Eldritch Horror Theatre

A few seconds later, the monochrome gray that had shrouded everything completely dissipated, and the surroundings returned to normal.

To the sound of slow, rhythmic clapping, a figure draped head to toe in a robe strolled to a stop a short distance away, looking Fu Qian up and down.

”A pity. I actually quite liked this coat.”

For the moment, Fu Qian ignored the man, looking down at his own clothes instead.

The withered bone spear from earlier had pierced straight through the waist area, leaving a massive tear in the thick coat.

”I have to say, your performance was even better than I expected!”

The man wasn’t offended by the slight. He reached up and pulled back his hood, offering his praise.

”I’m flattered. And you are?”

His lament for his coat finished, Fu Qian looked up and offered a modest reply.

The man before him looked to be in his thirties and of average build. His pupils were pitch-black like ink, exuding an eerily profound depth.”Ji Yicheng.”

The newcomer introduced himself with a smile.

The surname Ji?

No wonder he looks familiar. He must share some blood with that guy, Ji Ping.

”So earlier... was that a provocation?”

Fu Qian glanced over to where the monster had fallen, pointing at the hole in his coat.

Without waiting for a response, he popped the cylinder of his revolver. Pointing the muzzle upward, he let the spent casings clatter to the ground.

Then he fished out fresh bullets and loaded them one by one, right in front of the man.

”Just a greeting. Of course, if you had truly been too weak, you definitely would have died in there.”

Watching Fu Qian’s actions, Ji Yicheng spoke nonchalantly, his expression completely unwavering.

”The fact that you survived proves you have some real skill.”

”What kind of experience made you give up so decisively?”

”I have professional ethics.”

Fu Qian snapped the loaded cylinder back into place and spoke at a measured pace.

”Don’t worry, the people following you have been lured away. No one will know what we discuss here.”

A faint smile touched Ji Yicheng’s face as he gently coaxed him.

”Unfortunately, my answer is still that I don’t know.”

Fu Qian simply shook his head.

It was the honest truth. When he had crossed over, his head had already been smashed in; he had no idea whatsoever what had happened the day before.

”Very well. I like a man with principles.”

Despite not getting an answer, Ji Yicheng didn’t look angry.

”Have you considered joining us?”

”You might not realize this, but your current situation isn’t looking too great. Whether you stick to your principles or not, the people from Siren won’t necessarily be reasonable.”

”And here in the Wasteland, the Ji Clan is pretty much their only rival right now. Guaranteeing your safety would be no problem at all.”

”That sounds quite reasonable. It seems I have no reason to refuse.”

Since his face was hidden by a mask, Fu Qian simply rubbed his temples.

”I’m guessing you’re about to say ’but’?”

Ji Yicheng looked at him in amusement.

”Right. But—”

Fu Qian flashed the card Old Man Tyr had given him.

”I’ve already accepted Old Man Tyr’s offer. I’m preparing to work with him.”

Old Man Tyr was exuding absolute confidence just moments ago. His heroic posture of entirely disregarding the Siren Group is still fresh in my mind. Adding the Ji Clan to his plate shouldn’t be a big deal... right?

”Tyr.”

Ji Yicheng froze for a moment, then shook his head with a chuckle.

”He’s an interesting man. Too bad he’s also an old man. His era has passed.”

”The more chaotic a place is, the more you’ll realize the value of an organization.”

”Not only does it increase your chances of survival, it also greatly improves your efficiency in advancing.”

”This isn’t a threat. I’m just stating the facts.”

”I can agree with that much.”

Fu Qian nodded, pointing at their surroundings.

”By the way, what was that just now?”

”You don’t even recognize Ash Descent?”

For the first time, a look of genuine surprise appeared on Ji Yicheng’s face.

”If you want that, I can only sincerely apologize. That ability originates from true talent. Even among the members of our family, not everyone can master it.”

”You’re overthinking it. It just looked familiar.”

Fu Qian shook his head.

”I ran into a guy named Ji Ping earlier. He used a similar move.”

”Ji Ping?”

When Ji Yicheng repeated the name, there was visible disgust on his face.

”Just a delusional piece of trash. He has no talent, so he only thinks about dabbling in crooked schemes.”

So that Ji Ping was actually another Huang Yuanchang?

He couldn’t achieve Awakening with his inherited family ability, so he cobbled one together through limb grafting instead?

Based on Ji Yicheng’s reaction, a whole plotline quickly pieced itself together in Fu Qian’s mind.

”So, after saying all this, have I changed your mind?”

Ji Yicheng clearly didn’t want to dwell on that topic. He shifted the conversation and asked directly.

”No.”

Fu Qian’s response was just as blunt.

”Figured as much.”

”Do you know the worst vice of mortals? It’s that they always think they’re important.”

”Actually, contrary to what you might imagine, I have no interest in learning anything from you.”

”Don’t believe me? You discovered a new entrance down there, didn’t you? And inside, there was a giant Mirror?”

”I even know that aside from you cannon fodder hired from the outside, two of Siren’s own people died.”

”Keep going, I’m listening.”

Fu Qian nodded repeatedly as he listened. Free intel delivered right to my door!

”What ridiculous persistence.”

Seeing Fu Qian still putting on airs, Ji Yicheng smiled contemptuously.

”What did you secretly bring out of there? A Feather from the ground?”

”Don’t insult my professional ethics. How come I don’t remember hiding anything?”

Fu Qian shot back immediately.

”Perhaps. And that might be exactly why you didn’t die.”

Ji Yicheng stared at Fu Qian for a moment, then shook his head.

”Anyway, the invitation from earlier still stands. Whenever you figure things out, you can come find me.”

”In fact, if you were smart enough, you’d realize you already have no other choice. After all, even if Siren’s people don’t know about this conversation, the information I just revealed gives them more than enough reason to act.”

With a loud laugh, the man strode away with a dashing air.

What a lively place this is!

Fu Qian sighed inwardly as he watched the man’s retreating back.

I wasted five bullets, but it wasn’t a total loss.

This brother with his dramatic flair actually fed me quite a bit of valuable information.

The Siren Group found a Mirror in the Underground Ruins? It’s hard to imagine what kind of scene that was.

Not to mention, Ji Yicheng even brought up Feathers.

It seems that place really might be my objective.

But in that case, my task just got a little daunting.

To completely conceal the Secret Angel Dungeon—taken literally, that at least means wiping it entirely from human sight.

Yet plenty of people know about this place right now, and the Two Major Corporations are both eyeing it like hungry tigers.

Find a way to completely bury the Dungeon? No matter how I look at it, that’s a massive engineering project, and it might not even work.

Bury everyone who knows about it? I suppose that’s one way to go.