Chapter 294: Players eager to experience the "Perfect Dream" are crowding in! Why do birds fly?
Penacony.
The stronghold of The Family.
In front of the video wall.
Sunday sat upright in his exclusive seat.
However, he paid no attention to the content on the screens.
Instead, he was focused on sending his own message.
[ Don't worry, sister, I will certainly participate in the promotion of your new album ]
[ I will record a video and send it to you ]
In the very center of the monitoring area.
There was a countdown.
The red numbers were ticking away, second by second.
This was the countdown to initiate Ena's Dream, just as Sunday had planned.
After sending the message.
Sunday took a glance at the photo on his phone.
It was a picture of the two of them as children.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly.
He put down his phone.
Pressed a button on his side.
Soon.
A subordinate respectfully approached him.
"Lord Sunday, what are your orders?"
Sunday had already returned to his expressionless, icy demeanor.
He asked in a deep voice: "Since I sent out the message, what is the ratio of people staying in Penacony?"
The subordinate immediately pulled up a string of data.
"It was 52% before, now it is…69%."
Sunday's gaze tightened: "It increased by that much?"
"This means that after the message went out, the number of people rushing to Penacony far exceeded those leaving."
The subordinate showed an excited expression.
"More than that!" he said.
"Our Penacony is already trending like crazy!"
"The connection terminal is completely packed!"
Sunday went to the video wall.
Opened the corresponding surveillance feed.
Zoomed in on the image.
The massive plaza, which was usually spacious, was now completely swarming with people.
Zoomed in again!
The sound from the scene was transmitted along with the video.
"When is The Family opening the doors!"
"I've waited so long I'm about to wither!"
"Is it really true, like Sunday said, that we can find true happiness in the dream?"
"It's said that this dream is a completely immersive experience, showing you the scene you most want to see!"
"Hehe! Just thinking about it is exciting!"
"Aren't you afraid of being scammed by The Family?"
"What's to fear? Either have nothing, or take it all!"
"Don't push! Damn it, I said don't push!"
"Can't wait anymore! Open the doors now!"
At the scene, at the very least, people were in pairs.
More often, they were huddled in groups, in large masses.
At a glance, one might think the Swarm Disaster had returned!
Sunday exhaled softly.
This situation surprised even him!
Sunday had considered that his confession might be questioned, or labeled as some kind of conspiracy theory.
But the facts showed.
His decision this time was undoubtedly the right one!
The conviction in his heart became even firmer.
He must let everyone enter this fair and beautiful paradise!
"Proceed with the relevant verification procedures and invite them to enter the dream in an orderly fashion."
The subordinate hesitated: "Lord Sunday, the Reverie Hotel is already far beyond its usual capacity. Should we add some entry restrictions?"
"No need. Everyone has the right to enjoy happiness."
Hearing this.
The subordinate was stunned.
Tears suddenly welled up!
"Wuu wuu wuu…"
"Lord Sunday is working so hard, exhausting himself for our happiness!"
"You are so selfless and great!"
"I'm crying to death!"
"No regrets joining The Family in this life, no! No regrets being a subordinate to Lord Sunday!"
Sunday felt a wave of emotion in his heart as well.
He felt the heavy burden on his shoulders.
Is this what it feels like to carry the expectations of so many?
At this moment.
Another subordinate arrived.
"Lord Sunday, I apologize for disturbing you at this time, but there is bad news."
"Speak."
"We monitored the game's plot and discovered that in the latest storyline, your sister is gradually revealing a side that contradicts your philosophy. She seems to be of the stance that opposes indulging in the dream."
Sunday waved his hand: "I understand her, it is fine."
"She is currently fully preparing for her new album, and matters of The Family will continue to be handled by me as always."
"Praise or curses, support or controversy, I shall bear it all."
"As long as there is hope in her heart, that is enough."
The subordinates exited one by one.
Sunday was left alone in the large room.
He did not reject this loneliness.
In fact.
According to the original plan.
Once Ena's Dream succeeded.
What he would face is true loneliness and clarity.
At this moment.
Sunday noticed the game livestream interface.
A line of text appeared on the screen.
[ 11 system hours until the opening of the Charmony Festival, on the other side of Dreamflux Reef ]
The voice that followed made his hand tremble slightly.
"Brother, look! There's a little bird here."
This is.
Robin's voice from when she was a child!
On the screen.
A chubby little hand was holding a colorful little bird.
Seeing this image.
Sunday felt a sudden sensation.
Memories flooded back.
Sure enough.
Next, his own voice appeared.
"Looks like a little Charmony Dove."
"But this isn't the habitat of Charmony Doves, why is it here all alone? Was it abandoned by its parents?"
Robin said: "It looks like it doesn't have any strength at all… shall we find a soft cushion and make a bird's nest for it?"
"It's too dangerous here. Let's take it back first, and put it on the wooden frame by your window."
"Okay! Its singing voice must be very beautiful. But, where will it live?"
"I will ask the Master of Dreams to build a birdcage for it."
"A cage… then wouldn't it be unable to fly freely?" Robin said with some worry.
Sunday took a deep breath.
That's right!
This was the memory from his childhood that left the deepest impression on him!
Sure enough…
This experience also appeared in the plot.
That's fine.
Sunday had originally intended to use this example to explain the meaning of Ena's Dream anyway!
Now that Feathered Spirit had turned it into a plot…
It could better display his philosophy!
Sunday specifically opened the bullet comments.
Watching them at all times.
Because.
The players' comments to a large extent represented the current trend in the universe.
Do they support him, or oppose him?
Keep watching.
A gentle voice sounded: "Let me see… what makes the two most excellent interpreters of the Lord of Dreams so curious that they even forgot to taste their dessert?"
"Oh… poor little thing, the situation is likely not optimistic. Do you want to save it?"
Sunday naturally recognized it instantly.
This was the Dream Master… Mr. Gopher Wood's voice.
Robin answered first: "We want to… but I don't think we should lock it up."
"Although it's still small, its feathers haven't even grown in, and it can't sing… but it wasn't hatched just to live in a cage."
"Birds… are born to belong to the sky."
Everything matched his memories.
At that time.
He had given a different answer.
Looking back now.
The divergence in philosophy with Robin was there from the very beginning…
"I think, the reason why people think flying is a bird's nature… is because they have never seen a bird that fell to its death."
"I will… um, keep it in a cage first, at least until it can survive on its own. Because…"
"I… no matter what, I want it to live."
Gopher Wood said gently: "Very good, children, it seems you both already have your answers. Your visions are incomparably beautiful, and I sincerely hope they can be realized in their own ways."
"Hmm. However, Mr. Gopher Wood, there is one more thing I haven't figured out…"
"Speak, child."
Sunday opened his mouth slightly.
With himself in the game, his childhood self.
He spoke the following words in his heart.
"If this little Charmony Dove never learns to fly in the end…"
"What should we do?"
"I mean, if there are indeed some fledglings in this world that cannot fly their whole lives…"
"Should we still let them return to the sky… only to watch them fall to their deaths?"
And in the bullet comments, a fierce discussion was unfolding at this moment.
…
"Holy crap? Suddenly giving me a philosophy lesson?"
"So is Sunday the Path of Preservation?"
"When is Brother Sunday joining the gacha pool?"
"This year's IPC exam question: Why do birds fly?"
"The battle between idealism and realism."
"Robin is a respectable idealist, while Sunday is a realist focused on the present. There's no right or wrong, everyone just chooses a different path."
"I support Brother Sunday! Reality is already cruel enough, sometimes we really don't have the qualifications to discuss ideals…"
"If you can't survive, any ideal, any flight, is just empty talk."
"Damn it, why so many twists and turns? If it were me, I'd just stew the bird!"
"Holy crap! You must be an Emanator of Voracity!"