[Established a relationship with core character Mike Anselm, plot points +20]
[Established a relationship with story character Lily, plot points +6]
[The character attributes of relationship target Mike Anselm have changed, plot points +50]
[The character attributes of relationship target Lily have changed, plot points +20]
Thanks to the fire, Richard and Steve's hotel rooms were slightly affected. Olin upgraded their rooms for free on behalf of the hotel. Not only did they refund the five days' room fees paid in advance, but they also solemnly stated that all their future room and board expenses would be on the house; they wouldn't have to pay a single cent.
Richard and Steve naturally accepted without hesitation; it was what they deserved.
Richard lay on the luxurious bed of the presidential suite, looking at the tape recorder he had asked from Mike Anselm. The pores on his arm holding the recorder trembled; he could clearly feel his body being wary of the object in his hand.
"Looking at the different endings of '1408 Phantom Room', Mike's recorder is always a story-related prop and the last thing remaining after the fire. If we treat the different endings as parallel dimensions, isn't it a bit too impressive that this recorder survives every time?"
"Even in this timeline, where I intentionally set the fire and with greater intensity than in the original story, the recorder remains unscathed. The answer is obvious: this recorder is no ordinary item." Richard fiddled with the recorder, having already reached a conclusion. "If I'm not mistaken, the power of the Phantom Room has been transferred into this recorder; it has become a mysterious object."
"After I take it back, I'll find a time to meet up with Eleven and listen to what's inside this recorder with her." Richard was very cautious and chose not to start the recorder immediately. He even wrapped it with tape and stuffed it into a wooden wine box he got from the hotel reception, packing it tightly into the foam to avoid accidental bumps that might trigger the start button.
After multiple physical seals, Richard felt somewhat relieved, sensing his trembling pores calm down. This was enough to prove his approach was correct.
Two days later, having put aside the town's trifles and enjoyed themselves outside, Richard and Steve finally returned to Hawkins Town.
That familiar feeling of being locked on returned. That bastard Henry was still staring at him, dammit.
Hearing the news of their return, their friends and family had gathered at Steve's house ahead of time to welcome them. Richard and Steve also happened to give out the souvenirs they had bought for everyone.
"I freaking love you, Chade!" Robin shouted in excitement after receiving a collection of signatures from many famous directors and stars. She treated the signature book, which had a market value of mere cents, like a precious treasure, running and jumping around the room.
When Mike and the other boys saw it, they turned green with envy because it also contained signatures of their favorite stars. Each holding their own gifts, they chased after Robin, clamoring for her to let them see the signature book while looking at Richard with a bit of grievance, asking why he didn't get more for them.
Richard shrugged and said with a kind smile, "Who told you not to say so earlier?"
"By the way, Robin." Richard suddenly remembered he had specifically bought a few more things, so he called out to Robin, who was messing around with the boys. Robin looked at him while clutching the signature book tightly. Richard took several video tapes out of a bag and smiled, "I bought a few new tapes that haven't reached the town yet. Let's watch them together when you have time."
"Okay." Robin's smile was like a blooming flower, her green eyes shimmering with a lively grace... Under the pretext of delivering souvenirs, Richard went alone to the cabin in the outskirts where Chief Hopper lived, delivering Eleven's share as well.
Richard opened Chief Hopper's gift box; another gift hidden inside like a Russian nesting doll was the one for Eleven. This way, the intelligence personnel who had been secretly tailing him and Hopper wouldn't be alerted.
Hopper had always trusted Richard's alertness and counter-surveillance skills. After drawing the curtains and secretly activating the traps set outside the house, he finally relaxed and asked Richard with a smile, "I heard the movie you kids made caught the eye of a big boss. Congratulations. I bet you had a great trip."
"It was okay. It might have been even better if everyone was there," Richard laughed.
As he spoke, he looked down at Eleven, who was gently tugging at his sleeve. Eleven, whose curly hair was now five inches long, looked up with her curious big eyes and asked with an eager smile, "Was that 'One Pear' state you went to fun?"
"It's Illinois. I even met your 'sister' there," Richard corrected Eleven's pronunciation and nodded.
"Sister!?" Eleven and Hopper's eyes widened instantly. Hopper frowned deeply and followed up in a low voice, "Tell me more."
Richard told them about his encounter with Number Eight, Carly. After hearing it, Hopper and Eleven both knew what kind of person Carly was, and the father and daughter couldn't help but sigh.
Ultimately, these were all the sins committed by The Lab.
"Did that girl named Carly ever call you?" Hopper asked curiously.
Richard shook his head. "Not yet, but I know she'll come around sooner or later. I don't think seeking revenge is wrong; I just think there's something wrong with her methods. Something's bound to go wrong sooner or later. I just hope that when the day she realizes it comes, nothing happens that she'll regret."
Chief Hopper scratched his head; he couldn't say much either. Ever since he came into contact with The Upside Down and The Lab, he realized that some things in reality couldn't be brought to justice through the law.
"I actually came to see Eleven today for something else," Richard said as he took out the tape recorder wrapped in yellow tape from his pocket. "I need Eleven's help."
Seeing that the object after the tape was removed was a tape recorder, Hopper couldn't help but be puzzled. "What's so special about a tape recorder that it deserves such vigilance?"
"This recorder is not ordinary." Seeing the recorder at the same time, Eleven's expression turned solemn. Her superpower allowed her to perceive a certain unknown mysterious power hidden within the recorder. It wasn't powerful, but it could be fatal to ordinary people.
Seeing that even Eleven had become so cautious, Hopper also turned serious. He and Richard moved away from the recorder—one hid behind the sofa, and the other lay behind the sofa holding a stick.
The task of turning on the recorder was left to Eleven!