When it came to dealing with Yu Sheng, Director Bai Li Qing realized she still had some learning to do. She had to confirm his words several times to ensure she hadn’t misheard him.
Yu Sheng, on the other hand, was thoroughly engrossed in explaining his ambitious Star X Valley Agricultural Retreat plan. He laid out the practical challenges he faced in farming within an anomalous subset and shared his progress so far. As he delved into the project’s feasibility, even Bai Li Qing, who had seen nearly everything in her years with the Special Affairs Bureau, found herself taken aback.
To her credit, Bai Li Qing had witnessed countless extraordinary phenomena during her tenure as director. But this? This was entirely new territory.
“Honestly, I need quite a bit of help,” Yu Sheng said, seemingly unaware of the subtle changes in Bai Li Qing’s expression. (Not that her stoic demeanor made it easy to notice.) He continued enthusiastically, “What I’ve told you so far? That’s just scratching the surface. The real problem is that the valley doesn’t have electricity. Could you arrange for a power generator? There’s no sun down there—though it’s bright enough, I’m not sure it could sustain solar power. There’s a small river at the base of the mountain, but it’s too modest for even a small hydroelectric station. If nothing else works, I might need to go with thermal power…”
Yu Sheng rambled on, detailing his plans with great zeal. After several minutes, he finally caught himself, stopping mid-sentence as he noticed Bai Li Qing’s silent stare. Scratching the back of his head sheepishly, he asked, “Uh… am I asking for too much?”
For several seconds, Bai Li Qing didn’t respond, seemingly locked in a moment of rare bewilderment. When Yu Sheng prompted her again, she blinked as though snapping out of a trance. “…I’ll do my best to arrange it,” she said evenly.
After taking a moment to collect herself, she continued in a more deliberate tone. “I have to admit, I’m impressed. The concepts you’ve presented touch on entirely unexplored fields. Frankly, even the ideas alone have immense research value. Everything about that valley—its transformation and current state—is fascinating.”
“Ah, I wasn’t thinking that deeply,” Yu Sheng admitted, scratching his head. “I just thought leaving such a big area unused would be a waste. So, are we agreed? I can open specific areas of the valley for investigation, and in return, you’ll provide some supplies and manpower?”
“Agreed,” Bai Li Qing replied solemnly. “The specifics of the support package can be finalized after our specialists conduct an on-site evaluation.”
After a brief hesitation, Bai Li Qing stood and shook his hand. “Looking forward to it.”
Yu Sheng let out a satisfied breath and glanced toward the lab across the corridor, where researchers were still immersed in their analysis. “We’ve covered everything important, and it doesn’t seem like they’ll figure out much about that ‘metal component’ anytime soon. While we wait, why don’t you show me around this place? Consider it a celebration of our new collaboration—I’ve always been curious about your headquarters.”
Bai Li Qing hesitated momentarily before nodding. “Of course.”
“Are you two staying here?” Yu Sheng asked, turning to Irene and Foxy.
Irene looked surprised, but before she could respond, Foxy was already on her feet. “Benefactor, I’ll come with you—”
“We’re just taking a quick tour,” Yu Sheng said, ruffling the fur behind her ears. “We’ll also be discussing setting up the investigation team for the valley, which won’t be very exciting. Stay here with Irene and keep an eye on the lab, okay?”
Foxy hesitated, her ears twitching uncertainly.
Irene, however, climbed onto the table and gave Foxy’s tail a playful tug. “Fine, we’ll wait here. But can you send us some snacks? We can eat while we wait.” Ȓå𐌽ꝋ𝖇Εŝ
“I’ll have someone bring some over,” Bai Li Qing replied. “Our staff snacks have a good reputation.”
Hearing that, Foxy finally sat back down, though her posture still radiated a sense of vigilance. “Come back soon, Benefactor. Don’t go too far, alright?”
Yu Sheng laughed, nodding as he fist-bumped Irene before following Bai Li Qing out of the room.
Bai Li Qing led Yu Sheng down the long hallway of Floor 54½, her steps precise and measured as always. The occasional Bureau staff member greeted her as they passed, and she responded with a slight nod. Their destination was the elevator at the corridor’s end.
“Where are we headed?” Yu Sheng asked, watching Bai Li Qing swipe a black card without selecting a floor. The elevator began to ascend as if it already knew where to go.
“N Floor,” Bai Li Qing replied simply. “A good place to talk.”
Yu Sheng glanced at the control panel but saw no option for an “N Floor.” The screen displayed rising numbers, but after passing a certain point, it switched to a generic “Elevator Ascending” message.
As the elevator slowed, the lights inside dimmed, and the display changed to a single large letter: N.
When the doors opened, Yu Sheng stepped out and froze.
They were no longer in a conventional building. The ground beyond the elevator was barren and strewn with jagged, dark stones. The area was small—no more than a few hundred meters across—and its edges crumbled into nothingness. Rocks and debris floated aimlessly in the void, while the entire “island” itself hovered in an endless, chaotic space.
Overhead, a massive, radiant stream of light arced across the sky, like a celestial river suspended in the void.
Yu Sheng turned back to look at the elevator, which now appeared as a lone shaft piercing through the floating “island” and extending upward into the glowing river.
“…Your headquarters has quite the view. Is this still part of the Borderland?”
“Welcome to the ‘rooftop’ of the Borderland, or at least part of it,” Bai Li Qing said matter-of-factly. “Not many people come here. It’s always been my favorite spot to think, but I suppose others don’t share my taste. Would you like something to drink?”
Yu Sheng blinked, noticing a makeshift lounge near the elevator. A small cleared area was furnished with sofas, a bar, and even a drink cooler. Bai Li Qing was already preparing two glasses.
“…How did you get water and electricity up here?” Yu Sheng asked, incredulous.
Bai Li Qing paused. “…Excuse me?”
“You know, utilities. How’s this place powered?” he clarified.
For the first time, Bai Li Qing’s expression shifted slightly, a faint flicker of amusement crossing her face. “You’re the first guest to ask that.”
“Well, I like things to make sense,” Yu Sheng said, sitting down. “Water’s fine. Extra ice, please.”
Bai Li Qing handed him a glass. “The utilities are connected through the elevator shaft. As for how the shaft itself reaches here… you’d have to ask the Engineering Department.”
Accepting her explanation, Yu Sheng sipped his drink before getting straight to the point. “So, tell me—what’s the deal with Foxy’s homeland?”
Bai Li Qing didn’t flinch. Her response was calm and direct. “We suspect she’s from the ‘outside.’”
“Outside?” Yu Sheng’s brow furrowed. “You mean…”
“Do you remember the files Song Cheng brought you? The ones about the Dark Angels?” Bai Li Qing asked, meeting his gaze.
Yu Sheng froze, his mind racing. “The Dark Angels… invaders from beyond the known world.”
“Exactly. The key term is ‘beyond the known world,’” Bai Li Qing said, her tone steady. “The Dark Angels were the first to reveal that beyond our ‘known universe’ lies something alien, incompatible, and incomprehensible. Until Foxy, that was our only understanding of ‘extraplanar visitors.’”
Yu Sheng stared at her, processing the implications. “Foxy isn’t a Dark Angel. She’s a victim.”
“I agree. That’s why I said she’s a visitor, not an invader. Her presence challenges our understanding of ‘visitors,’ but I can still make a rational judgment.”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation