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Part 2. The circling maze
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The three of them gathered around a round table, and Jasky began to explain, "This is the not working. We asked at the reception desk, then went to the Kingdom History section and the Dream Learning section. The staff members kept passing us along, and I dare say that even if we go back to the reception desk, they will just redirect us to the Kingdom History section again, trapped in an endless cycle."
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"Wow! Impressive, Shy Guy... Haha!" Toosb wanted to pounce and hug Jasky, but he extended his hand to hold his face and resist.
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Amisa timidly handed a note, "Why are they doing this?"
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Jasky intended to say something but hesitated, then changed his mind and asked, "Answer my question about the mirror first, and then I'll answer yours."
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Amisa hesitated for a moment, then slowly wrote down three words, "I'm sorry."
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"Is that so..." Jasky felt somewhat disheartened. He sighed and said, "Since I'm not trusted so much, it's probably better not to believe my answers." He turned his body to the side and no longer paid attention.
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Amisa also lowered her head in silence. Time ticked away, and Maslow's Dream Bookstore remained peaceful. Toosb, who didn't like the awkward atmosphere, directly broke the silence with two words, "Friends."
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Amisa slowly lifted her head, but Jasky didn't turn around. "What do you want to say?"
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"Well, I've always considered everyone as good friends, so I trust all of you, hahaha."
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"Silly bunny, we only met at the airport not long ago, right? And while you consider us friends, someone else may not feel the same way." After hearing Jasky's words, Amisa lowered her head again.
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"Perhaps, but I always feel like our relationship is more than that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken the risk to come here, and you wouldn't have willingly helped Amisa," Toosb said.
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"I'm just carrying out my mission..."
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"No, you genuinely care about us. We both consider each other as important friends!"
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Toosb handed over the note that Amisa had written at the Border House of Tiramisu. It said, "Thank you, my dear friends. Please help us!" He placed it on the table. "If Amisa didn't trust us, she wouldn't have let us come together, wouldn't have collaborated with this fool in the talent competition, and wouldn't have written this message."
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"Just a wild guess~ Could it be that Amisa was currently experiencing some kind of internal conflict, apologizing repeatedly for some reason? Maybe Amisa needs help right now. Are you willing to help us like you did with the pudding cup?"
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Then, he took out the drawing that Amisa made at the Border House of Tiramisu from his pocket. Each person in the picture was depicted with vibrant smiles, and every stroke conveyed a heartfelt portrayal.
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"Before I met these two, no one truly considered me an important friend..." Jasky thought to himself as he gazed at the drawing. Perhaps he had realized something. He turned to Toosb and asked, "What should we do?"
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"Find the Wisdom Caterpillar. I believe Vocal Instructor Pink MOMO asked us to find him for a reason. Whatever we encounter now, whether it's the Mute, the Black Mirror, or the secrets of this world, we should leave it to the Smart Bug to answer!" Toosb blinked, expressing reassurance, and Amisa nodded with a grateful, bittersweet smile.
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"I see..." Jasky sighed helplessly. He carefully put away the drawing, sat up straight, and took out the notebook he had just transcribed. "Let's do this. Instructor Pink MOMO mentioned that the Smart Bug loves to present riddles. I think this Rashomon Gate might be one of the tests. So, before entering, I copied down the names and seat numbers of the staff members posted at the reception desk."
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Jasky handed over the written information:
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David - Front row - Book lending and return counter
Roy - Fifth row - Kingdom History section
Echo - Ninth row - Dream Learning section
Air - Sixth row - Code and Regulations area
Mike - Third row - Everyday Usage area
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"According to the staff, the Smart Bug should be in this building, but it might also appear in unexpected places. The seat numbers are arranged as '15963,' perhaps representing the location of that place."
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"Amazing..." Amisa praised sincerely from the bottom of her heart, noticing that Jasky was earnestly looking at her. "I won't force you right now, but I still hope that in the future, you'll be able to tell me the truth in person. At least break through the current predicament first. If you have any thoughts or ideas, feel free to ask."
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Amisa nodded vigorously, deeply moved. She quickly handed over a note that read, "When we entered the entrance earlier, the sign said, 'In books, there is a golden house.' Could it be that Mr. Smart Bug actually lives among the books or in a bookcase?"
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Seeing Amisa becoming proactive, Jasky began to stroke his chin, pondering and deducing. "If he's a Smart Bug, it's possible, considering their size. '15963' could be a book number, and it makes some sense. We can start by looking for that book."
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"I have a question!" Toosb half-raised his hand, and Jasky sarcastically remarked, "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"
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"No, silly! I realized we haven't used the bathroom since we arrived in this world!"
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"Sorry, I shouldn't have changed the topic. What's your question?"
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Toosb playfully stuck out his tongue and said, "When I was asking around earlier, I noticed several books with '15963'! In the History section, there's 'White Queen History 15963,' 'Chess History 15963,' in the Code section, there's 'Forbidden Theft 15963,' in the Dream section, there's 'Cooking 15963,' 'Synthesis 15963,' 'Conduction 15963'..." Amisa nodded in agreement. Jasky once again stroked his chin and pondered, "That complicates things a bit. We might have to search through each book one by one..."
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Amisa handed over another note that said, "I rearranged the English names of the staff members and found that their initials form the word 'Dream.'"
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Jasky looked at his notes again and suddenly realized, "D, R, E, A, M. Dream... I think I know something, come with me."
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The group returned to the Dream Learning section, bypassing all the books and walking straight to the last row.
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"Found it."
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"Dream Analysis 15963," a long-forgotten book.
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"Why do you think it's this one?" Toosb asked curiously.
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Jasky placed his hand on the spine of the book with the number "15963" on it. "Based on the common points in the conversations among the staff members, they mentioned that Smart Bug often borrows books from various categories, including history, everyday life, and legal codes. However, only Echo, the administrator from the Dream section, said he had already read all the books there. And the previous administrator, Roy, also mentioned being involved in the 'analysis' of Dream. So, I speculate that if Wisdom Caterpillar knew we would come, then 'Dream' is the most likely knowledge they prepared for us."
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The book was pulled out, revealing a miniature space inside the book's binding. It contained various mushroom-shaped lights and a corridor with stone brick walls. At the very end, there seemed to be a staircase leading underground. A thin, elongated blue smoke slowly floated out from the underground passage, emitting a scent reminiscent of water tobacco.
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Toosb and Amisa leaned closer to look inside. "Wow! There are little lights inside the book's binding!" "So adorable!"
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"But how can we enter such a small space?" At that moment, Toosb realized his body felt ethereal. "I feel like I'm floating... Hey, you guys!"
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"!" "What's happening?!"
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Ssss... ssss...
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A large amount of water tobacco burst out from the book's binding and transformed into a giant snake that bound the three of them, dragging them into the crevice. Their bodies instantly shrank and were pulled into the miniaturized basement through the book crevice.
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"Waaaahhhhh!" "What's going on?!" "!"
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The water tobacco continued to hold onto the three individuals as it rushed down the underground staircase. The lights of the glowing mushrooms flashed past them, as if they were traveling through a tunnel of time. Finally, they reached the end, and a small door automatically opened. Inside, the pale blue smoke curled up into a tunnel, and their vision instantly turned pitch black.
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After being sucked in, a thin, elongated water tobacco picked up the book they had removed and installed it back in place. The scene returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
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