When the plot-skips players into the game world

Aiwass rose and walked toward the outside of the house.

The dancer, or rather... Miss Honey Badger's words, hadn't actually revealed too much useful information, other than making it clear to him that he was definitely not a teacher. However, this was something Aiwass had already guessed.

But her words had unintentionally revealed another piece of information.

That was that these people truly didn't remember why they had come here—not just the kidnapper Aiwass was playing. Coupled with the abnormality of the couple, Aiwass was essentially certain of two things.

The first was that only those who were playing these roles, the ascendants, didn't know their true identities. The scripts they received only had the "identities they were striving to play," and they had no knowledge of their underlying identities.

However, in other layers of the nightmare, these freely moving people would inadvertently expose their real information.

That is to say, everyone was trying hard to hide their real identities... just like Agni, who was playing the kidnapper, like Honey Badger, who was playing the spy, or like "journalist" Jacob, who was playing the Curse Ritual Magician. But their performances all had their flaws; only another person playing "them playing these roles" could play it more convincingly—and that's where the slip-up lay.

The second thing was... everyone's memory had issues; it wasn't that they were deliberately hiding something. And this confused memory would be written into the scripts given to these ascendants.

Lies and illusions were intertwined, like a phantasmagoria. While deceiving others, they were also being deceived by something.

"...Interesting."

Upon closing the door, Aiwass revealed a subtle smile.

"Any key information?"

The journalist couldn't wait to ask, "Tell us about it?"

"What," Aiwass countered, "you didn't hear?"

"I wouldn't eavesdrop."

The journalist stated righteously, "That would be too disgraceful."

"He really didn't lean in to listen."

The old Inspector beside him nodded in confirmation, "Although the soundproofing isn't very good here, and I could hear some of it just standing here... it was still a blur. Especially later on—after you lowered your voices, we couldn't make out anything over here."

"Didn't expect you to be so decent."

Aiwass looked at the journalist somewhat surprised.

The journalist boasted proudly, "Of course."

"There is indeed key information."

Aiwass looked at the Inspector, then gazed deeply at the journalist: "I think we need to take a look at Room 201."

This was not the New Moon Ritual, but a full moon ceremony with a plot, exploration, and decryption.

Such layered dreamscapes and everyone's memories having minor gaps... there must be a reasonable explanation.

As Merlin had said—

"Great Sage creatively used a very limited space, the minimal number of simulating souls, to create a layered structure."

Aiwass repeated Merlin's words said before his entrance: "That is to say, this space is indeed just that big. Our few rooms, plus the first-floor lobby. At most, add Room 201."

"—Even the kitchen is inaccessible."

The Inspector by his side, with arms crossed, added calmly, "I investigated after I came in. The kitchen door wouldn't budge at all. I had to use force to break it open, only to find a brick wall behind it."

"A total of six rooms and a lobby—there's no secret hidden space inside the lobby."

Leaning against the wall, Aiwass didn't lower his voice, but simply said in a normal tone, "Then our only option is to take a look at Room 201."

"I've already checked Room 201."

The journalist quickly said, "It's just an empty room... it seems to be the room of the innkeeper's daughter, but there's nobody there."

Hearing this, the Inspector suddenly furrowed his brows slightly. He glanced at the journalist and then looked intently at Aiwass.

Aiwass just smiled and looked back at him, offering no response.

He cheerfully said, "Just because you didn't see anything on the previous level, doesn't mean there isn't anything on this one. The closer you get to the bottom layer, the closer you are to reality. Anything might change... Anyway, the place is only so big. There's always a need to reinvestigate."

"You speak the truth."

"How reliable, Mr. Fox."

Just then, the door to Room 204 suddenly opened and the couple stepped out.

Different from before, when they were cowering, even scared to look at Aiwass, their eyes were clear now, their spines straight, and their steps steady.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Jacaranda... now a Pharmacist."

The woman smiled warmly, her hand on her chest, as she spoke politely.

And the man briefly introduced himself, "I am Living Silver."

"I am Fox."

Aiwass nodded slightly, and introduced himself as well.

"It is really hard to tell..."

The woman sighed, "The Contributor actually plays such a ferocious character..."

"It might also be because of his personal abilities are strong, so Merlin assigned him the most difficult role."

The Inspector calmly said from the side, "Let's introduce ourselves again... I am Pure White."

"I am Detective."

The journalist next to him said with a beaming smile, "Now I am a journalist... Does this mean we now have a group of five?

"This at least proves that we are on the third floor or below... right? The time must not have reached an hour yet, and we have already completed most of it. What luck."

—An unexpected gathering of five people.

Unsurprisingly, it must have been Jacaranda and Living Silver who adopted the same strategy as Aiwass—they died together and were then reborn together. Since their rooms were originally next to each other, they could also wake up concurrently after reviving.

This is probably why Jacaranda did not immediately die along with the Detective. Compared to "journalist," the "husband" role was easier to verify.

However, Pure White said leisurely, "No, it could also be the fourth floor.

"Among us, perhaps one is Merlin."

As he spoke, his gaze had already shifted toward the journalist.

"—This is not the place to talk."

Aiwass suddenly spoke up, interrupting her.

He looked around and indicated towards the room of the dancer with an ominous smile, "Let's go down to the lobby on the first floor, sit and talk... how about it?"

The others also had no intention of arguing in the cramped corridor. But at this time, the atmosphere was clearly not right for investigating room 201.

If Merlin was among them, it was entirely possible to tamper with the evidence or mislead them in a way to make them miss some critical information.

—With so many people suddenly gathering, exchanging their respective information became the top priority.

So the group went downstairs to the lobby and gathered around the round table.

Outside, a storm was howling, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring.

Yet the round table inside the house had no food, only candles. Pure White went to the front desk to get some wine and put it on the table, while Jacaranda poured drinks for everyone. At this moment, there truly seemed to be an atmosphere of a dinner gathering.

Looking at the empty seats around the round table, Aiwass's lips curled upwards slightly, "It seems our cheating has disappointed Great Sage..."

This round table, neatly arranged, had nine vacant seats. Looking at the empty four seats, Aiwass strangely felt like a grandfather and grandmother who had prepared a table full of dishes waiting for their grandson to come home for a meal, yet nobody showed up...

"Let's start by sharing our information,"

Aiwass began, "Taking turns, let's start with the most important— I experienced a descent. On the previous floor, I only encountered 'Detective,' and we perished together. Then, I arrived at this floor."

Pure White, who was seated next to Aiwass, continued, "I have been investigating and have not died yet. This is my current floor."

Living Silver followed, providing crucial information, "I have died twice.

"On my birth floor, I didn't encounter anyone. After dying once, I met Jacaranda. Then we went out and together witnessed the corpses of Fox and Detective who had died together, so we decided to die together and then arrived at this floor."

...Hmm?

Aiwass raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off.

Pure White, also noting the discrepancy, said, "Twice?"

"Yes, twice,"

Jacaranda admitted, "Because after I descended, I killed my 'husband.' There I met Mr. Detective, who said he came from a higher floor. Right after that, I also died... On the next lower floor, I finally waited for Living Silver.

"—This was the experiment I conducted. He skipped his own floor of death and landed on an even lower one."

And hearing this, everyone present had realized there was a problem.

Almost everyone looked at "Detective" with suspicion.

But the Detective simply showed a mild smile, "Coincidentally, I have also conducted this experiment. On a higher floor, I killed both of you as well. So, Living Silver must have come from a higher floor than mine... Is there any problem?"