If the Dream Festival has a fixed date, as I suspect, it should be one of the coming days or span a few daysâŚ
Recently, I came to Hisokaâs house every night to sleep, trying not to miss the Dream Festival. I also need to figure out the basic patterns of the special dream as much as possible before it begins. For example, how to leave the dream normally without entering the primitive forestâŚ
Lumian closed the golden pocket watch and slipped it into the breast pocket of his shirt, concealed by his vest.
He didnât continue sleeping there. Instead, he chose to descend the stairs and enter the streets of Tizamo. First, Ludwig would have his second supper in twenty minutes. According to their agreement, if Lumian didnât return in time, Ludwig would come over and forcefully wake him up. Second, he had to update Madam Magician on his discoveries.
Just as Lumian stepped out of Hisokaâs house, a voice suddenly sounded from behind.
âWhat exactly are you investigating?â
In a dark corner where the crimson moonlight couldnât reach, Camus Castiya emerged, dressed in a white shirt and an unbuttoned yellow vest. His disheveled hair collapsed from staying up too late.
At some point, the young leader of the Port Pylos patrol teamâs combat team had been waiting here.
Lumian wasnât surprised at all, as if he had sensed Camusâ presence. He evaded the question and said, âMany scenes display different states during the day and at night.â
âIndeed.â Camus had dealt with numerous mystical incidents that matched this description. The simplest and most common situation was that certain haunted houses appeared normal under the sunlight.
As Lumian walked towards the Brieu Motel, he teased Camus with a smile, âHave you been awake the entire time, squatting in the shadows outside the motel, observing my movements?
âThatâs tough. Careful not to suddenly drop dead.â
If Camus hadnât known that Louis Berry had a close relationship with the Church of The Fool and didnât mind him tagging along, he would have thought Lumianâs teasing was a warning.
Do you think I want that? Camus laughed self-deprecatingly.
âIâll be in charge of watching tonight. Itâs Maslow or Rheaâs turn tomorrow.â
Lumian didnât engage in further conversation. As if lost in thought, he made his way back to the Brieu Motel.
Camus wanted to inquire further, but he dared not.
He then saw the adventurer stop at the motelâs entrance, his back toward Camus. Lumian said calmly, âBefore Twanaku died, he mentioned a termâDream Festival.
âIâve just discovered some traces in his house and confirmed that thereâs a special dream happening in Tizamo Town.
âGather all the folklore related to dreams in this area and bring it to me as soon as possible.â
âUhâŚâ Camus was at a loss at first, but then his mind cleared, as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over him on a scorching summer day.
As expected, thereâs more to the Twanaku incident. Thereâs indeed a huge problem lurking here! Camus wasnât too surprised, but his heart pounded.
Instinctively, he replied, âOkay.â
After agreeing, Camus realized that he had unknowingly followed Lumianâs instructions, as if the other man were the captain of a patrol team.
After watching Lumian enter the Brieu Motel, Camus briefly analyzed his reaction.
He felt that this situation stemmed from both the intimidation brought about by Lumianâs strength and the accumulated credibility and reliability of his previous deeds.
I have to send a telegram back to Port Pylos to request reinforcementsâŚ
In addition, I need to familiarize myself with Tizamo as soon as possible and strive to move jurisdiction here within a few daysâŚ
After considering his next steps, Camus let out another sigh.
Ever since encountering Louis Berry, problems had never ceased erupting!
I initially came to Tizamo to monitor his actions and prevent any accidents. Why am I now investigating the Dream Festival?
Up in the suite on the second floor of the Brieu Motel, Lumian greeted Ludwig shuffling to the dining table, having just woken up. He then returned to the master bedroom.
Before pondering his letter to Madam Magician, Lumian noticed a folded square of paper on the desk.
A reply after midnightâso typical of Madam Magician, he thought with an inward chuckle. He picked up the letter and conjured a blazing white fireball above his head for light, as Tizamo lacked gas lighting.
Under the fireballâs incandescent glow, Lumian unfolded and read the letter:
âIâve completed my astromancy and received a revelation about the rest of the Abscessed Handâs body.
âThe remaining body is divided into three parts. One part is highly suspected to be located in the Underworld, and the other two parts have hints closely related to Lenburgâs capital, Azshara, but theyâre not actually there. This reminds me of the City of Exiles, Morora, which seals 0-01. It has a similar situation, inside Lenburg, yet not truly being in Lenburg.
âMy interpretation is that the two missing body parts of the Abscessed Hand are hidden away in the City of Exiles, Morora.
âDonât you find it too coincidental?
âNo, itâs not a coincidence at all. My astromancy results show that nearly three months ago, one of the two body parts was still located in the tombs of the Paz Kingdom in the Southern Continent, and the other part was related to some folklore in the south-central region.
Whâ Almost three months ago⌠As a Conspirer, Lumian grasped Madam Magicianâs implication.
Accepting the information about the most terrifying Sealed Artifact 0-01, and masquerading as Ludwigâs godfather, was akin to accepting an olive branch offered from the Church of Knowledge. Lumian had promised to pay a certain price for this knowledgeâŚ
It seemed the Church of Knowledge then dispatched high-ranking individuals to gather the two remaining body parts of the Abscessed Hand and hide them away in the City of Exiles, Morora.
What does this mean? It is clearly forcing me to journey to Morora, unless I choose to abandon my hopes of advancing to Sequence 4 and achieving the state of demi-godhood.
Heh heh, my agreement with the Abscessed Hand stated that until I found its full body, I would never be able to obtain true godhood. This blocks any idea of trying to become a demigod without consuming potions by relying on boons insteadâŚ
Thankfully, Lumian wasnât resistant to the idea of visiting the City of Exiles, Morora, before becoming a demigod. At that moment, he didnât feel stifled or vexed by this necessity. Instead, he felt it would actually save him a lot of trouble.
After some thought, he continued reading the rest of the letter:
âMy astromancy results also tell me that once the Abscessed Handâs full body is gathered and reunited, something extremely dangerous will happen. Itâs best to complete this reunion step while youâre in the City of Exiles, and use the existence of 0-01 to try to counteract this incoming risk.
âIn other words, you need to find and retrieve the body part located in the Underworld first.
âYes, you should have an opportunity to enter the Underworld itself within the next three months. Remember to seize this opportunity when it arises. Donât ask me what opportunity it is exactlyâI donât know the specifics either.â
Opportunity to enter the Underworld within the next three months⌠Lumian repeated this crucial piece of information to himself.
Amidst his elation, the words struck Lumian as peculiar. âEntering the Underworldâ and âgoing to hellâ were two distinct phrases that conveyed the same meaning. In this world, barring a small number of individuals, no one could readily accept the phrase âyou have a chance to go to hell within three months.â It was worth noting that many people would curse at each other, saying, âI wish you a swift descent into hell.â
For the moment, Lumian didnât have time to ponder the opportunity to enter the Underworld. He burned Madam Magicianâs reply and jotted down his gains for the night and his guesses about the Dream Festival. He planned to send it to the Major Arcana card holder at noon the following day.
Although he couldnât shake the feeling that Madam Magicianâs âscheduleâ bore a resemblance to Francaâs, he wasnât sure if it was convenient to send a letter at that time.
Northern Continent, Trier.
Winter sunlight poured through the glass, filling the living room with warmth that chased away the chill.
Franca lounged in the recliner, basking in the cozy glow with half-lidded eyes.
Suddenly, she sensed something and sat upright, pulling her legs in.
In the shadowy corner, a human skull made of pure glowing silver emerged. Pale white flames flickered in its vacant sockets.
Madame Helaâs messenger⌠Why is she contacting me? Franca watched, puzzled, as the skullâs jaws unhinged, releasing a single page that drifted towards her.
She snatched the letter and scanned it quickly.
â007 hasnât heard from you in four days. He wants to confirm youâre okay.â
Four days without checking the group⌠A dry chuckle escaped her lips.
Early to bed and late to rise keeps the king fit to rule his realm! No more morning courts!
In the early morning hours, Franca manned the radio transceiver while Jenna roamed outside, seizing her opportunity to act as a Witch.
Tap tap tap! Her first telegram in days.
âShurima! Your emperor has returned!â
Before long, 007âs telegram was tapped out by the analyzer-
powered mechanical typewriter.
âHidden Blade, where have you been?â
Ahem. Franca cleared her throat.
âLate nights breed ill health. Have you no loved ones?â
âDonât bring up such sad topicsâŚâ
âHidden Blade, have you mastered the assassination artsâ
sundering heart and soul?â
Protests arose from the other members.
At length, 007âs message arrived.
âI have the intel on the last incident. Letâs meet to discuss.
âThe higher-ups also approved the item swap for the story you proposed.â
Franca blinked, startled.
âHow long did that take? Iâd forgotten all about itâŚâ
After all, understanding that humanoid Sealed Artifactâs tale was Lumianâs curiosity, not hers.
007âs resigned telegram:
âBureaucracy inertia. Unavoidable for any large, established organization.â
âTell me about it!â Another member, Moon Kingâs amused agreement clattered out. âWhether public or secret, theyâre all bound by red tape.â
After arranging to meet 007 that night with the Moran Avigny intel and initial assassination plan, Franca rose with a stretch.
She jotted down the two tasks before performing a ritual to summon Lumianâs messenger, Penitent Baynfel.
Southern Continent, Tizamo Town.
Lumian was just about to head to Hisokaâs house for a nap when his messenger materialized from the shadows, delivering a letter.
After taking the note, Lumian noticed Penitent Baynfel didnât immediately depart back to the spirit world as usual. Instead, he lingered, surveying their surroundings with a measured gaze.