Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Lin Yi originally planned to wait a few days until he had digested the research materials from the Society and adjusted his own condition to its best before entering the Nightmare Realm.

But plans can't keep up with changes, and the Salvation Organization's invitation was suddenly delivered to the hotel.

The wording was respectful, only stating that they hoped for an opportunity to communicate in person, with the location set in a banquet hall at the Salvation Headquarters.

Lin Yi's sense of the importance of saving the world was only so-so.

These large organizations are essentially beneficiaries and maintainers of the rules of the Sleeping City, only their methods are milder than those of Hell.

Gulu seemed quite interested and urged Lin Yi to go along.

"Let's go take a look. What if these guys suddenly have a brain fart and decide to set up a trap? Then we'll have a perfect excuse to raid their hideout. We can't let you take all their treasure trove." She licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with a thirst for wealth and the potential for battle.

Lin Yi chuckled upon hearing this and shook his head. Although, rationally speaking, the possibility of the Savior suddenly choosing to launch an attack at this time was extremely low, things are unpredictable, just as Hell would never expect to be destroyed overnight.

With that in mind, he finally nodded and went with Gulu.

They drove the modified jeep towards the area where the Salvation Headquarters was located.

Unlike previous journeys through urban wastelands where they would always encounter petty thieves or mutated creatures, this time the journey was unusually smooth, even eerily so.

We didn't encounter any large-scale bandits, or even the slightest disturbance; the streets were so empty it was as if they had been cleared out in advance.

Lin Yin could sense that there were many eyes watching from the shadows of the buildings on both sides of the road, and it seemed that there were also spies from other organizations.

They cleared away all potential obstacles that could clash with these two "natural disasters" beforehand, ensuring that the road leading to the Salvation Headquarters was absolutely "clean".

In the eyes of the major powers in the City of Sleep, Lin Yi and Gulu are now two unpredictable, incredibly powerful, and recently proven-destructive mobile time bombs.

Nobody wants to be caught in an accident on their own turf or in a place connected to them, because no one wants to bear the consequences, and no one can even handle them.

Behind this "courtesy" lies a deep-seated fear and apprehension.

Upon arriving at the Salvation Headquarters, a relatively well-preserved large building from the old era, the entrance was heavily guarded. However, upon seeing Lin Yi's distinctive jeep, all the guards immediately made way, their bodies taut and their eyes fixed straight ahead, as if they were being inspected, even deliberately lowering their breathing.

Lin Yi didn't bother looking for a parking space. He simply swaggered and parked his car sideways at the spotless main entrance of the headquarters building, almost blocking most of the entrance. His attitude was extremely arrogant.

The Saviors guarding the gate visibly changed their expressions, their lips twitching, clearly having never seen anyone dare to act in such a way at the Saviors headquarters.

But the captain seemed to have received some instructions. He took a deep breath, and in the end said nothing. Instead, he stepped forward, bowed slightly, and made a "please" gesture, his attitude impeccably respectful.

Upon entering the banquet hall, a completely different scene unfolds.

The crystal chandelier cast a dim but sufficient light to illuminate the entire room. The long table was covered with a fairly clean white tablecloth and set with various food and drinks.

Most of the men wore old suits that barely fit, while the women wore evening gowns of various colors, trying to recreate the prosperity and dignity of the old era. However, that deliberate attempt only highlighted the awkwardness and illusion of the environment.

This made the two stand out conspicuously and out of place among this group of "civilized people," like two wild beasts who had stumbled into a meticulously rehearsed but poorly funded stage play.

Neither of them paid any attention to the stares, and walked straight to the long table, taking some food for themselves.

Gulu took a bite of a cold dish made with some kind of meat, and pouted: "The cooking is really mediocre. It's overcooked and the seasoning is bland."

She picked up another pastry that looked rather delicate, took a bite, and then frowned. "Too much sugar, it's cloyingly sweet, and the flour probably isn't of any good quality either."

She concluded that in such an environment of scarcity and uncertainty, it was impossible to cultivate a truly good cook; even a skilled cook cannot make a meal without ingredients.

As they were enjoying and commenting on the food on the table, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings, representatives from the smaller organizations around them began to gather around, unable to contain themselves any longer.

These are all carefully selected handsome men and beautiful women. Their charm may not be as great as that of the representatives from the previous large organizations, but it is still far beyond that of ordinary people.

They received only one order: to strike up a conversation with these two powerful figures, make a good impression, and establish initial contact.

Lin Yi politely declined such social engagements, only nodding occasionally with a blank expression, and remaining silent most of the time. His invisible aura kept many people from getting too close.

Gulu, however, did not have such patience and temper. She was surrounded by several men who considered themselves charming, and all sorts of flattering and probing words kept floating around her, making a lot of noise.

She wanted to grab a plate of grilled meat that looked pretty good in the distance, but a greasy-looking man with oily hair and a greasy smile intentionally or unintentionally blocked her way.

The man was still spouting nonsense like "I've heard so much about you" and "You're so charming," his cologne scent mixed with a certain desire that, in Gu Lu's perception, was like a rotten, spoiled cream cake—utterly repulsive.

The next second, a violent killing intent suddenly erupted from Gulu's body, and a chilling current, as if it were a physical entity, instantly swept through the entire hall.

The music, conversations, and clinking of glasses stopped abruptly, and everyone felt a jolt, as if an invisible blade was pressed against their throats.

"Get out of here." Gulu's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Before she could finish speaking, she kicked the greasy man blocking her way directly in the stomach.

The movement was so fast that almost no one could see it clearly. The man let out a miserable groan, his body bent into a shrimp-like shape, and flew several meters backward, crashing into a table full of wine glasses. Only then did the sound of shattering glass and the woman's scream belatedly ring out.

The meeting room erupted into chaos instantly, then quickly descended into a deathly silence of panic.

The Salvation Organization members' expressions changed drastically, and several high-ranking members rushed over immediately. The leader was a middle-aged man with a calm face but anxious eyes.

They spent a lot of resources on this banquet, aiming to ease tensions rather than escalate conflicts; if it were ruined, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Lin Yi looked at the leader of the Saviors who had rushed over, and without waiting for the other party to apologize or explain, he went straight to the point and asked, "You Saviors have gone to such lengths to hold this banquet, surely it's not just to treat us to this unappetizing food and watch a boring farce, is it? What exactly are you trying to do?"

His tone was calm, yet carried an unyielding pressure.

The leader of the saviors was sweating profusely. Seeing that Lin Yi and Gulu were clearly impatient and ready to leave, he knew that if they continued to beat around the bush, things might really get out of hand.

He gritted his teeth and lowered his voice, saying, "Please calm down, gentlemen. It was our poor arrangement. Our leader, Zero, wishes to speak with you both privately. Please come with me."

He gestured for them to proceed, then led the way to a passageway at the back of the hall.

Lin Yi and Gulu exchanged a glance and followed.

After passing through several heavily guarded corridors, they were led into a simply furnished office with excellent soundproofing.

A man who looked to be around forty years old, dressed in ordinary gray clothes, and with an unremarkable demeanor was standing by the window.

He turned around, a faint smile on his face, looking like an ordinary middle-aged office worker you could see anywhere. But Lin Yi and Gulu's gazes froze slightly at the same time. From this man called "Zero," they sensed a completely different kind of threat.

Unlike the outward, ferocious power of a watchdog, Zero feels more like a container containing extremely unstable energy, with a calm exterior concealing a resolute determination to perish together with its prey.

Their intuition told them that if they made a move here, even if they managed to kill their opponent, they would inevitably pay a heavy price.

Zero didn't seem surprised that they noticed. He gestured to the sofa in the room: "Please have a seat, gentlemen. I know the banquet outside is a bit noisy, and there are bound to be some clueless people who disturb us. It's quieter here."

His voice was calm, with a hint of barely perceptible fatigue. "I am Zero, the current head of 'Salvation'."

Lin Yi and Gulu sat down without exchanging pleasantries.

Lin Yi repeated his previous question: "Mr. Zero, you invited us here not to taste the snacks and watch the performance, right?"

Zero smiled, a smile that seemed somewhat faint on his otherwise ordinary face. "Of course not. Since you both have precious time, I'll be frank. On behalf of 'Salvation,' I hope to establish a limited cooperative relationship with you."

"Cooperation?" Gulu leaned back in his chair, his eyes scrutinizing. "Cooperate on what? Help you eliminate the 'Survivors' and the 'Vatican'?"

Ling shook her head, her gaze sweeping over Lin Yi before finally settling on an oil painting depicting a once-prosperous city hanging on one side of the room, her eyes filled with a distant longing.

"To annex other organizations and unify the City of Sleep? No, that makes no sense, at least not now. Our goals, or rather our concerns, lie deeper."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, before slowly saying, "You two must have already encountered 'echoes,' or even... something deeper."

"You two should have also seen the report from the research institute that was obtained through bloodshed."

Lin Yi neither admitted nor denied it, but simply listened quietly.

“The destruction of the Hell Organization was like a boulder thrown into a pond that was already turbulent.” Zero’s tone became heavy. “It shattered the fragile balance that had been maintained among the major organizations for a long time. But more importantly, it may have… disturbed something that was sleeping in a deeper place.”

"Nightmare Realm?"

“Not only that.” Zero leaned forward slightly. “According to the intelligence we pieced together by ‘Salvation,’ the anomalies in the City of Slumber, the existence of the Nightmare Realm, and even the so-called ‘Echoes’ may all point to the same ‘source.’”

"The research institute's report mentioned it."

"Yes, but their knowledge is still limited. And their methods are too...academic, which could easily trigger 'cognitive hazards'."

Zero's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible mockery, "We've taken a different path in our 'salvation'. We believe that 'echoes' are not just fragments of memory; they're more like spreading 'tentacles,' or 'ripples' generated during its struggle. And the Nightmare Realm might be its deepest, most submerged part, or rather, the core manifestation of its nightmares."

"So what?" Gooru interrupted him. "What does this have to do with us?"

He took a deep breath: "Recently, not only have the frequency and intensity of 'echoes' increased, but we have also detected a decrease in the stability of the Nightmare Realm's surface. Some 'things' that have never been recorded before have begun to occasionally surface. We are worried that if this continues, it may trigger a larger-scale disaster, or even cause the boundary between the two layers to be completely broken."

"What do you want us to do?" Lin Yi asked the core member directly.

“Explore and confirm,” Zero said in a deep voice. “We need to know exactly what changes have occurred deep within the Nightmare Realm. But we have suffered heavy losses, and our high-end combat power is even more scarce. The two of you, on the other hand, possess power and…uniqueness that we do not have.”

“We are providing all the intelligence we have on the deep structure of the Nightmare Realm and the possible ‘paths,’ as well as the necessary material support. We hope that the two of you will explore as deeply as possible and assess the risks on your next trip into the Nightmare Realm.”

"This sounds like we're being asked to step on your landmines," Gulu sneered.

“This is a mutually beneficial deal,” Zero said frankly. “If the disaster breaks out, no one in the entire Sleeping City will be spared, including the two of you. Understanding the threat in advance and being prepared is beneficial to everyone. In return, in addition to intelligence and support, ‘The Savior’ is willing to open a portion of our secret vault, from which the two of you can choose any three items. Furthermore, during your exploration, ‘The Savior’ will do its utmost to ensure your safety in the real world, including dealing with any interference that may come from ‘The Survivors’ or ‘The Church’.”

"Are you trying to fob us off like beggars? You think you can make us risk our lives with just three items? We don't know what you have, but to be honest, it's just a nuisance to us. Don't think you can threaten us with that stuff."

Gulu took out a file to trim her fingernails. She could feel the threat emanating from the other person, but to be honest, it was nothing special. If Gulu really wanted to be ruthless, she could pay a certain price to kill the guy in front of her.

“As my companion said, if the depths of the Nightmare Realm are truly as dangerous as you describe, this reward is not commensurate with the risks involved. Moreover, the promise of ‘doing our utmost to ensure safety’ is one of the least valuable things in the City of Sleep.”

Zero showed no sign of offense; instead, she wore an expression of "I knew it," as if she had expected the other party to try to bargain.

“Sir, you are a man of few words. Then, let’s tell you your conditions. As long as it is within the scope of ‘salvation’ and does not harm the very foundation of our survival, we can discuss it.”

He didn't say anything empty like "for the greater good," but went straight into the substantive exchange of benefits, which made Lin Yigao take a look.

"First, intelligence sharing. This is not the 'support' you provide after filtering, but all the original intelligence you possess about the Nightmare Realm and Echoes. We have the ability to make our own judgments."

Zero hesitated for a moment before nodding: "Okay. But I must warn you that some of the information carries a strong cognitive hazard; simply knowing of its existence could lead to unforeseen consequences. We will provide it, but whether you read it or not is at your own risk."

"Secondly, you can choose any warehouse. Furthermore, we have the authority to review your inventory list, rather than simply entering the warehouse and selecting items based on visual inspection."

Zero frowned almost imperceptibly, clearly feeling a pang of regret at the condition.

The accumulation of resources for saving the world is not endless; every high-value item may be related to the survival of the organization's core members or the success or failure of critical missions.

But he glanced at the gloomy sky outside the window, as if he had made up his mind: "Okay. I'll give you the list. But some items that are tied to core members are not included in the selection."

"Third, we need to know, what makes you, or your saviors, believe that we are capable of exploring deeper levels? Do you know anything else?"

Zero seemed to pause for a moment, then revealed a complex smile, a smile that mixed with admiration, helplessness, and a hint of deep-seated weariness.

“A very pertinent question. Indeed, while your identities are special, similar individuals have appeared in the City of Sleep throughout history. Most of them perished in the Nightmare Realm, and the ‘echoes’ of some of them still linger in certain areas, becoming new sources of danger.”

He stood up, walked to the old painting of a bustling city, and gently touched the now-vanished street scene on the canvas with his finger. “Our judgment is based on two main points. First, the ‘method’ and ‘speed’ you used to destroy the Hell Organization.”

"Secondly, it is a prophecy that circulates among a very small number of people at the highest level of the salvation movement."

"A prophecy?" Gulu stopped filing his nails, raised an eyebrow, and was clearly intrigued. "Tell me about it. If it's not a good story, I'm not interested."

"The 'gatekeeper beast' sheds its blood, the 'Shadow of the Past' will be opened, and the 'Source of Slumber' will tremble... The collapse of balance may be the beginning of the end, or it may be... a chance for new life."

"You dare to place such a heavy bet based solely on the ramblings of a madman?"

"It's just venture capital," Zero said frankly. "For saving the world, the current situation is as bad as it can get. Any possibility of change, even if it comes with huge risks, is worth trying."

He paused, then added, "Of course, if you two are willing to share more information, we can raise our offer further."

"So, you're still trying to figure out our bottom line? The terms sound so-so, but who knows if your warehouse is full of junk? Show us the list first, then we can talk about anything else." (End of Chapter)