Eldritch Horror Theatre

[Entering Containment Scenario 2-013]

[Current SAN Value: 185]

[Due to load limitations, you cannot carry any additional items.]

[Due to load limitations, most damage will no longer be repaired after task completion.]

[Select the skill you wish to carry.]

As it turned out, stressing over work attire was often completely pointless.

Following Fu Qian’s confirmation, a series of prompts quickly appeared.

And compared to last time, it was obvious that nothing had improved.

His inspiration was still missing, and the only skill he could carry was still the King of the Abandoned Prison.

Of course, for a mission numbered 2, it was something of a comfort that the Warehouse hadn’t pulled an outrageous move like restricting his abilities.Also, the illusory image that appeared in the Warehouse this time looked reasonably clear. It was just the shape... a roundabout?

Fu Qian knew mysticism didn’t really fit with that word, but as someone with decent driving experience, he couldn’t help but connect the pattern floating before his eyes to everyday life.

The shape really was similar, even if it was a bit short on lanes with only two.

Amidst his silent critique, Fu Qian expertly selected the skill and confirmed.

[......8%...13%...21%...34%...55%...89%...100%, Containment Scenario loaded]

[The road is beneath your feet; you are on the road.

This is one of the only two things you can confirm right now.

As for the other point, it is that you are lost.

Everything before your eyes is so unfamiliar, as if you are seeing it for the first time.

Even though in the original plan, this was a familiar old road.]

......

Was it really related to traffic? Lost right from the start, even.

But being unfamiliar with what was before his eyes—that hardly seemed necessary to emphasize, did it?

After all, inheriting a character’s memories was a luxury he rarely encountered. How many times had a mission begun where he wasn’t facing an unfamiliar scene?

The mission introduction this time was evidently rather short; even the core information seemed to merely be about a traveler losing their way.

However, as a professional, Fu Qian still easily extracted something odd from it.

And such a situation, paired with the final mention of an old road in the mission introduction, sounded a bit contradictory.

Amidst his curiosity, the scenery shifted, and the appearance of the old road was already presented before his eyes.

”What do you want to buy?”

Hearing the voice before seeing the person, the very first thing to hit his face was a demanding question.

......

He could tell that the owner of the voice was very displeased.

He sounded exactly like a shopkeeper who hadn’t made a single sale all day, only for his first customer to just stand at the counter staring blankly in silence—

Fu Qian raised his head, looking in the direction the voice came from.

There indeed was a counter there, and there indeed was a person behind it.

It had to be said that from his face alone, he really did have the aura of someone who would assault a customer for no reason.

Looking to be in his forties or fifties, it was a middle-aged man wearing a plaid shirt.

He was sunburnt red all over, his hair and beard still quite thick, and one could tell at a glance they were specifically groomed.

Looking just at his face, he was relatively gaunt, to the point that his wrinkles were quite obvious.

However, an oversized paunch still reflected a slight decline in metabolism—and that the man himself minded this point very much.

”You... what exactly do you want to buy?”

As Fu Qian’s gaze fell on his lower abdomen, the second demand was directly provoked, and the redness of the shopkeeper’s face even increased.

Interesting......

Fu Qian withdrew his offensive gaze, shifting it to land on the display window behind the man—

Cigarettes and liquor, a truly classic arrangement.

The variety was not very rich. Regular customers shouldn’t be too many, which in turn fit the boss’s current mental state.

As for the other things placed a little further away, it could also be seen that they leaned more toward travel editions, which somewhat matched the earlier mission introduction—it was just that his own image didn’t look very suitable for a long journey.

While looking at the items, through the reflection on the display window, Fu Qian didn’t neglect to observe himself a bit.

His conclusion was that the Warehouse seemed to be getting a bit more perfunctory.

It wasn’t his original appearance. At first glance, he even thought a new face had been sculpted for him.

But as long as he examined it closely, he could tell it seemed to be a drastic modification on his original foundation, so that he no longer had that academic air, and overall looked much more childish.

Even his clothes, although not the formal suit from earlier, were worn in a similarly straight-laced manner, not looking very suitable for traveling far.

Even the shop owner before his eyes wasn’t being polite on account of this innocent look.

He made no further sound after asking the second time, but the gaze staring straight over was like a sharp blade, transmitting a certain chilling signal—what are you looking at?

And for Fu Qian, this signal could be easily decoded.

”What do you think... I want to buy?”

As everyone knew, ignoring it at this time was absolutely forbidden. Smiling, Fu Qian met his eyes and responded in a similar tone.

......

I’m staring at you. What are you gonna do about it?

This certain hidden polite phrasing was clearly received by the other side.

Fu Qian watched helplessly as a line of blood seemingly rose from the plaid-shirted shopkeeper’s neck, completely covering his already red face.

”I think, probably something to stop bleeding...... you know, there will always be some unexpected situations.”

However, seemingly considering that his own age was twice the other party’s, the shopkeeper ultimately didn’t snatch up a hand saw beside him, but after taking a deep breath, actually offered a suggestion to Fu Qian’s question.

He felt it—that aura of ”try looking one more time.”

Fu Qian naturally comprehended the deep meaning within. The next moment, he really walked to the side and picked up a palm-sized cloth bag.

Casually opening it, the first thing he saw was the hemostatic gauze inside.

After all, it was just a small street-side shop. To have this kind of simple first-aid kit was already pretty good; he couldn’t expect a tourniquet or anything like that.

Furthermore, although the variety of the other items wasn’t much, altogether they should have no problem handling an emergency.

”What else?”

Returning, Fu Qian, who humbly accepted the advice, continued to ask for advice.

Even during this process, he took the items out of the first-aid kit one by one, arranging them in order on the counter.

......

Fu Qian’s actions could seemingly be understood as proving he wasn’t slipping anything into his pockets.

However, following his movements, it was as if the button to lower the temperature was pressed again and again.

From the corner of his eye, it was not hard to notice that the face which had heated up from a single sentence earlier was now losing its color at an even faster speed, to the point that there wasn’t a sound for a moment.

”Do you think anything is missing?”

Fu Qian, however, was very persistent. Waiting until the green first-aid bag was empty, he raised his head to look over again, continuing his consultation with a smile.

”That should be enough......”

Finally unable to maintain silence, when the plaid-shirted shopkeeper spoke again, his voice obviously carried a bit more harmony fosters wealth, and he even nodded to show his affirmation.

”Are you sure? Think again.”

Fu Qian was very cautious, however, gesturing for him to engage in Overthinking.