It had to be said, Director Sparkle's itinerary was really something.
The couple's tour routes she had arranged were so well-planned that even Robin, a Penacony native, felt she couldn't compare.
Robin was more familiar with the dreamscape as it was before she left; she wasn't particularly knowledgeable about the newer additions.
Although she had prepared her own guide, some omissions were inevitable. Sparkle's route, however, not only perfectly incorporated all the spots Robin had originally planned but, with the logistical support of the staff, was even more convenient than Robin's own schedule.
Under these circumstances, Robin soon began to earnestly enjoy the trip. Regardless of the mastermind's intentions, her primary goal of ensuring Lord Su Mo had a good time remained unchanged.
After a day of sightseeing, Robin and Su Mo emerged from the movie theater, still wanting more. The film Sparkle had arranged was also quite something. Though it was actually a refurbished old movie rather than a new release, the quality was undeniably excellent.
"Lord Su Mo, according to the plan, our next destination is... eh-eh-eh-eh?! A couple's hotel?"
Flipping through the schedule, Robin's cheeks suddenly flushed. W-w-what... what is this for?
"Why is there even a hotel in a dream?!" she blurted out instinctively. Weren't they already in a hotel when they entered the dream?
Just then, the ever-present female staff member popped up from behind Robin and explained in a suggestive tone, "The purpose of a couple's hotel, while it does involve sleeping, isn't just for resting, you know!"
"I-I know that." Robin said awkwardly.
She wasn't a complete ingenue; how could she not know about this kind of basic human instinct? She had only acted surprised to avoid the topic and the potential embarrassment.
Though she wanted to complain about this part of the schedule, a hotel stay did seem like a normal item on a couple's tour itinerary.
And so, blushing slightly, she looked at Su Mo and asked cautiously, "Lord Su Mo, perhaps we should skip this part of the plan?"
Even if they had gotten to know each other better during their time together, bringing this up now felt much too soon.
"Mm." Su Mo glanced at the young woman and nodded.
"Oh!" For some reason, there was a slight hint of regret in Robin's tone.
"In that case, could you please cancel this for us and move on to the next item?" she said politely to the staff member.
"Uh... of course. We will accommodate all of our valued guests' requests," the female staff member hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "However, please allow me to inform the crew so they can prepare for the next step in advance!"
"Thank you!" Robin had no objection.
The staff member immediately backed away and left in a hurry. Once around the corner, she pulled a small walkie-talkie from her collar and reported immediately.
"Director, Director! We have a situation. The targets are refusing to participate in the hotel part. Should we initiate the backup plan to intercept?"
"Hold on!"
Soon, Sparkle's voice came through her synesthesia beacon, mixed with the sound of flapping wings and the whistle of an arrow. It seemed Director Sparkle's situation was also quite complicated.
After seven or eight seconds, the female staff member finally heard the faint thud of small prey hitting the ground, followed by Director Sparkle's sigh of relief.
"These crows are so persistent. The herd of horses I prepared beforehand wasn't enough. Good thing I handled it!"
After that remark, she listened to the staff member's report again and waved a decisive hand. "Activate the hidden backup plan. Have that little girl use her unique advantages to intercept the targets... wait!"
Just as she said that, she suddenly remembered something.
"Director, what's wrong?" the female staff member asked, confused.
"The person responsible for executing the backup plan, is it a Pepeshi?" Sparkle asked nervously.
"Yes!" the female staff member nodded immediately. "Didn't you say before that the targets respond to a soft approach, not a hard one? And that only a petite Pepeshi could simultaneously project the vulnerable image of a little girl and the clever cunning of an adult, maximizing the chances of success?"
"Yes, I did say that," Sparkle nodded, her tone sounding a bit like she was gritting her teeth. "But just now, those damned Pepeshi used their cunning on me, the director... All of them went on strike and ran off! They're actually hiding inside the vending machines and refuse to come out! They're demanding ten times the pay to continue working. This is blatant blackmail!"
Just thinking about it made Sparkle's chest heave with anger. So infuriating! How dare they try to blackmail a Masked Fool! These Pepeshi were truly devious little imps!
"Huh?" The staff member hadn't expected this turn of events. "Then what do we do? This is a critical moment!"
If those Pepeshi were hiding in the vending machines, there wasn't much anyone could do.
Destroying the machines would inevitably attract the attention of the Hound Family, and while what they were doing wasn't malicious, it wasn't exactly something they could do out in the open.
Just as she was worrying that the whole operation was about to fail, Sparkle's voice suddenly rang out.
"Don't worry, this genius director has already found a solution!"
"Director... did you agree to their demands?" the staff member asked in shock. In her impression, the director wasn't one to take a loss. But in the face of reality, even the strongest personality had to compromise, after all—
"Of course not!" Just as the staff member's thoughts began to wander, Sparkle shook her head decisively. "Not only that, I had someone else seal the little doors they crawled through with iron locks! How dare they defy me, the genius director! Now we'll see if these Pepeshi really have claustrophobia!"
"Ah, this..." Hearing this, the staff member couldn't help but offer a moment of silence for those Pepeshi.
Of all the people to provoke, they chose the director. Was there anyone on the whole production team who didn't know how petty the director was?
But...
"If they're all locked up, then the backup plan still can't be carried out, right?" The staff member remembered the task at hand and asked doubtfully.
Due to limited resources, they only had a backup plan, not a backup-backup plan. Without the Pepeshi, who else could complete the mission?
"Simple!" On the other end of the walkie-talkie, Sparkle's voice was calm and confident. "I'll do it myself, won't I?"
"Huh?" The staff member was dumbfounded for a second.
The director is going to do it herself?
However, recalling Sparkle's petite frame, though she was a young woman, she was still technically a minor. It seemed she did meet the criteria. As for acting skills and cunning, the director seemed to have both in spades.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Director! I await your triumphant return!"
"A small matter." Sparkle smiled slightly, finally dropping all pretense.
At this moment, Director Sparkle, logged off. Actor of the Year Sparkle, logged on.
And so, two minutes later...
"Anyone want to buy some matches? Anyone want to buy some matches~?"
Just as Su Mo and Robin turned a corner following the tour map, they saw a girl cowering in a corner not far ahead, shivering nonstop.
The girl blew on her hands to warm them, her pitiful gaze fixed on them. Her plum-blossom-shaped pupils made her look utterly pathetic and adorable.
"Big brother, big sister, would you like to buy some matches? The boss said if I sell just one box today, I can take a break."
Seeing the girl, Robin was slightly taken aback. In the dazzling, indulgent world of Penacony, there were hardly any beggars.
An ordinary person would probably assume it was an act; given Penacony's high costs, anyone who could enter the dreamscape couldn't be short on money. Begging was likely just a personal quirk.
But as a member of The Family, Robin knew that the treatment of some internal employees wasn't necessarily great. If there was genuine exploitation happening, she couldn't turn a blind eye.
However, the girl in front of her looked to be fourteen or fifteen years old, probably not much shorter than herself.
Making a kid this old sell matches... isn't that a rather inefficient form of exploitation?
With that in mind, she leaned down and asked, "Excuse me... little sister? Could you tell me which Family you're from, and why you're selling matches here? Don't worry, even if you're a stowaway, I won't tell anyone!"
Robin's voice was gentle, easily earning the trust and affection of others.
Hearing her say this, the girl's eyes darted around for a moment, and then she spoke in a pitiful voice.
"Angel sister, to tell you the truth, I have a strange illness. If I can't rest in a super luxurious and comfortable place, I can't sleep... To avoid dying from exhaustion, all the money I earn goes to paying for my room."
"?"
What kind of strange illness is that?
Before Robin could think it over, the girl in front of her suddenly cried out, "Ouch!" and hugged herself tightly.
"Big sister, I... I think my illness is acting up! Can you take me to a high-class hotel to rest? Just for a few minutes is fine, otherwise, it'll be really painful!"
"Waaah~ It would be best if we can get there within two minutes, and I'll need the softest mattress and the highest-grade pillows. A bathtub of at least ten square meters is a must, and it'd be even better if it has switchable themes!"
While whimpering, the girl rattled off a long list of demands at lightning speed.
After hearing these demands, a sense of déjà vu washed over Robin. She pulled out the itinerary details she was holding and quickly found a match.
Get there in two minutes, the softest mattress, high-grade pillows, a large bathtub, multiple switchable themes... Isn't this the exact description of the couple's hotel that was booked for us?
Looking at the girl before her, Robin finally realized what was going on and silently stood up.
So you're trying to pull a fast one! Isn't this a little too obvious?
Just as she was about to expose the girl's act...
"Alright."
Su Mo's sudden words interrupted her train of thought.
"Lord Su Mo?" Robin looked at him, confused.
She was certain that if she could see through the holes in this act, Su Mo definitely could too.
"Let's take her there." Looking at the pitiful yet mischievous girl on the ground, Su Mo nodded to Robin.
"It just so happens, I'm good at treating illnesses."
"I understand." Robin nodded in tacit agreement and started playing along with the girl's script.
"Then come with us. We happen to have a room!"
"Yay!" Actor of the Year Sparkle immediately cheered.
At this moment, she didn't seem to realize that she had just willingly walked right into the lion's den.