After Exodus came to an abrupt stop in mid-air, the canopy-covered airship filled with people hovered motionlessly several kilometers away. It hesitated, hanging in the sky without moving, as if unsure what action to take next.
The airship looked like a wooden European sailboat from the 16th century, though it had only a single triangular sail left for decoration on the rear mast. Despite its vintage appearance, it seemed to have all the necessary modern functionalities. As Lin Sanjiu and her group squeezed into the cramped aircraft and left Exodus, a faint "beep" sound echoed from the bow of the sailboat.
If you closed your eyes and listened, it sounded just like a car horn.
"Is it signaling us to get out of the way?" Lin Sanjiu craned her neck, twisting her body into a C-shape as she peered through the control window. "It could pass beneath Exodus, so why hasn't it?"
The small aircraft, designed for one person, now barely fit three. Yu Yuan piloted, Lin Sanjiu meddled, and Ji Shanqing, acting as the tail, was tangled up at the back. Lin Sanjiu even suspected they managed to fit only because the Veda could contort parts of their bodies beyond normal anatomical limits.
"This type of spacecraft is common in post-apocalyptic societies," Yu Yuan began. Sometimes, he was like a walking encyclopedia whose lecture mode could be triggered by any random comment. "It uses anti-gravity suspension and mixed propulsion. The machinery is outdated, the power is low, and the maneuverability isn't great either. However, it has a large capacity and impressive endurance, making it popular for transporting passengers and cargo. It can't compare to the aircraft I used to bring you here."
Indeed, as Yu Yuan explained, their aircraft had already hovered to a stop above the bow of the passenger ship.
"I'm going down," Lin Sanjiu said, her face green from being squeezed into the tight space. She wriggled free from Ji Shanqing's scattered limbs. Yu Yuan responded with a casual "Oh," but before she could step forward, the cabin door swung open beneath her. She fell straight through, landing squarely on the ship's high bow.
The wooden bow, shaped like a wave rising into the air, was broad enough for two people to stand on. Painted at the very tip of the wave was the number 26.
With a solid thud, Lin Sanjiu landed firmly on the wave's crest. The wind was strong up there, so she bent her knees slightly, lowering her center of gravity. Her hair whipped around her face as she scanned the unfamiliar crowd below. Their faces showed a mix of confusion, suspicion, and curiosity. From their expressions, she couldn't tell who among them might be ruthless enough to turn a living person into a pocket dimension.
"What are you doing? Are you here to rob us?" someone muttered.
Lin Sanjiu ignored the question. She looked up and whistled toward the small aircraft. "Grand Prize, come down!"
From the square entrance at the belly of the lead-gray aircraft, Ji Shanqing's small face peeked out before pulling back again.
Clearly lacking confidence, he hesitated for a few seconds before slowly extending one foot. The foot dangled in the air, stretching longer and longer, like an old woman cautiously feeling for her slippers after getting out of bed in the middle of the night.
Any semblance of seriousness evaporated in an instant.
1
Lin Sanjiu followed the curve of the wooden wave down, leaping into the cabin and landing on a raised platform. As she moved, dozens of eyes shifted from Ji Shanqing's feet back up to her face.
"Who are you?" a voice called out as a door below the platform suddenly swung open. "I'm the pilot. Why are you blocking our ship?"
Lin Sanjiu glanced down at the person who emerged, momentarily taken aback. To her surprise, the pilot was an ordinary human.
The man looked to be in his middle years, his face seemingly carved into a permanent wooden expression, as if that look had been etched into his skin over a lifetime. Even when confronted by someone who had appeared out of nowhere onto his ship, only his furrowed brow showed any sign of emotion.
"You're the pilot?" Lin Sanjiu asked. She was aware that her understanding of the Twelve Worlds Centrum was far less than that of any ordinary resident. Slowing her voice, she added, "Don't worry, I'm not here to harm you or your passengers. I'm just looking for someone."
The pilot raised an eyelid to glance at her, his mouth still drooping. Her sudden entrance, her identity, her purpose—it all seemed like background noise to him.
"I don't care who you're looking for. I need to stay on schedule and sail as planned. These people bought tickets; they're paying passengers. You can't disrupt them by boarding the ship like this."
A "thud" came from behind her on the bow. Lin Sanjiu turned and saw Ji Shanqing sprawled on the wooden deck, gazing up at the sky. As he carefully got to his feet, she gestured for him to come over. Turning back to the pilot, she asked with a hint of amusement, "You're just an ordinary human, right?"
1
Let alone finding someone—what could he do if they decided to take apart the entire ship?
"Yeah. That's why I get at least twenty threats a day from posthumans," the pilot said flatly, his expression unchanged. It was hard to tell if he was exhausted or simply impatient, but he showed no trace of fear. "If you want to stay on board, buy a ticket. Once you've got a ticket, you're a passenger. As long as you don't bother me, I don't care what the passengers do." Ȑ𝓪𐌽𝔬ΒΕ𝙎
Just a few minutes ago, Lin Sanjiu hadn't imagined she'd be standing here, pulling out money to obediently buy a ticket.
"Can I pay with red crystals?"
"The exchange rate for red crystals to mist balls is 2:1," the pilot replied, his eyes half-lidded as he rummaged through his waist pouch. He then handed her the change and a ticket. "Now move your ship out of the way, and no standing on the top deck."
Lin Sanjiu awkwardly said "Oh," letting Yu Yuan handle moving Exodus. She glanced down at the change in her hand.
The ticket was a plain strip of white paper, unremarkable. The "change," however, was more intriguing: a small, transparent glass-like sphere with the number "1" engraved on its surface. Inside, a swirl of iron-gray haze looked exactly like the smoke that covered the ground below.
"Oh, this is their currency," Ji Shanqing said, leaning over to take a look. "It says 'Cloudwalk Heights.'"
1
Cloudwalk Heights? Was that the name of this place?
Lin Sanjiu gave him a sidelong glance. She had many questions, but she knew better than to ask them in front of everyone. It was likely that no one on this ship—including whoever was holding Ah Quan—knew where Exodus had come from. It was even less likely that they'd realize she and her group were first-time visitors to this world.
"Sis, your playing along and buying a ticket was actually a smart move," the grand prize whispered, leaning in closer as they strolled together across the deck. "When you're searching for someone, it could be an enemy or an ally. The calmer you appear, the less guarded they'll be. Look, someone's already coming over to talk."