"Victoria, there are more and more Dream Creatures. Do you have any idea what's going on?"
"How would I know? And why do you always come to me?"
Victoria frowned at Lillian.
A trace of embarrassment surfaced on Lillian's face, only to vanish instantly. Then she wagged a finger with a perfectly natural expression:
"Victoria, have you ever wondered why I only ask you, and not anyone else?"
Victoria blinked.
Lillian smiled faintly. "I've spent far longer traveling through history than you have. I've seen the Empire's prosperity and destruction, and humanity's rise and fall. When I ask a question, I'm not looking to you for an answer. I'm assessing you."
"Thought is humanity's greatest quality, and you excel at it."
She winked at Victoria. "I admire that."
Lillian was already stunningly beautiful. Now, with her radiant smile, she was like a flower in full, exuberant bloom, as though even the Seabed had been lit up.
Victoria felt her heart beat a little faster. She rested a hand against her chest and put on a stern expression. "Could you stop manipulating my heartbeat?"
"Oh, sorry. Occupational habit." Lillian's smile froze.
Her infectious charm did not seem to work very well on the little woman before her.
Victoria snorted, but her expression still softened at the praise. She thought for a while.
"I think this is very likely a hint from the Great Being."
Lillian's eyes lit up. "How so?"
"Earlier, the Great Being hinted that we should come here to search, but now a large number of Dream Creatures have appeared. Don't you find that a little strange?"
"Indeed." Lillian looked around and nodded.
Dream Creatures had been arriving here continuously for a little while now.
They came from every direction, then stopped here without moving.
They seemed to be