Chapter 28

And whenever she walked onto a wall, the entire scene would flip and realign itself.

Finally, she arrived directly above the spot where she had first entered the hall.

The entire hall had now been turned upside down.

【Huang Quan: We're almost there. Can you still walk?】 Huang Quan's tone carried concern.

【Stelle: I'm already on the wall, feeling fine.】 Stelle had now calmed down, and her true nature was gradually showing through.

【Huang Quan: That's funny. Since you have the mood to joke, I assume you're fine.】 Huang Quan's voice remained steady, unmoved by Stelle's remark.

【Huang Quan: Don't stop. Don't look back. Don't look down. And don't look up.】

Huang Quan gave Stelle a few serious instructions, then walked off in one direction.

Seeing this, Stelle hurried to follow.

Yet along the way, she encountered many phantom shadows.

Some of these shadows were people she knew, like Silver Wolf and the Truth Doctor.

Others were unfamiliar to her.

【Silver Wolf: How are you planning to drag them into the fray?】

【The towering mech: Reveal the truth in full, and they will naturally come.】

Stelle approached the shadow of Silver Wolf, watched her exchange a few words with a mech, then the shadow vanished.

【Huang Quan: These voices... are merely shadows of the dreamscape. Ignore them.】 Huang Quan, having seen Stelle's encounter, explained briefly.

【The stage of the "Harmony Grand Ceremony" belongs to you alone, sister.】

【But if I cannot sing... what meaning is there to the stage?】

This time, the shadow pair was a stranger brother and sister.

Again, after a brief exchange, they dissolved.

【Truth Doctor: What makes you think you can win, damn gambler?】

【A man dressed in flamboyant attire: Three "chips" are enough. Everything, or nothing at all.】

This shadow pair consisted of two men,

one of whom Stelle recognized—the Truth Doctor.

The other wore splendid attire and spoke to him with a carefree, cynical tone.

But as always, after a single line, they vanished completely.

Stelle arrived before the final pair.

【A little girl with twin pigtails: Rememberer... do you really think you can leave unharmed?】

【A mysterious woman radiating mature grace: I'm sorry, my desired dance partner... I've already chosen someone else.】

With those words, no phantom shadows remained in the hall.

Stelle: "This dream is too bizarre. I'm literally walking on walls?"

March 7th: "That's not even the weirdest part—the whole thing flips with your perspective!"

Keli: "Wow, it looks like a fun amusement park! Keli wants to have a dream like this too!"

Hook: "Exactly, exactly! Hook likes dreams like this too."

Funa: "Hey, did you all see those shadow pairs? I'm certain there's some huge conspiracy hidden here!"

Funa: "Especially that guy called the gambler—listen to what he said!"

Funa: "Three chips are enough. Everything, or nothing at all!"

Funa: "Listen, listen! What an utterly domineering and insane line!"

Funa: "Anyone who says that? Definitely a Jidafan Sect!"

"Three chips are enough. Everything, or nothing at all!"

"Who else could say something so powerful if not a Weifan Sect?"

In the Moman Palace, Funa repeated the phrase over and over,

convinced it was tailor-made for a Weifan Sect.

It perfectly showcased the Weifan Sect's confidence and madness.

Sandgold: "Haha, Miss Funa really knows how to joke."

Sandgold: "I'm a law-abiding citizen across the stars—how could I possibly be a Weifan Sect?"

In the hotel of Pinoconny,

Sandgold, who had only just checked in,

was lying in the bathtub when he saw Funa's words,

and quickly defended himself.

The livestream was full of all kinds of people—there might even be Pinoconny's overseers watching.

If they caught even a hint of something suspicious,

my plans would be ruined.

"Sigh, why did this livestream appear right now?"

"My plan was flawless."

"Now it's all messed up."

"But... maybe this will make things more interesting?"

In the bathtub, Sandgold gripped a chip, a slow smile spreading across his lips.

Funa: "So the gambler you mentioned... is you?"

Funa: "You're really not a Weifan Sect?"

Topaz: "Miss Furina, I'm really not a villain, I swear!"

Topaz: "Professor, I know you're here, hurry up and help me prove it!"

Dr. Ratio: "Hah, foolish gambler."

Dr. Ratio: "That's right, although he's a brainless gambler, he really isn't some villain."

Furina: "Oh, then I misunderstood, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Topaz: "It's fine, as long as the misunderstanding is cleared up, Miss Furina doesn't need to apologize."

Because Dr. Ratio testified, Furina temporarily believed Topaz's words.

The video continued to play.

Stelle followed Huang Quan, beginning to enter a corridor,

then started running with all her might.

They were chasing, chasing a door that kept moving away from them ahead.

【Huang Quan:... We're here.】 Huang Quan stopped in front of a door and said to Stelle.

Hearing this, Stelle looked at the door before her,

carefully pushed it open.

【Welcome to the Daydream Hotel, may you have an unforgettable vacation experience! If you wish to check in, please proceed straight to the hotel front desk...】

After pushing the door open, there was the phantom of a bellboy,

who bowed to Stelle, then dissipated.

【Huang Quan: Leave this place, wake up as you normally would, forget this chance encounter, and return to where you came from.】

【But before we part, I have a request.】

【To your ears, it may sound strange, even rude, but I want to know...】

【Have we met somewhere before?】

Huang Quan stared intently at Stelle, her meaning unclear.

【Stelle: What do you mean?】 Huang Quan's words, coming out of nowhere, left Stelle bewildered.

【Huang Quan: You remind me of someone from the past. In hazy memories, she stood shoulder to shoulder with me... just like this bizarre and fantastic dream, close at hand yet untouchable.】

【May I ask you a few more questions? I... often forget certain things, so rather than memories, I'm more accustomed to using "feelings" to capture something. Whether the answer is right or wrong doesn't matter; what matters is your reaction in the moment.】

【For example, when you woke up in the guest room, you murmured a few names. Are they your companions? Family? Enemies? You seem to have formed unbreakable bonds with many people and many things...】

【May I ask, would you feel fear at losing such bonds?】 Huang Quan's tone was flat, but the question she asked made Stelle's heart tighten.

【Stelle: I... I don't know.】 Stelle pondered for a moment, giving no answer.