Chapter 379

“Not bad.”

After tilting his head back to take a look at the sun in the sky, the Old Investigator gave a satisfied nod, then turned around with a smile and said, “Even though the bulk of it still comes from the enhancements brought by Soulfall Black Abyss, being able to reach this point is already commendable… Roughly how many people are there in this dream?”

“Roughly… around 300,000 people?”

After checking the black fluorescence inside the glass lantern, the female journalist wearing a wide-brimmed soft hat replied,

“Many people dreamed last night, but not many dreams within the dream world involve the Capital City. Most people’s dreams didn’t happen in the Capital City, so the Dream Wanderer Lantern only merged the dreams of these 300,000 people… Do we need to start over again?”

“No need, this is already sufficient.”

After having listened to the female journalist’s words, the Old Investigator let out a confident light chuckle, then shifted his gaze away from the sun, starting to look down from above at the royal capital of the dream world before him.

In this false city formed by the dreams of 300,000 people, most streets and alleys still maintained their original appearance, without much change.

The shaded belt surrounding the Rich District remained emerald green as usual, the sewage river running through the Old District was still stinking and dirty, and the industrial parks distributed along the riverbank were emitting endless white smoke filled with acidic fumes just like in reality during the day.

Although the dream world doesn’t have to adhere strictly to reality, all 300,000 owners of the dreams that constitute the dream world come from reality. The Capital City before them, which isn’t too different from reality, is their common understanding of the Capital City…

Except for one place.

…

“What’s going on over there?”

Looking at the strange building located in the center of the Capital City, which kept twisting and changing but could never be fully confirmed in shape, the Old Investigator couldn’t help but furrowed his eyebrows, somewhat dissatisfied, asking,

“Why hasn’t the Royal Palace stabilized yet? Haven’t these 300,000 people reached a consensus about the Royal Palace?”

“Let me check…”

After examining the Royal Palace whose appearance kept distorting and changing—sometimes looking old and decayed, teetering on the verge of collapse as if a breath would knock it down; other times looking splendid and radiant, appearing noble, magnificent, and supreme—the female journalist carefully inspected the glass lantern in her hand, then frowned and shook her head saying,

“There’s no issue with the Dream Wanderer Lantern; it hasn’t been influenced or invaded by anyone. It should be because some people among these 300,000 people who dreamed of the Capital City have different impressions of the Royal Palace compared to others, and their cognition is particularly strong, causing the appearance of the Royal Palace to never stabilize.”

“Hurry up and clean it up!”

After hearing the female journalist’s explanation, the Old Investigator didn’t hesitate for a moment, stood up directly, walked to the edge of the clock tower, pointed at the location of the Royal Palace and said,

“Check the dreams related to the Royal Palace, find those people whose impressions of the Royal Palace differ greatly from others, and kick them out of this dream. Don’t let them affect the situation of the Royal Palace in the dream.

When the full descent of Soulfall Black Abyss happens, I want to swap the Dream Capital City with the real Capital City. If there’s too much difference between the two, swapping will be troublesome. This part absolutely cannot go wrong!”

“Understood.”

After silently responding, the female journalist’s lantern flickered twice faintly, and a large amount of dark fluorescent points lit up inside the glass lampshade, then quickly went out.

With the elimination of a large number of star points, the constantly twisting and changing Royal Palace far away finally stabilized slightly, taking on a relatively fixed form.

Unfortunately, before the Old Investigator could nod in satisfaction, the Royal Palace, which had just stabilized for a short while, began to twist again.

“Some more people dreamed of the Capital City and joined this dream.”

This time, without waiting for the Old Investigator to ask, the female journalist directly checked the Dream Wanderer Lantern and explained,

“The ones with different impressions of the Royal Palace are mainly two people now. Their dreams of the Capital City are vastly different from everyone else’s understanding of the Capital City, and their situations are both rather special. I can’t drive them away.”

Two people she can’t drive away?

The Old Investigator frowned and asked, “What do they dream of? Take me into their dreams to take a look.”

“Alright.”

After glancing at the Old Investigator’s back shadow, the female journalist nodded slightly, then tightly gripped the handle of the Dream Wanderer Lantern and shook the lamp in her hand again.

Immediately, the Capital City before their eyes trembled slightly, then instantly transformed its appearance, turning from what was originally a fairly vibrant prosperous city into a scene of decline after prolonged warfare.

The once bustling streets of the commercial district were now covered with rubble and broken walls, with buildings collapsed into piles of dilapidated ruins, skyscrapers turned into heaps of worthless bricks and stones.

The air throughout the entire Capital City was filled with the smell of dust and scorched earth, and the remaining building walls still bore traces of having been battered by artillery fire, almost completely destroyed by the war.

Without exception, every single content in 69 Book Bar!

Even the clock tower beneath their feet had been blown apart on one side, and even behind the female journalist, embedded in the giant clock face taller than two people, was an unexploded massive shell…

“This should be Prince Joshua’s dream.”

After looking at the Royal Palace that wasn’t completely destroyed but was severely damaged by the war, seemingly ready to collapse at any moment, the Old Investigator pondered for a moment, then made a very certain judgment:

“This is the curse of the Nightmare King. Members of the royal family of this country will continuously relive their greatest regrets in their dreams, and Nathan… um… he is the future Joshua, so his nightmare has also been synchronized over here.

Also, I understand why you couldn’t drive him away.”

Turning to look at the lantern in the female journalist’s hand, checking the pitch-black star points connected together inside the lampshade, the Old Investigator said helplessly,

“The power of the Dream Wanderer Street Lamp has been enhanced by Soulfall Black Abyss, equivalent to indirectly stealing the power of Soulfall Black Abyss.

As the true master of Soulfall Black Abyss, the Nightmare King’s personally issued curse on the royal family members has a very high priority, so it’s normal for it to affect your manipulated Dream Wanderer Street Lamp.

We can’t deal with his problem right now, but it’s not too troublesome either. On the day when Soulfall Black Abyss truly descends, I’ll find a way to prevent him from sleeping…

Come on, take me to the dream of the other person you can’t drive away, let me see what his dream looks like.”

Upon hearing this, the female journalist hummed in acknowledgment, accurately positioned the star point glowing with a faint red glow inside the lantern at the center of the lampshade, then forcefully shook the lantern in her hand.

Heaven spun, the earth turned.

It was as if an ancient mural was painted with colors; the dim and ruined Capital City before their eyes instantly shed the yellowish-brown and charred hues brought by the war, suddenly becoming vivid.

(The chapter ends here)