Chapter 53 - 50: Development, Newcomer Guidance Department

Chapter 53: Chapter 50: Development, Newcomer Guidance Department

"After enjoying the safety of the shop, where you don’t have to live in constant fear, could you go back to the perilous Nightmare World? If it were you, do you think you could handle it?"

The veteran asked bluntly.

The newcomer pictured it. It did, indeed, seem tough to handle.

If he had never seen the light, he could have endured the darkness. But once you experience certain things, it’s hard to go back.

The newcomer fell silent.

The veteran chuckled. "And that’s not all. What if our chance to come to the Safe Zone shop isn’t just a one-time thing? What if, by meeting certain conditions and earning the Manager’s favor, we could come to the Safe Zone every time we have a Fallen Dream?"

Never mind how high the upper limit of the Safe Zone’s protection was.

But in the perilous Nightmare World, if they could return to the Safe Zone to rest and resupply at any time, then getting through a Nightmare would be at least ten times easier!

The newcomer swallowed hard. "So, you’re saying that breaking the rules is much more serious than just getting kicked out of the Safe Zone. The one who breaks them could be losing... their future?" He sucked in a sharp breath.

This Dream Descender, who had only just arrived in the Safe Zone, had originally thought it was no big deal to leave. He’d survived so many grueling Nightmares before, so what was one or two more?

Kicked out? Blacklisted? It was nothing to him.

But... if he had been a member of the Safe Zone, if he had already made it to shore, only to be thrown back into the sea of suffering because of his own stupidity... then...

Especially watching others humming songs, shooting the breeze, and sipping wine, while you were all alone outside the shop, struggling to survive in the cold wind, the gray fog, and the suffocating killing intent.

That...

That would be even worse than death!

The newcomer’s expression turned solemn. He straightened his legs and sat up much straighter.

"You’re right, my friend. This chance to come to the Safe Zone is incredibly precious. We have to cherish it."

"Mm, good. You’ve got a bright future, kid."

The veteran speaking was a very Senior Dream Descender himself. He had been a member of three different Mutual Aid Associations.

However, Mutual Aid Associations have their limits.

The Safe Zone does not.

He spoke up, "I’m planning to ask Mr. Hair Ghost to take the lead and organize a Curse Object exchange meet in the Safe Zone. You should come when it happens. What do you say?"

The newcomer was tempted.

But...

He asked, "How can we be sure we’ll find the Safe Zone the next time we enter the Nightmare World? Like you said, until we get the Manager’s approval and obtain a Safe Zone Member Card, isn’t it just up to chance whether our Fallen Dream lands us in this area?"

The veteran nodded. "That’s right, it is up to chance. I asked Mr. Hair Ghost about it. He said that those of us who’ve already been to the Safe Zone have a higher chance of ending up here during a Fallen Dream compared to other Dream Descenders."

"And if we ’veteran customers’ use items to link up and form a party, that probability increases dramatically! Even if the chance of finding the Safe Zone isn’t 100%, it’s still worth the gamble!"

He was using a precious item, and it wasn’t just for a single exchange meet, of course.

It was also for the sake of clearing a Nightmare.

He had already scouted it out: one of the requirements for obtaining a Member Card was clearing a Nightmare.

To that end,

the burly man had already scouted two Senior Dream Descenders. Counting the guy in front of him, that made three.

They were all strangers, but with the Safe Zone as their foundation, they already had a basic level of trust. Unless someone was a brainless idiot, nobody would throw away such a bright future for the gains from a single Nightmare run.

After a moment’s thought, the newcomer extended his hand. "I’m in!"

"Good!"

The burly man grasped his outstretched hand.

"Codename: Ghost Blade."

"Codename: Li Hook."

"Let’s go big!"

"Yes, of course. But before any of that, we have to ask Mr. Hair Ghost to check with the Manager."

...

「Reality. Chaoyang District.」

When Li Wei saw the director of the Mutual Aid Association again, the man’s eyes were filled with shock.

’With his previous physical condition, how is this kid still alive? He survived a Nightmare?’

The director quickly plastered on a smile. "Li Wei, my boy, I knew you’d pull through! The Mutual Aid Association welcomes you back."

Li Wei gave a cool nod.

He didn’t feel much resentment toward the Mutual Aid Association, even though they had been desperate to cut ties with him before.

After all, it was just a loose organization; people were free to come and go.

But of course, that also meant he felt no attachment to the place.

The only reason he had made a special trip over was...

"I’m going to be the one in charge of the Mutual Aid Association."

The words had barely left his lips.

The director’s eyes widened in shock, then anger. But before he could retort, Li Wei unleashed the aura of his Curse Object.

An icy chill spread through the air.

It formed an invisible Curse Pressure.

"The Palm... the Control Stage!"

"Now, am I qualified to be the one in charge?"

He wanted to repay the Manager.

But he was too weak.

’Then I’ll start by taking control of more resources.’

...

When Shi An left the Safe Zone, the area was still bustling with activity.

He received a message relayed from Hair Ghost to Blood Hand Seal, which was then passed on to him.

’Organize an exchange meet? That’s a great idea.’

Even if a Dream Descender hadn’t suggested it, Shi An had been wanting to organize a similar event for a while.

Only when Dream Descenders communicated with each other could he obtain more intelligence and information, be it about the development and application of Curse Objects, strategies for clearing Nightmares, or the status of the major organizations in the real world. These were all things Shi An wanted to learn.

He could never have too much of it.

As long as the Dream Descenders got to talking, they were bound to let a secret or two slip eventually.

It was just a shame that most of the customers in the shop area were newcomers and still rather reserved. Besides, it wasn’t appropriate for him, the ’mysterious and powerful Manager,’ to be the one to initiate something like an exchange meet.

Shi An had originally planned to find a way to give Hair Ghost a hint after some time, but unexpectedly, the Safe Zone’s customers were especially proactive.

’That’s true,’

’People like Profound Sword, Xi Xue, and Old Yao come from large organizations, so they don’t lack for intel. But independent Dream Descenders have a much greater need for it.’

’I’ll definitely have to be there for the exchange meet in a few days.’

’Then again, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to make an appearance.’

Shi An was afraid he’d be asked questions he didn’t know how to answer.

But that wasn’t a major issue. As long as he was in the Safe Zone, he knew everything that happened within the shop like the back of his hand.

He could just have Blood Hand Seal notify him when the time came.

As for today...

Shi An woke up promptly at seven-thirty.

Today was a special day. After a week of special training, he was about to start his new job as an official employee of the Countermeasures Bureau.

He would be getting a salary and full benefits.

Shi An had originally just planned on slacking off and coasting, but...

’This position is a little unexpected, though. I’ll get to meet a lot of Dream Descenders. Who knows, there might be some unexpected rewards.’

The Countermeasures Bureau was mainly split into two divisions: the Operations Department and the Logistics Department.

The Operations Department was the front-line division. Even its support and investigation teams had to face crises from time to time.

In reality, Shi An was just an ordinary, unremarkable person, physically weak. He had no desire to join the Operations Department. Of course, it’s not like he could get in even if he wanted to.

The Operations Department was filled with either Senior Dream Descenders or people who had undergone serious training and were skilled in martial arts and marksmanship.

Peripheral staff members only ever went to the Logistics Department.

But the place he was assigned to was a bit special. It wasn’t the Cleanup Team or the Containment Team, but a place called...

The Newcomer Guidance Department.