Chapter 37 The Reason I Never Thought There Were Too Many People
After learning about the investigation project from Borei, Bai Mu had a new understanding of the Dreamwalkers. So the Bureau of Processing Dreamwalkers were being used as scouts and transports?
The document was very detailed; the newly discovered source of the alternate dream had been identified as existing for more than nine hours.
Given the time difference between the alternate dream and reality, the source of the alternate dream had likely been
in the alternate dream for about half a month. Moreover, the source of the alternate dream gained certain advantages within it, the most basic of which was a legitimate identity. Furthermore, alternate
dream sources were categorized into different types. Sources like Thorn were immersive, completely absorbed in their alternate dream identity, thus ignoring their real-world identity.
Explaining their real-world identity to such a source would not only fail to produce positive results but would also trigger rejection, implicating those involved in the alternate dream and leading to their expulsion.
Those expelled would still suffer from dream erosion, and this erosion would become even more severe.
Therefore, the best approach when facing this type of immersive dream source is to cooperate with their performance.
Then there's the normal type; these dream sources know they are 'transmigrators,' and they constitute a 'minority,' while the immersive type is the majority, and there are other types as well.
The rarest are the 'role-playing' type; these dream sources directly become natives of the dream, perhaps based on their own perception or that of natives.
But regardless of the type, role-playing dream sources are extremely rare.
"This is a bit too much," Bai Mu thought, finding the information prepared by Bo Lei too detailed.
Bo Lei explained, "This is all information the Bureau of Investigation needs to know. Although you're not with the Bureau, you'll be conducting an investigation, so you should still understand this part."
Bo Lei didn't mention that he thought Bai Mu was a new dream traveler unfamiliar with this information, so he simply included relevant details in the document.
"No problem, I'll go home first."
"See you in an hour then."
Bai Mu left the processing bureau and went home, putting away anything he didn't need. He kept his phone as a spare; even if he didn't need it, he could find a charger if he entered the alternate dream world and it turned out to be a modern world.
As for firearms…
he checked the guns at home. Without bullets, they were useless, but the processing bureau could provide enough ammunition. Bai Mu understood the specifications; the ammunition was made for use with weapons in the alternate dream world.
Borei's mention of a certain amount of free ammunition made Bai Mu realize what "a certain amount" really meant.
"Should I take them all?"
Bai Mu had taken quite a few guns from the pursuers; fully equipped… In the end, he chose suitable weapons.
Two pistols and an M16—Bai Mu felt these weapons were already quite few.
"While it's not necessarily safe in alternate dreams, the primary purpose of dreamwalkers entering them is to gather intelligence, so it's best to keep their weapons concealed."
Borei noticed the weapons Bai Mu was carrying. The two pistols were fine, but the assault rifle was rather conspicuous.
The type of alternate dream they were investigating was still unclear. If it was a medieval or pre-medieval alternate dream, carrying these weapons wouldn't be a problem, as the natives wouldn't understand them.
However, if it was a 'modern' type of alternate dream, appearing with these weapons would depend on the location. Appearing on the street would likely result in being treated as a dangerous individual and apprehended.
In the wilderness, at least they wouldn't be noticed upon landing.
If it were a battlefield… well, that would be even better.
"Safety first, this is a precaution against the unknown." "Wait a moment." Borei found Bai Mu a briefcase and gestured for him to disassemble the rifle and pack it inside. Besides the weapon, the briefcase also contained a considerable amount of ammunition.
Bai Mu weighed the briefcase in his hand; it was very sturdy, even enough to hit someone. He nodded to Borei, "I have no other questions."
Borei led Bai Mu to the area of the source of the strange dreams they were investigating. Bai Mu's first impression of this place was that it resembled a makeshift hospital.
Each makeshift hospital was more than twenty meters apart, and there were many people patrolling the area.
If these makeshift hospitals were indeed filled with sources of strange dreams, Bai Mu could understand Borei's words. The Bureau didn't lack Dream Walkers, yet it always needed them.
With so many sources of strange dreams, even a large number of Dream Walkers would have to clock in and out like clockwork.
"Are there really so many sources of strange dreams?" In Bai Mu's eyes, this place seemed like a massive dungeon entrance.
"There aren't many strange dreams to investigate right now; the rest are preserved ones," Borei explained.
The sheer number of these makeshift shelters is the result of years of accumulation, not just a single day's work… If this place could be filled in a single day, the world would likely be doomed.
"Isn't this kind of preservation too hasty?"
Borei shook his head with a smile. "Dreams aren't so easy to take away. Without proper isolation, anyone who comes into contact with a dream will be swept up."
This makes it difficult to steal dreams in a normal way. A thief might come to steal something, but before even touching the item, they'd be swept into the dream.
Even the patrol personnel here must strictly adhere to the rules to avoid accidentally being swept into a dream.
"This dream could have been investigated immediately, but the dreamwalkers from the local processing bureau were investigating other dreams before this. The earliest they returned was only two hours ago; they need rest."
Arriving in front of a makeshift shelter, Borei explained to Bai Mu why there were no other dreamwalkers.
The investigation should be as detailed as possible. Even if they initially uncover enough information, dreamwalkers need to stay in the dream for at least two days to determine the time difference between the dream and reality.
If the alternate dream is safe, staying a few more days is fine.
Generally, dreamwalkers don't linger in alternate dreams after completing their investigations.
The reason is simple: dreamwalkers who frequently engage with alternate dreams don't live long. Looking at these makeshift shelters, Bo Lei sighed, wondering why the Bureau of Processing Dreamwalkers had enough and didn't feel there were too many.
There's another reason!
Dreamwalkers don't die young not because they encounter accidents in alternate dreams, but because of the time difference between alternate dreams and reality. After intervening in an alternate dream, ten days or half a month inside is less than a day in reality.
A dreamwalker or others involved in an alternate dream essentially lives for ten or twenty days. This may not seem like much time, but it's different when doing this kind of work year-round.
One day in reality is equivalent to ten or half a month for others. Over a year, they live at least five or six years less than others in reality.
Those who frequently engage with alternate dreams seem to have time accelerated in reality. Therefore, dreamwalkers often leave with only the minimum required time when conducting alternate dream investigations.
Let alone in the bureau, even in other companies, when you meet middle-aged dream walkers, the first thing to do is find out their length of service.
Looking old might mean they're actually in their twenties in real life; appearing older is a sign, and this person is clearly a formidable dream walker!
(End of Chapter)