After Klein finished his story, based on his description, Albert asked a few more targeted questions to see if certain details matched up. Without a doubt, he received a satisfactory answer. "Thank you for your cooperation. Have a good dream." Albert stood up with a smile, gave a slight bow, and took the opportunity to use his Nightmare ability to influence Dwayne Dantès once again. This way, after waking up, he would only vaguely remember having had a certain dream, unable to recall the specific details. Having done all this, he turned around, walked to the door, turned the knob, and left the dream.
As expected, the Nighthawks trusted the Nightmare's ability a bit too much. If I were in charge, I would have designed a series of questions from different angles and aspects in advance, cross-referencing them to find inconsistencies and loopholes... Hah, the best way would be to coordinate with Ms. Justice, prepare several professional psychological assessment questionnaires, and have the target complete all of them in the dream. If he was putting on a facade, his psychological state and the image he wanted to project would inevitably show contradictions in the conclusions of different assessments. Unless he was also a psychologist and could notice the real purpose behind each set of questions... Klein leaned back against the sofa and cast his gaze out the window.
In the grayish-black, hazy world, the light from the gas lamps was dim and pale, casting an eerie, deathly stillness around. Klein watched quietly for a few seconds, then curled his lips in a self-deprecating smile.
Meanwhile in the underground of Saint Samuel Church, upon seeing Albert wake up normally and hearing his report, Leonard first breathed a sigh of relief, then became even more wary of that immortal monster from the Fourth Epoch.
In the City of Silver, lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating all the streets.
Derrick Berg walked out of his house, with the Hurricane Axe tucked into his belt, and headed towards the Twin Towers in the north of the city.
Along the way, he encountered many residents of the City of Silver. Some were busy with their own tasks, some were sending their children to receive a general education, and some were patrolling every corner in groups of three or five, preventing anyone from accidentally dying at home and, not being put to rest by close relatives, turning into terrifying evil spirits.
The presence of these people made the City of Silver seem very lively. Derrick could occasionally hear the laughter and joyous voices of children.
He couldn't help but recall his life back in the afternoon town camp. He only encountered a dozen or so people each day, had to stay inside sturdy but cramped buildings most of the time, while outside, monsters lurked in the darkness, hiding in houses. They were cleared out time and time again, yet they reappeared from somewhere each time, instilling a deep sense of powerlessness in every exploration squad member. It seemed impossible to ever achieve true safety, making it forever difficult to relax. You had to give it your all at all times, without a single moment of slack.
No normal creature could maintain such a high level of vigilance and alertness for long. So, the City of Silver had a mature rotation system.
Returning from the afternoon town to the City of Silver didn't take the first exploration squad too long, but quarantine and isolation for observation and rest were inevitable. It wasn't until today that Derrick felt he had adjusted, believing his mental state could support the negative shock of advancement.
He had already reported to the "Chief," Colin Iliad, that he had obtained the potion formula for "Notary" and was permitted to exchange this gain for the corresponding Beyonder material — the tail feather of a Spirit Bird of Oaths.
As for the things he owed "The Moon," he had already obtained them through patrols around the afternoon town and had transferred them to the other party through Mr. "Fool."
"Once I advance, I'll be qualified to choose a magical item of a non-high sequence..." Derrick thought with a faint sense of yearning. He quickened his pace and arrived at the Twin Towers in the north of the city.
Although the material warehouses and magical items were all within the Round Tower, watched over by the "Six-Man Council," Derrick's destination was the Spire, as that was where the merit exchange point was located.
He was just about to enter the Spire when his spiritual intuition stirred. He instinctively looked up towards the upper floors of the Round Tower. A woman in a black robe with purple patterns was standing behind the window, looking down at him.
She had silver-grey curly hair, light grey eyes, and a striking face. She was a member of the "Six-Man Council," the "Shepherd" Lovia!
As their gazes met, Lovia's eyes seemed able to pierce the soul itself. However, her expression didn't change in the slightest. She even gave a slight nod, as if greeting him.
"She's not greeting me; she's greeting the one behind me..." In that instant, a realization dawned upon Derrick.
This came from the experience he had gradually accumulated under the guidance of the Tarot Club members.
He nodded in reply, retracted his gaze without any change in expression, and entered the Spire at a moderate pace.
........
At the private port of Bayam at night, the Golden Dream, with its strange main cannon arranged along the centerline, sailed up to the dock.
Danitz, carrying local specialties gifted by the resistance forces, climbed the gangplank onto the deck, waving goodbye with a broad smile on his face.
These past few days here had been very comfortable for him. As a special envoy delivering firearms, food, and a small amount of Beyonder materials, he had received considerable hospitality. Every day, it was either drinking and eating meat or boasting and hunting. He was even invited to observe the ceremony where the "Sea God" bestowed blessings upon his followers.
Having witnessed these things, he suddenly had an epiphany: Bayam, or rather, all the colonies, would inevitably experience violent conflicts in the future. It would take decades or centuries of erosion before they could calm down.
Therefore, Danitz decided that the next time he came, he would sell off most of his real estate in Bayam, keeping only one house. Then, he would look for opportunities to buy property in places like Trier, the capital of Intis; Backlund, the capital of Loen; and some peaceful, serene villages with excellent scenery.
"I can also make a trip back to Rosiere Town to see the old man and my mom. Hmm, I can buy one less house and get them a vineyard..." Danitz waved again at the enthusiastic resistance members.
He then puffed out his chest and proudly said to "Bowtie" Yoderson: "Where's the captain? I need to report to her about what's been going on lately."
Yoderson clicked his tongue disdainfully: "Where else would she be? In the captain's cabin, of course."