The white cat nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes, so I need you, Jinzhou's Intelligence Officer, to help me out…"
A cat under the eaves must bow its head. With its own strength, it couldn't wrest control back from the black cat without Lucian's help.
After this, Jinhsi also understood what the Somnoire was.
"I never thought the Somnoire would affect even me… and Jiao-Jiao too."
Jiao-Jiao mused, "The Somnoire is connected to Rover, so its power isn't surprising."
The white cat nodded, "Exactly. The power lies with the Somnoire, not the black cat."
"Think of me and the black cat as two gatekeepers. The Somnoire is a vault, and the black cat is using its access to steal from it."
"Reclaim the access, and we can close the Somnoire again."
Jinhsi, still puzzled, asked, "But why can Lucian enter the golden gate and our dreams to rescue us?"
Lucian was curious too, looking at the white cat.
The white cat pondered, "Theoretically, only Rover should be able to enter the Somnoire. As for Lucian…"
"I'm not sure how this happened. I sensed his intrusion and brought him here."
Lucian thought back. He first entered at Port Gunchao when he met Tian Hu and the others.
Before that, he was sleeping in Rover's arms.
He'd thought it was his 'Sleeping Beauty' talent showing a possible future, but it seemed more complex.
If the white cat was right, only Rover should enter dreams, not him.
Could his talent have fused with the Somnoire?
That was the only explanation. Without this talent, he'd likely be pulled into others' dreams like Lumi and Jiao-Jiao, not interfering with them.
But Lucian couldn't reveal his talent—the system was his greatest trump card.
So he bluffed, "Before entering Port Gunchao, I was sleeping in Rover's arms. Maybe I picked up her aura?"
White Cat: "…"
Jinhsi: "…"
Chixia: "You were sleeping in Rover's arms!?"
Jiao-Jiao snorted, "What's that? I've slept in Lucian's arms too."
Chixia: "Grown-ups are talking, kid. Stay out of it."
Jiao-Jiao: "?"
Chixia's mind raced. They were now split into factions.
Magistrate Jinhsi and Counselor Changli, both Jinzhou elites, were one faction.
Another was the powerful Rover, though Chixia didn't know her allies.
Her faction included Lumi and potential allies she had in mind.
This formed a three-way standoff.
Her faction was weaker in strength and status, but she could let the other two factions exhaust each other and swoop in!
A classic praying mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Chixia felt she'd used all her life's knowledge on Lucian.
Glancing at Lumi, who was babbling nervously, she felt exasperated.
Her faction needed a clever, strategic mastermind…
The white cat mused, "Everyone has secrets. I won't pry, especially given your relationship with Rover."
"Just help me reclaim the access quickly. The longer the Somnoire expands, the greater the cost."
Jinhsi clasped her hands, looking at Lucian, "Please, we're counting on you. I'll pray for you."
Chixia chimed in, "Lumi and I will wait here for you."
Jiao-Jiao lounged on a bench, "With your strength, you'll be fine. If anything goes wrong, I'll find a way to save you."
Under their blessings and expectant gazes, Lucian stepped into the gate.
…
Meanwhile.
Yinlin was on a covert mission in her dream, tasked by the 'Vermilion Blossom' to infiltrate the Azure Camel Gang and steal recent transaction records.
Disguised, she successfully stole the data.
But on her way, she was stopped by Patrollers…
Disguised Yinlin eyed the Patroller, strategizing. She had to deliver the data to Vermilion Blossom herself and couldn't be stopped here.
"I'm turning myself in. I couldn't stand the gang's dirty deeds…"
"This is crucial evidence. I want to deliver it to the Security Bureau myself."
"If you don't trust me, send someone to escort me."
The Patroller pondered, "I see… Turning yourself in is good."
"I'll escort this Exile to the Security Bureau. The rest of you continue patrolling."
Suddenly, Yinlin's vision went dark, and a wave of dizziness hit her.
She noticed the Patrollers had inexplicably collapsed.
Puzzled, Yinlin didn't understand what happened.
Then, footsteps echoed from the darkness.
Yinlin looked toward the sound, wondering.
Hm? Someone else?
The footsteps reverberated in the empty space, sounding eerie.
Lucian saw a blurry figure, seemingly dressed as an Exile.
"An Exile? Is this their dream?" Lucian murmured.
Before he could approach, Yinlin, hearing the nearing footsteps, couldn't hold back.
Though she didn't know why the Patrollers collapsed, she couldn't be stopped here.
Puppet strings materialized in her hand, striking at Lucian.
Lucian blinked, This fiery?
He narrowly dodged, summoning his Yamato blade.
He didn't know what would happen if he killed the dream's owner.
Unwilling to risk it, he held back.
Yinlin, seeing her attack miss, flung her puppet at Lucian. Electric currents flashed along the strings, illuminating the darkness as she tried to shock him.
Lucian raised an eyebrow, realizing this Exile was a Resonator…
Not taking chances, he closed in swiftly, raising his Yamato.
Though surprised by his speed, Yinlin reacted quickly, retracting her strings and preparing another attack.
But Lucian was faster, swinging his blade.
Yinlin, forced to change tactics, bent backward, the Yamato grazing her face, shattering her mask…
Lucian focused, "…Yinlin?"
Yinlin moved swiftly, bending back and kicking at Lucian's face with her long leg.
Lucian caught her slender ankle, her black high heel falling off, revealing her delicate, pale foot.
Hearing Lucian's voice, Yinlin reacted, wary, "Who?"
Lucian, holding her smooth ankle, mused, "I'm Naruto Uzumaki's brother, Boruto Uzumaki."
Yinlin: "?"