Black Well.
The 22nd day after entering the Silence.
Early in the morning, Pei Ran arrived at the central tower for work right on time.
Figuring it would be another day with nothing to do, Pei Ran planned to ask Team Leader Li if she could casually take on a volunteer task to leave Black Well and help out over at the mining area. It would also be a good chance to check in on Ai Xia.
If she sat around drinking tea for another whole day, Pei Ran felt like she was going to grow mold from boredom.
But the moment she stepped into the office, she saw Team Leader Li surrounded by several people from the Special Operations Division.
Several tall, burly soldiers were gathered around her desk, making Team Leader Li look like a small hill caught between towering mountains—frail, pitiful, and helpless.
She had sharp eyes and, through the gaps between people, saw Pei Ran coming in. She discreetly made a “go” hand gesture.
Pei Ran turned and tried to slip away, but one of the soldiers had already heard the footsteps and turned around, “Pei Ran? You’re here—perfect timing.”
Pei Ran: “……”
Team Leader Li looked troubled. “Several officers from the Special Ops Division came to borrow someone.”
That soldier, a captain, first introduced himself, “My name is Yu Zhao. We have a mission on our side, but we’re short on people and wanted to request assistance from your division. But Team Leader Li said you were sick.”
He looked Pei Ran up and down. “Still not feeling well?”
Pei Ran had no choice but to reply, “A little bit.”
Yu Zhao said, “We really have no other option. Here’s the situation: Black Well has been working on establishing several safe routes to escort refugees here. Recently, we’ve been focusing on improving the route to Zalan City in the east, clearing out the mad-state fusion creatures there, and opening up a safe zone to serve as a temporary gathering point…”
Zalan City—Pei Ran knew it. It was a city along Route Seven of Yehai.
On the way to Black Well, a middle-aged couple had gotten off at Zalan. As soon as they stepped out of the station, they were swept away by something red and wave-like that surged forward.
Yu Zhao said, “Black Well plans to build a route based on Yehai Route Seven, extending from the southeastern coast to Zalan, and then to Yercha. Zalan is an important stop in between.”
That was definitely a good thing. If that route could be completed, refugees coming from White Harbor wouldn’t have to suffer through such a difficult journey.
Yu Zhao continued, “So recently, we’ve been speeding up construction of the gathering point in Zalan. We need to transport a batch of special construction materials from Black Well to there using Yehai Route Seven, and on the return trip, bring back a batch of chemicals urgently needed by the factories here. Since you can operate Route Seven and also have experience dealing with mad-state fusion creatures, we especially want to borrow your help.”
This didn’t seem to have much to do with the recent messy internal strife in Black Well.
Pei Ran was bored out of her mind. After some thought, she agreed: “Alright, I’ll go. When do we leave?”
Yu Zhao’s eyes lit up.
“They’re loading the cargo at Yercha now. We’ll probably set off around noon.”
W had already overheard their conversation.
“I saw this mission in the system and guessed you’d go,” he said. “Haven’t seen Yehai No. 7 in a long time.”
Captain Yu Zhao sent over the mission details.
They would depart at noon today, reaching Zalan in five hours. They needed to stay in Zalan for two nights, waiting for the chemicals to be transported back to Black Well to arrive at Zalan’s secure rendezvous point. After loading the cargo, they would begin the return trip early the morning after tomorrow.
Pei Ran ate an early lunch, packed her backpack with just two bottles of water and a few sealed boxed meals, then went upstairs to find Yu Zhao.
Along for the trip were several soldiers from the Special Operations Division and a civilian-looking man—slightly balding, with a humble expression. According to the records, he was a chemical expert, Dr. Johnson.
Among the supplies to be transported back to Black Well was a chemical raw material called Konox-47, which was highly dangerous. During the tank transfer process, an expert had to be present to supervise and guide the operation.
Captain Yu Zhao drove the group out of Black Well through the southern exit.
Outside the southern exit, there was now a constructed road leading directly above ground, allowing for smooth, unobstructed travel.
As soon as they left Black Well, they spotted a convoy of vintage trucks approaching, each fully loaded and painted with a distinctive yellow emblem—
A cluster of hexagons grouped together.
W said, “Those are supplies delivered by Hive Tech.”
Pei Ran understood. “The company owned by Song Wan and Qiao Sai’s families?”
“Right,” W said. “They’ve already moved quite a bit into Black Well these past few days. They’ve secured the rights to use factory buildings and office towers in the Green Zone.”
A metal bridge spanned the ravine, and the vehicle sped across. Soon, the skyscrapers of Yercha came into distant view.
The military had cleared the area around Yercha of humanoid machines, and now there was no trace of them left.
The small truck gradually approached the city, passing through empty streets until it reached Yercha Station. Yehai No. 7 sat quietly on the platform, as familiar as an old friend.
The original passenger cars had been detached, leaving only one section. Yehai No. 7 had been fitted with freight cars, and the loading was already complete.
Pei Ran went straight into the driver’s cabin, and Captain Yu Zhao followed.
He was proficient in Morse code and tapped on the control panel: [Shall we depart now?]
Pei Ran: [Yes.]
Yehai No. 7 started up once again.
After Captain Yu Zhao went to the back of the train, the mechanical spider crawled out of Pei Ran’s pocket and perched on her shoulder.
Yehai No. 7 left Yercha behind, the crimson wasteland stretching endlessly ahead as the train raced steadily forward.
“Black Well is currently establishing secure routes radiating out in all directions across the Eastern Mana continent, with Yehai No. 7’s line being one of them,” W said.
“Once the safe rendezvous points are fully constructed and the fused entities along the route are cleared as much as possible, this line will become a major cross-continental shelter route from the eastern coast to Black Well. We’re modifying more trains to deploy on this route.”
He added, “The Silent State has also stabilized recently, with no new changes for now. Hopefully, things will keep improving.”
Pei Ran was silent for a moment. “Don’t say that.”
W: “Hm?”
Pei Ran: “Feels like you’re jinxing it. Makes me uneasy.”
The train sped across the desolate wasteland, bypassing stations without stopping. Surprisingly, the journey went smoothly—they didn’t encounter a single frenzied fused entity.
By evening, the train finally pulled into Zalan.
The skyscrapers of Zalan stood tall and silent, many still bearing smoke-stained scars.
But Zalan Station looked completely different from when Pei Ran had last passed through.
The buildings near the exit had been demolished, replaced by a vast open area piled with construction materials. High defensive walls—built from metal and reinforced concrete—now loomed nearby, sturdy enough to withstand frenzied fused entities.
W said, “The basic framework of the defensive walls is nearly complete. They’re reinforcing them now.”
Pei Ran asked, “Are there still many fused entities in Zalan’s urban areas?”
“The military has conducted several clean-up operations,” W replied. “But our manpower is limited. We’ve only been able to secure a few safe zones. Since you’re staying here tonight, stick to the safe areas and be careful.”
He was practically fussing over her.
Pei Ran: “I know.”
Who in their right mind would wander around looking for trouble?
Yehai No. 7 entered the station. Inside the defensive walls, workers operated machinery while soldiers in uniform stood guard.
As soon as they arrived, soldiers approached to coordinate the cargo transfer with Captain Yu Zhao.
Suddenly, the hum of an aircraft echoed from the sky.
A matte-black, streamlined military craft descended—similar to the one Pei Ran had piloted while tracking the Thinker.
The hovercraft landed lightly on a large open space beside the construction site.
A soldier stepped down from the pilot seat of the aircraft. Immediately after, another soldier from the back seat also got out.
It was a burly middle-aged man with slightly dark skin. Under his military cap was a head of black curly hair. A colonel’s insignia rested on his shoulder as he walked over toward Yehai No. 7.
W said, “This is Colonel Kurma, the person in charge of the construction site at the Zalan Safe Zone.”
Colonel Kurma walked over, took a look at the cargo being transferred, and used code to inform everyone: 【The chemicals to be transported back to Black Well tomorrow have arrived. We’ll try to finish filling the Konox-47 canisters overnight tomorrow and depart the morning after.】
He said: 【Accommodations at the safe zone have already been arranged for you. There’s nothing pressing these next couple of days—go rest for now.】
He called over a young soldier with light brown eyes and gestured for him to lead the way and show Pei Ran and the others to their lodging.
W, as usual, checked the guy’s file.
“He’s called Kai. He’s Colonel Kurma’s orderly.”
Pei Ran asked, “Just ‘Kai’?”
W: “His full name is Kai Andreas Chrysostomus.”
Pei Ran: Alright then, Kai it is.
The construction site was in full swing. Nearby stood several large white tents, with people constantly going in and out—it looked like the command center for the project.
Little Kai led Pei Ran and the others away from the construction area, walking several blocks along the street before entering a tall building.
This building seemed to have once been a hotel. The lobby on the first floor was covered in scorch marks from a fire.
Soot and water from the sprinkler system had mixed together, leaving residue all over the floor. Though it had long dried, large black stains remained, trampled with countless footprints.
Little Kai looked apologetic as he guided them across the messy floor and took the emergency stairwell up two levels, arriving at the third floor.
There was a row of rooms on the third floor. The young soldier opened several doors.
They were indeed hotel rooms—clearly once burned, but not too dirty. The floors had been roughly cleaned. The beds had been refitted with new bedding, clearly military-issue, all olive green.
There was no electricity here. On the bedside table sat a portable emergency lamp and two bottles of water.
Little Kai knocked on the table.
Using code, he “said” that due to manpower shortage, he was mainly responsible for receiving personnel from Black Well arriving in Zalan. He was staying in the room at the end of the corridor with a red placard on the door. If anyone needed anything, they could come find him.
Pei Ran asked: 【So we’re free for now?】
Little Kai smiled: 【Yes. I’ll come get you tomorrow night during the canister filling. Until then, feel free to do as you wish. But it’s best not to leave the building—there are still mad-state fusion creatures outside the safety wall.】
Pei Ran had no intention of going out anyway. Once Kai left, she shut the door and looked around the room.
Before tomorrow night, there was absolutely nothing to do—this was basically a vacation.
Someone knocked on the door outside—it was Little Kai, handing in a boxed meal.
It felt like a prison visit.
With nothing else to do, it was a good chance to practice drawing. Pei Ran kept sketching until late into the night before finally turning off the emergency lamp and going to sleep with the mechanical spider.
- ••
West Plains.
Zalan City.
The 23rd day after entering the Silence.
A rare day of not having to wake up for work. Other than getting up once in the middle to answer the door and grab breakfast, Pei Ran slept straight through to noon.
Just as she sat up from bed, W spoke: “Pei Ran, I’ve decrypted File No. 10. Most of the contents are now accessible.”
He had probably been waiting the whole time for her to wake up, just so he could share the good news.
Pei Ran was curious. “What’s in it?”
W replied, “Just like the rumors said—it’s full of evidence of collusion between the Federal Heritage Party, the royal family, and other powerful financial clans. All kinds of power-for-money deals. For example, leaking information on policy changes and economic data so they could profit off the stock market, approving land grants, leaking government project bidding details, giving them tax exemptions through policies, authorizing energy extraction rights and sales permits… and so on, and so on.”
Pei Ran fell silent.
No wonder Kuchi had risked her life to protect that evidence.
She said, “So the entire wealth of the Federation, and the value created by the hard work of ordinary citizens, was turned into delicacies on the tables of these politicians and moguls.”
File No. 10 only exposed the dark dealings of the Federal Heritage Party. As for the other—Technology Vanguard Party—being supported into power by a different faction didn’t necessarily mean they’d be any better.
W said, “Speaking of delicacies, there’s a particularly special piece of evidence in File No. 10. A royal family member once secretly invited top figures of the Heritage Party, some government officials, and high-profile public figures to a special banquet.”
The words “royal family” and “banquet” put together… never a good sign.
Sure enough, W continued, “The main course at the banquet was made from human flesh.”
Pei Ran: “……”
He said, “File No. 10 includes the original invitation list—people like Basserway and the other key members of the Heritage Party were all on it.”
This was completely beyond Pei Ran’s moral threshold. “That was human meat. Could any normal person actually swallow it?”
The fact that Basserway and the others could stomach it was almost… impressive.
“Whether they actually ate it or not doesn’t really matter,” W said. “What matters is—they went.”
W said, “It’s like a ‘pledge of allegiance.’ Attending such a banquet and having your name listed is akin to handing over your own leverage to the corporate conglomerates. Only then can you fully gain their trust and become one of their own.”
He added, “There are still a few heavily encrypted pieces of evidence that need further decryption. We’ll wait for you to review them before deciding how to proceed.”
With nothing urgent at hand, Pei Ran focused on her drawing, sketching diligently all afternoon. After dinner, she continued.
- ••
Black Well.
Red Zone. Private residence of Lieutenant General Delsa.
Lieutenant General Delsa’s home was far more spacious than standard dormitories—a two-story house with a front yard covered in artificial turf.
The lieutenant general sat on a sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, frowning as he stared at the bright green plastic grass for a long while. Finally, he glanced at the time on his wristband, took a deep breath, and stood up to leave.
A young orderly approached, puzzled. “Lieutenant General, dinner is ready. Where are you going? Aren’t you eating?”
Delsa replied, “No. I have something very important to do.”
The orderly, round-faced and bright-eyed, was still too young and too familiar with the lieutenant general to hold back. “What important thing do you need to do?”
“Something extremely important,” Lieutenant General Delsa said.
Realizing he had overstepped, the orderly didn’t dare press further.
But Delsa continued on his own: “It’s something crucial. For you—and for all the other young people like you—so that you can live safely in the future. So that you won’t become slaves to those mechanical monsters, slaughtered at their whim.”