Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2874: Chapter 2875: Charles Palace

The people in Charles Palace were once rulers in reality, and after tasting the sweetness of power, they seem to develop a common trait: the hope to live longer so they can hold onto power longer.

It can be said that Charles I, Charles II, and Charles XIII were all driven by the desire for power, which led them to become the Mirror Grudge.

The stronger the desire, the harder it is to let go of one’s thoughts.

They always ponder how to ’live’ longer, how to ensure their descendants in reality do not forget sacrificial offerings, how to control reality’s power through the ’Moss Stone Mirror’... As the heart thinks, the dream reflects.

Therefore, these three from the Charles lineage dream at a frequency several times higher than that of other mirror creatures.

Hence, they clearly remember when they suddenly stopped dreaming.

"According to Glaipnir’s investigation, three thousand years ago, Charles I noticed that his frequency of dreaming began to decrease. However, he did not pay much attention at the time."

"Two thousand eight hundred years ago, the frequency further decreased, and Charles II and Charles XIII also noticed the reduction in dreaming frequency."

"And by two thousand three hundred years ago, Charles I had basically stopped dreaming, with the last dream being a hundred years prior. Charles II and Charles XIII were facing similar situations."

"One thousand nine hundred years ago, Charles XIII had his last dream, and since then, they have not dreamed again."

Although they sometimes still sleep now, dreams no longer occur.

Since they were not originally born in the Dream Realm, and once were Transcendent, they care greatly about the sudden cessation of their dreams; they even jointly researched it for a while.

Thus, from Charles Palace, Glaipnir obtained not only the precise timeline of the ’Dream Realm disconnecting from the Mirror World’ but also a large amount of research data.

The research from the Charles lineage is quite comprehensive, involving not only investigation but also world comparisons.

From their big data investigation in the Mirror Domain, the result is interesting: the vast majority of mirror domain creatures generally stopped dreaming between three thousand to two thousand years ago.

Below two thousand years, currently only Charles XIII.

If an anchoring target is to be made, Charles XIII’s period of one thousand nine hundred years ago should be a relatively precise number.

Besides the investigation in the mirror domain, the Charles lineage even returned to reality for comparison.

They, as Mirror Grudge, and with the ’Moss Stone Mirror’ as a foundation, along with their descendants’ offerings, found it relatively easy to leave the Mirror Domain. However, in reality, their power would be continuously consumed and diminished. If faced with unexpected situations, they might truly face misfortune.

They wouldn’t even have a chance to escape.

So they rarely return to the real world. To conduct this research, all three returned to reality, which shows their curiosity about this research topic.

"The final result is that even if they return to reality, they will not dream in reality."

"And their descendants, those humans, are not affected; they will continue to dream as usual."

From this, a conclusion can actually be drawn: The creatures in the Mirror Domain not only do not dream, but they are likely stripped of their ability to dream.

And the only force that could strip mirror domain creatures of their ability to dream... seems to be the will of the Mirror World.

Previously, Laplace thought Angel had personified the Mirror World and Dream Realm, making it seem as if they were in a struggle, which shouldn’t be the case; now, however, the Charles lineage findings are starting to sway Laplace’s stubborn beliefs.

On the other side, Angel did not anticipate that Glaipnir would bring such significant intelligence.

It’s important to note that not only did Charles Palace provide the investigation, but a detailed research report as well. This report not only includes extensive data but also world comparisons. This saved Angel a lot of time.

There’s hardly a need to listen to other reports now.

But Luigi was sent out after all, so to prevent him from feeling his efforts were wasted, Angel asked: "What about Luigi’s side? Did he get any news from the Tooth Fairy castle?"

Laplace: "In the Tooth Fairy castle, the old Tooth Fairy’s answer is similar to the Charles lineage’s investigation result. Approximately two thousand to three thousand years ago, they began to dream less and eventually stopped dreaming."

Angel nodded: "Whether it’s the intelligence from the Tooth Fairy castle or Charles Palace, it’s clear now that dreaming does not disappear immediately, but weakens and wanes gradually. This means that if the Mirror World truly disconnected from the Dream Realm, it did not occur immediately but through a long process."

Laplace did not refute this, as the facts are indeed as Angel stated.

After stating this conclusion, Angel shifted focus to the Sweet Dream again: "Speaking of which, the timing of Sweet Dream’s emergence is very interesting."

At this point, Angel looked at Laplace: "I’m about to tell a story I’ve imagined, which may also personify the worlds, be it true or false, just listen to the musings of a fantasist."

Laplace did not respond, silently watching Angel.

After organizing his words slightly, Angel began to tell a small story he imagined.

"The prelude to the story is something I’ve briefly mentioned before: At first, the Mirror World and Dream Realm showed no signs of disconnecting; at least three thousand years ago there weren’t any. But why then did signs of disconnect begin to appear between Mirror World and Dream Realm? My guess remains the same: the creatures in the Mirror World would be influenced by the Dream Realm, yet the mirrors in the Dream Realm could not reflect the resources the Mirror World desired or reflect the space of the Dream Realm."

"Maybe the Mirror World felt this was unfair; why are you allowed to invade me, but I’m unable to extend my reach into your world?"

"Thus, the underlying logic of the Mirror World commenced new operations, ultimately choosing to gradually disconnect from the Dream Realm."

"And this probably started three thousand years ago."

"However, the Dream Realm did not desire to disconnect from the Mirror World, but its rules could not influence those of the Mirror World. Seeing the gradual approach towards disconnection, the Dream Realm finally acted."

"Thus, the Sweet Dream was born in the Mirror World."

"The Sweet Dream can bypass all laws, connecting to the Dream Realm."

At this point, Angel suddenly looked at Laplace: "If I were in your position, I might wonder why the Dream Realm chose to let the Sweet Dream emerge in the Mirror World. Even if it did emerge, it seems pointless, as the Sweet Dream can’t possibly allow all mirror creatures to dream."

Laplace responded calmly: "Your speculation is correct, I would indeed think that way."

"In my view, the answer isn’t hard to guess." Angel: "I wonder if Lady Laplace has heard of the lotus root?"

Laplace shook her head.

Angel directly extended his finger and conjured an illusion of a lotus root in mid-air.

"Lotus roots have a trait, that when you break them, they don’t split directly into two parts; there are some fibers inside that remain connected."

"This is just like the intent of the Sweet Dream. The Dream Realm might know that reversing the direction of the Mirror World forcefully is difficult. It might be unable to reverse the will of the Mirror World, but it also does not want to completely disconnect."

"Thus, there is the Sweet Dream, which can forcefully connect to the Dream Realm. Isn’t this a kind of ’continuing connection despite breaking’?"

Laplace: "I can understand your point, but as you previously speculated about me, doing this is futile. What purpose does it serve?"

Angel changed the topic again, no longer mentioning the Sweet Dream, and instead started talking about their current experience: "... I wonder if Lady Laplace has ever thought about why the Wise Sovereign would side with us?"

"Clearly, the Wise Sovereign has known Adanis longer. Even though they might have mutual suspicion, their collaboration never ceased. Our visit this time doesn’t seem to hold anything of value for the Wise Sovereign, so why did he choose to cooperate with us?"

Laplace is aware of what happens outside and has also asked the Wise Sovereign this question. The answer from the Wise Sovereign was: "... waiting for the wind to rise again."

The Wise Sovereign’s way with words didn’t stop Laplace from understanding his thoughts; he was waiting for a variable.

And he believed that there was a variable among Angel’s group. Hence, he sided with Angel.

After drawing this conclusion, let’s associate it with the story Angel told.

The birth of the Sweet Dream, indeed can’t solve the disconnection issue, but isn’t this a story of "waiting for the wind to rise" too?

The existence of the Sweet Dream is also waiting for a variable, a turning point for the disconnection between the Dream Realm and the Mirror World.

Laplace mused for a moment and said calmly: "Although your story seems to make sense, it’s all baseless conjecture. I still don’t believe the World Will thinks like humans."

Angel: "I also said, this is a personification story. The real situation definitely doesn’t involve humanlike thinking."

"The core of my story is actually the conflict of interests. The World Will might not have human emotions or thinking abilities, but its pursuit of benefits, or its tendency towards its own essence is unchanged."

"Just like how every plane fusion in reality is the World Will integrating and plundering resources, right?"

"This isn’t thinking ability; it’s the underlying logic of how the world operates, or in other words... instinct."

Laplace scoffed lightly: "This is sophistry. If you truly think the Sweet Dream is the Dream Realm’s trump card, waiting for a reconciling wind, then where is this wind? Or where is this variable?"

Angel clenched his fist, raised his hand, and lightly coughed with his hand covering his mouth: "I feel... I could reluctantly be the wind this time."

Laplace was taken aback for several seconds, then laughed out loud in front of Angel for the first time.

After laughing, Laplace looked at Angel: "Are you joking? If you are, I acknowledge it."

Angel: "I may not necessarily become the wind, but I can give it a try, right?"

"How do you plan to try?" Laplace remained incredulous, asking with a smile.

"That’s the purpose of my research." Angel: "As for how exactly to operate, you’ll know in time. But before that, I need to do some preparation."

Seeing Laplace still doubtful, Angel didn’t mind and in a self-deprecating tone said:

"If I succeed, then I’ll be the wind borrowed by the Dream Realm. If I fail, then just consider it as me performing a ’Joker’s Revelation’ for Lady Laplace, giving a laugh, and maybe it could become your comic relief in the future."

Laplace neither agreed nor disagreed: "It’s up to you; I agreed to cooperate with your research, I won’t back out voluntarily."

Angel thanked her, then continued: "Speaking of which, the story I just told isn’t finished yet. Is Lady Laplace interested in hearing it to the end?"

Laplace casually said: "Go ahead, I don’t mind listening."

Angel smiled brightly: "Speaking of, with the Dream Realm pulling off the big move of the Sweet Dream, did the Mirror World really completely turn a blind eye?"

"I think, of course not."

"Regardless of whether the Mirror World guessed the intentions of the Dream Realm, it must respond to eliminate risk."

"And what it did was allow the process of the birth of the Sweet Dream to be witnessed by a certain creature in the mirror. And that mirror creature happened to be able to seal the Sweet Dream."

"If nothing unexpected happens, this mirror creature also has a way to throw the Sweet Dream into reality, preventing it from being a threat anymore."

How could Laplace not hear what Angel meant: "Are you talking about me?"

Angel did not pretend to be mysterious and directly nodded to acknowledge: "Yes."

Based on the "story" Angel told, the Mirror World indeed dealt with the Sweet Dream, and Laplace took the stage.

However, the Mirror World seems to have a great fondness for Laplace. It didn’t give Laplace a clear directive, and the Mirror World would probably accept whatever choice Laplace made.

And the choice Laplace made was to seal the Sweet Dream and then give it to the Wise Sovereign.

Also, because of the Wise Sovereign’s demand for the Sweet Dream, she did not banish it to reality, allowing the disconnection between the Mirror World and the Dream Realm to continue without being completely resolved even now.

Laplace: "The story you told, I still regard it as a story for now."

Angel scratched his head and laughed: "Actually, I also treat it as a story."

During the telling of this story, Angel himself could see flaws in many places. For example, whether the Dream World truly wants to disconnect or is just pretending, Angel hasn’t really understood. If disconnection was the goal, it should have been swift, right? Why drag it out for thousands of years, as if there’s a ’cool-off period’ for disconnection."

Of course, perhaps Angel is too narrow-minded himself; he finds thousands of years long, but for the World Will, it might be just a blink of an eye.

Angel also doesn’t believe he can rise above the heavens, open the God’s Eye, and from a commanding position, direct the World Will of various worlds on what to do.

He simply wanted to deepen his confidence through this story.

When he said he might become the "wind," it’s not entirely without aim.

Because what he is going to do next truly might involve the "disconnection and anti-disconnection" event...