Seeing the hotel maid indeed knew something about this, Fran immediately pressed for more specific details.
"Miss Maid, please describe specifically, why is room 408 'non-existent'?"
Using "non-existent" as an adjective makes things quite abstract.
If it doesn't exist, how would others know something is off? Thus, it's difficult to form a concrete understanding of it and requires more detailed description to deepen comprehension.
The maid's gaze was dazed as she obediently recounted everything she knew.
"The room layout is the same on every floor. Rooms 208 and 308 are both at the corner at the end of the corridor. But at the same location, there is no 408. And... right after 407 comes 409."
"The head maid says it's because the fourth floor has several large suites for VIPs, so some rooms were merged. But why skip a room number?"
"The manager says it's to add some mystery to the hotel, to attract young customers... But, I, and some colleagues who often work on the fourth floor, have all dreamed of that room."
"Behind that door, it's full of white light... full of, blurry visions I can't see clearly. They are messy, like my own face..."
Tap.
The sound of a fingertip lightly tapping a pocket watch.
With this crisp metallic sound, the daze in the maid girl's eyes began to gradually dissipate, and her pupils refocused.
Her mental state was starting to become somewhat unstable, so Fran appropriately ended the hypnosis.
"Ah."
The maid, now alert and awake, had already forgotten everything that just happened but appeared somewhat flustered, as if afraid she had done something impolite.
"Madam, what happened to me just now? I seemed distracted. I'm very sorry, did I offend you?"
"Miss Maid, you were a bit dazed just now, perhaps too tired from work."
Fran maintained a friendly, professional smile, then handed her the Norlington silver coin.
"Remember to rest, okay?"
"Yes, thank you..."
After accepting this Norlington silver coin, the girl also recalled the last scene in her memory. Hmm... it was the image of this doctor giving a tip.
How could I space out at a time like that? So embarrassing...
After thanking again, the maid turned and left.
Fran casually closed the door, then looked at Haida and Vivian beside her.
"So, interested in the strange tales of Dreamslumber Flowers Hotel?"
"Yes. It should be the influence of some secret realm or relic."
Haida's eyes narrowed slightly, beginning to speculate based on her professional habits.
Vivian didn't have a strong desire for exploration regarding this kind of obviously potentially dangerous place. Her previous work usually involved gathering information from the periphery, then reporting findings to the Confidential Division.
Although agents are enthusiastic about peeking at secrets, that's... something only the living can do. No matter how enticing the secret, one must be alive to know it.
But with Dr. Fran and Sister Haida by her side now, she no longer had that concern.
"But... how do we explore? Munin checked; this hotel truly doesn't have room 408."
Vivian was somewhat puzzled.
Generally, secret realms have corresponding "entrances." Perhaps abnormal moonlight at a street corner, perhaps lightless gloom within a door, or maybe like the pale gray mist Dr. Fran summons.
"That maid said she dreamed of that door. Therefore, to observe that door, I need a sufficiently stable dream."
Fran already had a plan for this.
Luyala is a mythical creature born from dreams, naturally possessing the ability to open dream doors. That's "Enlightenment" phase spirituality mortals can hardly reach; not utilizing it properly would be a pity. Especially since she herself has the intention to go.
Vivian lightly raised a finger, pinching her chin, still having some confusion about details.
"Dr. Fran, if simply entering a dream allows observation of that room, how has it persisted until now?"
Many cult disciples consider entering dreams a way to catalyze spirituality, so this is almost common knowledge every beginner needs to know, similar to spiritual sight.
And a secret so easily observable, how can it be called a strange tale?
And if that room truly has undeniable danger, why would the Stellar Abyss Society of Foy City tolerate its continued existence? Even letting Dreamslumber Flowers Hotel operate normally.
"Dreams are chaotic and fragmented. Even upon entering, it might not lead to a specific room. Like a lock; to open it correctly, the key in hand must precisely fit every groove of the lock core."
"Catching a glimpse of that dream may not be difficult, but wanting to touch and open it within the dream, the difficulty is quite different..."
Fran had extremely deep research into thought and dreams, explaining it with a feeling of intimate familiarity.
Vivian roughly understood her meaning. However, there was still a problem urgently needing resolution.
"But, is it safe for three people to enter a dream together?"
Entering a dream is equivalent to elevating the mind and spirit beyond reality through deep sleep.
Although most of the time one can break away by "waking up with a start," under certain special circumstances... suddenly awakening will severely damage reason, even induce madness.
Also, entering a dream together means all three physical bodies in reality will fall into an unprotected sleep state, making it difficult to resist dangers from reality.
Therefore, generally, there always needs to be an alert person watching nearby, to prevent unexpected situations.
"That's correct."
Fran affirmed Vivian's thought. However, she didn't need someone watching.
"But this time, you don't need to worry about safety, Vivian. I have a loyal and sufficiently powerful 'guardian' who can ensure the safety of all living things in this room."
"Alright... I understand."
Vivian pursed her lips. Although curious about what guardian she meant, she didn't ask.
Of course, her goal of "let me watch" also wasn't achieved...
Fran got up, placed her doctor's coat on the coat rack, took off her thick-soled leather shoes, and casually rolled up the black velvet stockings on her legs, placing them in the shoes.
After completing preparations, she placed her hands over her chest, lying on the bed in a rather peaceful posture.
"...Luyala, we can prepare to set off."
Her lips moved, uttering a barely audible whisper.
As her words fell, a wisp of a light, faint, serene Dreamslumber flower fragrance lingered, dispersing in the room.
Vivian sat on the bed, quietly watching the doctor before her skillfully complete this series of preparatory actions.
The entire process was so smooth that she even suspected Fran would take pajamas from her medical kit and change...
"Dr. Fran, don't you need sleep-aid drugs or something?"
Due to nearly half a month of catching up on sleep on the Leviathan, she felt not a bit of sleepiness now. Even lying down like the other probably wouldn't make her sleep.
"No need?"
As she spoke, Fran got up from the bed again, put the previously removed black stockings back on her legs, then put her shoes back on.
Seeing this, Vivian couldn't help but narrow her eyes with a trace of confusion.
Why put them back on after taking them off? Does this have some special meaning? Or is it some ritual I don't understand? No, there couldn't possibly be this kind of ritual...
"Vivian, you are already in the dream."
Seeing this agent still seemed not quite clear about the situation, Haida spoke up to explain.
"Ah? When..."
Vivian felt somewhat shocked. She reached out to touch her shoulder; the raven Munin had indeed already disappeared.
She examined her surroundings; whether decor or atmosphere were no different from the original hotel suite. Except her Calling Bird was gone, and by Sister Haida's side... there was a deer, completely snow-white, colored like crystal.
"Na?"
Noticing someone looking at her, Luyala slightly turned her body, seeming to want Haida to block her.
But actually only her head was blocked; most of her body was still within Vivian's sight, even able to see the fluffy white tail behind.
"Vivian, let me introduce, she is my messenger. You can call her Luyala."
Fran had already put on her doctor's coat again, picked up her medical kit, already prepared to go out.
"Hmm... pleased to meet you, Luyala."
Although still a bit dazed, Vivian steadied her mind and greeted the little deer behind Haida.
"Na."
Luyala quietly stuck out her head, observing Vivian. Not sensing a threat, she gradually stepped out from behind Haida.
Vivian was the type who looked harmless, so she had some talent with animals... Otherwise, she couldn't have won the favor of the raven Munin, turning it into a Calling Bird through ritual.
"Um, Dr. Fran, Luyala's... gender is?"
She was somewhat concerned about this for some reason.
Luyala is a rather feminine name, but she could see crystal antlers, branch-like, on her head. Besides reindeer, it seems only male deer grow antlers... But mythical creatures can't be gauged by common sense.
"Although she has antlers, Luyala has complete female primary sexual characteristics. From a physiological perspective, she is female."
Fran had deeply examined her body more than once, so answering such basic questions was easy.
"Is that so..."
Vivian's face showed an understanding expression.
Fran raised a hand and scratched the fur under Luyala's chin. The latter quite enjoyed it, squinting her eyes.
"If you have other questions, we can talk slowly on the way. Now, let's check out the specific situation of room 408."
"Hmm." Vivian agreed.
At the same time, she couldn't help but feel a trace of inexplicable envy towards Fran. Being able to have Luyala let her pet without any defense, clearly the person and deer were already quite familiar.
Snow-white fur with a silky luster, it looks like it feels really nice...
Meanwhile, in reality.
The raven Munin suddenly felt the shoulder it was perched on loosen, and Vivian slumped onto the bed. Her expression was calm and relaxed, like a sleeping infant.
"Caw?" It lightly flapped its wings, landing nearby with some confusion.
It seemed... all living things in this room except itself were asleep?
Just as Munin was still at a loss, it heard rustling sounds.
Something, passing through the doctor's back seams and dress shirt, slowly emerged, then continuously extended its overlapping body...
It was a cold metal construct of vertebrae and steel, limbs sharp as blades, tailbone long like a serpent-boa.
Sinister enough to inspire fear, yet solemn enough to be almost majestic, like a feathered serpent from ancient mythology.
The Chimera Spine "Sphinx" could operate autonomously, thus possessing observation organs equivalent to eyes. Now, its gaze indifferently looked at the raven Munin. The two just maintained a silent stare.
——
"What a stable dream, not a trace of illusion..."
Looking at the corridor decor identical to Dreamslumber Flowers Hotel, Vivian couldn't help but utter a sigh of admiration.
Without special secret arts or rituals as guidance, what entering a dream usually allows one to see is mostly fragmented memories, or subconscious projections, chaotic and disordered.
Following that faint, barely-there spiritual energy, the three people and one deer walked along the square-shaped corridor towards room 408.
Haida maintained vigilance, occasionally lightly sniffing the surrounding air. Secret-Hunters were relatively sensitive to abnormal spiritual energy, able to detect turbid restlessness in the air to a certain extent.
But... the corridor was completely normal.
If not for knowing in advance this was already a dream, she would have found it difficult to distinguish it from reality.
"No pollution aura, no abnormal spiritual energy... but it might all be concentrated inside the room."
Fran gently swayed her index finger, seemingly not believing the thing in the room would be pollution.
"If the thing in room 408 was pollution, it would have long been eliminated. I guess it will be something more 'pure'."
Haida's room 427 was also on the fourth floor, so it only took a few steps to find the location of 408.
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