Misty Dream Appears

No one was found.

Was someone hiding deep within?

No, although the alley was dark, there weren't many places to hide—at most behind the houses on either side or around a few corners.

In that case...

Olivia Melianne took out a Wind-Chanting Talisman, intending to summon a gust of wind toward the suspicious corners to force the hidden person out.

However, just as she produced the talisman, the sound of rhythmic footsteps echoed, and a figure stepped out from the rain around the corner ahead.

"Sister, please do not act. I mean no harm," the newcomer said.

It was a man wearing a black waterproof cloak. He was thin, but because he wore a mask, his features were hidden.

"Your identity and your purpose," Olivia asked bluntly.

Her eyes were filled with caution, her entire body tense and ready to strike at a moment's notice.

"I am from Dreamland Paradise. You may call me Misty Dream," the man said with a light chuckle.

From Dreamland Paradise?

Olivia's heart jolted, but she wasn't entirely surprised. The Church personnel had been dissuading tourists from entering the park for days; it was natural that the park's management wouldn't just ignore it.

Of course, whether the organization behind the park was truly the transcendent organization known as Dreamland Paradise remained uncertain, even if the man claimed it was so.

However, the code name 'Misty Dream' certainly fit the style of Dreamland Paradise.

Information about Dreamland Paradise surfaced in Olivia's mind. It was said that members of this transcendent organization all referred to themselves by code names following a specific pattern.

Names like Sweet Dream, Nightmare, Phantasm, or Gloomy Dream.

Misty Dream continued, "We are aware that the Church has been targeting us lately. I have come to you in the hope that you will notify the Church to cease their current actions. Dreamland Paradise is not an enemy of the Church."

"What is your goal in creating that park?" Olivia did not agree but instead countered with a question.

Misty Dream explained, "We have no ill intent. The existence of the Paradise is simply to provide happiness to others.

"You've seen it, haven't you? In this world, even those living in a prosperous city like the Imperial Capital suffer from far too much unhappiness. And why should a person be unhappy while living in this world?

"Life is so short, so insignificant in the vast river of history. Why shouldn't we seek a moment of happiness in this brief time?

"In reality, happiness is hard to find, but in dreams, it becomes achievable.

"Thus, the Paradise was born. It exists only to bring happiness to everyone—only for that."

Misty Dream made his tone sound exceptionally sincere as he pleaded for the Church not to interfere with the Paradise's affairs.

Olivia said coldly, "You should understand that I am only a full nun. Such matters are not for me to decide. Furthermore, I do not quite believe your words. You have, after all, committed the act of stealing sweet dreams."

Misty Dream replied, "I apologize for the theft of those dreams, but it was a necessary factor for the formation of the Paradise. Without enough sweet dreams to support it, the Paradise cannot exist."

He spoke sincerely once more, hoping Olivia would relay his message to the Church.

He naturally understood that Olivia's status was insufficient to sway the decision-making on this matter; he only hoped she would pass the information along.

"To this end, we in Dreamland Paradise can show some sincerity," Misty Dream said slowly. "First, we can mobilize to compensate those whose sweet dreams were previously stolen, returning their dreams so they may spend satisfying nights.

"Additionally, we can directly submit the list of tourists entering the Paradise to the Church. The Church can check their physical condition at any time. I can guarantee that no one's body will be affected by the Paradise, and their moods will certainly be pleasant.

"After all, we truly just want to bring happiness to everyone. We of Dreamland Paradise are actually quite pure-hearted people."

Even though Misty Dream spoke with apparent deep feeling, Olivia still wouldn't trust him easily.

The main reason was the image of Rose appearing in the Paradise, which always made her think uncontrollably.

Was Rose also a tourist of the Paradise?

She felt something was wrong. According to their investigation, all current tourists of the Paradise were ordinary people; not a single transcendent had become a tourist.

There was something strange about Rose no matter how one looked at it. Would someone with such transcendent factors truly become a tourist?

It couldn't be that the Paradise had made a mistake, invited Rose as an ordinary person, and then forgotten about her, could it?

After various thoughts flashed through her mind, Olivia said seriously, "I will relay your words to the Church. However, if you were willing to go to the Church and deliver them in person, I think that would better demonstrate your sincerity."

Misty Dream laughed in spite of himself. "Though we are full of sincerity, the Church is always too harsh on people. Please forgive me for not going to the Church directly."

"In that case, your sincerity is insufficient."

"Please do not make things difficult for me, Your Excellency. Of course, even if you were to try and capture me, you would not be able to do so."

After Misty Dream finished speaking, his figure drifted lightly, retreating a great distance.

As he moved backward, his figure rapidly changed from solid to illusory, eventually fading completely and vanishing into the pouring rain.

Only Misty Dream's final voice echoed in the rain.

"Please relay my words to the Church. Please remember, the purpose of Dreamland Paradise is only happiness; we will not become the Church's enemy."

Misty Dream vanished just like that.

Seeing such a technique caused Olivia's pupils to contract.

She did not lower her guard, moving with slightly heavy steps toward the exit.

At the same time, she chanted silently in her heart.

'Magic mirror, magic mirror, do transcendents of the Dreamwalker path possess an ability to gradually fade until they disappear?'

【Yes. This is an ability that only a Dreamwalker of the Transcender rank can master, called Dream Leap. As long as someone nearby is dreaming, they can take their physical body and jump into that person's dream, departing at their leisure.】

Olivia took a sharp breath.

A Transcender? Wasn't that the same rank as Melanie?

And she was still just a Pilgrim...

No wonder the man said it would be useless even if she tried to strike; it truly would have been futile.

Pursing her lips, Olivia walked quickly out of the alley and headed for the public carriage stop, intending to return to the Church immediately.

With such an event occurring, she clearly couldn't continue investigating her subsequent targets; she had to report this matter as soon as possible.