Elliot's eyes instantly widened.
"What... the Dream Creatures are breaking in?!"
On the Difference Engine's tabletop, Dream Creatures were already pouring in. Michel's Puppet was still struggling to resist, while Sidney's Puppet had already had its head twisted off by a Dream Creature, exposing the cotton inside. Cora, the weakest of them, was already a gruesome sight.
As for Elliot... well, the octopus Puppets around him were very well behaved, gathering around him and occasionally nuzzling him with their heads.
Elliot felt terrible at once. Why did this scene make it look as though he had defected to the enemy?
Michel and Sidney were both watching, for goodness' sake!
The Difference Engine has screwed me over!
"Uh, should we get ready first? It looks like they're about to break in..."
But neither Sidney nor Michel reacted, seemingly not particularly concerned.
Sidney sighed. "Another erroneous deduction. This is just absurd."
As he spoke, he pulled a lever on the side. Several mechanical arms extended and cleared all the Puppets and scenery off the tabletop.
So it was wrong. Elliot breathed a sigh of relief.
So this was deduction? It looked quite interesting, and didn't seem any different from when he operated it himself.
Except that Elliot's Difference Engine acted out the truth.
"All right, Sidney, stop fiddling with the Difference Engine. Elliot's here. Let's talk business."
Michel made to pat Sidney on the shoulder, but sheepishly withdrew his hand after Sidney glared at him.
The three sat back down in the Reception Room's armchairs. Elliot glanced around, feeling uncomfortable all over.
The wall right beside them seemed to be the one the Dream Creatures had broken through on the Difference Engine just now.
Remembering the octopus Puppets smashing through the wall on the stage made Elliot feel distinctly uneasy.
He hesitated