Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Isn’t this the Midnight Bookstore?”

The sole customer appeared engrossed in his book, but his underlying anxiety was obvious. He had been eavesdropping on their conversation from the moment Yuan Shan walked in.

Seeing Fu Qian brush her off so bluntly, he spoke up before he could be kicked out.

”No.”

Fu Qian gave him a puzzled look.

”Then why are you closing so early?”

The man found it entirely unacceptable that the quiet haven he had finally discovered was being snatched away so quickly.

”Eavesdropping is unethical. Besides, my revenue for the day currently sits at zero. A quick calculation tells me it’s clearly not a good day for business.”

Fu Qian rested his chin on his hand, his tone casual.

”Business shouldn’t just be about making money. You have a social responsibility...”Fu Qian offered no visible reaction, but the customer’s face still burned with embarrassment, and he instinctively set down his book.

”Such as rescuing insomniacs like yourself?”

Fu Qian nodded thoughtfully. He stood, walked over to the opposite bookshelf, and pulled out three massive tomes. After a quick flip through their pages, he selected the one packed with the most mathematical formulas and tossed it over.

”No discounts. Cash only.”

”I... I don’t understand math...”

Nearly struck by the flying brick of a book, the customer fumbled to catch it. He took one look and froze.

”Then it will be even more effective.”

Fu Qian remained expressionless, offering absolutely no room for negotiation.

...

The customer spent three solid seconds trying to muster his courage, but ultimately didn’t dare put the book back. Trembling, he dug out his cash and paid the bill.

”I’m going to file a complaint against you...”

Still, as he slunk away with the heavy book in his arms, the man couldn’t resist throwing out one last parting threat.

”Sure. Feel free to contact any relevant authorities.”

Fu Qian cheerfully agreed, even casting a pointed glance at Yuan Shan.

...

”It’s rare to see you take your business so seriously!”

As the customer left fully laden, Chief Yuan—who had watched the entire exchange—couldn’t help but offer a word of praise.

”I have no choice. When foot traffic is light, you have to put in some effort.”

Fu Qian spoke while expertly tying off a bag of trash.

Because when there were plenty of customers, driving them out directly was entertainment enough—there was no need to go to this kind of trouble, was there?

Yuan Shan sighed, finding it hard to accept that she understood his twisted logic so perfectly.

”But isn’t it a bit of a waste to sell a book to someone who can’t read it?”

”Not at all. When you pay full price for a book, no matter how dense it is, you’ll still inevitably flip through it.”

”...Let’s go. We have quite a distance to cover. Do you prefer a spacious ride or a quiet one?”

”Spacious and quiet.”

”Understood.”

...

”You’ve been busy lately. Did you travel anywhere interesting?”

Inside the cabin, Yuan Shan handed Fu Qian a cup of tea and asked with a smile.

”It was alright. Just a seaside vacation.”

Since she was keeping the tone casual, Fu Qian relaxed into his seat.

”Oh? Was it a good time?”

Yuan Shan’s expression appeared entirely genuine.

”I’m so jealous. I’ve been busy to the point of death over here!”

”The weather was terrible.”

Fu Qian shook his head, though inwardly he was extremely satisfied with Chief Yuan’s tact.

For this recent trip, he had used the Special-Grade Transit Permit she had given him. Theoretically, tracking his movements should have been effortless, yet she was acting as if she knew absolutely nothing.

Given the current situation, she had no reason to play dumb.

It seemed she had granted him a substantial right to be forgotten, to the point of strictly enforcing that blind spot even against herself.

It proved that his past blunt advice hadn’t fallen on deaf ears!

”That is a shame. But don’t be too disappointed—the weather where we’re heading is fantastic.”

Yuan Shan offered a word of comfort, sounding genuinely eager for the trip back.

”It really has been far too long since I last went back!”

”That reminds me. This is the Night Watchers Headquarters we’re talking about. I figured you’d have some sort of dimensional portal set up. Do we really just have to fly the whole way?”

Fu Qian blinked.

”I understand how you feel, but traversing space isn’t exactly the most reliable method in this world.”

Yuan Shan explained with a smile, gesturing at their surroundings.

”Transit methods of that nature are incredibly rare. Look on the bright side, though—it gives us more time to chat. Are you satisfied with the environment?”

”Not bad.”

Fu Qian looked around the cabin, which was far more spacious and lavishly decorated than any transport he had taken previously.

”Is this your private jet?”

”Mine is nowhere near this large. This isn’t a Night Watchers asset.”

Yuan Shan smiled and shook her head.

”Didn’t you ask for a spacious ride? The original passengers made a sudden decision to postpone their trip.”

What a power move!

Hardly any time had passed since he made his choice. Those ’human elites’ had probably been dragged right off the plane before takeoff.

Fu Qian marveled inwardly, not finding a single thing wrong with this arrangement.

He had pulled a similar stunt just a few days ago, after all.

”So, can you finally reveal the reason for this trip?”

”No. The answer to that question currently falls outside my authority.”

Yuan Shan shook her head flatly.

”What I can tell you is this: our first stop is to meet someone. He is greatly looking forward to this exchange, and he will determine his next steps based on its outcome.”

”Does that include executing me on the spot?”

Fu Qian nodded repeatedly as he listened, then posed a rather pointed question.

”I can’t completely rule that out... but I will do everything in my power to prevent it.”

Yuan Shan’s reply was earnest and direct. A moment later, her voice softened.

”So, thank you for agreeing to come.”

”But look on the bright side. It’s a deeply fascinating place. Assuming the worst-case scenario doesn’t come to pass, I’m certain you’ll love it!”

As expected of a regional chief, her emotional control was top-tier. Within a second, she had smoothly pivoted back into tour-guide mode.

”If you’re lucky, you might even get to visit Su Gao.”

”She’s here too?”

The heroic image of his own personal top-tier enforcer naturally surfaced in Fu Qian’s mind.

”Not often. She’s been incredibly busy lately.”

Yuan Shan sighed.

”The world is only growing more chaotic by the day.”

...

In all fairness, this rather lengthy march to a potential execution was an incredibly comfortable and relaxing ride.

Although Yuan Shan was highly principled and steadfastly refused to mention a single word regarding the Blazing Rainbow, she was in an excellent mood for conversation now that she was off the clock. She spent the time filling Fu Qian in on the recent happenings back in Shangjing.

According to her, the situation with Gulade had been entirely resolved.

In the end, the ancient family expressed profound gratitude to the Night Watchers for being perceptive down to the smallest detail and stepping in to purge the cancer within their ranks. They also formally pledged their full support for the new municipal officer, Gan Zuoxun.

Meanwhile, A Certain Eldest Miss Wen, after maintaining a low profile to consolidate her strength for a few days, had finally reappeared at social gatherings. Her rocket-like promotion speed was thus exposed, dealing the transcendent realm of Shangjing a hefty dose of ”genius shock.”

Her current momentum was staggering. She had completely overshadowed the past reputations of Northern Jiang En and South Taylor, and was now being hailed as the figure most likely to win back Shangjing’s honor from Dayun Mingwang.

As for those two eclipsed prodigies, both had been thoroughly humbled by the recent storms and were keeping their heads down, completely vanishing from the public eye.

These sorts of juicy anecdotes, paired with top-tier inflight cuisine, kept Fu Qian highly entertained.

Of course, none of that could compare to the sheer shock he received as they finally approached their destination.

”Are you sure we haven’t taken a wrong turn?”

Fu Qian pulled his gaze back from the handful of landmarks he could faintly recognize outside the window, his brows knit together.

”Not quite the aesthetic you were imagining?”

Yuan Shan, however, wore an expression of pure enjoyment, looking as though she had been eagerly anticipating this exact reaction.

”Yeah. In my head, even if it wasn’t some holy sanctuary or demonic domain, it should have at least been a hidden fortress deep in the mountains, or maybe a floating city. But this is—”

”Casino City.”

Yuan Shan confirmed his observation.

”But I must correct your phrasing. This is indeed the Secret Sanctuary. Welcome to—”

Her expression shifted to absolute seriousness in a split second.

”Sacred Night Capital.”

...No wonder I’ve never heard anyone mention the Night Watchers Northern Headquarters before.