Chapter 959: What Was Once Gained (Special Bonus for Gold Patron Kolega)

“A name that left a deep impression” sent a “hi” emoji:

“Want to play again?”

“Hope it’s more exciting than last night,” Lu Mi said into his phone, using voice input.

Old Xia beside him glanced over, his eyes brimming with envy and longing:

Young people’s lives are so vibrant…

No wonder he’s got a seven-year-old child at twenty-two…

Too bad I dare not…

Soon, Anderson replied to Lu Mi:

“You pick the place—somewhere suitable for discussing secrets.”

“Sure,” Lu Mi did not refuse.

“Set it for six p.m. I like sunlight,” Anderson sent an “ok” emoji.

After Lu Mi replied “no problem,” the former strongest hunter of the Mist Sea asked in text:

“Why is your WeChat name ‘Dummy’? Do you think you’re not smart enough?”

Lu Mi laughed and said:

“I love Tarot cards—I think the Fool card is awesome. Calling myself ‘Dummy’ is just imitation.”

“Sometimes people use lofty excuses to hide their own flaws. That’s a phrase I’ve grown fond of lately—and I give it to you,” Anderson replied, sending a “bye” emoji.

Lu Mi did not reply again.

After a short rest, he and Old Xia resumed patrolling the floors.

On the tenth floor, during an internal patrol of the Intis Group, Lu Mi saw Zhou Mingrui exiting the public restroom.

When their eyes met, Lu Mi gave a slight nod—a greeting.

Zhou Mingrui had not encountered him these past two days, and security patrols were routine, so he showed no sign of suspicion, responding with a nod of his own.

As they passed, Lu Mi naturally checked the surroundings for fire hazards.

He had no intention of hinting at the existence of supernatural power during daylight—first, they weren’t at a point where conversation was possible; even if he forced hints, Zhou might not want to listen. Second, he had to wait until Franca’s expulsion from the dream was truly over, otherwise he couldn’t tell whether later anomalies stemmed from last night’s warning or today’s Shitan .

Zhou Mingrui, seeing that this security guard, Li Ming, made no strange gestures or uttered odd words, felt his suspicions ease further.

…………

At six p.m., sunlight still bathed the small square in front of the mall, illuminating the children’s play equipment.

Inside a sealed glass cylinder, six sets of seats rotated slowly.

From the cylinder’s center, colorful ocean balls continuously spewed out, flying in all directions, while Ludwig held a long-handled fishnet to catch them.

Lu Mi sat beside him, acting like a true parent; the adjacent seat set belonged to Anderson.

Anderson had no children, yet he sat there calmly, occasionally lifting his net to catch an ocean ball, showing none of the embarrassment or shame an adult might feel entering a children’s playground without a child.

At this moment, no one else was present—all had gone home for dinner.

“This place is enclosed, no one will disturb or eavesdrop. I’ve checked the equipment—no issues,” Lu Mi said with a smile to Anderson. “I originally thought of choosing the merry-go-round, but it lacks privacy—not suitable for secrets.”

As they spoke, they rotated with the seats around the cylinder’s center.

“This effectively makes up for my lost childhood,” Anderson glanced at Ludwig, then turned to Lu Mi. “Do you ever feel this world isn’t real? That many people are like puppets on a stage—normal at first glance, yet certain details terrify you?”

“Why are you talking about this with me—and my girlfriend?” Lu Mi replied with a question.

His girlfriend meant Jianna.

Anderson laughed, speaking with deep meaning:

“Because I sense you two are real—more real than everyone around you.”

Lu Mi smiled in return:

“Yes, I sometimes feel this world isn’t real—it’s like a vast dream. We think we’re making choices, but we’re pushed and guided by the dreamer’s subconscious. When he wakes, everything vanishes like bubbles.”

Amid the music of spraying ocean balls, Anderson’s smile grew more pronounced:

“This attraction has a time limit—we can’t stay here forever.

“Have you ever heard the term ‘Relics of the God War’?”

Is he verifying our identities? Lu Mi glanced outside the glass cylinder and smiled in reply:

“I’ve heard of it.”

Outside the entrance to this children’s facility, Anthony waited with Lu Mi’s and Anderson’s phones.

Anderson sighed with a smile:

“Talking with you is indeed easier than with someone else.

“Some people’s brains might be attached to their fists.”

Anderson continued:

“I ventured into the Relics of the God War, encountered dangerous things, and underwent some changes:

“In sufficiently unique dreams, if subjected to strong stimuli, I can break free from dreaming and remain partially awake within the dream.”

Is this why you realized the Dream City isn’t real? Lu Mi did not ask Anderson directly, but stayed silent.

He still didn’t know the connection between the Colorful Hotel and Anderson.

Anderson smiled:

“That adventure was thrilling, but I can’t write about it in any book—I’m not the protagonist.”

“Over the past few years, I’ve often dreamed of living in a modern metropolis like this one, making me look forward to sleep.

“In those dreams, I’ve sometimes been a language teacher, sometimes a failed painter—they’re likely the same person, just in different life states.

“Later, the painter became mute, and his painting skill underwent a qualitative transformation.

“I was stimulated, woke up within the dream, and gained partial clarity.

“I discovered someone was sending me money, funding my studio, opening hotels—evil knowledge, and such good fortune? Of course I took it—how could I waste their kindness?”

So Anderson’s dream image, for some reason, became contaminated and turned into the true “Painter,” and this also stimulated the real Anderson, allowing his consciousness to enter the dream via his own special ability? Thus, Anderson’s dream image split: sometimes the tutor Anderson, the former strongest hunter of the Mist Sea; sometimes the mute Painter Anderson—and the tutor Anderson approached us because he sensed we were outsiders? Lu Mi nodded with sudden understanding.

This resembles Rosan’s state, except that the real Rosan lacks dream-related uniqueness and cannot enter personally to confront the Blessing’s power and the Xieshen ’s corruption.

“How’s my story? Pretty exciting, right? Give me your critique,” Anderson suddenly changed tone.

Lu Mi clapped his hands:

“What happens next? If the real Anderson doesn’t enter the dream, the mute Anderson inside shouldn’t affect him.”

Anderson spread his hands and smiled:

“Can you be one hundred percent certain it won’t affect him?”

“No,” Lu Mi answered honestly.

Anderson nodded with the gaze of someone pitying a child who dropped out of school:

“Besides, that dream is fascinating and fun. As a human, you must change your entertainment often.

“I told Dani in the dream to be careful at night when I turn mute—but sadly, he didn’t understand my hint. If I could get something to disguise myself as Edwina, he’d probably think harder about what I said.”

“You painted the mute painter? Do you now possess the transformed painting skill?” Lu Mi asked about last night’s events.

Rosan had also painted another version of herself, and after Franca burned it, her condition improved significantly…

Is Anderson using me to “adjust” his own state?

Anderson “tsk”ed:

“Don’t you use the same body during the day and night?”

“Changes in the body are shared.”

Lu Mi pondered and pressed further:

“In the dream, the ‘Painter’ shouldn’t be able to make his drawings truly step out of the paper—too many restrictions.”

All abilities should be suppressed to Sequence 7 level, yet yesterday’s Anderson moved freely around the neighborhood and could even speak before entering the studio.

Anderson smiled:

“Dreams always have special exceptions. If the dreamer’s symbol is a loophole, his dream must contain flaws—these are manifestations of his partial symbol within the dream. Unless he consciously controls them, he can’t avoid them.

“The mute Anderson didn’t exist originally—he’s just another state of mine—but he’s hidden within the dreamer’s thoughts and perceptions. So once I paint him, he doesn’t need to invade from outside; he becomes real. But he can’t leave the studio and is very weak.”

Did the Fool’s avatar once know a mute Anderson—or imagine Anderson becoming mute? Lu Mi gave a slight nod:

“So you were the one who led me into the studio?”

Anderson’s smile widened:

“Of course. After entering the studio, I slipped away through a pre-prepared painting while you were looking at the oil paintings, then activated the mute Anderson painting.

“That’s my studio—equivalent to the ‘Hunter’s’ home ground—so I naturally made extra arrangements.”

“I changed my clothes and pants afterward—didn’t you recognize me?”

“Why did you change your clothes and pants?” Lu Mi probed.

Anderson smiled again:

“Just a joke.”

That’s Anderson’s style… Do successful “Hunters” all have a prankster streak? Lu Mi accepted Anderson’s explanation—if it were him, he might do the same.

Anderson glanced at the attraction nearing its time limit:

“Now it’s my turn to ask.

“What are you here to do?”

This didn’t feel like a question—it was confirmation.

“To wake the dreamer in the best, most human state possible,” Lu Mi replied simply.

Anderson suddenly smiled:

A few days ago, a foreigner came to the tutoring center to visit; he was as real as you are.

“What’s his name?” Lu Mi asked, his expression calm.

At that moment, the ocean ball stopped spraying, the seats slowed rapidly, then came to a complete stop.

Anderson stood up and smiled.

“Zarathustra.”

PS: This chapter is an extra from Old Koler’s Gold Patron; please support with base monthly votes~ The second update will be at the usual noon time.

(End of Chapter)