Eldritch Horror Theatre

”It was fine. Honestly, I was just using public office for private gain, handling a few personal matters under the guise of a scientific expedition.”

Faced with Li Weixuan’s concern, Fu Qian responded with unnerving sincerity, silently marveling that he was indeed developing the demeanor of a true heavyweight.

As everyone knows, those truly attending to myriad affairs daily rarely have to look for tasks; the tasks find them.

Li Weixuan’s purpose for visiting couldn’t be more obvious. As for the inquiry he had passed along through Classmate Liushuang yesterday, she must have relayed the feedback immediately.

Still, considering it was such a trivial matter, for someone of his status to pay a personal visit just to discuss it after receiving a preliminary reply certainly sparked a bit of curiosity.

”...Professor Fu is certainly honest.”

Li Weixuan was clearly taken aback by the overly straightforward answer.

After a brief moment of surprise, however, he let out a hearty laugh.

He showed absolutely no intention of pressing the issue, and his demeanor actually relaxed even further.

”I was worried you had been working too hard, but it seems there’s no need to be concerned about that.””Liushuang has already told me about the Night Watchers. I appreciate your willingness to help, and I came over today mainly to discuss a few details.”

Seemingly influenced by Fu Qian’s communication style, Li Weixuan didn’t beat around the bush. Having frankly stated his purpose, he spoke quite directly.

”Although the matter seems relatively simple, the underlying issues are slightly unusual. Once you understand the situation, if you decide you’d rather not get involved, that’s completely fine.”

”Understood.”

Fu Qian gave a slight nod. Faced with this somewhat odd phrasing, something occurred to him a moment later.

”Does this have something to do with Yi’an?”

If Li Weixuan felt he was the right person for the job while also going out of his way to emphasize that he could refuse after consideration, the subject matter was clearly a bit sensitive.

And during his time at the Academy, the only real scientific achievement he had placed out in the open was the battle where he snuffed out the genius Professor Yi’an.

Had the Night Watchers uncovered something new in that regard?

”To be exact... what they need our help with next is confirming whether or not it’s related.”

...

This wasn’t their first time dealing with each other, and Li Weixuan had clearly anticipated the sharpness of this newly advanced Demigod.

Even so, the sheer smoothness of the exchange left him slightly surprised.

”The situation itself is simple. After the incident caused by Yi’an was officially reported, the Night Watchers didn’t raise any objections in their feedback regarding our handling of it.”

Li Weixuan first relayed the final verdict on the recent Demigod incident.

It sounded as though the Academy’s decisive and firm self-correction had finally earned the Night Watchers’ approval, and they had no intention of pursuing the matter further.

”However, they did make an additional request. They even sent someone specifically to deliver an item.”

As he said this, Li Weixuan’s expression was a bit strange.

”I don’t have it on me, but to describe it roughly, it looks like dozens of finger bones gripping and tangling around each other to form a ball.”

”The explanation from the Night Watchers Headquarters is that this item was confiscated not long ago, and it exerts a peculiar influence over human desires.”

”And the abnormal behavior of the victims described in the report we submitted led them to draw a few related connections.”

”So they are hoping the Academy can assist in confirming any correlation, to help them re-evaluate its danger level.”

So that was it. An item suspected of possessing properties related to Ecstasy?

Li Weixuan clearly hadn’t picked up the bad habit of giving long-winded executive speeches; he had explained the entire situation in just a few words.

As for the item he mentioned, Fu Qian could already picture its distinctive shape.

For Yi’an’s incident to resolve so smoothly was clearly a massive relief for the Academy, and especially the Linghui Courtyard.

Under these circumstances, they were more than happy to satisfy a minor request from the Night Watchers.

Especially since the Night Watchers’ request was perfectly reasonable. Taking a suspected related item to an academic institution for an evaluation report was entirely appropriate.

...

”The Night Watchers aren’t taking a heavy-handed approach; they simply said they hope we can help confirm it.”

Seeing that Fu Qian wasn’t showing any doubts, Li Weixuan immediately continued.

”So initially, I handed it over to Chang Mo to handle, and Yuan Fang sent someone over to assist as well.”

”But once I heard Professor Fu had returned, I felt you might be better suited for the task, so I asked Classmate Liushuang to make an inquiry.”

That much was true. Considering he was the very person who had personally snuffed out Brother Yi’an, and his Rank had already reached the Demigod Realm, they probably couldn’t find anyone in the entire Academy more suitable for the job.

Nodding slightly, Fu Qian expressed his agreement with Li Weixuan’s reasoning.

He naturally remembered Chang Mo, the female tutor from the Sword Comprehension Institute who was fiercely protective of Ji Liushuang.

Although her Rank wasn’t particularly high, her thinking was clearly quite meticulous, so drafting a testing report wouldn’t be much of a problem for her.

Theoretically, of course, the Sword Comprehension Institute crowd didn’t excel in this field; someone from Linghui would have been the most suitable fit.

But since they were the faction that had caused this incident and paid a massive price for it, between not wanting to cause further complications and urging them to atone for their mistakes, Li Weixuan had apparently chosen the former.

As for the other people in the Apocalypse Branch?

Aside from his own absence, Cass had apparently also slipped away under the guise of a scientific expedition.

”That’s the general process. If Professor Fu would rather not invite any more trouble, I completely understand. Actually, based on the current evaluation results, the Night Watchers probably wouldn’t raise any objections either.”

’But you still chose to ask my opinion.’

Faced with Li Weixuan’s concluding remarks, Fu Qian silently replied in his mind.

As the acting dean, Li Weixuan wouldn’t exhaust himself just to put on a good show for the Night Watchers.

Taking the initiative to ask him this right after learning of his return meant his motives were likely genuine.

”Leave it to me.”

Fu Qian’s response was crisp.

”I have no desire to see any more of those utterly grotesque things either.”

”That’s great!”

Slightly surprised by Fu Qian’s decisive agreement, Li Weixuan made no effort to hide his satisfaction.

”Speaking purely from personal preference... I truly don’t want to see anything like that popping up anywhere ever again.”

”Understood. Do you need me to head over to the Sword Comprehension Institute to pick it up?”

Not doubting Li Weixuan’s words in the slightest, Fu Qian displayed a considerable amount of initiative.

”No need. I’ll just ask Professor Chang to bring it over in a bit.”

Clearly not intending to let Fu Qian trouble himself over this, Li Weixuan simply waved his hand.

”If you need any other assistance, Professor Fu, just say the word. I’ll arrange for them to cooperate fully.”

”There actually is something.”

His demeanor incredibly natural, Fu Qian didn’t hold back at all as he gestured around the room.

”I was just preparing to upgrade the Laboratory facilities.”