74: Chapter 74 Gratitude, Harvest, and Return

After [Pleasure] disappeared, the underground hall returned to silence, leaving only Zhang Hao and the still somewhat shaken Black and White Clown.

Zhang Hao stood in place, digesting the information he had just received. Although [Pleasure]'s answers were erratic and fragmented, combined with his own observations and analysis, a chilling picture had begun to take shape in his mind:

Dreamland served as the surface layer, absorbing the negative emotions dissipated by the Hosts when they indulged in pleasure; these emotions acted as nourishment, nurturing the Lord of the Seven Deadly Sins deep within the hidden Nightmare Haunted House; and one of the masterminds behind all this was [Pleasure], who held the dual identities of both Dominator and Deity, and whose behavior was unpredictable. All of this was simply because it found it "fun" and "interesting."

He turned his gaze toward the Black and White Clown. This silent, comical existence, whom [Pleasure] called the "Observer," had issued a crucial warning just as he was about to touch a trap, despite being restricted itself.

Zhang Hao was not an ungrateful person. He stepped forward and said solemnly to the Black and White Clown, "Thank you for your warning just now."

The Black and White Clown didn't seem to expect Zhang Hao to thank him and appeared somewhat at a loss. He waved his hands flusteredly and then gave a clumsy, deep bow. On that face painted with an eternal crying mask, a complex mix of embarrassment and a hint of relief seemed to surface.

Then, as if remembering something important, the Black and White Clown began to rummage through his oversized black-and-white checkered outfit. After searching for a while, he held out a large pile of crystal-clear spheres with both hands, carefully offering them to Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao looked closely and couldn't help but be startled. These were the very same colored and black-and-white crystal balls from both sides of the three stone walls, representing [Affirmation] and [Negation]! There were nine vibrant ones on the left and nine distinct black-and-white ones on the right, eighteen in total—not a single one was missing. It seemed that while he was focused on answering the questions and passing through the stone walls, this seemingly clumsy clown had stealthily collected all these crystal balls that contained the power of rules.

The Black and White Clown stuffed all eighteen crystal balls into Zhang Hao's arms, then pointed at Zhang Hao and then at the hole above that had completely closed up without a trace, making a "leave" gesture. Then, he pointed at himself and spread his hands, the sorrowful crying expression on his face becoming even more exaggerated. He even made a gesture of wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, as if performing a silent, deeply tragic farewell scene.

Looking at the eighteen heavy "spoils of war" in his arms, which emitted faint but undeniable energy fluctuations, and then at the Black and White Clown using exaggerated fake crying to hide his emotions at parting, Zhang Hao felt a mixture of complex feelings.

He nodded, signaling his understanding.

The moment he nodded, a familiar sensation of teleportation enveloped him. The surrounding scenery began to blur and fade.

At the final moment before he left completely, the last thing he saw was the Black and White Clown standing in place, waving his hand forcefully and silently. That black-and-white figure looked exceptionally lonely in the empty underground hall, yet it also carried a sense of relief from having fulfilled some kind of mission.

His vision blurred, and all the scenery vanished.

Zhang Hao found himself in that familiar, boundless, pure white space—the Dream Task Settlement Space.

The Dream Task in [Dreamland] had ended in a way he had completely failed to anticipate.