Chapter 40: The Ninth Level
Even though he knew this was a dream, the grandeur of the tower was beyond anything Enber had imagined. Its sheer height dwarfed all other architectural marvels—no modern skyscraper from his previous life, even those standing hundreds of meters tall, could compare to its colossal presence.
"This is incredibly tall!" Resting her head as far back as possible, the 1.5-meter-tall Xio still couldn't see the tower's base—only the black fog spiraling around its middle. As for the top, it was visible, but inverted.
Even the relatively narrow top of the tower had a diameter of at least ten miles. With his sharp gaze, Enber could vaguely make out other entrances, but each was sealed off from the rest by some mysterious force.
"Every dream gate leads to a corresponding entrance, so we won't encounter Beyonders who entered through other doors in the maze mysteries. At least that's the case for the first three levels," Mr. Gaston explained while standing before the entrance.
So, later levels might involve player-versus-player challenges? Enber grew even more convinced that the Dream Labyrinth Tower was indeed the handiwork of Emperor Roselle.
Once they passed through the entrance and confirmed their team configuration, Enber's vision blurred. When it cleared, he found himself inside a house.
A quick look around revealed a large four-room suite with a living room, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a storage room. No guessing was required—a floor plan of the entire suite was already hung on the wall. The décor, though somewhat aged, was distinctly Intis in style.
A line of Hermes-script text floated before Enber's eyes:
Unlock the combination lock and exit through the front door.
At that moment, the fireplaces in every corner of the suite suddenly flared to life, casting a dim glow.
"This seems to be a scene where we have to find certain clues within the house to deduce the combination and unlock the door. These fireplaces are probably the added difficulty for team challenges—over time, the temperature will rise, and we'll gradually become dehydrated," Mr. Gaston quickly analyzed. He had already passed the ninth floor several times.
A timed locked-room escape, Enber assessed, frowning. "Is brute-forcing the lock an option? For Beyonders, this wouldn't be too difficult."
"If you're a master locksmith, maybe. But brute force won't work. The first three levels of this tower heavily suppress Beyonder abilities, and the ninth level nearly seals them completely. Extraordinary items are no exception either." Mr. Gaston said helplessly. "If they worked, I wouldn't need to hire a detective, no matter how trustworthy."
Xio frowned. Born with half an Arbitrator's power, she wasn't used to being without her abilities. Nevertheless, she moved to the door and studied the lock—an intricate construction of countless gears and bearings. She shook her head at Enber.
"It's a complicated mechanical lock. If my Arbitrator power were active, I could try dismantling it, but right now, there's no way." Feeling the emptiness where her strength used to be, she made no further attempt.
"Well, let's see the detective in action, shall we?" Mr. Gaston said, turning expectantly to Enber, hoping to see whether his money had been well spent.
Enber didn't answer. Instead, he activated the Pure White Eye to examine the lock. Having digested more of the Student of Ratiocination potion, he had gained finer control over the Eye, allowing him to designate specific targets for analysis. Otherwise, he would never have risked using it here, unsure what hidden truths of the Dream Labyrinth he might accidentally uncover.
After about three seconds, the analysis finished. Enber closed his eyes and told Xio, "Try these numbers." He then calmly recited a fifteen-digit combination.
So the Pure White Eye's rank is above the Dream Labyrinth Tower itself huh — it can't suppress its ability.
While Enber considered this golden finger of his, Mr. Gaston stood frozen, utterly unable to comprehend what had just happened. Xio, already accustomed to Enber's strange knowledge, followed his instructions without hesitation and entered the numbers. The lock's gears clicked and turned. The front door swung open.
Mr. Gaston gaped, stammering, "How… how did you do that?"
Adjusting his glasses, Enber imagined how the Fool—or rather, Sherlock—might handle this room. He would probably excuse himself to the washroom, step backward four times onto the gray fog, divine the combination, then return and announce: This is simply a deduction.
With that image in mind, Enber couldn't resist a playful smile. Looking at Gaston, he said, "This is simply a deduction."
"Deduction?" Gaston repeated blankly, as though the word itself had become foreign.
Xio, however, couldn't help but chuckle, thinking: Enber's bluffing seriously again.
After this lighthearted moment, the three stepped through the door into a vast library. Rows of bookshelves stretched endlessly, exuding an overwhelming aura of knowledge.
"This is the Reward Room. The books are protected by a mysterious force, so we can't take them. We can only receive what's granted as a reward," Mr. Gaston explained, his usually serious expression flickering with both fervor and regret.
"How do we receive it?" Enber asked after surveying the shelves.
"Take a seat at one of those desks, and the reward will appear in your hands," Gaston said, gesturing at the reading chairs.
Enber nodded, sat down, and soon an old, tattered book appeared in his hands. Out of curiosity, he checked the cover: The Adventures of Gwen in the Cavern.
"What's this? A novel?" Enber muttered. "Even if ninth-floor rewards are usually basic, this is rather disappointing." Still, he flipped through the book. It told the tale of Gwen, a heroine who explored a strange cavern, fought monsters, and barely escaped the maw of a Dragon-Eye Python to return to the Sword and Fire Tavern.
"Dragon-Eye Python?" Enber narrowed his eyes. That creature's eyeball was one of the main ingredients for the Secret Keeper (Detective) potion. It was no coincidence.
So this reward provides intelligence on potion ingredients. If clearing these levels repeatedly only yields redundant scraps, then a first-time run guarantees vital knowledge or high-value information.
Suppressing his excitement, Enber asked, "Mr. Gaston, do you know the Sword and Fire Tavern?"
"Seems you've received something useful!" Gaston gave him a curious look before replying, "Of course. In fact, I own the place. I host the local Beyonder gathering there from time to time."
You're the host? No wonder you and my teacher are friends… Enber thought. "So the tavern hasn't been around long?"
"That's right. After I discovered the gateway beneath the school three years ago, I began organizing gatherings while continuing to explore the maze and sell some of the knowledge I gained here," Gaston explained.
That meant the information in the novel wasn't outdated. Though the Dream Labyrinth Tower had existed for over a century, it was still capable of updating itself with new knowledge.
After silently piecing things together, Enber turned to Xio. "What valuable information did you get?"
Looking puzzled, Xio admitted, "It's… just a romance novel. I read it through, but I didn't find anything useful."
"What was the story about?" Enber pressed, since only the recipient could see their own reward.
"It's about a beautiful young woman named Sherman and her romance with a nobleman. It ends on a cliffhanger, with her becoming his mistress. Honestly, her future doesn't look promising…" Xio said, watching Enber expectantly.
Enber did know the significance, but with archangels and angel-kings involved, he dared not reveal too much. Instead, he carefully asked, "What was the nobleman's name?"
Oddly, Xio shook her head. "There wasn't one. It's written in first person, so Sherman always just calls him 'my dear.'"
If his name had appeared, the reward would have surpassed the ninth floor's limit ... Choosing his words, Enber said, "Perhaps you'll meet Ms. Sherman someday. Then you'll know more."
Xio nodded thoughtfully, dropping the matter.
As for Gaston's reward, he didn't share, and Enber didn't pry.
After a short rest, the three moved to the other side of the Reward Room, where the passage to the next floor awaited.
The scenery shifted again, and suddenly they stood before a large, secluded mountain villa.
(End of Chapter)