Chapter 388

As Leon followed the red-haired bureau director upstairs and entered the Virgo Subdivision’s warehouse for anomalous items, at the center of a pitch-black river flowing with countless shattered dreams, a giant completely enveloped in dark gray mist, with a mirror diadem on its head, extended its right hand towards an old man before it.

“This is the boat pass to travel through Soulfall Black Abyss; it will allow you to move freely within my nightmares. It’ll be useful when dealing with Blood Hair Lady.”

With the giant’s unusually grating and bizarre voice, its emaciated, pale gray hand spread out over the river surface. The five fingers, resembling blades, slowly opened, and the black nightmare gathered in its palm quickly dispersed, revealing a small wooden ship.

“Since this is a boat pass personally issued by the Nightmare King…”

After taking a look at the gently swaying small wooden boat with soft lines and exquisite carvings in the palm of the gray mist giant, which followed her own breathing rhythm, the old investigator… or rather, the Aquarius Director, smiled, then stepped aboard with the female journalist whose expression was tense.

“I will then accept it with peace of mind.”

After the two boarded the small ship one after another, the giant’s hand gradually dissipated. The wooden small ship lightly landed on the pitch-black river, splashing ripples of dark water.

However, as if triggering some mysterious switch, when the dark water ripples spread out, the pitch-black river flowing with countless nightmares immediately trembled violently.

Countless human arms, dressed differently and with distinct appearances, surged out from the black river like lake fish discovering bait, pointing straight up like reeds, scrambling to grab onto the gunwales of the small wooden ship.

“?!?!”

Seeing the eerie and terrifying scene before her eyes, the female journalist’s expression involuntarily tightened. Instinctively, she took a step forward and swept her hand over the palms clinging to the gunwales, but was stopped first by the Aquarius Director grabbing her wrist.

“No need to panic.”

Signaling the female journalist to calm down, the Aquarius Director straightened her slightly hunched back and lightly stomped her foot on the small wooden ship beneath her.

Following that, as if scalded by a red-hot branding iron, anguished cries sounded from the pitch-black lake water. The hands holding onto the gunwales hurriedly let go, retreating far away from the small wooden ship, returning to the dreams within the black river.

“They’re just people who want to escape their nightmares. As long as you can stand steady on the ship, they won’t be able to climb aboard.”

Using the power of the small wooden ship itself, all the arms emerging from the black river were driven away. The Aquarius Director looked up at the mist-covered giant before her and smiled while saying to the female journalist behind her:

“The Nightmare King’s credibility is not bad. At least before our cooperation is thoroughly successful, you don’t have to worry about him attacking us…

But once I awaken in reality, this ship may not be so stable. Remember to get off early when that happens, otherwise what might happen afterward could be unpredictable.”

“Hehehe~”

After hearing the words of the Aquarius Director, it seemed he had told a very funny joke. The mist giant laughed strangely for a while, its towering gray figure twisted twice, and the mist-like long robe opened a corner, revealing countless emaciated arms intertwined inside.

“You were really annoying when you were still in the Clearing Bureau, ruining many of my plans.”

The face hidden by the mist slightly tilted downward, aligning what seemed to be its eyes with the two individuals. The unpredictable form of the Nightmare King burst into laughter:

“But after your defection from the Clearing Bureau, I suddenly found you much more likable. Your words and actions are quite to my taste… Hmm… How about this, are you interested in settling in the Dream Realm forever and becoming my apostle?”

“Not really.”

Facing the sincere invitation from the Nightmare King, the Aquarius Director shook her head and said with a chuckle:

“I don’t oppose becoming a dream realm creature, but would you really dare to let me be your apostle?”

After hearing the counter-question from the Aquarius Director, the mist giant pondered for a moment and then nodded slightly:

“You have too big a heart, even the Clearing Bureau couldn’t contain you. If you came to the Dream Realm to be my apostle, I would always worry whether you have other plans, making it hard for me to sleep peacefully.

Forget it, consider my previous suggestion as if I never mentioned it. We should continue being partners instead.”

“That’s reasonable.”

Nodding calmly, the Aquarius Director lifted her eyes and gazed steadily at the face of the mist giant, saying with composure:

“Besides, although I’ve managed to send all the cleaners of the Virgo Subdivision out ahead of time, there are still helpers around Blood Hair Lady.

That Level 3 Cleaner named Leon, the one with black hair and black eyes, you should pay more attention to him. It’s best to take him out beforehand to prevent him from causing trouble.”

“Level 3 Cleaner?”

After hearing the Aquarius Director’s instructions, the mist giant’s figure wavered slightly, and somehow appeared under the small wooden ship in the black river.

The massive head soaked by the black river water silently rested on the stern of the ship. The Nightmare King’s mist-covered gaze fixed on the Aquarius Director’s back, then curiously asked:

“You didn’t lie… I’m curious, is a mere Level 3 Cleaner really worth your attention?”

“Absolutely worth it.”

Turning around unhurriedly and shielding the female journalist behind her, the Aquarius Director earnestly instructed: “The reason I ended up needing to team up with someone like you is entirely due to him. Although Leon’s strength is negligible, there are simply too many strange things about him.

My suggestion is, when you encounter him, absolutely do not underestimate him, but also do not be curious.

If you don’t want to fail mysteriously for some strange reasons, then act swiftly with your purest force to directly kill him. Absolutely do not give him the chance to speak or scheme!”

“Is that so? Interesting~”

After hearing the repeated emphasis from the Aquarius Director, the mouth area of the mist giant split into an inverted crescent with both ends pointing downward. Two rows of shark teeth dripping with viscous ink-colored liquid clinked against each other several times, then revealed a somewhat grotesque and sinister smile.

“Not quite right, huh?”

“If you truly hope I don’t communicate with him and just brutally kill him, you shouldn’t have said such things.”

The huge head circled the small ship along the gunwale in a wavering and eerie manner, taking everything on the ship into full view before the Nightmare King spoke with a slightly cold tone:

“The root of dreams is ignorance paired with curiosity about the world, thus producing unfounded fantasies free from the constraints of will. Curiosity is the instinct of all dream realm creatures.

And you know I can’t control my curiosity, yet you still give me such advice… Can I interpret this as you hoping I don’t kill him immediately, giving him the chance to kill me instead?”