mind. Last night while I was unconscious, I saw it again.”
Pei Ran asked her, “What kind of fragments?”
Abu shook her head with concern. “I can’t say.”
From her expression, it didn’t look like it was anything good.
Being a prophet meant carrying far more than an ordinary person — far greater responsibility. Maybe someone like Abu really was a good fit for that role.
She tapped open her wristband, brought it close to Pei Ran’s, and sent a friend request.
Abu said, “We’ll meet again.”
The words seemed to carry a deeper meaning. Both of them were in the same department, so of course they’d meet again — but Abu clearly didn’t mean it that way.
She didn’t say anything else, just got into the car and left.
One way or another, she could finally go home.
Pei Ran’s military rucksack had originally held several days’ worth of rations, but it had been left behind in Nan Yi’s villa and wasn’t brought out. From noon yesterday until now, she had been rushing around nonstop and hadn’t eaten anything. She was almost starving.
On top of that, after being drenched in last night’s heavy rain, her clothes were still half-wet — and freezing.
But not far off, a black vehicle was approaching, with a conspicuous golden triple-iris emblem painted on its door.
A well-dressed middle-aged man stepped out and walked toward Pei Ran.
He came up to her. “Pei Ran? We heard you just got back and came specifically to pick you up.”
Pei Ran said nothing.
The man’s attitude was quite courteous. “The royal family has decided to honor the heroes who made outstanding contributions to Black Well since the Silence began. A medal ceremony will be held this morning at the residence in the Red Zone, presided over by His Majesty himself. We sincerely invite you to attend.”
Pei Ran immediately asked in her mind: “W?”
W replied just as quickly, “I see it. Yes, this is real — a medal ceremony for you and other Federal First-Class Medal recipients. The Chief Executive and Marshal Vina are already there. It’s a public event with lots of people. It should be safe.”
Pei Ran asked the middle-aged man, “Now?”
“Yes, now,” the man said. “We have to hurry, or we’ll be late. Let’s go.”
Avoiding it would only raise suspicion — better to go take a look. Pei Ran nodded. “Alright.”
She got into the back seat of the black car.
The middle-aged man glanced at her combat trousers, still soaked, and her mud-caked military boots, but said nothing — only instructed the driver to depart.
On the day she first entered Black Well, Pei Ran had been confined in an armored vehicle. When she passed one of these black cars painted with the triple-iris emblem, it had never crossed her mind that one day, she too would be sitting inside.
The black car’s performance was excellent — smooth and fast, far superior to those beat-up antique vehicles. In times like these, she had no idea how they even managed to find a car like this and bring it into Black Well.
It didn’t take long to reach the Red Zone.
The Red Zone wasn’t far from the Yellow Zone where Pei Ran lived. She had studied the map — the area wasn’t large, could even be called small — but it was drastically different from the rest of Black Well.
In other parts of Black Well, there were either dense high-rises or sprawling factories — none of that existed here.
The streets of the Red Zone were lined with small two- to three-story buildings. Each one was surrounded by tall walls, heavily fortified, completely obscuring whatever was inside.
The car pulled up in front of a large gate, where armed Black Well soldiers were on guard.
Pei Ran asked W, “The royal family lives here?”
W said, “Yes. Due to the royal family’s special status, this residence was specially approved by Black Well’s Temporary Decision-Making Committee.”
The title of royalty may have been stripped, but the status remained. A centipede doesn’t die easily — most likely the work of godlike wealth behind the scenes.
The gates opened, and the car slowly drove in. Inside was a three-story villa, sleek and modern in design — none of the antique estate style typical of the royal family’s century-old residences on the offshore islands.
Above the front door, two black flags were suspended in a crisscross pattern. Both were vertical in shape, embroidered with golden triple irises and trimmed with golden tassels around the edges.
Beneath the flags stood several impeccably dressed individuals in well-fitted suits.
The car came to a stop. One of them, upon seeing their arrival, quickly descended the steps and came forward to escort Pei Ran out of the car.
He said to the middle-aged man, “We need to hurry. Mr. Basserway and Marshal Vina have already arrived, and His Majesty will be coming out shortly. The medal ceremony is about to begin.”