Eldritch Horror Theatre

To think she had relaxed enough to rely on her feelings!

His employer’s condition had indeed worsened.

Looking at Madam Sissi’s radiant smile, Fu Qian praised her silently.

That hidden, omnipresent aggressiveness was no longer obvious. It seemed she had taken his medical advice from yesterday to heart and was beginning to enter the legendary wallfacer state.

And that ultimate form meant exactly this: other than Madam Sissi herself, no one knew whether she truly believed she was still an actor. It was a textbook first step in reverse-trolling her audience.

He believed that over time, this would lay a solid foundation for cognitive disorder.

But that didn’t matter. Across the dimension of time, feelings were the most precious thing.

At the same time, fishing in troubled waters was his specialty. Regardless of her motives, once she grew accustomed to a few new behavioral patterns and found herself caught between feeling and reason, he could consider applying a little psychological guidance.

”I’m leaving today. I had Tan Ying bring me over to see you before I go.”

Madam Sissi mentioned casually.To see me, or to let me look at you?

He had the distinct feeling that, having taken his advice, she wanted to show off her wallfacer state.

Fu Qian wasn’t stingy with this request. As he studied her, he allowed an appreciative expression to show.

”You aren’t staying a couple more days?”

His attempt to make her stay remained utterly insincere.

”No. I came in too much of a rush this time and left a lot of things behind.”

Madam Sissi seemed quite satisfied with his reaction, and predictably shook her head.

”When I pay your next salary, I’ll consider staying a few more days.”

Truly fitting for someone troubled by inheritance disputes. She spoke with real finesse.

Fu Qian sighed inwardly.

”Let’s go. I’ll treat you two to lunch.”

The employer had come with funds in hand, and had even pointed it out herself. How could he not play the host?

...

As a conscientious employer, Madam Sissi ultimately didn’t make Fu Qian spend any money, choosing instead to accept Tan Ying’s suggestion.

The latter clearly approved of Fu Qian’s cooking skills; she had even bought the ingredients beforehand, leaving them in the car parked downstairs.

From their subsequent conversation, he learned she had bought everything according to Madam Sissi’s preferences. It was a thoroughly well-planned operation.

After a bout of bustling kitchen work, the resulting lunch proved to be a delight for both host and guests.

From start to finish, whether it was the Bronze Madam or the giant brain, Madam Sissi didn’t mention a single word about either, exuding an air of absolute confidence.

...

By the time he asked Tan Ying to drive her to the airport, the sun was already slanting westward. Fu Qian tidied up the house, put on the Bronze Circlet, and activated the Imprint on his wrist.

Given that the Bronze Madam had clearly lost its transcendent properties, he chose to stay at home.

[Warning: Leak Incident]

[Name: Oath Dragon, Code 2-002]

[Today’s work content has been updated. Enter the 2-002 Containment Scenario and complete re-containment.]

[Consume 1 SAN Value to begin?]

So it still didn’t work?

Amidst the entirely unsurprising system prompt, Fu Qian’s attention was focused on another voice.

The facts proved that the ravings he heard after putting on the circlet hadn’t changed at all just because he was in the Warehouse.

Location could also be largely ruled out as a factor. It seemed Classmate Liushuang was locked in as a volunteer.

Fu Qian shook his head, took off the circlet, and placed it on the table.

[Yes]

A moment later, he responded with his mind.

...

[Today’s work begins. Entering the 2-002 Containment Scenario.]

[Current SAN Value: 107. Current inspiration: 99.]

[Select the skills and items you wish to carry.]

Everything seemed perfectly normal. The designation number wasn’t exceptionally high or low, and there were no restrictions on abilities or items.

Most importantly, his status was currently at one hundred percent.

It seemed he could once again flex his muscles on his beloved weekend.

Greatly comforted, Fu Qian ran through his familiar ”select all” confirmation routine, then shifted his gaze toward the equipment on the table.

Should he... actually just stick to his bare fists this time?

Quickly making up his mind, he decisively abandoned all his weapons, including Mercy, and instead packed his inventory full of various support items.

Of course, that was just a nice way of putting it.

Given his history of repeatedly destroying equipment, apart from the Ring that could easily sink into his flesh, the only other items truly convenient to carry at the moment were the Eternally Lucid Mind and the Insect Whistle.

Naturally, he also brought along the highly recognizable Pope-Bestowed Mask.

Though he didn’t intend to wear it the whole time, keeping a low profile was an eternal virtue.

[...1%...5%...15%...45%...75%...95%...100%, Containment Scenario loaded.]

[In the Wasteland Depths, within the Ancient Ruins.

Even far from any gathering places, traveling hunters occasionally wish to take a brief rest.

The small shop amidst the ruins emerged in response to this need. Amidst the struggle on the precipice of life and death, food and alcohol offer an indescribable temptation.

Of course, for transcendents, these two things are still far from being survival necessities, so its business is not exactly booming.

But today is different. In this usually desolate shop, transcendents of various origins and distinct abilities have gathered.

Because for these few days every year, the Bright Light can descend from the sky at any moment, and the power hidden in the gaps of the world will manifest.

As long as one enters it, they might reap some reward within that unreal existence.

Any transcendent capable of reaching this place is unwilling to pass up this opportunity.

Perhaps this is why the shop’s owner persists.

Naturally, regardless of the time of year, the price of food and alcohol here is extraordinarily high.

Fortunately, you will not go hungry for the time being. Furthermore, regardless of the time of year, simply staying a night in the ruins behind the shop requires no payment.]

What the...

Leaving aside the fact that it sounded like he had returned to the Wasteland, what was with the end of that mission briefing?

Was the Warehouse teaching him thrift and frugality?

Running a mission, and it wouldn’t even print out a little virtual funding for him?

As he frowned and silently complained, his senses recovered.

[Containment Fulfillment Conditions: Ensure the Oathbreaker survives until dawn arrives.]

However, this time, the Containment Fulfillment Conditions appeared quite smoothly.

It was just its nature and title...

Saving someone instead of killing them was one thing, but... Oathbreaker?

Combining this title with the earlier mention of ”once a year” made it far too easy to recall the various covenants he had encountered before.

He wondered if the Bright Light that this crowd of fine transcendents was chasing on this trip was related to it.

Furthermore, with a deadline of dawn, the mission’s time limit wasn’t long.

Through a nearby window, Fu Qian checked the sky outside.

A bright moon hung high in the sky. It looked to be approaching midnight.

In other words, the mission would take ten hours at most.

The working hours were fairly humane.

At the same time, he probably wouldn’t have to expend too much effort figuring out how to hide a corpse.

That’s right. The moment his senses had recovered, Fu Qian immediately noticed the stench of blood right in front of him.

Of course, unlike his last visit, the head that had exploded this time wasn’t his own.

At this very moment, a headless corpse lay sprawled at his feet. Blood flowed freely, a mere half-step away from his toes.