[…]
[When Stelle opened her eyes again, the person in front of her was Miss Black Swan, who had stepped in to help in the dream.]
["You're awake, little sleepyhead. Looks like you had a good dream." Black Swan smiled slightly. "So, did you dream of me?"]
["Is this heaven…"]
["Welcome back to reality—the Daydream Hotel—the place you're most familiar with, and the safest. I'm glad your mental state is still relatively normal and you weren't affected by that 'Primitive Dream.' You're quite lucky."]
["Firefly… did she escape?"]
["Hehe, you care a lot about that little girl. Makes sense. Even in front of [Death], she did everything she could to protect your safety… Even I was a little moved."]
["I know you have a lot of questions in your head. Don't be impatient. Before that, first report your safety to your worried companions."]
[Stelle followed Black Swan to the rest area on the first floor. Before they even went downstairs, they could already hear March 7th and Himeko discussing.]
[March 7th put both hands on her hips: "So suspicious… How could there be such a coincidence? That woman definitely has issues."]
[Himeko shook her head: "But she did find Stelle and saved her—For now, we can only listen to her conditions first…"]
[When the two returned to the Astral Express crew, the moment they saw Stelle, March 7th immediately came over with a worried face: "Stelle, are you okay?! We couldn't find you in reality or in the dream. I was worried to death…"]
[After a simple explanation of the cause and effect, Stelle learned that Himeko and Black Swan had actually known each other for a while. They had met by chance during the dream investigation.]
——
Mob Psycho 100.
"Wait… What does it mean that they couldn't find her in reality or the dream? Did Stelle's physical body disappear along with her after she went to Penacony?"
Dimple was sweating profusely. Having a dream where the physical body disappears… Even for a "spirit" like him, this was downright terrifying.
Penacony was initially promoted as the "Festival" star, a dream land that brings happiness and beauty. But as time passed, this "beauty" was becoming increasingly eerie.
"It probably isn't." Reigen shook his head and thought seriously: "I don't think the physical body disappears upon entering Penacony, but rather after entering that 'Primitive Dream'… That dream may have some kind of mechanism that causes the physical bodies of those who enter it to also fall into it."
"Then if Stelle gets killed by that monster in the Primitive Dream…" Mob's teacup trembled slightly in his hands.
"Yeah, she'd most likely be dead for good."
Dimple couldn't help but click his tongue: "Tsk tsk tsk… This Family's methods are really something. On the surface they're the benevolent [Harmony] faction, but in reality they harbor malicious intentions. They lure people to Penacony under the name of 'beautiful dream' and 'vacation' and then kill them…"
"No, this is purely the personal actions of a Masked Fool. Don't pin it on the entire Family. The Family doesn't have the guts to publicly drag people into the Primitive Dream, and even if they did… they'd have to drag the [Destruction], [Preservation], or [Elation] groups in first."
"[Destruction]…?" Dimple tried to recall. "Reigen, did you get it wrong? Didn't Duke Inferno not come?"
"…"
"Yeah, Master, Duke Inferno doesn't seem to have come to this festival."
Reigen also scratched his head in confusion: "…Strange. Didn't they receive the invitation?"
——
[Stelle told Himeko and the others the full cause and effect of entering the Primitive Dream.]
[Welt pondered: "So, the one who attacked you was a woman in red clothes, skilled in illusions, who can transform into other people's appearances…"]
["Her name is [Sparkle], a Masked Fool who sneaked into Penacony…" Black Swan seemed very familiar with this twin-tailed lady. "…Don't worry, that girl won't target you all again for the time being. She must think she succeeded and is gloating somewhere right now."]
["You seem to know her very well."]
[Black Swan smiled and nodded: "Of course. I know everyone here. In Penacony, anyone can lie… but [Memoria] will not."]
["So I need to clarify one fact to everyone: Miss Sparkle's tricks can make people fall into hallucinations, but that eerie dream has nothing to do with her. It originates from Penacony itself."]
["Penacony… itself?" March 7th didn't quite understand.]
["Haven't you realized yet?" Black Swan covered her mouth and chuckled. "The so-called 'Land of Dreams'… is actually the result of the Family meticulously maintaining it through some means—a carefully designed beautiful dream."]
["And the Memoscape she fell into—that is the original appearance of the dream: chaotic, dangerous, mysterious… Memory beasts dwell in the ever-changing labyrinth…"]
——
One Piece.
"The Family really told a colossal lie…"
The night in Mariejois was as deep as water. Fujitora stood on the terrace leaning on his staff sword. The light from the sky screen shone on his closed eyes. After seeing Black Swan reveal the original appearance of the dream, Fujitora let out a long sigh.
"So what?"
Green Bull, sitting casually beside him, didn't care. With a tender twig in his mouth, he said leisurely: "A lie that has been maintained for a thousand years without any leaks also proves the Family's methods and control, doesn't it? I actually quite admire these guys. They only showed their flaws now…"
"Admire?" Fujitora's expression instantly sank, his staff sword pausing slightly. "The Family's actions are extremely vile. I really don't know what's admirable about it. Placing the 'beautiful dream' above the 'Primitive Dream' is like making ordinary people dance on a knife's edge, with only a thin wooden board painted to cover the blade… Once the board breaks, it means the destruction of millions."
Green Bull shrugged: "So the Family only needs to maintain the board so it doesn't break. Maybe a few people fall into the Primitive Dream and disappear completely… But so what? As long as this beautiful dream that brings happiness to millions doesn't show any flaws, it's fine."
"…How absurd."
"Don't be so serious, Fujitora." Green Bull sneered. "In Penacony, reality may be more deadly than a false beautiful dream."
——
[Himeko asked the others about the scenery they saw when entering the dream and found that what everyone saw was almost the same.]
[Clocks, schools of fish, the deep sea… Even the way to reach Penacony was the same. They all went through a painting or mirror in the room to the [Thought Corridor] transfer station before truly arriving at Penacony.]
["I learned from some regular guests that the first stop after entering the dream is the hotel in the dream, but due to some accidents… 'the hotel is currently under renovation.'"]
[Black Swan asked with a smile: "Under what circumstances does a building need renovation? Combining that with her recent experience, the answer is very clear."]
["Penacony's beautiful dream is [sinking], returning to its original appearance… falling into the deep sea (Memoscape)."]