39: Chapter 39 Dream Communication

[Plot Rule 6: After falling asleep on time, the Strategists and Raiders participating in the plot can communicate with each other regardless of distance. Time for sleep communication: Minutes will be spanned by seconds.]

The four people participating in the plot raid were all gathered within a small, special space.

It was a bit like returning to the Starlight Chessboard.

Bright stars, peculiar nebulae, and magnificent lights; everything was very similar to the background of the Starlight Chessboard, the only difference being a giant countdown timer above their heads.

6:20

6:19

6:18

...

Every second, the minute hand of the timer ticked once.

Zhao Hongxiu had fallen asleep the earliest and entered this place first. Having figured out the rules, she spoke up,

"The rest time at the military camp is from 11 PM to 6 AM, a total of seven hours.

[Plot Rule 6] says 'minutes will be spanned by seconds,' which means one second here is one minute in the plot world. We still have 6 minutes and 05 seconds... no, 6 minutes and 02 seconds left to communicate.

Time is limited; let's each report the intelligence we've gathered first."

Chen Aoyun, Zhao Hongxiu, and Xiao Zhenghong had communicated during the day, so there wasn't much intelligence that needed to be shared between them, but with Fan Ling here, there was more to say.

Xiao Zhenghong spoke first, introducing the situation at the West Mountain Camp to Fan Ling, as well as the rules and inferences the three had grasped. He then informed Zhao Hongxiu that he and Chen Aoyun had not found the token in the deceased general's tent, and briefly mentioned that Chen Aoyun had assumed the identity of the 'Imperial Censor.'

Having mentioned to Chen Aoyun during the day that the 'veneer of civilization' could perhaps be utilized reasonably, Chen Aoyun had put it into practice that evening and successfully used this concept to defuse a nearly fatal crisis. Zhao Hongxiu couldn't help but look at Chen Aoyun a few extra times.

With limited time for communication, Zhao Hongxiu didn't waste time on this issue but quickly said,

"I was responsible for examining the bodies of those deceased generals, and I couldn't find the token on them either, but I found this!"

As she spoke, Zhao Hongxiu reached into her bosom and pulled out a small wooden box, exquisitely crafted, with a material that clearly could only be used by the royal family.

Chen Aoyun was somewhat surprised that items obtained within the plot could be brought into this space.

Zhao Hongxiu, having taken out the wooden box, immediately handed it to Fan Ling.

Fan Ling understood immediately. Holding the wooden box in his hand, a gleam flashed in his eyes. After carefully observing the wooden box with the faint light in his eyes for a while, he said,

"I saw the scene that once took place inside the wooden box.

In the scene, there was a golden token; it should be the token you are looking for!"

Zhao Hongxiu was well-acquainted with Fan Ling. Before the faint light lit up in Fan Ling's eyes, she had already introduced him to Chen Aoyun and Xiao Zhenghong:

"Fan Ling's [Career Path] is [Path of the Artist], third stage. His career abilities include [Architect], [Appraiser], and [Brewer].

[Appraiser] can identify items and opponents' weapons. In the plot, this career ability can also 'replay' the scene that once took place around an item."

Chen Aoyun didn't have time to marvel at Fan Ling's ability before Zhao Hongxiu frowned and said,

"I found the box that held the token on the body of one of the dead generals, but the token wasn't inside.

That leaves only two possibilities.

One is that the token has already been snatched by those who ambushed them and may have already been taken back to the Imperial Capital.

Another possibility is that the commander took the token, and it might be with that commander now!

I am more inclined to believe it is with that commander, because since the plot direction is for us to find the token, if the token had already been taken back to the Imperial Capital at the start when we first touched the main storyline, it would be an unsolvable plot. Only if the token is with the commander is there a need to raid it."

Sometimes, bypassing the logic of the plot script and analyzing it from the perspective of the mission itself is an essential mindset for a Raider.

Everyone present agreed with Zhao Hongxiu's analysis; the token was highly likely to be with the commander. However, this was not good news either, and Xiao Zhenghong said,

"That commander in the plot corresponds to at least the strength of a sixth-stage [Roleplayer], or even higher. What do we do if the token is with him? Rob him by force? Robbing a sixth-stage expert, who is also a commander, by force is simply impossible, and it even contradicts the Plot Rules!

I even suspect that as soon as we make a move on that commander, the suspicion value of everyone in the entire camp toward us will soar to 100, and then what awaits us is the siege of the entire military, tens of thousands of troops..."

Chen Aoyun said, "Robbing is definitely not an option. Perhaps we can take it by wit. Maybe he doesn't carry that token with him at all times. Could we lure him away from the main camp tent and then steal it?"

Zhao Hongxiu thought for a moment and said, "We can analyze the token matter further after we wake up. Fan Ling, you should tell us about your situation first.

Keep it concise; time is limited, and don't be a smart aleck."

Zhao Hongxiu didn't forget to add a reminder.

Fan Ling was full of helplessness. Prejudice, naked prejudice!

His personality was unrestrained and a bit free-spirited, but he knew when to be serious; how could he lack a sense of propriety at a time like this?

After giving Zhao Hongxiu a fierce eye-roll, Fan Ling said,

"My identity is the Minister of Works, and my goal is to find the 'anomaly' hidden in the Imperial Palace.

The plot here is roughly: Ten days ago, a fire in the Imperial Palace burned many people to death, causing His Majesty the Emperor to be furious and punish many people.

A fire plus personnel changes might be the reason for the 'anomaly's' rise.

I used the [Architect]'s ability to analyze the cause of the fire and initially locked onto a few suspects.

Combining this with the plot on your side, I believe the 'anomaly' is among the princes, or at the very least, is related to the princes!

In this way, the suspects have been narrowed down to ten people.

Don't think that ten suspects is a lot; my career abilities don't have the range to narrow it down like a [Police Officer] or [Detective], and it has already burned quite a few of my brain cells.

There are two days left, and I might be able to narrow the suspects down to 6-8 people.

The good news is: I obtained a special item here—the [Mirror of Manifestation], which can reveal the true form of the anomaly.

But the bad news is: I only have two [Mirrors of Manifestation]. One was picked up during a plot mission, and the other was an item obtained during the process of the previous [Strategist] 'making a move.' Moreover, one [Mirror of Manifestation] can only be used once..."

As he spoke, Fan Ling showed the [Mirror of Manifestation]; it was a mirror that looked quite ordinary.

Seeing the [Mirror of Manifestation], Chen Aoyun frowned.

He had seen many such mirrors when watching livestreams before he became a [Strategist].

In the early stages of this Game of National Destiny, Strategists from various countries had picked up such mirrors on the Starlight Chessboard. At the time, these mirrors were useless for the game's strategy and were considered 'trash items.' Who would have thought that in the second stage of the plot, these mirrors would become the key to finding the 'anomaly'!

You have to know that the Dragon Country only got one in the first stage, while other countries had at least three or four, and some might even have ten!

As he announced the information he knew, everyone's faces instantly became ugly.

Zhao Hongxiu said,

"There are too few Mirrors of Manifestation. If finding the 'anomaly' requires relying on a large number of them, then Fan Ling, things will be difficult on your end!"

Fan Ling was helpless and could only say,

"There are two days left; I will try my best to narrow down the suspects. With two Mirrors of Manifestation, if there are more than three suspects left after two days, we will just have to gamble..."