Eldritch Horror Theatre

”There really is a problem?”

Seeing Yuan Shan’s serious expression, Fu Qian played along, putting on a solemn face.

”Then you have your work cut out for you.”

...

And then? That was it!

Staring at Fu Qian’s complete lack of curiosity, Yuan Shan’s expectant expression gradually stiffened. She felt as if a mouthful of blood had lodged right in her chest.

’I already told you there was a problem, so ask me about it!’

’Ask me what kind of reaction or abnormalities the Gulade side showed!’

’It’s suffocating when you act like this, you know!’

After roaring repeatedly in her heart, Yuan Shan took a deep breath to calm her boiling blood.Her rich experience dealing with Fu Qian told her that competing with this guy in patience was a fool’s errand.

”Before our agreed time, I found an excuse to visit the Gulade side. When you created that phenomenon, I was drinking tea with Grantham.”

Even though Su Gao was right beside them, Yuan Shan made no attempt to hide their prior secret arrangement.

The fact that he had immediately asked about Gulade’s reaction just now meant he didn’t mind Su Gao knowing about this.

Just as she had speculated, the relationship between these two was far from shallow.

”Who is Grantham?”

Since the dignified Chief of the Night Watchers had lowered her stance like this, Fu Qian couldn’t easily continue playing dumb.

If she flew into a rage out of humiliation and got her acquaintances to come check his fire safety certificate, it wouldn’t end well.

Adjusting his expression, he played along and asked.

”Grantham Gulade. Peak Tier 4. He’s their main representative in the Shangjing Region, and among Gulade’s younger generation, he’s one of the less annoying ones.”

Seeing Fu Qian finally play along, Yuan Shan felt slightly mollified and answered quickly.

”So when you were drinking tea, did he do anything unusual?”

Fu Qian nodded, continuing to cooperate.

”That’s the problem. From beginning to end, Grantham didn’t show any unusual reactions.”

Yuan Shan let out a long sigh.

”Even when facing the solar anomaly, he just chatted with me about astronomy and geography, praising Shangjing as a place of illustrious people and blessed land.”

”Tsk, tsk—that is indeed suspicious!”

Fu Qian clicked his tongue, acknowledging the Chief’s worries.

”As the saying goes, when children go quiet, they are definitely up to no good.”

”Exactly!”

Yuan Shan sighed again, looking quite distressed.

”This group of snobs with their noses in the air has always thought highly of themselves. Acting overly restrained after suffering a previous loss was already very abnormal.”

”Now, as a race that favors the dark, his reaction to the sun being sealed was far too plain. He seemed extremely worried that I would misunderstand.”

”Until we figure out the reason, I’m genuinely worried they’re holding back some big move. Although I subtly warned him with my words, I’m not sure how much of an effect it had.”

”Also, I came this time to remind you to be careful. These guys are extremely petty. You took two things from them, and they definitely won’t just let it go.”

”Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful.”

Fu Qian showed a face full of sincere gratitude and said nothing more.

...

”Of course, I’m not the type to convict people on a whim. The reason I’m worried is that as we talked, I discovered that Ambor had actually come to Shangjing as well.”

Seeing Fu Qian failing to bite once again, Yuan Shan helplessly continued her solo act.

”And who is Ambor?”

”A nearly one-thousand-year-old vampire. He should be considered one of the oldest living demigods, and he wields considerable influence within the Blood Clan.”

”His movements have always been mysterious. His sudden appearance in Shangjing right now just makes me feel that something is wrong. Everything is far too coincidental.”

Yuan Shan frowned.

”Is that so... So when did this demigod Old Ai come to Shangjing?”

Fu Qian thought for a moment before asking.

”From what Grantham implied, it was very recently.”

”After the first anomaly?”

”It should have been before. Grantham didn’t look like he was lying.”

”Well, then it looks like it has absolutely nothing to do with me.”

Fu Qian nodded in satisfaction.

”Good luck.”

”Hey... I’m genuinely worried they might cause some kind of mess!”

Seeing Fu Qian quickly wash his hands of the matter, Yuan Shan finally grew anxious.

”Even if someone in the Gulade Household is trying to advance to Tier 2, and that’s why they are walking around with their tails between their legs, that would still be considered normal behavior, right? You shouldn’t have rules forbidding people from advancing.”

Fu Qian shook his head with an expression that said ’You are truly hard to please.’

”Not to that extent. I’m mainly worried they might harm ordinary people. Otherwise, I couldn’t care less about what they do! And even if someone really did advance to Tier 2, I could easily call people from headquarters to handle it.”

’How domineering! But why do I remember that the last person you called over ended up leaving on a stretcher?’

Seeing Chief Yuan exuding such dominance, Fu Qian silently sighed and pointed at the sky.

”Then why did you come find me? Don’t tell me you want me to step in again?”

”...That won’t be necessary for now. Just staying in Shangjing during this time to hold the fort for me will do.”

Yuan Shan explained.

”Given the lesson with Ariel last time, even though I don’t have a solid excuse, I’ve already forced some people to come over. They’re just still on the way.”

”However, with both you and Su Gao here, I feel much more at ease.”

Before coming, Yuan Shan clearly hadn’t expected such an unexpected harvest.

”What a coincidence, I was just about to go on a trip.”

Fu Qian didn’t mind lending a hand with some matters, but Chief Yuan had really made a habit of pressing people into service lately. He needed to make his firm stance of boycotting such unscrupulous behavior clear.

...

Fu Qian’s words sent Yuan Shan’s blood pressure spiking. She subconsciously cast her gaze toward Su Gao.

The girl had been listening earnestly this entire time. But facing Yuan Shan’s gaze, she turned to glance at Fu Qian and wasn’t in any rush to express a stance either.

’I...’

Faced with these two, even someone as used to strategizing within the command tent as Chief Yuan let out a helpless sigh.

...

”Mister Fang!”

Just as Yuan Shan was trying to rouse Fu Qian’s sense of responsibility, the door to The Bookstore was pushed open from the outside. A voice accompanied it, brimming with momentum.

’Sounds a little familiar!’

Scarlet eyes, pale skin.

Looking at the person who had just entered, Fu Qian quickly recognized him as his business partner, Taylor.

Having not seen him for a while, this young Blood Clan gentleman no longer showed the hesitation and helplessness he had when he left. Every movement he made was full of imposing presence.

”That thing you borrowed from me earlier, I wonder how your reading is coming along?”

The moment Brother Taylor walked in, he shouted aggressively.

The next moment, catching sight of Su Gao and Yuan Shan from the corner of his eye, he snorted.

”They’re closed. You two get out first—”

Before his words could finish, his body instantly stiffened as he saw the face Yuan Shan turned toward him.

’This...’

As a transcendent mingling in Shangjing, it was naturally impossible for him not to recognize this face.

The problem was that Yuan Shan had been facing away from the door, and with the massive gap in their Ranks, he hadn’t noticed anything unusual at all.

Most importantly, Taylor found it hard to imagine why this Chief of the Night Watchers would appear in this bookstore, and that vile boss was actually making her stand while talking.

’Wait, this one is a demigod, then the other one...’

The next moment, Taylor noticed the Curved Sword by Su Gao’s hand and her instantly sharp gaze.

Surrounded by three pairs of watching eyes, Taylor suddenly felt a mountain of pressure.

”This shop is operating normally.”

Fu Qian made a gesture, his face expressionless.

”You may reorganize your words.”