He couldn't entirely turn away the newcomers, as the main task in the script world required a sizable group to participate effectively. There are several reasons for this; to put it harshly, cannon fodder is still manpower. If there are dangerous tasks, Alexander and valuable assets like Carmen and Erik can't risk participating directly—they need expendable members to scout.

Additionally, if they encounter danger and need to escape from being pursued by dangerous entities, splitting up with a larger group offers a better chance of survival compared to just a few people. Moreover, Alexander was also testing the newcomers, looking to identify potential team members, much like Xu Lin had once done with him.

"Alright, I'll give you another chance on his behalf," Alexander said, nodding towards the young man with glasses. "But let me be clear: if you join my team, you follow my orders; otherwise, you're free to leave at any time."

"Sure, sure, we'll do whatever you say," the couple nodded eagerly.

"The rest of you, it's the same deal. If you agree with my terms, follow along, and I'll arrange a temporary place for you to stay. If you disagree or plan to cause trouble later, don't blame us for not being polite."

Carmen exuded a particularly intimidating aura, making the newcomers nod repeatedly in agreement.

Once they managed to gather the newcomers, Alexander and Carmen found a nearby hotel and arranged accommodations for everyone.

...

Alexander stood on the hotel balcony, his mind full of thoughts about the plot. The spirit space had given them the first act of the script, which included many blank chapters. This might mean that they don't have designated roles in the script world.

However, he couldn't reach that conclusion just yet. He noted that everyone had been assigned roles within the script, otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to check into the inn.

They were now staying at a historic Kyoto inn, over a hundred years old, with rooms that exuded Japanese charm—wooden corridors, indoor screens, and a small, serene Kyoto-style courtyard outside. The courtyard's filled water feature, a shishi-odoshi, emitted a "thump" as the bamboo water catcher bounced back, striking a stone, bringing Alexander back to reality.

"So late, and you still don't plan to sleep?" Carmen approached from the side.

"I can focus better at this time," Alexander replied.

"Want a smoke?" Carmen offered a cigarette.

"No, thanks. Besides, smoking is prohibited in the inn," Alexander shook his head, not having the habit of consuming nicotine or alcohol, as it would affect his thinking.

"Fine!" Carmen put away the cigarette from his mouth, speaking softly, "Sometimes, overthinking won't help; just take things one step at a time."

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"I know."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Erik and I are responsible for our own lives. You never know when you might die in the script world."

"I understand that too," Alexander responded seriously.

Carmen furrowed his brows, sensing a stubborn streak in the young man before him. Maybe he was used to handling everything by himself. It's not necessarily a bad trait, but it could lead to overburdening himself. No one should carry too heavy a psychological burden.

That said, he wasn't really qualified to lecture on this. Age was making him sentimental.

"If you don't mind, can I share an old story with you?" Carmen suddenly asked.

"A story?" Alexander glanced at him.

Carmen began slowly: Once upon a time, there was a man who was very happy because he had a good wife and a lovely daughter. However, he didn't care about any of that as much as his career. For his career, he seemed willing to risk everything in his life.

He was neglectful of his family, which eventually led them to leave him. Yet, the man remained indifferent, believing his career was everything. So, he did something foolish that led to his career's downfall and implicated his wife and daughter, causing them to be killed by his enemies.

The story ended with the man filled with regret, recalling how he worked tirelessly throughout his youth for his career, simply hoping for a happier life with his wife. He had spent so many years and made so many efforts but forgot his original intention.

"The story ended..." Alexander noticed there was no conclusion.

"There isn't any. The man is already dead," Carmen said, glancing at him. "This story shows that you should never forget your original intention in anything you do. All processes serve that initial purpose. If the result deviates from that intention, it remains a failure regardless."

"Perhaps the man didn't really err; he might have just failed during the process," Alexander offered his view.

"You're right, but had he remembered his original intention sooner, he might not have regretted it so deeply at the end," Carmen sighed.

"It's a pity there's no remedy for regret," Alexander thought, knowing Carmen had stories of his own and understanding the point he was trying to make, but also knowing he himself couldn't truly absorb those words.

At that moment, a strange occurrence unfolded. Alexander and Carmen's vision blurred as if a TV had lost its signal. After a series of chaotic distortions, a scene unfolded before their eyes.

It was a little girl with two braids, holding a plump little dog as they walked down the street. Suddenly, the leash slipped from her hand, and the dog ran a few steps forward, directly into the road as a speeding truck failed to brake in time. The screeching sound of tires on the ground filled the air.

"Toto!" The braided girl shrieked as she rushed towards the halted truck.

The scene darkened, and Alexander and Carmen returned to reality.

"Fushimi City, Ruihui Kindergarten, Class 7, Saeki," Alexander stood up, his eyes gleaming. He had seen the girl's name tag in the scene.

"We need to find her."

...

Beautiful Kyoto, even at night, was adorned with poetic and brilliant lights. But every city has two faces—one splendidly bright for outsiders, and the other hidden in shadows, showing its ugly, dark side.

This city was no exception.

In a quiet park on the outskirts of Kyoto, unexpected shouting broke the silence. It was hard to imagine such chaos in this location at night. Though frequently visited during the day, at night it became deserted due to the nearest residential area being ten kilometers away, rendering it isolated and tranquil.

For this reason, many homeless people would choose this park as a place to reside, calling them 'free people,' a euphemism for vagrants and homeless folk.

At this moment, a homeless man named Sarutahiko panted heavily, forced to run desperately.

Behind him, shouts echoed.

"Chase, he's over there!" "Don't let him get away!" "Kill him, finish him off!"

Under the night sky, a sinister scene gradually unfolded.