Catastrophe Card King

Furthermore, she had observed for herself and realized how complex this labyrinth really was.

Given the current situation, if it were up to them, they wouldn’t have any idea of how to proceed either.

Tracy Garcia, clearly anxious, cried out, “But…”

After being together for three days, they had come to understand each other somewhat. Leonard Churchill knew that this spirit communicator was not hostile, though the aimless running around, like a headless fly, increasingly frustrated her.

After all, any ordinary person exhaustively wandering around the labyrinth for three days without finding anything would’ve given in to despair by now.

She had been doing quite well, given the circumstances.

Upon thinking about it, Leonard Churchill gave a small update, “The puzzle is almost solved. If everything goes as planned, we should be able to solve the labyrinth in a few more rounds.”

Camilla nodded and replied, “Hmm.”

II II

Tracy Garcia, although skeptical, had nothing to say about this claim.

The three of them continued to traverse the labyrinth.

Time flew, and before they knew it, half the day had passed.

After two more rounds through a dimly lit corridor, they found themselves back at the crossroads.

Even though Tracy Garcia was doubtful, she wasn’t completely clueless.

It was only after making the same route twice that she realised the purpose behind Leonard Churchill’s repetitive movement. She also noticed the slight changes in the tunnel markings each time.

However, even after figuring this out, she couldn’t comprehend why this was the case.

But this time was different.

Midway, Leonard Churchill abruptly stopped and fell into deep thought. Camilla turned her head slightly and caught the intense look in his eyes beneath his gas mask. Sensing something was amiss, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Curious, Tracy Garcia also looked at him.

After a moment, Leonard Churchill’s eyes brightened suddenly and he announced, “I’ve found the correct way through the labyrinth.”

He spoke calmly, with the kind of relaxed demeanor one expects when a solution finally presents itself after much effort.

At these words, Camilla and Tracy Garcia’s faces lit up in unison. Could it really be true?

“Hmm.”

Leonard Churchill had gathered enough information by now, and in half a day’s walk, had pieced it all together.

Just a moment ago, a flash of insight had provided the missing piece to the puzzle: running.

Enlightenment at last!

At this point, looking down the tunnel, Leonard Churchill understood the clue left behind by the adventurer Yuri in his diary.

Having finally solved the puzzle that had eluded him for days, Leonard Churchill breathed a sigh of relief.

Unable to contain herself, Tracy Garcia asked, “So, Mr. Leonard Churchill, which way should we go now?”

He turned to them and said, “I need you both to run as fast as you can behind me.”

Tracy Garcia did not understand, “Huh?”

Camilla, however, seemed thoughtful.

Now that he had figured out the plan, Leonard Churchill had no need to keep it secret anymore. He explained in detail, “This labyrinth isn’t as expansive as the legends suggest it to be. At least, it isn’t infinite as it visually appears to be.” Being used to such out-of-the-box thinking, Camilla just listened quietly. Tracy Garcia, however, was aghast, “But… haven’t we been unable to find the end these past several days?”

They had been walking for days without finding an exit, so experiencing the vastness of the labyrinth was unmitigated fact.

Now he’s saying the labyrinth wasn’t that big?

With a meaningful smile, Leonard Churchill said, “If you keep trying to solve this in terms of a flat plan, you’ll never unravel the mystery of this labyrinth.” Pausing for effect, he continued, “Because these tunnels are not all on the same plane!”

At this, both women furrowed their brows, clearly unable to comprehend the true meaning of his words.

Perhaps sensing their confusion, he offered a hint, “Have you ever played with a Rubik’s cube?”

Suddenly, Camilla began to understand.

Tracy Garcia, however, was a beat behind and still dazed.

He then explained, “This labyrinth is similar to a Rubik’s cube. It isn’t a two-dimensional puzzle, but a three-dimensional one, capable of moving and changing.”

Before they could ask, he clarified, “The exit could always be in a certain direction, like the top side of a Rubik’s cube. But every time we near the exit, the labyrinth’s tunnels change and lead us down the wrong path. This is why we’ve been trapped in a loop. The principle is quite simple; some entrances have a sensory trigger that activates when we step into them, causing the labyrinth to spin. Since the distance is significantly large, we couldn’t feel the labyrinth’s movement.”

He had explained it as plainly as he could.

Tracy Garcia’s face brightened upon understanding. She asked, “So that’s why we need to run! We’ll minimize the time difference created by the labyrinth’s movements by running, eventually finding the exit before it completes its rotation?”

“Hmm.”

Leonard Churchill responded with a nod and a smile, adding, “But we also need to run along the correct path.”

The instant he explicated his labyrinth-solving approach, everything abruptly made sense.

When Tracy Garcia looked at Leonard Churchill again, the previous skepticism she harbored had vanished completely. Instead, she found herself filled with budding admiration.

She finally understood what Camilla meant when she often referred to “Mr.

Leonard Churchill as a puzzle-solving expert.”

Only after witnessing it firsthand did she realize how extraordinary he really was!

The solution to the labyrinth was easy enough to articulate but was undoubtedly difficult to figure out.

It was indeed a challenge to stay trapped in the labyrinth for days, shield oneself from external disturbances and analyze the labyrinth’s structure with utmost patience and calmness.

Consider herself, for instance. Having been unable to find the exit these past few days and struggling with increasing restlessness caused by the environment and limited supplies.

Moreover, a typical problem-solver would never think to walk back and forth within a self-acknowledged looping tunnel for a day or two, would they?

Such seemingly obsessive behavior on Leonard Churchill’s part was previously dismissed by Tracy Garcia as foolishness.

But now, she understood that it stemmed from his extraordinary puzzle-solving ability which gave him pinpoint accuracy and supreme confidence!

And his ingenious connection to a “Rubik’s cube”… how did he come up with that?

Tracy Garcia realized her past misunderstanding. Given her straightforward personality, she honestly admitted, “Mr. Leonard Churchill, I apologize for my behavior earlier.”

With a smile, he replied, seemingly unconcerned by her apology.

After three days of acquaintance, he had formed a good impression of this spirit communicating young lady.

He then added, “However, just finding the correct path doesn’t ensure our safety. Entering that space might expose us to numerous monsters. I’m not sure what we’ll encounter exactly, but the danger is indeed very real. We need to prepare in advance.”

“Hmm.”

Camilla and Tracy Garcia nodded in acknowledgment.

Finding the breakthrough was, without doubt, the best news they had received yet.

Otherwise, they would truly have been trapped to death in this labyrinth..