Chapter 670: The Dreamer?

Ria watched the figure on the tree branch—the version of herself—and suddenly felt as if she were dreaming.

No, this was a dream.

That Ria, her face cold and etched with hatred, pulled back the bowstring once more, causing the arrow to coil with crackling silver-white lightning.

Lu Mi was about to "teleport" behind the Ria on the tree, hoping to control her in this nearly real dream and ask what she "knew," when he felt the surroundings shake and split into scene after scene.

Those scenes overlapped and shattered instantly.

Lu Mi, Ria, and Jamieu opened their eyes simultaneously, seeing the crimson moonlight streaming through the window and hearing the wild beasts' howls from the primal jungle.

They were still on the second floor of the house in "Xisuo."

Jamieu sat up abruptly, glancing sideways: the mosquito-repellent candle had burned to nothing but a final wick, and blackened insect corpses littered the floor around them.

"We woke up? We're back in reality?" Jamieu couldn't quite believe it.

Lu Mi leaned against a wooden pillar and laughed:

"Probably, but I can't tell you we've definitively escaped the dream."

"We'll need to confirm it through details over the coming time."

The simplest way is to check whether Ludwig is here and in what state.

Of course, we could ask Telmiporos for the correct answer, but he might not answer—or if he does, it might not be true.

Jamieu nodded, turning to Ria, who had remained silent since waking, and said carefully:

"We seemed to see another version of you at the edge of the dream."

Another Ria, utterly different in emotion and state.

Ria fell silent for several seconds, then said:

"I saw her too."

"She felt just like… just like those intense emotions I mentioned before, the ones sleeping inside me…"

Lu Mi pressed his golden straw hat, rose to his feet purely by leg strength, and mused aloud:

"Does this dream draw away intense emotions within Tizamo Town and manifest them as dream-people—more extreme, more emotional versions?"

"So the longer someone stays in Tizamo Town, the more docile they become…" Jamieu agreed with Louis Bery's guess; Ria slowly nodded.

Mirror-person… dream-person… how many other strange things lurk hidden in the shadows of this world? Lu Mi pinched his temples and walked toward the stairs leading to the ground floor.

"That's enough for tonight's attempt," he said lightly.

Jamieu and Ria followed close behind, confirming through details—the return of livestock, noises within the house—that they had truly escaped the dream.

They waited until Lu Mi entered the Brieu Inn before stopping, hiding in the shadows across the street.

…………

Pushing open the suite's door, Lu Mi saw Ludwig sitting at a table piled with food, shoving a roasted banana into his mouth, while his other hand held a child's fork, reaching toward a salad made from palm heart.

Seeing this, Lu Mi was certain: this was not a dream.

He glanced at Lu Jianuo, who was dozing beside him, and asked Ludwig casually:

"Do you dream when you sleep?"

"Yes," Ludwig replied in one word, mid-bite.

Lu Mi nodded as if thinking:

"Have you dreamed these past few days?"

After gnawing off half a roasted river fish with its bones, Ludwig finally answered:

"Yes."

"What kind of dreams?" Lu Mi took off his golden straw hat and tucked it into the "Traveler's Satchel."

Ludwig mumbled:

"Eat, eat, eat…"

Of course, no high expectations… Lu Mi chuckled bitterly and turned to Lu Jianuo:

"What did you dream about?"

Lu Jianuo almost asked whether there was something wrong with dreams here, but chose to answer honestly instead:

"All kinds of dreams…"

He paused, then added:

"Maybe it's been too long since I traveled alone—ha—no outlet, so I keep dreaming about women, about those things, but then I always realize something's wrong: either the person changes into a monster, or the once-alluring woman grows tree galls, wheat ears, mushrooms… and then I wake up screaming."

As an Intisian, he felt no shame discussing such matters.

According to Anthony's psychology, this is caused by prolonged repression of desire and unresolved fear of Tizamo Town's dangers… Lu Mi silently evaluated, then smiled and said:

"You could go alone to the Giant Anaconda Bar, find a local girl, or try flirting with the plantation ladies or maids outside—just make sure you prepare food for Ludwig, he'll take care of himself."

Lu Jianuo was instantly tempted, then remembered the dangers lurking outside.

Lu Mi turned away, walking toward the master bedroom, and left with a smile:

"Of course, I don't know whether those ladies will turn into monsters or something strange happens by the end."

"… " Lu Jianuo imagined the scene and shuddered involuntarily.

He glanced at Ludwig and still felt safer staying near the boy.

As long as he hadn't finished all the stored food, I'm safe!

…………

In the shadows across from the Brieu Inn.

Ria watched silently for a while, then suddenly spoke:

"If the General's Guard won't send reinforcements and the Patrol only has Deputy Captain Lei Yasa coming, why don't you just leave Tizamo Town? Why stay here trying to solve the 'Dream Festival'?"

Once you escape Matani Prefecture, neither the General's Guard nor the Patrol has the resources to track or punish you—worst case, they issue a warrant, but won't offer much reward.

Jamieu scratched his bushy brown hair and smiled bitterly:

"You know—I was previously a 'Peacekeeper,' and my old duties blended perfectly with the Patrol's work, so I still can't help wanting to maintain order in Matani Prefecture, protect the people's lives."

"Potions don't just bring power—they influence you in many ways."

He exhaled and added:

"Besides, Captain Lei Yasa is almost here—I must help him. Debts must be repaid."

Jamieu didn't say his other reason: he still had strong faith in the great adventurer Louis Bery and his Beihoude "Fool" Church, believing that with Bery involved, the whole matter would be dangerous but not fatal.

Ria didn't press further, quietly continuing to watch the Brieu Inn ahead.

Jamieu glanced at her:

"What about you? Why don't you just take Luo Ban, Maxlo, and the others and leave Tizamo Town now? The three of you as a team—there are plenty of prefectural generals who'd take you in."

Ria stared at the suite where Louis Bery stayed, saying nothing.

After a long silence, just as Jamieu thought she wouldn't answer, Ria suddenly spoke:

"When I was at my most painful and desperate, it was the Church that helped me; afterward, it was the Patrol that gave me a new beginning, a new life…"

Thinking of the cold, hateful Ria in the dream, Jamieu sincerely sighed:

"You've really had it hard."

The moment he finished speaking, Ria laughed bitterly:

"You're the most contradictory person I've ever met. You used to constantly talk about how the Feneport Kingdom should invade which prefecture or island, seize which mine or valley, establish more colonies on the Southern Continent—and now you pity my suffering."

"I can feel your sincerity just now—you genuinely feel pain for me—and that's exactly why I feel compelled to say something."

Jamieu had no reply.

It really was contradictory.

At the same time, he noticed that after seeing her dream-self, Ria's emotions had become slightly more volatile, and she was more willing to express herself.

Was this caused by encountering extreme emotion? Or could those who hadn't stayed in Tizamo Town for a full year, upon understanding the truth of "docility," partially escape the dream's influence? Jamieu quickly thought of the plantations outside town, of Sir Pettit, Miss Amadina, Mr. Robert, and others.

These gentlemen and ladies were not docile.

And the previous special dream clearly included the plantations outside town and the military barracks.

Jamieu realized the reason:

These gentlemen and ladies spent at least half their year in Pailos Port.

That was also why he knew them so well.

…………

At noon the next day, shortly after Lu Mi sent his letter, he received a reply from the "Magician" lady:

"Is this price set by the 'Eternal Sun' Church—or by you?"

"Can a Level '1' sealed object really be exchanged for so little?"

"If I didn't know what kind of person you are, I'd suspect you've hidden over half of what the 'Eternal Sun' Church offered."

"Besides the intelligence on this Level '1' sealed object, make the 'Eternal Sun' Church pay an additional 50, 00 pounds in gold—at the highest exchange rate within three months."

"Don't worry—they have more gold than they know what to do with."

Fifty thousand pounds in gold… that's nearly 1. million Fierjin in gold. What does the "Magician" lady need so much gold for? Lu Mi thought of gold's significance in mysticism, of the armor shadow's need to reshape its golden body, of gold's widespread use in "Death"-related domains—and instantly understood.

He then noticed a detail:

The "Magician" lady used the Ruin Kingdom's pound to describe the gold's value.

Does this mean she's been more active in the Ruin Kingdom lately? Lu Mi nodded slightly, considering whether to summon Jian Na's messenger, Xia Zuo the rabbit, to relay the "Magician" lady's demand—or to return to Teril personally, and discuss the "Dream Festival" with Fleurca, Jian Na, and Anthony.

(End of Chapter)