After arranging for personnel to stake out the train station, bus station, and airport, Trist looked at Lu Ban.
The young man was still sitting in the chair, drinking tea like an old man. He even blew on it.
"It's iced. There's no need to blow on it."
Trist couldn't help reminding him.
Aside from the personnel on duty, only Trist and Lu Ban remained in the office. After thinking for a moment, Trist called out to Lu Ban.
"Come over here."
He led Lu Ban to the windowsill at the End of the Corridor, pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, put one between his lips, and held the pack out toward Lu Ban.
"Want one?"
"I don't smoke."
Lu Ban declined Trist's kindness.
"Good."
Facing outside, Trist lit the cigarette in his mouth with a lighter. He took a deep drag and blew the smoke out the window.
"What you said just now—something about the real world and otherworldly adventures—was pretty interesting. It could be made into a movie."
He said it casually.
"It actually was made into one in the real world."
Lu Ban told him the truth.
Trist smiled, taking it as Lu Ban having failed to distinguish reality from fantasy.
"You've got a lot of talent. Maybe you can become a police officer in the future."
He continued.
"You still need to come back to reality, though."
"I'm working on it."
Lu Ban answered.
"You think everything here is fake. What about your two friends? Are they fake too?"
Trist glanced at the tightly closed door of the reception room on one side of the corridor.
"...Yes."
Lu Ban paused for a moment before answering.
"In the real world, they died long ago. The Chosen of the Gods witnessed it, completing the closed loop