Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Can I go?”

Daniel’s sudden brutality clearly terrified Medea.

Watching Joseph’s body slump to the floor, she clamped a hand tightly over her mouth to stifle a scream.

’Fast reflexes.’

Fu Qian nodded from the sidelines, looking appreciative.

He perfectly understood Daniel’s actions.

His own unexpected arrival had clearly pushed the situation beyond saving.

Whatever tacit agreement Daniel had shared with Joseph had been rendered entirely meaningless by the presence of an extra witness.

Based on their earlier encounter, Daniel clearly lacked the confidence to silence Fu Qian right then and there. Under these circumstances, how to wrap things up became a serious problem.

The crux was that even if Daniel abandoned the idea of more murder, earning Medea’s trust would be incredibly difficult, let alone convincing her to keep quiet about tonight’s events.Under these conditions, poor Joseph had ultimately become the sacrificial lamb, allowing Daniel to practice a little Turning Waste into Treasure.

Daniel had deliberately let Joseph grab Medea, snapping a photo while the two were entangled.

The camera had already spat out the photo, ensuring the scene was recorded.

Daniel’s goal was crystal clear: by murdering a man right in front of her and then letting her walk free, he was willingly handing her leverage over him. It was a proactive show of sincerity.

At the same time, he now held a photograph of the newly deceased man grappling with her. If she still wanted to rat him out, she would have to fully explain the context of that picture.

Medea had to weigh the price she would pay for exposing him, while simultaneously trying to make anyone believe her.

This mutual blackmail struck a delicate balance, allowing the chaotic situation to finally settle.

”Yes, you can go.”

Daniel repeated himself in response to her subconscious question, though he kept his eyes locked on Fu Qian.

He wasn’t particularly worried about Medea. The crux of the matter was actually Fu Qian’s relationship with the woman.

Unlike his earlier fury, he now desperately hoped the two were actually working together. Otherwise, there was no telling what Fu Qian might do.

”You want me to... keep everything that happened tonight a secret?”

Medea had finally caught up, understanding the intent behind Daniel’s actions. For a moment, her emotions were a complicated mess.

”If possible, I’d like you to keep absolutely everything a secret.”

Failing to glean anything from Fu Qian’s expression, Daniel helplessly turned back to Medea.

”Alright!”

The air was heavy and suffocating. Upon hearing his request, Medea stared fiercely at him for a full minute before slowly nodding.

At the same time, she pointed at the camera in Daniel’s hand.

”Give me that.”

...

Daniel’s eyes narrowed at her demand, but after a brief hesitation, he handed it over.

”Come a little closer.”

Medea took the camera, but instead of retreating, she moved forward. She stepped right up to Joseph’s corpse and gestured for Daniel to approach.

Click!

Another flash of light erupted. She had just taken a group photo of herself, Daniel, and Joseph’s body on the floor.

”I have no choice. I don’t trust you.”

Gripping the freshly printed photo, Medea watched the image slowly develop as she shook her head at him.

”And of course, I know you don’t trust me either.”

”But with this, I think we can both feel a little more secure.”

”Haha... Perfect!”

Daniel stared at Medea for a long moment before bursting into laughter.

”This really is much better.”

”You don’t have to worry, and I don’t have to worry about you worrying.”

He clearly understood her logic.

With this group photo taken, Joseph’s murder had practically become a Rashomon situation.

Neither of them could clear their names, and aside from the people involved, no one else would ever know the absolute truth of what happened.

This way, without absolute certainty, he wouldn’t dare make a move against her. And with this layer of security, he didn’t have to worry about her arbitrarily exposing the incident.

For both of them, exposing the truth had become a bad option.

’This woman is quick on her feet.’

”But does he agree?”

After finishing his laugh, Daniel suddenly pointed at Fu Qian.

”I’ve told you several times now. I was just taking a walk. You two do as you please.”

Even as their clash suddenly roped him back in, Fu Qian maintained his lazy posture.

He had absolutely no desire to step forward and join their group photo.

...

Medea clearly had enough self-knowledge not to expect that she could influence Fu Qian to wade any deeper into these muddy waters.

His willingness to show himself earlier had already saved her life.

Otherwise, her fate tonight would have been utterly unthinkable.

”Alright, let’s leave it at that for tonight.”

From Medea’s reaction, Daniel realized she had no real sway over Fu Qian. Disappointed, he didn’t dare push his luck for the moment.

He needed to find someone to clean up the body immediately. If anyone else stumbled across the scene, it would truly be beyond fixing.

So, he decisively gestured for Medea to leave.

Knowing when to quit, Medea confirmed she had escaped with her life and decisively pushed open the window to climb out, leaving the crime scene behind her.

...

”This is your car?”

After leaving the classroom, Medea was clearly a bit dazed. Seeing Fu Qian turn and leave, she subconsciously followed him.

Walking one after the other, the two quickly reached Fu Qian’s parked car.

Watching him open the door and sit down, Medea couldn’t help but ask, a look of pure astonishment on her face.

”More or less. Where do you live?”

”You’re driving me home?”

Finally processing his meaning, Medea looked a bit flattered and quickly gave an address.

”Get in.”

Fu Qian didn’t say another word, simply starting the car.

He wasn’t acting out of the goodness of his heart; it was just that the notification for his task’s completion still hadn’t appeared.

It seemed she hadn’t entirely escaped danger, so he could only see the good deed through to the end.

This was the exact same reason he hadn’t deliberately shaken her off moments ago.

He also hadn’t bothered to take a few extra turns before getting in, just to hide the car’s existence.

In fact, if Daniel managed to trace the car back to Terica, Fu Qian was rather looking forward to it.

A mafia family battling a chainsaw maniac—just thinking about it was thrilling.

”Thank you for what you did tonight.”

After the car had driven a fair distance, Medea finally stopped looking over her shoulder.

With her panic subsiding, she let out a long sigh of relief and finally remembered to thank him.

It was obvious that for her, this night had been far more stimulating than planned.

”It was the least I could do.”

Fu Qian replied with a polite platitude, his tone completely flat.