The Deceitful One

Bryan and most of the members of the Silver Owls had gone to Detective Watson's house where her wife had planned a dinner for all close friends and family.

Over the course of the meal, they all shared their memories of Detective Watson and the impact his life had made on them. The atmosphere was much lighter than the one at the cemetery earlier.

The whole thing lasted for a few hours and soon everyone bade farewell to Abigail and Amy. Bryan too left with the rest of the members of the Strike Team.

Over the last couple of hours, he had spent much of his time with Abigail and Amy and had gotten to know them better. Throughout the entire time, Amy didn't leave Bryan for even a single moment.

It seemed like she had grown quite fond of him. And Bryan too felt the same way for her. When he saw her, he was always reminded of his teacher. Hence, he swore in his heart that he would do his best to raise and protect little Amy.

Abigail was naturally happy that Bryan and Amy had gotten along so well. She couldn't ask for more.

After he departed, Bryan also had a word with Victor. He would leave with him for Nadir within the week. Hence, he would make sure to spend some time with Elijah and Andrew as well as the other members of the Strike Team this coming week.

After all, in his current weakened state, he couldn't do much else.

When Bryan got back home, he meditated for a few hours and then decided to carry out what he had planned at the cemetery earlier.

It was already midnight, at the moment. He looked at Benny who was lying down cozily beside him and asked, "Benny, I wish to go to the Dreamworld, can you take me?"

Benny looked at Bryan and was slightly taken aback. He was meaning to find an excuse to take Bryan to the Dreamworld but luckily for him, Bryan had asked it himself.

"No problem!" Benny got on all fours and looked at Bryan with bright eyes.

Bryan was slightly confused as to why Benny would be excited all of a sudden for no reason. In the end, he just shook his head and rubbed Benny on the head.

He then looked at the black bracelet in his hand and muttered, "Time to take you to the rightful owner."

The black bracelet vibrated on Bryan's wrist as if giving a confirmation!

Bryan didn't feel unwilling or salty about the fact that he would be giving away a God-Level artifact to someone else, even though it would prove to be very useful to him. Moreover, he knew that the artifact would accept him as the owner.

However, he didn't choose to do so. The artifact belonged to his late teacher, hence, in order to honor him, Bryan decided to hand it over to his daughter, Amy!

Bryan knew that the artifact was sentient, therefore, he asked, "Will you be able to protect Amy should the need arise?"

The black bracelet vibrated vigorously for a second and then turned silent.

"Good." Bryan nodded. He knew that he wouldn't always be able to be by Amy's side and protect her. Hence, it was a good decision to let the artifact do so.

After all, the artifact had earlier served Amy's father for a long period of time, and would definitely not mind doing the same for his daughter.

Bryan then looked at Benny, "All right Benny, let's go."

Benny nodded his head and waved his right paw. The next moment, the space next to them was torn open and a direct portal to the Dreamworld was formed! Benny then agilely climbed over Bryan's shoulder—his favorite seat.

Bryan stepped inside the portal without hesitation. And the next moment, the world around him spun and before he knew it, he had already entered the Dreamworld.

This was the first time that Bryan had entered this fantastical world through a portal, hence he was feeling a little dizzy. After getting his bearings within a few moments, he looked around and found out that he was still inside his room.

However, this was his room in the Dreamworld!

Bryan was able to confirm that he was in the Dreamworld because the level of saturation here was to the extreme.

Without waiting any longer, he exited his apartment and ran toward Detective Watson's house. Everything in the Dreamworld was the same as the waking world, except Bryan felt like he was the only person there.

"Does this place always get this lonely?" Bryan asked Benny, who was gracefully sitting on his shoulder.

"Most of the dream creatures that I know of, reside in the depths of the Dreamworld," Benny replied, "Very occasionally, would a few of them come to human cities to roam around or feed on dreams."

Bryan wasn't surprised that there were creatures residing in the Dreamworld, he had heard Benny mention it indirectly a few times.

But he was shocked about the other thing Benny had just said, "Dream creatures feed on dreams!?"

Benny nodded with a smirk, "Yes! Why do you think when humans wake up from their slumber, they can't remember their full dreams?"

Bryan was taken aback, "So that's the reason? How interesting!"

As the duo talked, Bryan had already reached in front of his teacher's house on Augustus Street. Naturally, he was able to navigate this far with the help of his spiritual sense as well as Benny's guidance.

He looked at the villa on 22 Augustus Street and took a deep breath. Bryan then entered the two-storied building and straight away went to Detective Watson's bedroom.

After entering the bedroom, he found that on the bed, two bright balls of light were hovering close to each other, one large and one small.

Bryan was a little taken aback as he hadn't expected both Abigail and Amy to be dreaming, "Benny, do people dream all the time when they're asleep?"

"Yes," Benny nodded, "They subconsciously dream every time they go to sleep. Sometimes they remember, sometimes they don't."

"I see…" Bryan nodded with a thoughtful look. He then looked at the small glowing ball and jumped inside it. There was no way he would enter his teacher's wife's dream and pry into her personal life.

He wouldn't have done it for Amy as well, but this was the only way he could think of in order to give her Detective Watson's artifact without getting caught.

As Bryan entered the dream, he found that he had arrived at a children's playground. However, no one was around except Amy.

She was currently sitting on the swing and sobbing silently. Bryan's heart ached when he saw this.

He soon calmed down his emotions and asked Benny, "If I give her this artifact in her dream, can you make it materialize in the waking world?"

Benny puffed out his chest and replied with pride, "Hmph, this is child's play for the great Benjamin Lombardi!"

Bryan's lips couldn't help but curl up into a warm smile. He gently put down Benny on the ground and then removed the bandage from his eyes.

His eyes had become almost hollow at this point, only dead skin and purple veins remained. Soon, the bones and flesh on Bryan's face began to writhe and squirm as they began to change shape. He was using the God-Level artifact, Deceit!

And in but a few moments, his hair had turned blonde, and his eyes had grown and become bright blue—however, he still couldn't see through them.

His face had changed to that of Detective Watson!

Bryan caressed his face and his eyes couldn't help but redden as he mumbled, "Teacher…"

He soon wiped the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. Bryan looked at Benny and asked, "Can you make us visible?"

Benny nodded and the next moment, Bryan felt as if he had just exited an invisible membrane. He then put up the warm smile that his teacher always used to show him.

Bryan then began to walk towards Amy who was sitting on the swing. Amy heard the sudden sound of footsteps and turned her head in confusion.

However, the next moment, her eyes widened, "Papa!"

She hurriedly jumped off the swing and ran towards Bryan. She then spread her hands and jumped into his embrace.

Bryan crouched down and gently lifted Amy, he wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled warmly, "Little Amy, why were you crying?"

Amy replied with reddened eyes, "Papa… Amy miss you."

Bryan's heart ached even more as he looked at Amy's heartbroken expression. He struggled to keep the smile on his face, "Little Amy, Papa will always be with you in your heart and in your memories."

Amy nodded as tears streamed down her eyes, "Mmh"

Bryan wiped her tears yet again and smiled, "Papa has a gift for you!"

Amy's eyes brightened, "Really?"

"Of course!" Bryan nodded, "Has Papa ever lied to you?"

He then gently placed Amy on the ground. Bryan removed the black bracelet from his wrist and asked, "Little Amy, show me your right hand."

Amy did as she was told as she looked at the bracelet in Bryan's hand with curious eyes.

Bryan put the black bracelet around Amy's little wrist and instructed mentally, 'Protect her.'

The bracelet trembled ever so slightly as it perfectly fitted itself around Amy's little wrist.

"Waaahh!" Amy looked at the bracelet on her wrist in fascination.

Bryan smiled, "This bracelet will bring you comfort whenever you miss Papa, okay?"

"Yes!" Amy nodded vigorously.

"And no matter what, I will always be looking over you and protecting you." Bryan gave Amy a warm hug and kissed her gently on the forehead.

Amy nestled herself against Bryan's warm embrace, "I love you, Papa!"

"I love you, Little Amy" Bryan smiled gently as a tear slid down his eye, "Goodnight."

In the waking world, Amy was sleeping soundly and a warm smile slowly spread on her face. At the same time, a black bracelet materialized on her tiny wrist.

"Goodnight…papa…" Amy mumbled in her sleep, the smile on her face never fading.