[ "Only Aventurine, who carries the [Invitation Letter], is allowed to attend the grand event. We accompanying personnel… don't even have the qualification to enter the dream and can only stay in the real hotel." ]
[ Himeko suddenly understood: "So that's why Aventurine was looking everywhere for cooperation partners. He can't get Company support inside the dreamscape." ]
[ Topaz knew his situation was not optimistic and was also clear that the Nameless were investigating matters unfavorable to the Family. If they needed help, Topaz was very willing to provide it. ]
[ The group found the hounds monitoring them nearby and learned from them that the Sheriff was currently at the Dream Border. When they arrived at the border, they were unfortunately stopped by a familiar-looking guard. ]
[ The guard recognized Stelle at a glance and became so angry his teeth itched upon seeing her: "Last time it was you! Shouting about friendship, effort, and clock tricks while beating me up together with that silver-haired little girl!" ]
[ "..." ]
[ March 7th and Himeko were both rendered speechless. ]
[ The guard said viciously: "This time no matter what, I can't let you through… Please go back, or I'll kneel down and beg you!" ]
——
Zenless Zone Zero.
Belle turned the street corner, about to head into the cinema, when she happened to see two familiar figures standing by the river at Lumina Square—Hugo was leaning against the railing with arms crossed, while Lycaon stood straight like a fir tree forcibly transplanted into a noisy city.
"Wow, have you two become so close that you'd watch the river scenery together in private?" Belle jogged over and greeted the two enthusiastically.
"Hmph, we just happened to run into each other by the river." Hugo glanced disdainfully at the wolf Thiren beside him. "If I knew taking this path would lead to meeting this guy, I should have left for the gallery later."
Lycaon nodded slightly to Belle: "Good morning, Proxy. We were just discussing some hypothetical professional questions."
"Professional… hypothetical? What's that?" Belle didn't quite understand but was quite curious.
"Here—" Hugo looked up toward the sky, watching the scene inside with the somewhat unyielding but not very bright Family guard. "I was discussing with him whether, if that Sheriff hired Lycaon as his gate… keeper, he would let Stelle and the others in."
"Of course not." Lycaon said calmly.
"Hmph, see? Proxy… This guy's brain is as rusty as they come and doesn't know how to adapt. If everyone was as rigid as him, that one meme would probably kill everyone, and he'd still be stupidly blocking the opponent."
"This is my duty, Mr. Hugo." Lycaon adopted a more serious tone. "The employer's orders are the highest directive of Victoria Housekeeping. This is both responsibility toward the employer and the embodiment of contractual spirit."
"From an emotional perspective, I naturally hope this guard would do them a favor; but from rational judgment, he believes he is doing the right thing." As he spoke, Lycaon gave Hugo a cold glance. "Your misunderstanding of our professional spirit is as regrettable as your taste in perfume."
"My taste in perfume? …Lycaon, what nonsense are you spouting?" Hugo instantly couldn't sit still.
Seeing the atmosphere turning sour and the two about to argue again, Belle quickly stepped between them. In a moment of urgency, she proposed an idea: "I'm actually going to watch a movie later. Want to go together? There's no conflict that a movie can't solve."
"Watch a movie?"
"Yeah, but… uh… I just made plans with Miss Miyabi to do some horror movie training together. Want to join?"
Hugo glared fiercely at Lycaon and waved his hand irritably: "Horror movie? Forget it. Watching with this guy… Even the scariest atmosphere would be ruined."
Lycaon smiled slightly. "Oh? Is that so? I actually think Miss Proxy's suggestion is good. But if someone is too scared of horror movies to go, feel free to say it directly. I'm sure Proxy would understand."
Belle seemed to hear the sound of a string snapping.
"I… Am… Scared…?"
Even from half a meter away, Belle could hear Hugo's gritted teeth grinding. His gaze was terrifying, as if wishing it could turn into two lasers to pierce Lycaon on the spot.
"We're going! Right now! Lycaon… You'd better not regret what you just said!"
——
[ Himeko quickly presented the Family's documents, saying they only wanted to assist in the investigation and hoped to see Mr. Gallagher. ]
[ "Who exactly is this Gallagher you're talking about? Several people have mentioned this name to me already. That gray-haired one mentioned it last time too." ]
[ "Ah?" March 7th scratched her head in confusion. "Wasn't he the one who sent you here?" ]
[ The guard emphasized heavily: "We were sent by the Sheriff! I can't say anything else." ]
[ This guard refused to budge no matter what. At the critical moment, March 7th had no choice but to ask Stelle to use the clock trick to change his emotions. Stelle had been waiting for this and immediately adjusted his emotions to indignation. ]
[ The effect was immediate. The guard's nose spewed two streams of heavy breath, his face visibly reddened, and he stomped his feet furiously while gritting his teeth: "You gray-haired… Why won't you listen to me?!" ]
[ "The Sheriff's orders are absolute orders. I'm telling you, this area ahead—no wind can enter, no rain can enter, and even the Dreammaster cannot enter!" ]
[ Stelle widened her eyes: "Even the Dreammaster cannot enter?" ]
[ "Nonsense! Even if the Dreammaster comes he can't…" The guard suddenly regained his senses. "…Uh, we'll talk about it if the Dreammaster comes! Also, that was just a metaphor! Metaphor! Understand?!" ]
[ As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, indicating that if Stelle continued to pester him, he would have to show his true strength! ]
[ Stelle had been waiting for this moment. She lit up her baseball bat and weighed it in her hand: "You dare defy me, who possesses the baseball bat?" ]
[ The guard sighed regretfully: "Sigh, humans can never truly understand each other…" ]
[ March 7th speechlessly held her forehead: "…Great, now even if Qlipoth comes, he won't be able to preserve him." ]
——
Naruto.
"Dreammaster?"
Naruto scratched his head. This was the first time he had heard this name. "…Sounds really powerful."
"Mm. Penacony is divided into many families—the Oak Family, the Hound Family, and the family of the artist that Firefly previously impersonated… I'm afraid this Dreammaster's status is even higher than the family heads. He is the true power behind Penacony." Shikamaru analyzed.
"So Sunday is just one of his subordinates. Thinking that there are several as difficult as him… and an even more difficult Dreammaster on top, the Family's power feels overwhelmingly strong."
Naruto suddenly thought of something and quickly shook Shikamaru's shoulder: "Right, do you remember the bird that was perched high in Sunday's room during Aventurine's interrogation earlier?"