don't open your eyes [unlimited]

If you want to find out the secrets hidden in a dream, the most important first step is to conduct a thorough and undisturbed search of the scene.

For this reason, Captain Ling and his team members found the tavern owner, and through some methods, had a cordial and kind exchange with the other party.

……

Three minutes later, the tavern owner and his pirates forced all the guests and himself out.

Ling Su waved the scalpel, stood at the door, and sincerely thanked the boss for his generosity and hospitality.

Zhuang Die turned off the buzzing chainsaw, walked back to Z1 and the hypnotist: "It's time to start."

After sending the group of pirates away, Ling Su hung a notice of "Closed Business" outside the window, and locked the door of the tavern.

The originally chaotic tavern was emptied in an instant, only some messy tables and chairs and overturned wine glasses were left, and a few handwritten numbers with shoe prints were scattered on the ground.

"..." Z1 held the rags and shivered, then suddenly came back to his senses: "Oh, good."

Zhuang Die nodded, put away the chainsaw, and walked around to the counter.

Z1 turned around as stealthily as possible, dragging the hypnotist aside quickly.

Taking advantage of those two people not paying attention, Z1 lowered his voice and asked the hypnotist: "Mr. Liu, do you know what Ling Dui and his team members did before they became taskers..."

"Basically I have no idea." The hypnotist shook his head, "I didn't know Mr. Zhuang at all before that. As for Captain Ling... If you have any questions, it's better to ask him yourself."

There are still many doubts about the fact that Ling Su could not pass a generation of personality measurement models, and there are many debates even within the Psychological Association.

Before going to the Drifting Dreamland tonight, the hypnotist heard some gossip... Probably the Psychological Association wanted to invite Ling Shu back for a test or something.

There is a saying that it is because the people in charge of this group cherish their talents, and they are still unwilling to permanently exile a promising young junior like this.But there are also many people who think that the association wants to use Ling Su and "Cocoon" to get closer.

It's just... no matter which one is the truth, Ling Su has already appeared here with Zhuang Die.

If there are no accidents, I'm afraid the association's idea is doomed to fail.

The hypnotist didn't intend to talk about it, but just rolled up his sleeves, found a table with a lot of stuff and rummaged through it: "I don't think the two of them have ever done anything to hurt others, right?"

He squatted on the ground and thought for a while, then added: "I heard from our colleagues that they solved several high-risk dream realms in a row, and rescued many victims from them... There are also a few children, if it weren't for them Intervening in time, it was almost ruined, and now the authorities are still intervening."

Z1 froze for a moment, didn't speak immediately, but squatted down together thoughtfully.

"It's fine as it is now, and I guess they both think so too."

The hypnotist laughed and said, "Why do you have to ask everything clearly to change this obviously good situation?"

Z1 was silent for a moment, and then asked again: "You mean, as long as you figure out some things, you will definitely change other things?"

This time the hypnotist didn't answer, just smiled and spread his hands, and shrugged slightly.

Z1 looked up at Ling Su, who was cooperating with Zhuang Die to search the items in the counter.The two of them were rummaging right now, there was no unnecessary communication, but they had a tacit understanding as if they didn't know how many times they had cooperated.

With the observation bonus of a first-level tasker, Z1 has actually noticed that when he looked up, Ling Su raised his guard instantly.

That kind of vigilance does not come from explicit vigilance or vigilance, but more like an instinctive reaction to any sight cast after going through countless crises.

Ling Su just half-kneeled beside Zhuang Die, looking for the tavern owner's safe together with him.But Z1 has no doubts at all, if he attacks the opponent at this moment, most likely he will be cleanly dismantled into fragments of consciousness in an instant.

After dozens of seconds, Z1 himself came up with the same answer, and smiled helplessly: "That's right..."

He also stopped thinking about those meaningless questions, and together with the hypnotist, he concentrated on searching other areas of the tavern.

……

Half an hour later, the temporarily emptied tavern was completely turned upside down.

"I found some coins, and a lot of items left by the guests who came to drink... But the denominations are all vague, and the backpack can't be opened."

The hypnotist dumped the found items on the counter: "All the items with words are clear, but we don't know each other."

As he spoke, he took out several notebooks, two newspapers and a stack of papers of different sizes, and handed them to Ling Su.

Ling Su took it, snapped his fingers and lit the gas lamp on the counter, and dragged an old canvas recliner for the tavern owner for himself: "Go on."

After finishing speaking, he adjusted the angle of the reclining chair, nestled in it leisurely, and acted as a human translator.

After translating a few meaningless receipts and accounting books to practice, Ling Su's proficiency has also recovered a lot.

His speed is very fast, and all the content he has read and understood will turn into Chinese with a similar font when it is put down.

Z1 also noticed that when Lingsu was doing this work, the background was still not enabled, and no "cocoon" auxiliary functions and programs were triggered.

"I found something similar."

Z1 withdrew his gaze and put the things he had collected on the counter: "Most of the guests' personal belongings can't be checked...the written materials I found are also placed there."

Z1 pointed to the pile of materials that Ling Su was translating: "There should be a few of them posted on the wall, and we copied them."

When Ling Su and Zhuang Di searched the counter, Z1 and the hypnotist also conducted a comprehensive search of the entire tavern, but found almost no useful information.

The items left by the guests in the tavern are either blurred or cannot be opened.A small number of items such as boarding axes, sailor knives, and shotguns that fully hinted at the fierce folk customs here are all normal, and they were collected together by Z1.

Other than that, the biggest discovery... probably was that when the hypnotist was too tired, he just found a place to sit, and happened to sit on the movable dark board, and found a cannon hidden under the floor.

Considering the age, its structure is still very primitive. It is just a hollow and thick iron pipe blocked at one end, and a lot of self-made black powder is stuffed inside.Next to it are two large iron balls of unknown purpose connected by iron chains.

"Chain bullets." Ling Su explained with one heart and two minds, "It is mainly used to damage the sails and break the mast."

"At this time, as long as the ship has no sails, there is basically no power left, and it can only keep spinning in place."

He translated several arrest warrants with high rewards and put them on the counter together: "At this time, you can calmly let the small clippers pass by."

Ling Su conveniently drew a schematic diagram: "Hang the ship's side with a flying hook first, and the first group immediately board the ship with the sailor's ax in their hands to build a sampan, tie up the messy crew, and put sacks on their heads—— The men threatened the steward with a shotgun to hand over all their treasure and goods, or smash their planks with round bullets, and sieve them all with grapeshots..."

Z1 looked at the virtual screen that was suddenly lifelike and simulated to the point of being comparable to a series of pirate-themed movies: "..."

He had already made up his mind not to ask Ling Su what he didn't want to say.But he still reached out his hand uncontrollably, quietly took the wanted warrants on the table, and carefully compared the portrait on them with Ling Su's face.

"By the way!" The hypnotist looked at those pictures and suddenly remembered, "I said, why is this place so familiar - the Flying Dutchman, the eternally drifting ship of death..."

Z1 was a little dazed: "What?"

"Haven't you seen "Pirates of the Caribbean"? "One Piece" is also fine." The hypnotist said, "or "SpongeBob SquarePants"..."

"..." Z1 had a cold sweat on his forehead, "Is your profession... covered so widely?"

"Is there any way? You have to learn what you see from the visitors you are consulting with. You can't even do this bit of preparation."

The hypnotist gave an irrefutable reason, but his excited expression was not concealed: "I remember that the ship was set as a 'ghost ship that was never allowed to anchor in any port'? But the place where they crashed It seems to be the Cape of Good Hope, which doesn't quite match up with this dream..."

"Yeah." Ling Su held his chin with one hand, and raised the notebook in his hand, "I'm reading this story. In their place, it is said that this ship will bring a terrifying sea storm and swallow all ships it encounters."

As soon as his words fell, a dazzling lightning just tore through the thick clouds and lit the window palely.

It was as if the sound of thunder exploded close to the ears, and the torrential rain was illuminated by lightning, connecting the dark world into one.

The sky outside the window has completely darkened, the thick clouds are thick and dark, making people breathless.The raindrops hit the windows violently, and the trees were almost broken in the sudden storm.

Compared with the almost terrifying sea storm that was raging outside, the oil lamps and warm air in the tavern were calm and more like an illusion in a dream.

"The storm comes from the sea."

Z1 frowned and looked out: "First we destroyed the ship we were supposed to be on, and then landed in this port..."

"No, there's nothing supernatural here."

Zhuang Die seemed to have guessed his thoughts, and looked up from a stack of newspapers: "If you have the idea of ​​'the ghost ship that was not allowed to enter the port is back for revenge', you can read the third book in the first row of the captain's bookcase. Popular Science Books for Teenagers..."

Z1's face burned unnaturally: "No need!"

Zhuang Die failed to make a recommendation, and sighed with great regret.

"It's really unlikely, we still talk about science."

Ling Su smiled, and put down the translated notebook: "In the few notebooks I read, only relevant legends are mentioned... If there is any impact on this place, it is that no one who happened to be born in the Cape of Good Hope, and It is a man who sails in stormy weather."

"They firmly believe that these babies born on the ship in the Cape of Good Hope during the storm may be the sailors of the ghost ship."

Ling Su lightly rubbed the little curly hair, and stretched out his hand to brighten the light: "Once they return to the sea, maybe they will attract that ship and bring a terrible sea storm."

"Will there be such a person?" The hypnotist asked curiously, "The probability of this kind of person does not sound high..."

"Considering that in the maritime trade of the seventeenth century, this country was once known as the sea coachman, and almost monopolized all commercial routes and pirate industries at the same time, the chances are not small."

Ling Su opened the notebook and tapped it with his fingers: "Thanks to this gentleman who likes to keep a diary—according to the information provided by the friend in it, there is one in this tavern."

Z1 took it and opened it, and read those pages with the hypnotist.

[November 4 sunny]

[Betting with a liar, losing ten guilders, hateful! 】

[November 4 sunny]

[Betting with two liars, I won back the damn ten guilders, and lost another [-] guilders, hateful! 】

[November 4 cloudy]

[Never bet again, swear on my head! 】

[November 4 sunny]

[Bet with a liar. 】

[I firmly believe that he will never be able to deal with the dealer boss. Apart from the pirates, the bounty hunter who sneaks into the eyes of money is the most difficult thing to deal with! 】

[No one can get a boat ticket from the owner of the cargo dealer, not even the most cunning liar! 】

[November 4 sunny]

[Losing fifty shields, hateful! ! 】

Z1: "..."

His mood suddenly became a little complicated. He rubbed his forehead and turned to the next page of the diary.

The handwriting on this page is very messy, the ink is still fresh, it seems that it has just been written, and the last few strokes have been blurred by ink.

[Storm in the evening of April 4]

[Who would have thought that the good weather would suddenly change! 】

[The news sent back from the pier, the boat capsized, all the people on it were gone, there was no one left, it was too scary, too scary...]

[Did they encounter that ghost ship?But the tavern owner's son obviously didn't go to sea, and little Ivan was sitting behind the counter, his face was as pale as a ghost, and I saw it as soon as I looked up. 】

[Poor little guy, he has never been to sea since he can remember, he must have been frightened by such a thing. 】

[Damn, that liar is on board!He and his gang are all on board! ! !He took away my hundred guilders and agreed to lend him the principal to cheat money! 】

……

Z1 closed the diary, and he frowned tightly: "So...the tavern owner has a son named Ivan, and this child happened to be born on a ship on the Cape of Good Hope in a stormy weather."

"Most likely the pirate ship just passed by at that time and encountered a storm again."

The hypnotist deduced: "Perhaps even this tavern was opened because of this. If you live in a small town at the port, if you are not allowed to go to sea for the rest of your life, you must have a job."

Speaking of this, the hypnotist subconsciously looked around again, scratching his head: "It's just - has this person ever been in the tavern? If I remember correctly, there is only the boss at the counter, right?"

"That's right." Z1 suddenly said, "That means, we are now in his memory."

The hypnotist was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly realized: "It's like the surveillance camera can never capture yourself?"

Z1 nodded: "This can also explain why every detail of the tavern has been restored so clearly, because this is the place the dreamer is most familiar with. He is not qualified to go to sea, and can only stay in this tavern most of the time inside……"

The hypnotist quickly caught up with the train of thought: "It's the same at the port, he always runs out to look at those pontoon bridges and docks, and look at the ships carrying goods."

These scenes, because of the observation day after day, have been deeply imprinted in the memory of the dreamer.

"Isn't this promising? The first step has been launched."

Encouraged by the hypnotist, he pulled Z1 and forced a high-five. He supported the counter and said, "By the way—I just wanted to ask, do you think we're a little wobbly now?"

After flipping through the two pages of the diary, the hypnotist felt a little shaking under his feet, and thought it was his own illusion, so he didn't pay much attention to it.

But now, even the light and shadow of the gas lamps have started to dance on the wall, and the shadows of the few people are constantly changing, almost as if they are standing on a swaying boat...

At the same time, a sudden strong emotion that seems to be able to swallow people also flooded the entire dream realm in an instant.

Due to the ice-like enclosing nature of the dying dream realm, these emotions frozen in the dream did not turn into dark shadows.

They didn't know how long they had been frozen, and at this moment they suddenly thawed and melted, quickly flooding through every scene in the dream realm.

The gas lamp shattered with a snap.

The entire tavern was plunged into darkness in an instant, amid thunder and lightning, the storm outside the window was still raging and roaring.

The hypnotist snorted unpreparedly, then shook suddenly, and held his forehead.

"Be careful!" Z1 quickly supported him, threw away the rags, and opened the spiritual gain panel in the background.

This purely emotional impact is more than cognitive intrusion. If there is no protection provided by the "cocoon", ordinary people will be instantly submerged in the wave of emotions in the dream.

"Concentrate and remember who you are!"

Z1 opened the shield: "Don't forget this, or you will be assimilated by the dream master's consciousness!"

His shield couldn't accommodate four people, but at this moment, he didn't care too much, so he could only pour his spiritual power into it with all his strength.

Z1 was ready to give up the shield to the three of them, raised his head and said urgently: "Team Ling, Mr. Zhuang, quickly—"

He froze for a moment, and stopped talking in some astonishment.

Unlike Z1's expected situation, the two people behind the counter didn't seem to have been greatly impacted.

At the same time that the kerosene lamp shattered, a cluster of small flames jumped out of Zhuang Die's palm, and a small ball of warm light illuminated the surroundings again.

Ling Su was still leaning on the recliner.

He didn't get up, but stretched out his hand to embrace Zhuang Die in his arms, and the fire light danced quietly in his eyes.

At that moment, Z1 looked at Ling Su, inexplicably having some illusions.

——At such an extremely dangerous moment, this person didn't seem to feel nervous at all. Instead, he unscrupulously let go of all his defenses and closed his eyes lazily.

Thunder roared outside the window, and the rain under the hurricane seemed to be twisted into a long whip, whipping everything crazily.

The tavern was being shaken violently and swallowed by an invisible emotional surge, the lights flickered on and off, and sometimes huge and sometimes small shadows fell on the wall.

"Remember." Ling Su smiled.

He rested his chin on Zhuang Die's head, and said softly, "Just let me hug you."