Eldritch Horror Theatre

He admitted it just like that?

It was obvious that Norvell, having just been tasked with searching the place, was once again shocked by Fu Qian’s level of cooperation.

Compared to the charlatans who spouted nothing but nonsense, this guy named Grimshaw was truly a bit different.

”Search everywhere.”

Compared to the young officer, his senior reacted with much less intensity, merely offering the reminder in that same sleep-deprived tone.

”Understood.”

Even though the senior officer sounded completely drained, Norvell clearly respected him deeply; he instantly caught himself and began busily searching the room.

”You can call me Tommy.”

After directing his partner, the older police officer turned back to Fu Qian, introducing himself before doing anything else.

”So please, continue, Mister Grimshaw.””Why did you deceive that client, and how did you do it?”

”First of all, there were no bugs on Claire. That was just an illusion I created.”

Fu Qian’s level of cooperation was on par with someone angling for a reduced sentence. As he spoke, he held up his left hand.

”The goal was to make her believe she was riddled with filth, prompting her to cooperate with my treatment.”

”So if there was nothing wrong with her, why did she need to cooperate with the treatment?”

Even though he was looking in Fu Qian’s direction, Tommy’s expression was so spaced out that one had to wonder how much he was actually hearing.

But Fu Qian had no doubts. Even though this Brother Tommy was just an ordinary person—and his age and lack of energy certainly weren’t faked—he was absolutely one of the most difficult types of law enforcement officers to deal with.

That much was obvious from the questions he asked.

The underlying meaning behind this seemingly stupid question was crystal clear—Tommy didn’t believe for a second that Fu Qian had done it for money.

He wanted to know why Fu Qian had gone to such great lengths to get Claire to take that bottle home.

”It’s simple. Claire’s husband isn’t as lucky as she is. The one I needed to treat wasn’t Mrs. Weasley, but Mister Weasley.”

”You know him?”

Even though it sounded like a flimsy excuse, a hint of sharpness finally appeared in Tommy’s eyes.

”No.”

...

”You’ve never met him, yet you knew there was a problem based solely on a few words from his family?”

Even though his search had taken him all the way into the bathroom, Norvell had clearly been eavesdropping, and finally couldn’t resist chiming in.

His question clearly hit the nail on the head, so much so that his partner, Tommy, didn’t mind the interruption at all. He simply looked back at Fu Qian, waiting for an answer.

”Yes. Because as a professional, I can communicate with a certain higher-dimensional perspective.”

Fu Qian pointed a finger at the ceiling, putting on a perfect show of theatricality.

”The lady who reported me probably didn’t tell you much about what Mister Weasley has been up to, did she?”

Fu Qian was fairly certain about this. Considering how reluctant Claire had been to reveal her husband’s name, they were likely figures of some standing in the area.

He had to set the mood, dispel her doubts, and carefully guide her just to get her to reveal that secret. Even if she filed a police report, she almost certainly wouldn’t have shared those details with the officers—though he, of course, wasn’t going to help keep her secret.

Such was human nature.

”She only mentioned that her husband had been acting a bit strangely lately.”

The mission briefing had been right. Given Loss’s excessively thick atmosphere of occult charlatanry, not only the Night Watchers but even the local police had grown somewhat desensitized to this sort of thing.

The claim about a higher-dimensional perspective didn’t seem to cause any ripples in the two cops’ emotions. Norvell, who was currently checking the toilet tank, even wore a look of disdain.

The older man was more polite. Faced with Fu Qian’s cooperative attitude, Tommy reciprocated by revealing a sliver of information for the first time.

”She was very worried and hoping for help, and then she ran into you.”

”There’s nothing wrong with putting it that way, of course, though some of the details might be a bit more exaggerated.”

Fu Qian nodded as he listened, casually describing Rick’s midnight Licking behavior.

...

Obviously, even for this city of charlatans, Rick’s actions were a bit too grotesque.

For a moment, it wasn’t just Norvell listening intently. Even Tommy, sitting across from him, frowned, his already aged face wrinkling further.

”The caller definitely didn’t mention that... So that was the basis for your diagnosis?”

After a moment of thought, Tommy gave an almost imperceptible nod.

”I’ve never been able to understand the logic of you people... But I have a very simple question. Why didn’t you just tell her directly instead of resorting to such methods?”

”Even using those methods, Claire still didn’t have the confidence to take that bottle to her husband, choosing to give it to you instead.”

Fu Qian offered a faint smile, sighing with the magnanimous air of a saint pitying the masses.

”If I had offered it to her directly, what do you think the odds are that she would have taken it?”

”How are you so sure she gave it to us?”

While Tommy was deep in thought, Norvell returned from his search, looking as though he had found absolutely nothing.

”I just figured she wouldn’t have the guts to keep carrying it around with her.”

Politely gesturing for the young officer to take a seat, Fu Qian indicated that it was merely a guess.

”For all I know, someone among you is studying that bottle right now. I know it’s hard to believe, but honestly, it’s perfectly safe to drink straight from the bottle.”

”Like holy water that only purifies evil.”

Tommy chimed in at exactly the right moment, showing that he completely understood Fu Qian’s meaning.

”Anything else?”

”There is... Treating an extra person means I get double the pay.”

Fu Qian pointed at the business card in the officer’s hand.

”Regardless, as a commercial endeavor, striving for a higher payout is simply a sign of respect for the business.”

”I have to say, if your peers were as honest as you, our jobs would be a lot easier.”

Tommy glanced at his empty-handed partner.

”One small, extra question: what would happen if Mister Weasley didn’t receive your treatment?”

”Hard to say. He might die.”

Fu Qian didn’t exaggerate the consequences, continuing his honest assessment.

”And drinking your medicine will save his life? That pitch finally makes you sound like one of your peers.”

”It’s not that easy.”

Fu Qian waved his hands repeatedly, rejecting Brother Tommy’s false praise.

”He still might die. It would just help him die a bit cleaner.”

...

It was obvious that even a seasoned veteran like Tommy was moved by the sheer bluntness of that answer, temporarily at a loss for words.

But having been through hundreds of battles, he quickly gave up trying to formulate a response and instead gestured at Fu Qian’s seat.

”Do you mind letting Norvell check your seat?”

”Not at all.”

Fu Qian stood up briskly, making room for the young man.

The result was obvious. Even though Norvell searched with utmost diligence—looking as if he wanted to lick the floor clean—there was no way that hidden compartment would be there.

”That’s enough.”

Realizing this quickly, Tommy immediately called his partner off and turned back to Fu Qian.

”So how exactly did you do it? The illusion Claire saw.”

”That’s simple.”

Fu Qian chuckled, a swirling mass of black and red flashing briefly in the palm of his hand.

”That wasn’t an illusion. It was Transcendent Tier power.”