According to Freud, the woman was a master of communication and social plan execution, which was proved when she turned from an insignificant local noblewoman into a well-respected guest in the royal court of the Central Empire.
Still, Angor wasn’t going to grant her the power of Gatekeeper. There was too much at stake.
However, Angor did not intervene in Freud’s candidate selection. Freud did need someone to help manage the city, and he had what it took to find the right people for it.
“Is this like a unique power system exclusive in the dream wasteland? Then there must be more to discover...” Freud tapped his forehead and considered it.
“I don’t think it’s of too much use. Maybe it’s a common thing to happen in the Dream Realm, just like dreamers freely shaping and controlling their own dreams. Well, if I find a chance to pass the power to you, I’ll let you do more experiments on it. Our ‘infinite alchemy’ must wait, though. I still can’t cast spells yet.”
Similar to last time, he knew he had to gain more strength before accepting the next domain power. And in his current case, he probably had to wait until he hit the level of a wizard.
And even at that point, the new power he took from the sphere might not help him achieve costless alchemy. It was too random.
By this point, he was beginning to wonder if it was necessary to take all of the domain sphere’s powers at all. Even if the dream wasteland was fictitious, it was not so different from the real world as far as the rest of the citizens were concerned. The domain sphere had lost three of its powers, but it almost did not shrink in size. Only gods knew how many more were waiting to be harvested.
If Angor had to gain enough growth in strength to accept a new power, he feared that he would never fully absorb the domain sphere even after reaching the level of legendary.
Perhaps it was necessary to implement “devolution” in the Foundation City like how ordinary human nations and states worked. Even so, he wouldn’t carelessly do such a thing before getting his hands on the most supreme privilege that allowed him to control and restrict all the other privileges he passed to others. It would be a huge disaster if a citizen could use their new power against him.
Since he had no idea how to select which power to take from the domain sphere yet, all must wait.
“Did you notice anything different than before recently?” he asked Freud.
“Different? Did you bring more buildings or other stuff into the city, sir?”
“No, I haven’t used the Dream Whelk in a while. I mean, did something happen to this world? Like a new power or new law governing the whole place?”
“Are you referring to the first domain power you failed to catch?”
Angor nodded. When using the domain sphere for the first time, he let a domain power slip and disappear into the dream wasteland. He still wondered what it was.
“I see nothing significant, but... there IS something that might be related to the case.”
“Tell me.”
“Sir, well... um, did you ever try relieving yourself?”
“What are you getting at?”
“Ahem, I mean, do you need to use the toilet once you’re inside the dream wasteland?”
Angor slowly shook his head.
“Neither do I, Alda, and Sunny. However, the other citizens, who are dead in reality, can satisfy their physical needs, such as eating, sleeping, and, well, dumping.”
“You mean, those who live here as their consciousness retained their metabolism system. They actually need to eat and unload?”
“I think so. The first of the citizens did not have such needs before, so it might be related to the lost domain power you mentioned.”
“I see. Keep observing then.”
“Should I bring more people who’re alive?” Freud suggested. “Mister Jon is the only exception right now. Maybe we can broaden our research with a different type of test subjects.”
“No. We keep everything as is until I gain more control of this place.”
After Freud left him alone, Angor began considering another question.
The purpose of the dream wasteland, as well as all the residents in it, was to help with their research project and accommodate Jon. But what next? Supposed their project concluded, what was going to happen to the city?
He probably would keep the city and its inhabitants as usual so that Jon wouldn’t feel lonely and isolated.
However, the mortals were unlikely to help him with his “infinite alchemy”. If he did need help later, should he invite other supernaturals to join him?
...
He descended to the first floor of Skyward Tower and saw the scavenging team again. They were carrying several barrels of sweet-scented wine to the storage.
“It reminds me of homemade rum made out of our best rye!” A passerby smacked his lips.
“Let’s just hope the boss gets generous and gives us some of it later. I know how to brew wine, but I can’t find the tools in the city.”
When “copying” buildings using the Dream Whelk, Angor brought a lot of food and water along with them, but he did not expect this to be necessary. Yet telling from the conversation he just heard...
“So I need to give them food and water supply? Hmm...”
It didn’t seem to be an urgent matter right now, but it would be sooner or later.
While thinking about random problems to solve, he walked to the Ocean Theater, from where he sensed Jon.
He entered the building and saw Alda sitting in front of the piano with a sad face. Jon was pulling on Alda’s fingers. Beside them, Sunny was humming a small melody on top of a performer stand while smirking at Alda.
Alda’s edgy look reminded him of his younger days. Jon also used to force piano lessons on him even though he was not really an instrumentalist by nature.
“Look! It’s Mister Padt!” Alda saw him coming and almost cried.
When Jon also looked to the entrance, Alda saw a chance and ran for the back door.
“It’s almost three hours.” Jon checked the clock. “Let’s rest for today. Sunny, make sure you bring Alda with you next time.”
“THERE IS NO NEXT TIME!” Alda screamed in the distance.
“Look at that. Such a sweet kid, tormented into such bad shape,” Angor teased while joining Jon on the stage.
“He looks sweeter when crying, don’t you think?”
Angor stopped moving briefly.
Did you teach me piano just so I look “sweeter”?!
He didn’t ask that out. He didn’t wish to find out the answer.
“So how’s life in the Foundation City, Jon?”
“Not bad. At least the world’s consciousness can’t get me here. It’s as if I just found a new life. Wizardry is amazing. I could have never imagined it possible to make such a dream world into existence.”
“Glad to hear it. And Jon... Do you mind if I ask someone else to help treat your body?”