UAAG CH15

In the depths of a foreign night, the dim lights of a bar flickered behind him, while below the balcony, cars occasionally drove past on the road.

Voices buzzed and clamored, noise drifting away.

Under a sky densely packed with stars, the young man, dressed in a thin shirt, looked up at the sky. A cigarette was clamped between his fingers, and a hint of a sarcastic, mocking smile played on his thin lips, while his brow was filled with accumulated gloom and hostility. Countless evils pressed down on him, so intense they almost solidified into black substance.

Yet, in the instant he turned his head, all negative emotions were swept away.

Zhuo Huan saw him reveal a surprised expression, and then heard him say—

“Teacher Zhuo?”

If not for the cigarette still lying quietly in the trash can, who would believe that this gentle and refined young man, just five minutes ago, had looked like a black stone struggling out of a quagmire, exuding thick malice from head to toe?

Hearing Zhuo Huan’s words, Lina was dazed for a moment, then laughed involuntarily. “Although I feel Fu doesn’t look like someone who likes smoking, he is an adult. Reid, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with an adult man smoking. You, on the other hand, should smoke less.”

Zhuo Huan scoffed. “You don’t understand.”

Lina: “But I do understand that you should quit smoking.”

Soon, Lina walked away from the balcony and returned to the bar.

Everyone drank for a while longer. Old Joseph got drunk again and was helped back by Fu Cheng and Su Fei together.

The next day at noon, Investigation Headquarters.

Everyone from UAAG and EASA waited anxiously for the experimental report from the Tokyo laboratory.

At three in the afternoon, Teichi Tsunai sent the experimental report to UAAG’s email, and at the same time, he made a video call.

In the video, the young physics professor was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday. The dark circles under his eyes hinted that this person must have stayed up all night to complete the experiment. But he showed no fatigue; instead, he spoke to Zhuo Huan with a firm tone: “After 17 experiments, the MCD magnetic chip detector used in the Rolls-Royce Trent 810 engine experienced electromagnetic field turbulence and damaged the circuit system 6 times.”

“The probability is 35%.”

“I think this is enough to prove some issues. As for how to decide, Zhuo-kun, it’s up to you.”

Zhuo Huan: “Thank you.”

Teichi Tsunai: “You’re welcome.”

The video call ended. Zhuo Huan looked up and saw everyone in the investigation headquarters looking at him nervously.

Zhuo Huan looked at them and raised an eyebrow. “What are you waiting for? Time to write the report.”

A cheer immediately erupted in the office.

Although he said everyone should write the report, in reality, the investigation report was almost entirely written by Zhuo Huan alone.

Fu Cheng and the others helped him collect the information, and Zhuo Huan directly took over the responsibility of writing the investigation report.

Old Joseph: “It is indeed best for one person to complete the investigation report. If too many people write it, it’s easy to overlook problems. But this thing takes a long time to write. You have to clearly write out the detailed accident overview, all collected evidence, and even the collection process. And the cause this time is also very complicated; I’m afraid it’s going to be ten thousand words.”

At nine in the evening, everyone left the investigation headquarters one after another. Only Zhuo Huan remained in the office and hadn’t left.

Fu Cheng was the last to leave. Standing before the stairs, he looked back at Zhuo Huan.

Lina: “There’s a press conference tomorrow. Reid probably wants to finish the investigation report today.”

Fu Cheng was surprised. “Tomorrow?”

Lina: “Many people can’t wait anymore. It’s been nine months; they’ve waited too long for this result. EASA suggested holding the press conference next week and just releasing a simple investigation result for now, but Reid refused. Everyone needs an explanation; he wants to tell everyone the truth as soon as possible.”

The lights in the investigation headquarters went out one by one, leaving only the lamp on Zhuo Huan’s desk.

After writing the accident overview, causes, and conclusions, only the final safety recommendations remained.

It was already three in the morning. Zhuo Huan suddenly felt a bit agitated. He subconsciously reached for the cigarettes in the drawer, but his hand stopped as soon as it touched the cigarette pack. Bang, he slammed the drawer shut.

Strolling around the desks of the UAAG members, Zhuo Huan picked up a bottle of yogurt from Fu Cheng’s desk. After thinking about it, he took out his phone, inserted the straw into the yogurt hole, and texted Fu Cheng: [Drank your yogurt.]

He didn’t expect the other party to reply instantly: [The strawberry flavored one? Lina gave that to me this afternoon.]

Zhuo Huan, who had just tasted the strawberry flavor: “…”

Fu Cheng: [I don’t really like that flavor, so I didn’t drink it. You drink it.]

Zhuo Huan: “…”

Without replying, Zhuo Huan drank the yogurt expressionlessly, then threw the empty yogurt box into the trash can.

He sat back in front of the computer and began typing.

IV. Safety Recommendations.

Based on the analysis of this accident, safety recommendations and measures are proposed from three aspects: personnel, organization, and equipment.

1. Personnel

(1) Before the flight, the pilot suffered from certain mental pressure due to personal debt and emotional stress. According to the NASA Human Environment Research Laboratory report, able-bodied males under long-term mental pressure are more prone to errors in judgment when facing sudden emergencies compared to similar males not under mental pressure, and their reaction speed to crisis accidents will also slow down by 30%.

(2) Air traffic controllers, when facing extreme weather conditions…

The next morning, Fu Cheng and Su Fei arrived at the investigation headquarters together.

Just as the two walked to the second floor, Fu Cheng softly shushed, and Su Fei immediately shut his mouth.

On the old sofa in the corner of the second floor, Zhuo Huan had his feet propped on the armrest, a newspaper casually covering his face, seemingly having slept for a long time.

They tiptoed to their desks. Su Fei froze, pointing at the thick stack of investigation reports on the desk, whispering, “So many words, he finished writing it?!”

Fu Cheng looked up at every investigator’s desk. Without exception, a printed investigation report was placed on every desk.

Looking back at the man, Fu Cheng said, “Mn, he finished it.”

That afternoon, Zhuo Huan was still asleep. Lina represented UAAG on his behalf and attended the press conference held by the Finnish Aviation Authority.

Everyone stayed at the investigation headquarters, watching Lina answer reporters’ questions with ease on TV.

Su Fei muttered, “I have reasonable grounds to suspect someone slept until now on purpose to make Lina attend the press conference.”

Old Joseph laughed heartily. “I highly suspect that too.”

“No need to suspect; she is UAAG’s spokesperson anyway.”

Everyone turned their heads sharply, only to see a certain man taking the newspaper off his face. The dazzling afternoon sun made him squint, and it took him a while to adjust. Zhuo Huan sat up straight and casually rubbed his hair.

Zhuo Huan: “What time is it?”

Fu Cheng: “Two in the afternoon.”

Seeing Zhuo Huan awake, Fu Cheng subconsciously looked at the empty strawberry yogurt bottle in his trash can.

Noticing his gaze, Zhuo Huan paused for a moment, then covered his face with the newspaper again, lying back down to sleep.

Su Fei: “Sleeping again? Isn’t he hungry? He hasn’t eaten all day.”

Fu Cheng thought for a moment. “Teacher Zhuo drank some yogurt; maybe he isn’t hungry.”

Zhuo Huan not far away: “…”

Heh.

At 6:30 PM, officials from the Finnish Aviation Authority personally saw the UAAG members off to board their flight.

The return trip was still in first class.

As soon as he boarded the plane, Zhuo Huan went to sleep, telling the flight attendant not to wake him even for meals.

The other four were energetic, especially Su Fei.

The plane took off on time at seven o’clock. Fu Cheng was also a bit tired from the past few days. An hour later, he dozed off groggily. Until a cry of alarm woke him up.

“Holy shit, auroras!”

Fu Cheng woke up with a start. He pulled open the curtain and saw Su Fei, sitting by the window on the other side, excitedly leaning against the window. Su Fei hadn’t drawn his curtain. Seeing Fu Cheng awake and knowing he had woken him up, he hurriedly made an apologetic gesture and whispered to him, “Look outside, auroras! I didn’t expect us to be so lucky this time, to see auroras before the window shades are closed.”

Hearing this, Fu Cheng looked back at his own window.

In the dark and quiet night sky, emerald green auroras rippled and flickered in the air like thin gauze. This light flowed quietly in the night, silently releasing breathtaking beauty.

This was the first time Fu Cheng had watched the aurora as a passenger through the tiny cabin window. He watched unknowingly entranced until the flight attendant knocked on his door and smiled at him. “Sir, we are entering high latitude regions; we need to close the window shades.”

Only then did Fu Cheng wake from his dream.

“Okay, thank you.”

The aircraft’s window shade was gently closed. With a click, the brilliantly splendid aurora was locked outside the window.

The sound of closing the window was particularly clear and loud in the quiet first-class cabin.

The curtains in first class separated the five UAAG investigators, giving each their own small space. Fu Cheng stared at the tightly closed window shade, lost in thought. He didn’t know that in front of him, Zhuo Huan lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, staring at the cabin ceiling, also unable to sleep.

And Old Joseph, Lina, Su Fei…

Nine months and three days ago, it was also a McFly F435 aircraft. It took off from Tokyo, carrying 234 people, flying towards distant Finland.

That place was legendary as the hometown of Santa Claus.

In seat 78A of economy class, the beautiful newlywed wife suddenly discovered the aurora outside the window. She was overjoyed and excitedly woke her sleeping husband. The young faces of the couple were illuminated by the emerald green aurora. Yamada Ami suppressed her joy and whispered, “This is my first time seeing an aurora, Kazuya. things will definitely get better and better, definitely. When we get to Finland, let’s go find Santa Claus together.”

The young newlywed husband wore a cheap suit washed until it was faded. At that moment, looking at his wife’s happy face, he suddenly felt that everything was worth it for this honeymoon trip he had saved up for half a year.

He stroked his wife’s barely showing belly and clenched his fist. “Yes! things will definitely get better and better. Even if I have to eat wakame every day, I won’t let you and the baby suffer.” After saying this, he put on a mock distressed expression, pitifully teasing his wife to make her happy: “Only wakame? Can I have some natto too…”

Yamada Ami covered her lips, her round eyes curving into crescents.

At the same moment, a pretty flight attendant pouring milk for passengers in the business class prep room had just taken out a cup when she heard a colleague beside her whisper in surprise, “Ah, an aurora.”

Yamashita Kei turned to look out the window, where several flight attendants had already gathered.

“We actually saw an aurora. I rarely fly polar routes; this is my first time seeing one.”

“Even if you fly polar routes often, you don’t necessarily see auroras. I’ve only seen them twice.”

Yamashita Kei didn’t join the excitement.

She stood by the small table, gazing at the magnificent aurora from afar. After watching numbly for a while, she looked down to pour the milk again, but her gaze touched her empty left hand.

There was still a faint mark on her ring finger, where a ring had once been worn.

It was under the Tokyo Tower where that person had suddenly knelt down and, in front of thousands of tourists, made a lifelong promise to her.

Her eyes couldn’t help but redden, and Yamashita Kei gritted her teeth.

The next moment, she carried the milk, smiled, and lifted the curtain of the business class cabin.

“Ma’am, here is the milk you requested.”

And at the very front of this plane, inside the cockpit.

The captain smiled. “I didn’t expect to see an aurora before even entering the Arctic Circle.”

Co-pilot Maeda Shosuke was in no mood to appreciate the aurora. He opened the weather report chart, checked it from beginning to end, and then said meticulously, “Captain, the weather report says there is no severe weather within the Arctic Circle. Please rest assured.”

Another co-pilot laughed. “Maeda-kun, don’t be so nervous, relax. Even if we encounter a magnetic storm, don’t worry; just make an emergency landing nearby. Come on, enjoy this gift from nature with us.”

Maeda Shosuke: “Hai!” After speaking, he looked up out the window.

The sky full of auroras reflected in the young man’s sincere and strong eyes, making him dazed for a moment, and he murmured that name.

“Kei…”

Like parallel lines that never intersect.

From the moment it began, the ending of never meeting again was destined.

Lying in bed thinking for a long while, Fu Cheng’s eyes were wide open, and he couldn’t sleep no matter what. When the flight attendant came again to ask if he needed a meal, Fu Cheng smiled and declined. Before closing his eyes, he remembered the last sentence of Zhuo Huan’s investigation report.

Regarding the design issue of the engine MCD magnetic chip detector, it is recommended that Rolls-Royce add an electromagnetic jammer to the MCD magnetic chip detector.

Ten thousand eloquent words, yet only this sentence was the final conclusion.

Just like the McFly F435 they were currently on, in just one night, Rolls-Royce installed electromagnetic jammers on the engines of over 1,000 aircraft worldwide overnight.

Each engine required only five minutes of a technician’s time.

Only five minutes.

And these five minutes were built with blood and tears. It was simple as turning a hand over, yet it saved countless unseen lives.

“Is this where your meaning lies?”

The black-haired young man’s soft whisper was drowned out by the noisy roar of the aircraft engines.

After flying for ten hours, the five finally arrived at Shanghai Airport.

It was 11:00 AM China time.

After picking up their luggage, everyone walked out of the airport together, talking and laughing.

Fu Cheng keenly sensed something wrong: …No one was at the jet bridge to pick them up?

Zhuo Huan didn’t speak the whole way. Lord Zhuo seemed not to have rested well on the plane, and his face looked terrible. Everyone couldn’t be bothered to provoke him, leaving him to walk last alone.

When they got outside the airport and stood by the roadside, the group chatted for a while longer, and slowly, they finally realized something was wrong.

Su Fei: “Where’s the car? Lina, it’s been ten minutes. Why hasn’t the car picking us up arrived yet?”

Old Joseph: “Yeah, where’s the car? The plane even arrived late; why isn’t the car here yet?”

Lina revealed a perfect smile. “Car? What car?”

Su Fei and Old Joseph froze together.

Fu Cheng, who had vaguely realized the truth: “…”

Su Fei: “No, what do you mean? The car! You know, the luxury car coming to pick us up! Rolls-Royce! Bentley! Even a Lincoln is fine!”

Lina: “Regrettably, there is no car. There are taxis over there, look.”

Su Fei: “Huh???!!!”

Old Joseph turned his head sharply, eyes burning. “Reid, where is the car!”

Zhuo Huan gave an impatient “Ah,” picking his ear. “What car? Call a taxi home yourself.”

Old Joseph: “…Don’t tell me we’ve been fired by UAAG now.”

Zhuo Huan: “What are you thinking?”

Su Fei: “Then where did the car go? The UAAG dedicated car, the luxury car! A fleet of luxury cars! UAAG is rich and imposing; wherever we go, the worst is a Bentley!”

Zhuo Huan scoffed. “When did I ever tell you that UAAG is rich and imposing?”

Su Fei: “…”

Old Joseph: “…”

Zhuo Huan: “No money. Take a taxi yourself.”

Lina smiled and added for him, “In fact, the treatment you enjoyed before was entirely provided by the Finnish Aviation Authority and McFly Company. Once we officially left Finland, they would no longer cover our travel expenses. And UAAG members’ salaries are calculated separately; as far as I know, there is no ‘luxury car transport’ item on the payroll.”

Zhuo Huan turned to look at Lina. “Where are you going? Take me along when you catch a cab; I’m going your way.”

Fu Cheng smiled slightly. “Can I interject?”

Zhuo Huan and Lina looked at him together.

Fu Cheng: “So it means UAAG is actually poor, very, very poor?”

Zhuo Huan gave a scoff.

Lina: “Fu, I’m glad you understood what I meant. Talking to you saves so much worry.”

A sentence a certain man once said suddenly rang in his mind—

“There aren’t many days left anyway, cherish it well.”

So this was what it meant.

Fu Cheng returned a smile.

…Very good.

Author’s Note:

So, the rich and imposing UAAG you thought of is actually…

Su Fei: This is fraud! Fraud! I want to resign! I want to resign!

Volume 2: The Little Prince

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