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Jiang Shuangmei’s thoughts continue digressing as she stares at Mystic depicted in the photograph——alongside the little girl and her bracelet. She can feel chills going down her spine.
To be honest, while the Mystic depicted in the photograph is similar in features to the Mystic in the Tower, they give off absolutely distinct vibes. In the photograph, Mystic appears accomplished, with an air of success and a business smile on her lips as befitting a high-achieving careerwoman.
And Mystic in the Tower… is, well, a mystic.
That complete difference in essence is why Jiang Shuangmei is more inclined to believe that the appearance of Mystic on the photo is only because of the Nightmare crumbling.
While thinking, she makes her way over to the elevators to check out elevator Three.
That is when a ‘ding’ suddenly comes up from the lobby. An elevator is here.
Jiang Shuangmei blanks out for a moment before turning to look, just in time to spot Suits, Teen, Wu Jian and Shen Yünjü’s exit.
… She subconsciously sighs in relief, having finally met up with other Missiontakers.
The other four Missiontakers were not expecting to meet Jiang Shuangmei here, but an even more shocked Suits asks, “why are you here alone? What floor are…”
“This is the 20th floor,” Jiang Shuangmei answers and briefly summarises her previous journey, concluding with, “Mystic took the little girl away while I was scouting ahead in the floors. I have no idea where she went. The photograph still shows Mystic’s appearance.”
Suits is knitting his brows immediately.
Wu Jian is muttering, “that’s pretty ridiculous… to just leave the teammate behind like that.”
Teen’s face is as black as charcoal.
Shen YĂźnjĂź is, well, having his poker face on, as usual.
There is an awkward silence thanks to what Mystic has done.
Then Suits breaks the silence to say, “never mind her for now. Liang Shuang, you’ll come with us in the meantime. It’s bad to separate,” she nods towards Jiang Shuangmei and says, “then let’s try elevator Three out.”
Elevator Three is stopped on this floor, and as Mystic says, four buttons can be pushed. They are six, eleven, nineteen and thirty-five.
Suits doesn’t immediately pick one of them, and instead recaps, “elevator One had us leave the little girl, and elevator Two was dumping blood on a certain floor; the stairs had the office desks and chairs.”
“There is also the moment when we scared Mystic being all drenched in blood,” Jiang Shuangmei chimes in, “does the photograph count for that matter?”
Suits doesn’t answer the question, and instead focuses on something else entirely, “drenched in blood? Blood…” He suddenly turns to Jiang Shuangmei to ask, “I realise we completely glossed over this. What was that… sea of blood you ran into the last run of the Nightmare?”
Jiang Shuangmei shakes her head and says frankly, “we have no idea. We’re not even sure which floor it was exactly. It’s around…” she looks up to say, “two or three storeys up.”
Suits is thinking in silence.
Then shortly, he says, “events on related floors of this building seem to be connected, for example, the sea of blood with the puddle of blood on the ground between the 20th and the 23rd.”
Teen makes a derisive chuckle, and says, “you’re kidding. Unless we have information on every floor, we can never verify that. Do you think we have that much damned time on our hands?”
Jiang Shuangmei ignores the remark and asks hesitantly, “should I take the stairs again with someone else?”
Since her original teammate has left her, she can choose another one.
Suits looks around the elevator, and says, “sure. We don’t really need five people working together here. Who do you want to go with?”
Jiang Shuangmei looks at the four Missiontakers.
Leaving Suits and Teen behind, among Wu Jian and Shen Yünjü… Jiang Shuangmei points to Wu Jian.
If nothing else, Wu Jian is at least more like a normal person than Shen Yünjü…
Suits nods, so Jiang Shuangmei and Wu Jian starts leaving the elevator.
That is when Teen suddenly calls out to stop them. He stares at Jiang Shuangmei for a bit with furrowed brows, before asking, “do you not feel that something is off?”
Jiang Shuangmei is looking at him, confused.
“I mean…” Teen doesn’t seem too sure of what he’s thinking either, so his tone is rather calm instead. He asks, “if this round of the Nightmare, Mystic is still playing the part of the mother of the little girl, then wouldn’t that make you, who was left behind by Mystic, the little girl this time?”
Bullseye.
Jiang Shuangmei’s jaw is on the floor.
Even detective dalao in the stream is highly impressed by this thought from Teen out of left field.
“A very interesting proposal! Never mind the bratty mood swings, but the deductions on display are impeccable!”
“although but, wouldnt this just be some matryoshka doll?”
“its an impressive connection, but is it actually useful to consider…”
“so if we say liang shuang is now the role of the little girl, what would happen to her? she doesn’t seem at all scared like her mother… and the nightmare… uhm…”
“dont tell me ur thinking the same thing as I am”
“im suddenly feeling like the stream is raising our IQs here”
“? what are you guys on about?”
“has anybody confirmed if the nightmare’s owner really is the little girl’s mother…?”
“!! omg I know what you mean now!”
Xü Beijin, reading the comments roll out, can’t help but smile and chime in quietly, “why can’t the little girl be the Nightmare’s owner instead?”