Chapter 403: Dream Walker

Since Loki's body had lost control and collapsed without fully dying, Lu Mi had been on guard against the core members of the April Fools' Group reporting him, and against possible raids by official Exalted Ones, for Loki knew he was Lu Mi Li, knew he was the head of the Sava Party, controlled the Breeze Dance Hall, and even knew he bore the aura of the Blood Emperor Arista Tudo.

In the end, the official Exalted Ones merely sent someone from the Market District Police Headquarters to inquire about the anomalies that night, to see if Xia Er Du Du Buwa, the capable gang boss, knew anything.

This confirmed to Lu Mi that the April Fools' Group was still targeting him, unwilling to hand him over to official forces or drive him out of the Market District and out of their sight.

After all, a puppet containing an angel was undoubtedly an item that could grant Loki a qualitative leap in power; if he missed Lu Mi, he would almost certainly never encounter another.

Moreover, the Lord of Fusheng Fusheng Xuanhuang might still intend to use Thelmiopolos for some purpose.

The core members of the April Fools' Group displayed their attitude toward this matter with nakedness, unmasked, laced with sharp mockery and malice—they believed Lu Mi could see it, and expected him to be enraged, choosing to wait in the Market District.

As for when to strike, the initiative lay with them; they would never launch a blind attack while Lu Mi had allies.

Yu Jianna sensed the suppressed anger and malice beneath Lu Mi's cold expression and calm words, and stopped urging, instead muttering:

"I hope these bastards get endings worthy of them."

Lu Mi had just experienced a violent emotional surge, causing a lingering minor issue from his near-loss-of-control state to resurface prominently.

He took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and pressed his temples to ease the throbbing in his skull.

"What's wrong?" Yu Jianna asked, concerned.

Lu Mi replied succinctly:

"The mental trauma from my battle with Loki will take one or two weeks to fully heal."

Yu Jianna's eyes flickered slightly as she ventured:

"Would you like me to massage your head? Franca taught me—I learned it well."

"Don't be shy—after all, we're friends!"

Her final words carried a teasing lilt, attempting to divert Lu Mi's attention and soothe his emotional state.

Lu Mi snorted:

"Why do you keep randomly saying 'Franca said' or 'Franca taught'?"

"Aren't you always…" Yu Jianna suddenly fell silent.

She had intended to say, "Aren't you always 'my sister said' or 'my sister taught'?"

Lu Mi fell silent.

Yu Jianna did too.

After a few seconds, seeing Lu Mi didn't refuse, Yu Jianna left the armrest of the chair and stepped behind him, placing her hands on his temples and the sides of his head.

Lu Mi's body stiffened instantly.

"You've never really been intimate with a girl, have you?" Yu Jianna blurted out playfully.

Lu Mi let out a "huh":

"As a 'Hunter,' anyone who dares get near my head gets a backthrow or a massive fireball—I barely held back just now and didn't roast you alive."

Yu Jianna, both annoyed and amused, tightened her grip:

"Did the 'Provocateur' Elixir completely rewire your speech system and manner of talking?"

"Oh? Such refined vocabulary?" Lu Mi shot back without restraint.

As they bantered, Lu Mi's body gradually relaxed; after a few minutes, he leaned back against the sofa, half-closing his eyes.

While enjoying Yu Jianna's massage and the easing of his headache, he casually recounted the "pranks" of Loki and "I have a friend" and other April Fools' core members—this filled Yu Jianna with fury, and she unconsciously pressed harder.

"Easy, easy," Lu Mi's facial muscles twisted.

The Assassin's strength was no joke.

Yu Jianna softened her touch, indignant:

"I've never read a single play script with such vile, despicable people—they deserve every torture!"

"Damn it, why am I not a 'Witch' yet?"

Lu Mi, eyes closed, asked:

"How's your 'Instigator' Elixir digestion going? Have you summarized the role-playing rules yet?"

Yu Jianna, still massaging, recalled:

"So far, two: first, 'Instigation is a means, not an end'; second, 'The core of instigation lies in insight into the essence of the matter and the state of those involved, not in using abilities.' Also, I've realized one thing: instigation inevitably brings disaster—only the question is who bears it."

"Not bad," Lu Mi remarked, rare in his praise.

Standing behind him, Yu Jianna unconsciously lifted her chin and replied modestly:

"I look for role-playing opportunities every day, and places like the Old Pigeon Loft—full of actors and apprentices—are never short of conflict. It's because I always have to think clearly about who I want to benefit, who should be taught a lesson, or who must suffer loss before each instigation that I understood instigation is merely a means."

Lu Mi's state had calmed considerably; letting his thoughts drift, he asked casually:

"Where do you think I could find opportunities to role-play as the 'Arsonist'?"

Yu Jianna kept rubbing, thinking:

"Trier has basic order—you can only play small roles, can't pull off anything big…"

"There should be chances during the pursuit of those bastards—I almost wanted to burn them alive just listening to you!"

Lu Mi suddenly had a few ideas, but they weren't clear yet.

At that moment, footsteps approached from the stairs, growing clearer.

Yu Jianna released her hands from Lu Mi's head, walked toward the door, and smiled:

"Franca's back."

…………

Many districts of Trier were far from quiet at night, but that didn't stop residents from falling into deep sleep.

One man dreamed his child, after eating human-blood bread, gradually improved, growing healthier.

Suddenly, a golden-furred large dog carrying a small backpack appeared in his dream.

The golden dog crouched at the edge of the dream, guiding the hazy, dazed scenes to reveal certain images from the subconscious depths.

That was the excitement of pushing through the crowd, grabbing bread, and rushing toward the corpse of the condemned; that was the hesitation after believing human-blood bread could cure illness; that was the joy and doubt upon first hearing the tale…

The golden dog thus saw the figure who had told the rumor to the dreamer—the neighbor living in the adjacent house.

Thus, the golden dog moved through one dream after another, stirring corresponding subconscious images to trace the origin of the human-blood bread rumor.

After hundreds of dreams, the golden dog found two with noticeable contradictions.

One belonged to the father, who believed he had learned the secret of human-blood bread from a passing wizard, enabling his daughter to overcome her illness; the other belonged to his child, who dreamed of suddenly falling ill, then suddenly recovering, the bread's effect as potent as a true elixir.

The golden dog guided the father, prompting him to manifest the image of the passing wizard in the dream.

It was ordinary, unremarkable.

The dream images flashed rapidly, the memory of the wizard's face tracing backward.

When the moment of their meeting appeared, the golden dog saw the wizard had a face entirely different from the "previous" one!

Then, that face rapidly shifted, settling into the dreamer's normal impression.

The golden dog interpreted this itself:

The wizard's "hypnosis" could only be completed face-to-face, so the dreamer's first sight of him remained uncorrupted, preserving the truest image; only afterward was memory altered by hypnosis.

Without needing to reawaken the subconscious through dreams, the golden dog's mind naturally recalled the wizard's original appearance:

Brown short hair parted three-seven, amber eyes smiling, a thin face dotted with freckles, gold-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose…

The golden dog exited the dream and, seeing the "Magician" lady suddenly materialize beside him, spoke in a human voice:

"I have results."

The "Magician" lady, dressed in a blouse and brown long skirt, sighed, her eyes alight with eagerness:

"Give me the information—I'll verify it."

The golden dog said nothing; its eyes suddenly deepened into darkness.

After a few seconds, the "Magician" lady stepped forward, and tiny points of starlight shimmered around her.

It was as if the vast starry sky had been reflected upon the ground.

The brilliant, miniature stars spun rapidly, offering a revelation.

The "Magician" lady finished interpreting and immediately pulled open the illusory door hidden in darkness, vanishing from sight.

Just ten or so seconds later, she reappeared and told the golden dog:

"The star-reading result points to a street with no target."

"Misled?" the golden dog asked again, its voice now feminine.

The "Magician" lady nodded, lips curling:

"But this proves the one you saw is indeed the target."

No sooner had she spoken than the silhouette of the "Justice" lady, clad in a white dress with green trim, swiftly materialized.

"Where did you just go?" the "Magician" asked, puzzled.

The "Justice" lady replied in a soft, clear voice:

"I planted a suggestion in the dreams of those chasing human-blood bread—telling them that this weekend, the Fool's Pharmacy will hold a free clinic in the Memorial District, offering free diagnosis and medicine."

"When was the free clinic planned?" the "Magician" asked instinctively.

The "Justice" lady smiled slightly:

"Tomorrow."

"I'll sponsor it."

…………

At six a. m., Golden Rooster Inn, Room 207.

Lu Mi woke naturally from his dream and began his morning routine.

He hadn't decided what to eat for breakfast when the "Puppet" messenger appeared and dropped a letter.

Lu Mi unfolded the letter, slightly puzzled, and saw a portrait.

Beside the portrait was the handwriting of the "Magician" Lady:

"This should be what 'my friend' looks like. We will mobilize all licensed individuals in Trier to find him, including you."

(End of Chapter)