"What do we need to do now?"
Having fully understood the situation and steadied himself, Shade asked. The current situation did not seem any more dangerous than having a gun pointed at his head just now.
"Find the Ritual Nodes."
Miss Annette tugged at her skirt to cover her feet, then took a pinch of glittering powder from a small pouch at her waist. She placed the powder in her palm and gave it a gentle blow with her lipstick-painted lips. The powder scattered, seeming to hover in the air beneath the gas lamp's glow.
The Blood Mist had already blurred everything before them. With that dust added, the corridor became even hazier. Miss Annette removed the ruby hairpin she wore, tapped it lightly with a finger, and handed it to Shade.
"I'm going to use the Document Level Relic, Truth Dust, to enter the illusion and work with Another Me. We'll search for the Ritual Nodes from different perspectives. It should take about five minutes. During that time, you must hold onto my token and show me the way back, or I'll fall into a crack in the Dreamlands."
"Just holding it is enough?"
Shade asked, gripping the hairpin tightly.
"Don't go too far from the third floor, or I'll lose contact with the token. The token can only be held by a conscious living creature. If I hadn't found you just now, I would have gone into the garden to catch a cat or a fish. Remember, Detective, there are only seven minutes until the evil god, Lord of the Blood Feast, descends. I'll remain in the illusion for five minutes. During that time, do not touch anyone. Wait patiently."
She paused, her expression turning solemn.
"If I don't return within five minutes, leave through the main staircase.