Chapter 400: World Within the Book

Next to her, two silhouettes—one tall, one short—appeared simultaneously, quickly sharpening from blur to clarity.

A semi‑transparent rabbit that stood upright like a human, and a young man in a double‑breasted long formal coat, wearing a half‑high silk top hat, expressionless.

Just as their silhouettes solidified, the semi‑transparent rabbit turned and slipped back into the spirit realm.

After all their silhouettes fully solidified, Foersi only then noticed that everyone seemed shrouded in a night‑like veil, making them hard to see clearly.

Were those eyes just now casting a secret spell here? Could it have the same effect as the gray mist in Mr. Fool's divine realm?

As his thoughts turned, Foersi rose from the sofa and greeted the newly appeared Aodaili and Kelei En:

"Good evening, Mr. World, and Miss Justice."

"Good evening, Ms. Magician." "Good evening, Mr. White Tower."

"And Mr. World, good evening to you too~"

Aodaili lifted her skirt slightly and took two steps forward, cheerfully greeting everyone in turn.

The instant the silhouettes appeared, she keenly noticed the faint night‑like veil on everyone, and the countless eyes sprouting from the surrounding shadows and cracks; the scene felt a bit invasive, but the secret effect seemed effective—at least my audience perception was heavily restrained.

Kelei En maintained his German Sparo persona, gave a slight nod to the group, calmly said "Good evening," and walked straight to the sofa beside Leikedun to sit.

His gaze lingered briefly on the parchment‑bound book on the table, then quickly withdrew.

He had already examined this "Grosser Travels" above the gray mist and found nothing unusual. It can only be said that, worthy of the former Dragon King's method, even with the gray‑mist bonus, he detected no flaw.

Leikedun placed the freshly brewed coffee before each person, then leaned back against the chair back and said:

"Wait a moment; that Nightmare should arrive shortly."

As soon as his words fell, a figure abruptly appeared beside them, lounging casually on the sofa as if it had been waiting for his remark.

Kelei En's eyes narrowed slightly; using the Faceless one's ability to control his expression, he calmly surveyed Lunnade, noting the red gloves on his hands.

Sure enough, it was Lunnade, but he had somehow acquired the red gloves. Moreover, the way he appeared couldn't be his own extraordinary ability—perhaps a short‑range teleporting artifact? Or an angel from the Suoluo Yasi De Family?

Leikedun expressionlessly pushed a cup of coffee in front of Lunnade and said calmly:

"He has arrived."

Lunnade lounged loosely on the sofa, lifted his coffee to take a sip, and his peripheral glance swept over the others; beyond the tranquil, deep darkness, nothing extraneous entered his sight.

It reminded him of Captain Sosete's ability—are there extraordinary beings of the Night Path here? Lunnade set his coffee down, his eyes slightly heavy, concealing his emotions well.

Foersi, cradling a Knowledge Rabbit, was still reeling from Lunnade's sudden appearance; as an astrologer who had roamed the spirit realm many times, she was very curious about this Nightmare's mode of arrival.

This wasn't spirit‑realm traversal or a "door‑opening" ability—there were no traces of the spirit realm. How was it done? Could it be the Nightmare moving through dreams? That seems unlikely; no one here is sleeping, so there should be no dreams.

Sitting beside Foersi, Aodaili instinctively tried to glean information from the suddenly appearing Nightmare, observed for a while, then withdrew her gaze, a bit disappointed.

"Mr. White Tower's" secret effect is too restrictive for an audience; I can't perceive any subtle expressions or movements.

Leikedun scanned the group, leaned forward, took the parchment‑bound "Grosser Travels" into his hand, and said calmly:

"Let's begin! To enter the world within the book, we must smear a drop of our own blood on the cover; after a while, we'll be taken directly into the book's world."

Mid‑sentence, he lifted his right hand above the volume, brushed a streak of starlight across his thumbnail, then gently traced his middle finger pad, dropping a vivid red bead of blood onto the "Grosser Travels".

He then handed the "Grosser Travels" to the nearby Lunnade, who, after receiving it, placed his gloved right hand on the cover and rubbed, leaving a crimson mark.

He withdrew his right hand, brushed his thumbnail against his middle finger pad, feeling no wound. The old man's ability is truly handy.

Muttering to himself, he casually passed the book to the two ladies opposite him.

Foersi reached for the volume, then tore a pre‑prepared semi‑transparent glass vial from his neck, containing pre‑collected blood.

She dropped her own blood onto the book's surface, slipped the vial away, and then handed the volume to the nearby Aodaili.

After everyone sequentially smeared blood onto the cover, the restaurant fell silent. Aodaili scanned the surroundings, pondering how to break the hush, when the Nightmare suddenly spoke:

"Members of the Storm Church have become far more volatile lately—so much that a single glance could spark a fight."

If Tinggen's Night Church were stolen right before one's eyes, you'd react the same. Kelei En muttered inwardly, his gaze lingering on Leikedun.

Why did Mr. World turn his head to look at Mr. White Tower? What does White Tower know, he wondered? Meanwhile, Aodaili's thoughts abruptly halted as she saw Leikedun's figure suddenly vanish from the sofa.

"What happened?" she asked, turning uncertainly toward the "World".

In the next instant, Lunnade's silhouette also vanished abruptly from the sofa.

Aodaili and Foersi beside her stared at each other, then almost simultaneously fixed their gaze on the parchment‑bound book on the table.

"They entered the world within the book?"

After a pause, receiving no reply from her companion, Aodaili turned puzzled and found herself alone.

"It's almost your turn."

"Adjust your state; we may descend scatteredly."

Kelei En, maintaining his persona, spoke in a flat, emotionless tone.

Aodaili paused, then smiled and nodded at Kelei En: "I understand, thank you for the reminder, Mr. World."

As she lifted her head, her mind briefly hazed; the surroundings flickered between blur and clarity, and when she regained focus, she stood on a vast, white snowfield.

A whimpering cold wind gusted, and Aodaili shivered, trembling.

"So cold! Why is the world within the book also winter, and such an icy, snowy place!"

Aodaili looked around; the surroundings were a seamless white expanse, and she couldn't even discern basic directions. I should have brought Susie along; though not a proper hunting dog, she'd certainly have more wilderness experience than I.

After a brief contemplation, Aodaili decided to find a wind‑sheltered spot to wait, then hope the Tarot Society companions would come looking for her.

In the real restaurant, Kelei En silently watched the sofa that had just been spoken at, now empty.

He let out a slight sigh, lifted the coffee set aside, prepared to take a sip, then wait to be drawn into the book's world.

His mind suddenly hazed; the temperature around him dropped instantly, transporting him from the warm interior to an icy snowfield.

Kelei En glanced around; it was snow upon snow, and he saw no sign of any living creature.

"So they really did disperse!"

With a slight sigh, he looked at the coffee he held; because he was holding it, was this cup also drawn into the book's world as part of him?

Staring at the now completely cold coffee, he tossed the cup onto the ground nearby, then muttered divination verses while discarding the staff in his left hand.

On the other side of this icy land, Lei Ke Dun had already rendezvoused with Lun Na De; to be precise, Pa Lie Si directly brought Lun Na De's body to Lei Ke Dun.

"First go find the others; after regrouping, then go look for your direct descendant."

Lei Ke Dun's gaze swept around, and his voice, calm, said.

As soon as his words fell, his eyes instantly grew deep, lost focus, and turned a blank white.

After a moment, his eyes cleared again, a hint of smile at the corner of his mouth, and he said, "Let's go, I've found someone."

"The old man has fallen asleep again; he said he needs to adjust his own state."

Lun Na De spread his hands, and his voice, helpless yet calm, opened.

Lei Ke Dun lightly nodded, then extended his left hand onto his shoulder; layers of starlight spread out, enveloping the two figures as if solid, and they vanished into the spirit realm, wandering off into the distance.

(End of chapter)