What’s wrong with the dream world!

In the cell, he closed his eyes, knelt on the bed, faced the wall, put his palms together, and prayed devoutly in his heart.

But the content and purpose of his prayer were not like those of ordinary believers, who were trying to beg for God's favor in order to get out of trouble and improve their current situation.

[The priest] is praying for his "God" and blessing his "God".

"Number Six, run away! Number Zero is looking for you..."

"Number Six, be careful. A high-ranking madwoman in the Federation has discovered you. She also knows my memories..."

No. 13 is not like other fanatics who think that the god he believes in is omnipotent and invincible. He no longer relies on the power of the prototype he believes in to be arrogant as in the past.

In his opinion, Six was definitely no match for Zero, either in the past or now. As for the Federation's pillars... Thirteen didn't dare exaggerate on Six's behalf, but he also felt that hope was slim.

After all, the ability to dominate other fate holders is too outrageous no matter how you look at it. After No. 13 was subjected to Xu Yuanjie's "mind reading", it can be confirmed that the "reader" Xu Yuanjie mentioned should be a fate holder of the "paradox" level.

Number Thirteen was not completely ignorant of the fate holders who could use the abilities of other fate holders, but for such a fate holder who had the support of a behemoth like the Federation... Number Thirteen felt that if he could leave here, even if it cost him his life, he must remind Number Six to flee the Federation as soon as possible!

But unfortunately, whether in the past or now, the [Priest] does not have the corresponding ability to use the connection of faith to transmit information. In addition, his body is still like a entangled mummy, and all his abilities are suppressed to an extremely low level. Even if he has the ability, he cannot contact Yu Xiu De.

Therefore, his prayers were really just like those of ordinary people, and they had no effect other than giving himself some psychological comfort.

"I must leave here... Even if Number Six doesn't want to see me, I must remind him that he's in danger..."

But just when No. 13 began to think about escaping from prison, suddenly, the door of the cell opened.

Four men in black with extraordinary temperament and serious expressions walked in. They did not carry any weapons and just silently looked at No. 13 who was still like a mummy on the bed.

They do not wear distinctive clothing like the people who own this fate, and seem to be just ordinary people.

But No. 13 felt that when their eyes fell on him, the pressure of the bandages on his body began to increase, and even the few strands of faith that had just emerged in his heart were heavily suppressed.

Not only that, No. 13 also noticed another thing.

This prison is the territory of the [Jailer]. Although No. 13 did not have a deep understanding of the field of "power" in the past, being briefly dominated by the [Ruler] also broadened his horizons. At least he was able to notice that there is actually an omnipresent "power" inside this prison, which exists in the form of half-real and half-virtual black iron bars, and firmly locks everyone inside.

The prisoners found it difficult to move their bodies even slightly, while the prison guards and staff were kept in movable rectangular cages.

Since entering this prison, from the perspective of No. 13, who has not been weakened by the bandages and belongs to the owner of the fate, there is only the domineering Xu Yuanjie and the moody No. 0, and there are no black iron bars around them.

But the four men in black who appeared before Thirteen at this moment were different. Not only were there no black iron bars around them, but as they approached, even the iron bars on Thirteen himself disappeared.

It was as if they shared a common invisible aura that originated from the same power as the bandages on their bodies.

"Who are you praying to, Father?" the leading man in black asked in a low voice.

“…I’m talking to myself.”

Number Thirteen wasn't telling the truth.

But the man in black didn't seem to be in the same group as the crazy woman from the Federation. He actually believed what No. 13 said, and nodded with satisfaction as if there was some information to support his statement.

"Very good, you are very honest."

The leading man in black asked in a businesslike manner:

"So, you want to get out quick?"

Number Thirteen hesitated and did not give an immediate answer.

If Xu Yuanjie hadn't tortured him, Thirteen would have definitely not wanted to leave. He had already realized that he had done something wrong in the past and didn't dare to go to Six. The moody Zero had even begun to doubt him. If he left, he might end up in a worse situation...

Number Six obviously doesn't want anyone in the institute to find him, and he may not be able to keep the secret if he goes out on his own.

What if Number Zero secretly follows me and finds me when I go looking for Number Six? I'm screwed. I might as well stay in jail.

At least it won’t cause trouble for No. 6... No. 13 originally thought so and planned to do so.

However, Xu Yuanjie, who was not from the research institute, had a good understanding of Yu Xiu De and was very persistent in making No. 13 feel a sense of urgency.

He couldn't ignore Number Six and his situation as a believer in God!

Faith without action is pale and powerless, even if God does not need the faith of believers.

Number Thirteen wanted to go out and remind Yu Xiu De that he was in danger.

But even if No. 13 wanted to go out, his reason told him that there was no free lunch in the world. Both the relaxed conditions of the [Ruler] and the olive branch thrown by No. 0 proved this point.

What if this group of men in black also have ill intentions towards Number Six...

As if noticing No. 13's hesitation, the leading man in black took out an unsplit document and handed it to No. 13.

"You don't seem to trust us, but based on what happened to you as a child, we can understand."

"Please give our Federation a little more trust. We have comprehensive subsidy measures for people like you who have gone astray due to irresistible factors in their childhood."

"Of course, this assumes that you haven't caused too much trouble to society in the past and promise not to do so in the future."

When saying these words, there was no obvious change in expression on the faces of the four men in black, as if they were just stating the usual things.

Number Thirteen stretched out his tightly wrapped hand, took it and read it himself.

This document was essentially the same as the one the crazy woman had given him, except that it lacked many of the preferential provisions. For example, the level of surveillance after release would be higher, and the monthly allowance for the holder of the fate grid would be reduced. He would need to participate in social production to increase his contribution and restore his status as a normal fate grid holder in society...

However, there was one more regulation that No. 13 had never seen before.

“We need to cooperate with publicity and set a good example.”

The man in black seemed to notice that No. 13 had been lingering in this place for a long time, so he kindly reminded him:

"You don't have to worry about the damage this will cause to your reputation. It's just a recent reform, replacing the previous method of manipulating public opinion to whitewash those of you who have strayed and turned back."

“It’s essential.”

The man in black didn't seem to come for Yu Xiu De.

The Silence of the Lambs: Chapter 155: The Loyal Thirteenth

“…I don’t feel any power from this document.”

Thirteen didn't believe it immediately.

He also felt a contract-like power on Xu Yuanjie's document, but the agreement in the black-clad man's hand seemed like just a stack of ordinary papers that had legal effect but no force.

Do these men in black belong to the official party, or do they belong to a faction of the official party like the rulers?

Is it that the resources of the fate owners in the hands of this group of men in black and the people behind them are far less abundant than those of the pillar, or... they do not need to add more constraints to the contract?

Do they have other ways to ensure that this illegal fate holder with a criminal record will abide by the terms of the contract?

Number 13 is not sure.

He only knew that ever since he met Number Six, he needed to re-evaluate himself.

In the past, when he was wandering, No. 13 did not dare to say that he could not defeat any of the people with the fate that he encountered, but at least it was not a one-sided crushing situation. In addition, with the power of "faith" increased by the "real dreamland", No. 13 was able to deal with most crises, and could even take the initiative to uphold justice and judge those people with the fate in the dream realm who, in his opinion, tarnished the "dream".

But since he met No. 6, he was first captured by the [Dominator], then detained by the [Jailer], and later he was visited by No. 0... He was unable to resist any of them, and couldn't even struggle.

The only thing he could do was to keep his mouth shut and refuse to obey, but the impatient [Ruler] could also "read his mind"... He couldn't even keep a secret for Number Six!

This made him cautious again, sensitive and careful, just like his powerless self in the past at the institute.

Only this time, Number Six wasn't around.

"It seems you know very little about the Federation. You don't have to worry about that."

The man in black didn't seem surprised by Thirteen's reaction.

They did not come specifically for No. 13. All the people with the fate imprisoned in the entire Obsidian Fortress were their targets.

However, after they arrived at the Obsidian Fortress, they did find Thirteen first, simply because Thirteen's crime was relatively minor among this group of super criminals.

The only problem is the identity of the illegal fate owner. For the Federation, this is more serious than killing by an ordinary fate owner. However, after confirmation by the fate owner of the omniscient field of the Future Lighthouse and the debate of the Everyone's Morality Committee, the illegal fate owner in front of us is in the category of pardonable.

For such special cases, the men in black naturally conducted detailed intelligence collection and had a general understanding of No. 13's early experiences in the research institute and the process of his capture.

In the Federation, which has the advantage of omniscience, there are only hidden dangers that the Federation has not yet noticed, and there are no problems that the Federation cannot deeply understand.

So the man in black patiently answered:

"Generally speaking, for people like you who haven't committed any heinous crimes, we won't use perfect, high-standard contracts."

"Not to mention..."

The man in black seemed to have a tone of disdain.

"Rules can be tampered with, contracts can be erased. A contract is only valid if both parties agree to it. If the other party can tear up the treaty at any time, it will only increase suspicion."

The man in black took out a pen from his pocket and handed it to No. 13.

Number Thirteen took the pen, but did not open the cap immediately. He just held it tightly and stared at the document. He seemed to be thinking, but in fact he was secretly feeling.

He also did not detect any power from the owner of the destiny in the pen.

Just like the contract is just an ordinary piece of paper, the pen is just an ordinary pen filled with ordinary ink.

The leading man in black didn't care about No. 13's alertness and continued to explain:

"We are the Reality Stabilizers, gifted by Lord Sailor. We are the key force in maintaining stability between ordinary people in the Federation and those with destiny. Our department is called the Reality Ark."

"After you are released from prison, you can look up this department through the federal official website. It is not a secret organization, but a public department."

Number Thirteen was silent for a long time.

From the tone of these men in black, No. 13 realized that there was nothing special about their attitude towards him. It seemed that they had no intention and were just doing their job as a matter of routine.

The Federation's tolerant attitude towards super criminals is well known.

Among the believers that No. 13 had come into contact with when he was preaching in the past, there were also many people around them who were harmed by super criminals, but they were unable to hold them accountable and could only watch their enemies continue to go unpunished by relying on the privileges of the fate holders.

The federal government typically provides compensation to victims and their families harmed by super criminals, but it is more like compensation after a natural disaster.

As for those who commit crimes and harm others, as long as they do not touch the bottom line of the federal government and do not shake the foundation of the federal government, the federal government will often be more loud than action and impose lighter punishments.

Number Thirteen never thought that he would become such a person one day, and he felt mixed emotions for a moment.

But in the end, thinking of Number Six who might be in danger, he nodded heavily.

"I have no opinion."

"That's good, but just in case, we need to confirm one thing."

The man in black had a tense face and a serious expression, but there was still a hint of weirdness in his tone, as if he realized that the questions he asked at this moment were not just for work purposes.

"Are you sure 'Nightmare' is just something you made up? At least there's no such person behind 'True Dreamland'? It's just a manifestation of your personal abilities."

"I am sure!"

Number Thirteen nodded vigorously.

Although No. 13 didn't know whether Nightmare was dead or not, he guessed that he was. After all, Nightmare was just a poor imitation of No. 6. The pirated version challenged the original version, and the outcome was predictable.

What's more, just like Yu Xiu De, in No. 13's cognition, Nightmare is not a normal child, it is just a tool created.

Even if this tool managed to escape, No. 13 would not give it up, because it would easily lead people to follow the "nightmare" and disturb the "nightmare".

and so……

"I hope Nightmare is okay, or better yet, dead."

Number Thirteen couldn't help but pray in his heart.

He was not worried that the other party would be able to read minds like Xu Yuanjie, and he had almost seen through the identity and nature of the man in black - the other party was an ordinary person influenced by the [Sailor], just like the ordinary missionaries he had influenced in the past, and had some of the [Sailor's] power.

This power can protect these people from being disturbed by their fate, but they themselves are unlikely to use the power of their fate.

"That's good."

The man in black seemed relieved.

"That way, it will be much easier for you to clear your name. After all, compared to forcefully suppressing public opinion, it's easier to shift the blame. And for something that doesn't exist, no matter how big the blame is, it doesn't matter."

"?"

Number Thirteen felt that something was not right.

The Silence of the Lambs: Chapter 156: One Fan Against Ten Haters: A Chance for Education

"..."

Wrapped in bandages, No. 13 opened his mouth, as if wanting to refute the other party and ask him to give up the idea of "passing the buck" on the man in black.

But he suddenly realized that he did not have enough reasons to convince the other party to give up this idea.

So he could only tap sideways and utter: