Taking Advantage of Him for Nothing!

Klein only remembered that Lynch was still in the carriage after he'd run some distance away. But after thinking it over, he decided Lynch would be fine. After all, what had happened to him had little to do with Lynch.

At most, Dunn might question him. But without evidence, it should be fine.

Besides, he couldn't worry about anyone else right now.

He didn't know what had happened that afternoon, or whether the fact that the original Klein had attempted suicide and survived would raise suspicions. All he could do was run faster—much faster.

After who knew how long, he reached the corner of Iron Cross Street, where several carriages waited to be hired.

Without a second thought, he jumped into one of them.

Then his gaze froze.

Lynch was right in front of him, his face full of shock. He was still gripping Dunn's arm, while the green-eyed officer held a revolver to his temple.

"Why did you come back? Run!"

Lynch urged him anxiously.

Lynch reached out, trying to snatch the gun from the green-eyed officer's hand. Clearly, he intended to fight back for Klein's sake.

But...

A gunshot rang out.

Blood splattered everywhere.

Klein looked at the smiling Dunn before him, then at the green-eyed officer's amused expression. He was overcome with inexplicable terror.

"What's going on?"

Klein's eyes snapped open. He sat up in Benson's bed.

"Was that a dream?"

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, unsure what to make of it.

Had he really just had a nightmare?

Lynch in the dream had been far too loyal, giving his life to cover Klein's escape.

But why would he dream something like that?

Had Lynch moved him by asking him to pay only half the medical bill?

Klein chuckled and shook his head. He stood up, planning to get a drink of water in the living room and stop by the washroom while he was at it.

But as he neared the washroom, he saw a figure in a trench coat standing by his window.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Dunn Smith of the Nighthawks."

Klein thought of the Beyonders Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man had mentioned above the gray fog. He immediately understood what had just happened.

"You dragged me into a dream and made me do all those things?"

"I only dragged you into the dream. You did everything yourself."

Dunn explained with an amused smile.

Klein was awkward for a moment, then immediately thought of Lynch.

"Then the Lynch in the dream was someone you disguised, right?"

Dunn shook his head.

"No. I just pulled you both into the dream. I was surprised by what he did, too.

"But I can understand it. From what you've told me, he kindly stopped you last night, and you beat him up. Yet he didn't hold it against you, and you seem to get along quite well."

Klein's expression tensed.

"Then what happened to him?"

The green-eyed officer in the dream had fired. Had Lynch—had Lynch really died?

"He's fine. It was just a little joke, and a warning to him as well. Helping a suspect escape and trying to seize an officer's gun are serious crimes."

Dunn smiled again, then walked over to Klein's room and gently knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Lynch asked nervously from inside.

"It's me, Dunn Smith!"

There was a brief silence. Then the door opened, revealing Lynch's somewhat pale face.

"What is it?"

Lynch was clearly trying to act as if nothing had happened, but anyone could see how shaken he was.

Even so, Klein noticed that Lynch kept gesturing for him to head toward the door.

Ah, what a great friend.

He'd already died once, yet he was still so loyal.

"Mr. Trance, helping a suspect escape is no small matter. Death in reality is permanent."

A warning came from the stairwell.

Lynch instinctively looked over.

"Leonard, you shouldn't have fired just now."

Dunn looked at Leonard disapprovingly.

Leonard casually apologized, then grinned at Lynch.

"I've tried it. It doesn't actually hurt, just scares you a bit. It's thrilling, too. What do you think?"

Lynch really wanted to complain.

He'd found it far too thrilling.

The gun had gone off so suddenly that he'd nearly thought he was done for.

But he held back for the moment, showing only a look of astonishment.

"You... the dream was real?"

"My ability lets me pull people into dreams. I hope I didn't frighten you."

Dunn smiled.

Lynch wiped the sweat from his face and quickly returned to his usual self.

"Can I get compensation? I was scared half to death in that dream. And you, Klein—what was that about? You'd run away, so why did you come back? If it had been real, and I'd given my life without managing to help you escape, I'd have died with regrets!"

Klein was so embarrassed by his words that he couldn't raise his head.

Dunn came to his rescue.

"There's no compensation. This was part of the investigation. Dreams amplify your emotions and character, so I trust the people you are in dreams more than the people you are in reality.

"As for why Klein couldn't escape, it's because I controlled the dream's setting. No matter how far he ran, he couldn't get very far from me. It was just to create an atmosphere. All right, let's go downstairs quietly. I assume you don't want to wake the other residents?"

After speaking, Dunn gestured for them to leave quietly.

Only when they reached the door did Klein ask in a low voice, "So you really believe I've lost my memory?"

"Yes, I do. But you'll still need to see a specialist to confirm it. Even I can't guarantee that I'll always make the right call. Besides, you're both connected to the matter of the Antigonus Notebook."

"What?"

Lynch and Klein asked in unison.

"Here's what happened. After we turned in the Antigonus Notebook, we discovered a serious problem: all its contents had disappeared. We want to know what happened."

Lynch stared at him in shock.

"That's impossible. Before you arrived, I flipped through it and read a few lines!"

"There really is nothing in it anymore. We've even begun to suspect that it isn't the Antigonus Notebook. It doesn't seem like a Beyonder item now, either."

Dunn explained quietly, then gestured for them to get into the carriage again.

Lynch sighed. He didn't dare think about why the Antigonus Notebook had ended up this way, and could only regard himself as an ordinary person who'd been caught up in the matter.

Still, the moment he climbed aboard, he couldn't help worrying in secret. Had the Stone of Myriad Phenomena really drained the notebook dry?

He rubbed his brow guiltily and waited for Klein to get in.

Klein hesitated before climbing aboard.

He wanted to run away again, but gave up on the idea.

"It was wise of you not to run. I'd like to know why you tried to escape in the dream."

Dunn looked at Klein curiously.

"I don't remember what I did. I'm worried that I really did cause Welch and Naia's deaths, so I just wanted to leave and start a new life in the Southern Continent."

Dunn nodded, then looked at Lynch.

"And you? Why did you stop us?"

Lynch sighed.

"What else could I do? I'm friends with Benson, and his younger brother is like one of my juniors. He looked so guilty, like he'd done something wrong. I had to help if I could. I couldn't just stand by and watch him die, could I?"

Klein was touched, but a little annoyed by what Lynch had said.

What did he mean, Klein was like Lynch's junior?

Lynch was only three years older than the original Klein at most, and two years younger than Klein had been in his previous life. And he still wanted to act like an elder?

Taking advantage of him for nothing!