Departure

**Chapter 44: Temporary Farewell**

As they stepped into the reward chamber, Mr. Gaston shook his head slightly. He understood why Ebner and Xio had acted as they did but didn't fully agree. However, he didn't press the issue. For one, he wasn't their mentor, so it wasn't his place to worry about it. And secondly, no matter how impulsive they may have been, they had successfully helped him through the seventh level. Now that he had passed it, he'd gained access to a few of the Dream Labyrinth Tower's privileges, which consumed all his attention.

On the other hand, the moment Ebner entered the reward chamber, a barrage of information began to murmur directly in his ears. Fortunately, this information wasn't malicious and didn't contain high-level knowledge or corruption, or he'd have had to activate his Pure White Eye to analyze it and immediately incapacitate himself.

"So, after the seventh level, you gain a few minor privileges within this tower… No wonder Mr. Gaston was willing to pay 1,000 pounds for someone to help him through," Ebner thought, finally understanding.

"There are three main privileges," he mused. "First, when entering the Dream Labyrinth Tower in the future, one can start from the reward chamber and proceed directly to the sixth level. Of course, the first three levels are still accessible, but clearing them would only yield points instead of specific rewards. These points can then be redeemed for targeted knowledge or information. However, repeatedly clearing the first three levels in a short time results in fewer and fewer points each time... Points, huh? Roselle really seems to have been building a massive RPG-style dungeon here!"

"The second privilege is the option to spend points to select a specific type of scene for the first three levels. While each scene contains valuable knowledge and secrets, focusing on one purely for exploration might yield significant rewards. For instance, choosing a scene from the Fourth Epoch could reveal hidden historical insights from the characters and setting. My guess is that Mr. Gaston was especially eager to access this privilege."

"The third privilege is access to a private room within the tower where items brought from reality can be stored. This seems relatively useless unless one plans to stay here grinding points long-term. After all, the Dream Labyrinth entry portal in the basement is fixed in place, so it can't be used as a portable storage space…"

While processing this information, Ebner took a seat by the bookcase and received his third reward. And what a reward it was—something that made his eyes gleam!

It was detailed information on an anonymous bank account at a Beckland bank, with 500 pounds in it, previously owned by a gentleman who recently perished at sea along with his entire family.

"Hah! Does this tower think that money is my top priority? Roselle, you are truly predictable!" Ebner scoffed internally at the Emperor, but he memorized the account number and withdrawal code. Money, after all, is always welcome, and better for him to use than letting the bank keep it for themselves.

Meanwhile, Xio had just finished reading her own reward. With a look of mixed happiness and frustration, she said, "I received the full 'Sheriff' potion formula as a reward… I was happy at first, but then I thought about the previous reward, which only gave me one of the main ingredient names—now that feels like such a waste…"

"You didn't just learn about the main ingredient, though; you also got to learn about Airlan's early life. Who knows, that might be useful someday," Ebner consoled, though he secretly agreed with her sentiment. It was indeed a bit of a waste, especially since he'd been planning to tell her the other main ingredient once they returned.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Xio set her frustrations aside and inquired about Ebner's reward. When she heard he'd received money, she looked speechless, feeling as if the mystique of the Dream Labyrinth had dropped by several notches.

Watching their exchange, Mr. Gaston, who had started to feel a bit less guarded, smiled amiably and said, "With the seventh level cleared, our contract is fulfilled. I'll have the 1,000 pounds transferred to Mr. Isengard shortly."

Ebner nodded; this payment had nothing to do with him, as his teacher had already paid him directly.

But after thinking for a moment, he asked, "Mr. Gaston, can we still use the portal in the school's basement to enter the tower in the future?" Although that portal wasn't strictly Mr. Gaston's property, he had spent years tracking it down.

"Of course. You're welcome anytime. I'd love to know what lies beyond the seventh level, though from what I've read, the danger is far greater," Mr. Gaston replied, then gave Ebner a knowing look. "I thought you'd be eager to continue, but it seems you've changed your mind."

Initially, Ebner had indeed considered advancing to the sixth level, hoping to leverage his familiarity with the "plot." However, he'd been dissuaded after seeing the prominent warning sign at the entrance to the next level, which read:

"1. Once you enter the sixth level, you cannot exit until you either clear the level or die.

2. In the sixth level, the boundary between dream and reality blurs. Death in the dream results in death in reality.

3. The sixth level will suppress Beyonder abilities and magical items at Sequence 6 or higher, leaving only Sequence 7 or lower abilities functional.

4. The flow of time in the sixth level matches reality. Time spent within the labyrinth will reduce your life expectancy in the real world accordingly."

The sign's faded text and rough handwriting suggested it hadn't always been part of the tower; it had likely been left by previous explorers as a warning for those who followed.

Unsure whether this was true or an elaborate deception, Ebner didn't want to bet his life on it. Given that his Pure White Eye could bypass some of the tower's restrictions, it would be wiser to return after advancing to a mid-sequence rank for additional safety.

Xio felt similarly. As a Sequence 9, she wasn't about to venture into unknown danger unprepared. She was bold, but not reckless.

"Since that's settled, I'll show you the exit. You probably haven't realized where it is," Mr. Gaston said. Seeing that they had no interest in continuing further up the tower, he led them around the bookshelves and tapped a section of wall a few times. Instantly, a glowing door appeared.

Ebner followed quickly and casually asked, "By the way, Mr. Gaston, when's the next gathering at the Sword and Fire tavern?" The ninth-level reward had hinted that the next clue for his "Guardian of Knowledge" material might lie in that tavern, and he didn't want to miss it.

"Thursday evening," Mr. Gaston replied. "Looks like you'll be staying here for a few days. It's actually a public gathering, with adventurers, sailors, pirates, and even a few military types from nearby areas." 

"Doesn't the Church of the Storms intervene?" Ebner asked. Most island territories fell under the Storms' domain.

"This is a colony; their influence is looser out here. So long as no one openly promotes a heretical cult or commits bloody sacrifices, the Church usually doesn't get involved," Mr. Gaston explained.

"Even so, your ability to openly host such a gathering must mean you're not just anyone," Ebner noted, feigning curiosity.

"No need to pry, Ebner," Mr. Gaston chuckled, amused at Ebner's attempt. "I'm a peripheral member of the Church of Steam and Machinery, though I'm from Intis, so I can't act openly in the Loen Kingdom."

An Intis member of the Church of Steam and Machinery? No wonder he and my teacher are friends… Ebner mused, noting that Mr. Gaston hadn't reported the tower to the Church or enlisted help from the Machinery Hivemind, suggesting his beliefs were less than fervent.

As they approached the portal to leave, Ebner asked one last question, "Do you happen to know if there's a lady named Gwen at your gatherings?"

Mr. Gaston shook his head, "Most folks at these meetings keep their identities concealed. Very few even go by pseudonyms."

Just then, they passed through the portal, returning to the real world.

Casting one final glance at the inverted tower stretching endlessly into the sky, Ebner resolved, Next time I come, I'll make it past the sixth level, maybe even the fifth or fourth. There's something crucial for my future advancement here.

Given what he knew of Roselle's role as a "Knowledge Emperor" during his time, Ebner deduced that one of Roselle's key goals in creating this tower may have been to hide a Blasphemy Card deep within it.

This, he suspected, was the real reason the Dream Labyrinth Tower hadn't been seized by any major power—a Card's hidden aura likely shielded it from the senses of high-ranking Beyonders.