The Censor's office breathed order and silence.
Everything gleamed — perfectly aligned frames, collections sealed behind glass, stacks of meticulously sorted files.
Then the door exploded inward.
The calm shattered in an instant.
Startled, the Censor jerked back, taking a step away.
The group finally burst into the room. The Censor reacted immediately, attempting to alert the guards, but Hastur and Harvey lunged at him. He dodged Hastur, then Harvey, retreating dangerously close to the door.
CENSOR:
"Guards!"
Suddenly, he noticed Efa gripping one of his prized collectibles like a bat.
Efa:
"Strike."
The object slammed into him without mercy.
ARATA:
"No — you say home run!"
Hastur quickly bound the man and forced him into a chair.
CENSOR:
"Whatever you want… it's within my power!"
ARATA:
"We're looking for someone. We lost him here, in Dream Desert."
CENSOR:
"I know nothing…"
Efa stepped forward calmly, a picture frame in hand.
Efa:
"Mr. Greujeur… we know that you know."
CENSOR:
"My ability allows me to know the exact number of living beings within the archipelago! I know exactly who you're talking about!"
His voice trembled.
"But if I speak… I'm dead."
Harvey suddenly noticed a sealed envelope.
Harvey:
"What's this?"
Greujeur:
"Don't open it!!!"
Too late.
Harvey read the letter — a message from the Sand Merchant mentioning a birthday… and an engagement.
ARATA:
"It's Rastaban!"
Hastur:
"There's a seal. Without an invitation, we can't enter."
Everyone slowly turned toward the Censor.
Hastur:
"Help us."
Tears streamed down the man's face.
CENSOR:
"I'll give you everything… but free Dream Desert."
He spoke of his sick daughter, deprived of sunlight because of the artificial veil covering the sky.
Hastur's expression hardened.
Hastur:
"Rastaban would never ignore something like that. We'll help you."
The Censor pointed toward a cabinet.
They grabbed costumes, badges, and invitations — then fled through the window.
Moments later, a guard entered the office.
GUARD:
"Boss…?"
His face began to melt.
The Censor burst into laughter.
A masked man slowly emerged — literally separating from the Censor's body.
???:
"They swallowed everything. The show can begin."
He tossed several cards into the air and vanished.
Three days later, in Dream City, Akané was preparing for her birthday.
ARATA:
"It's time to crash this party…"