"Okay..."

After casting a worried glance at Leon, Anna bit her lower lip, then said nothing more as she led Leon into the room, quietly turning the knob to open the door to the children's room.

The layout of the Happy Apartments is not small, designed initially for three generations to live together. Therefore, even with three small beds set up, the space still doesn't feel too cramped, and the closest bed's headboard is more than three steps away from the room door.

Yet, even so, as Anna pushed the door open, the small bed furthest from the room door immediately creaked, as a little head popped up with tiger-like exuberance.

Hmm? Big brother's back?

Upon seeing Anna's familiar silhouette behind her, William's round eyes steadied slightly. After a moment's thought, a knowing look emerged in his dark eyes.

In Leon's somewhat speechless expression, William pointed to Melanie next to him, sleeping sprawled out with her pant legs rolled up to her knees, making a silent gesture to Leon.

'Account book?'

"..."

You really know her well... But this time, it's not about the account book.

Shaking his head at his mischievous little brother, Leon raised a hand to signal silence, then took off his shoes to tread softly across the carpet, heading towards Melanie and little Ellie's bed.

Due to the special relationship between the Ryan Family's eldest brother and Emma, even though little Ellie is only temporarily "staying" at the Ryan Family's, she still has her own small wooden bed, with several colorful crayon sketches stuck to the headboard.

However, at this moment, this playfully cute little bed is empty. Little Ellie, who should be sleeping in her own bed, is nestled anxiously in Melanie's arms, with hair scattered in a shade similar to Emma's light chestnut.

Even though the room wasn't particularly warm, little Ellie's forehead was beading with fine sweat. Her usually serene and adorable little face was filled with panic and anxiety, her two fair little fists involuntarily clenched slightly, like a startled porcelain doll, her entire little body trembling subtly.

Meanwhile, Melanie, who'd long since tossed aside her pillow, slept sprawled horizontally, snoring softly with her mouth half-open, unconsciously holding little Ellie's head tightly, occasionally mumbling indistinctly, probably murmuring comfort like "Don't be afraid."

Gently pulling back Melanie's arm, Leon reached out to touch little Ellie's warm forehead and, confirming there was no sign of a nightmare's "visit," let out a soft sigh.

It's confirmed; the child isn't having a nightmare, but she truly "saw" something from Emma.

Seemingly sensing a comforting presence, as Leon's palm touched, little Ellie's trembling body finally calmed, her porcelain doll-like cheek unconsciously nuzzling against Leon's palm.

"Mama... Mommy..."

"I'm here, I'm here."

Something strange seemed to trigger, as Melanie's snoring suddenly stopped upon hearing little Ellie's dream with a hint of a sob.

Under Leon's somewhat astonished gaze, Melanie first blearily swallowed, then, remarkably with eyes still closed, hugged little Ellie back, her chin resting on Ellie's forehead, murmuring half-asleep:

"Ellie, be good... Your mommy and my big brother have a thing going on, and I'm his sister, so rounding it all out, I'm kind of in your mom's generation... Mom Melanie is here, no need to fear..."

"..."

"..."

No... what nonsense are you talking about?!

After hearing Melanie's astonishingly absurd sleep talk, Leon's hand couldn't help but tremble for a moment, then looked darkly at Mom Melanie comforting little Ellie, feeling oddly itchy-handed, wanting to smack something hard.

The fact that she could wake instantly upon hearing "keywords" and comfort little Ellie without even opening her eyes, proved that Melanie had undoubtedly developed a habit over the days, coming over to care for little Ellie whenever she had nightmares. This certainly deserved praise.

But that generational math... Even anyone begging at the supermarket couldn't utter such nonsense!

After two deep breaths, suppressing the urge to give her a thorough spanking, Leon pinched Melanie's mouth, full of outrageous words, preventing her from speaking more absurdities, then darkly roused her awake.

"Mm? Mm!... Big mm?"

Your big "Mm" has business to handle now! As for that informer fee and Mom Melanie's matter, it'll be settled later when big "Mm" is done!

Shooting a glance at Melanie's face full of bewilderment, Leon carefully extracted little Ellie from her embrace, then switched to the "Leon of Nightmares" badge, pressing his forehead against little Ellie's brow, utilizing the Lord of Nightmares' power to insert his consciousness into her dream.

...

The sky black as night, the ground pale.

Where the dark sky and pale earth meet, a No Return Path strewn with wandering deceased stretches from the Gate of the Deceased to the deepest part of the Realm of the Dead, resembling a bone-white spine arching from the realm's depths.

The seemingly endless No Return Path, crossing through the stone-laden and path-filled [Sage's Cemetery], leads to a pale marsh filled with transparent specters and dark fog.