Thud!
Klein couldn’t help but take a step back, momentarily unsure if he was awake or still in a dream.
The figure took off his black top hat, bowed slightly, and said with a low smile:
“Let me reintroduce myself. Nighthawk, Dunn Smith.”
Nighthawks? The codename for the team of Beyonders from the Church of the Evernight Goddess that “Justice” and “The Hanged Man” mentioned? Klein had a sudden realization. Connecting it to what had just happened, he blurted out:
“You manipulated the dream? You made me have that dream just now?”
Nighthawk Dunn Smith put his black top hat back on, hiding his slightly receding hairline. His gray, deep-set eyes held a hint of amusement as he said:
“No, I merely entered your dream and provided the necessary guidance.”
His voice was rich and gentle, echoing on the dark, dimly lit corridor without disturbing anyone’s sweet dreams:
“In dreams, although suppressed emotions and various dark thoughts are magnified, making everything seem chaotic, absurd, and crazy, the truth still exists, still hidden within. To an old hand like me, everything is obvious and easy to see. More than the waking you, I trust the you in the dream.”
This… Can a normal person control their dreams? If I dream about something Earth-related, wouldn’t Dunn Smith discover it? Klein shuddered, feeling a strong lingering fear about his experience in the dream.
But very soon, he detected something peculiar. He remembered that he had been very sober and rational in the dream, knowing what to say and what not to say.
Simply put, it was completely unlike a dream!
So, did Dunn Smith only “see” what I wanted him to see?
Klein’s thoughts raced, and he vaguely gained some understanding.
Was this a benefit of the transmigration itself, such as the special nature of the spirit, or was it an effect of the “luck-conferring ritual”?
“So, Mr. Smith, are you now convinced that I’ve genuinely lost my memory?” Klein organized his words and retorted.
Dunn Smith didn’t answer directly. Instead, he gave him a deep look.
“You aren’t even surprised by this?” “The clients I’ve dealt with before, even right after waking from a dream, didn’t believe that supernatural power could exist. They would rather believe they hadn’t truly woken up yet.”
Klein grunted in acknowledgment and said:
“Maybe it’s because I’ve been praying for, hoping for, just this kind of power to help me.”
“A very interesting way of thinking… Perhaps you survived not just because of luck.” Dunn nodded without much of a smile. “I can now confirm that you have indeed lost some of your memories because of this incident, especially those related to the incident itself.”
“So, can I go back now?” Klein heaved a sigh of relief and asked tentatively.
Dunn put one hand in his pocket and walked over slowly, the surrounding night growing serene and gentle.
“No, you still have to come with me to see the ‘expert.’” A polite, upward curve of his lips formed a smile.
“Why?” Klein blurted out, adding quickly, “Don’t you trust the guidance of your own dream?”
No way! If that ‘expert’ is good at hypnosis or mind-reading, won’t my biggest secret be exposed? I can’t even imagine what would happen!
“I am usually humble, but when it comes to dreams, I do have some confidence,” Dunn replied calmly and steadily. “However, it’s also good to double-check the critical, important matters. Besides, what she specializes in is very different from mine. She might be able to help restore some of your memories.”
Before Klein could say anything else, his voice turned deep:
“After all, you are connected to the whereabouts of that notebook of the Antigonus family.”
“What?” Klein was stunned.
Dunn stopped in front of him, his gray eyes fixed on Klein.
“The notebook from the Fourth Epoch wasn’t found at the scene. It wasn’t in the entire house. Welch is dead. Naya is dead. You are the only clue.”
“…Alright.” Klein was silent for a moment before letting out a breath. The notebook is missing… This really is strange! I hadn’t even thought about the whereabouts of that Fourth Epoch notebook before!
Dunn nodded almost imperceptibly and, walking past Klein, said:
“Lock the door. Come with me to Welch’s place now. The ‘expert’ is waiting for us there.”
Breath caught in his throat, Klein’s heart pounded. He was restless and uneasy. He wanted to refuse, even to run away, but he believed that after his dream revealed so much, Dunn Smith was definitely on high alert. Given the disparity in strength between an ordinary person and a Beyonder, forcefully attempting to escape wouldn’t have much chance of success. He definitely still has his gun… He is probably someone who practices shooting a lot… Various thoughts clashed violently in his mind. In the end, Klein chose to accept reality.
“Alright.”
Sigh, I’ll just have to take it one step at a time. Maybe my peculiarity in the dream will come into play again…