Eldritch Horror Theatre

A moonless night, the ruins of an awakening dream.

In utter silence, Sha Ming, the visionary founding bug of the Rebirth Club, met his final end at the limb grafting technology center.

The entire process had been so utterly despairing that it vividly demonstrated what a true Nightmare invasion looked like.

Considering that the Laboratory was also a victim—now reduced by the cascading destruction to the exact state it had taken in the dream—Excellency Sha Ming had almost taken on the tragic heroism of a ”monarch dying for his nation.”

Less than a month ago, he had single-handedly been strategizing within the command tent and ascending to Tier 2, a peak of glory that still felt as vivid as if it were right before one’s eyes.

Perhaps the only consolation was his knowing before the end that this cause would not be left without a successor.

Though their philosophies differed somewhat, no one could doubt that the young man who had passed the trial would take up the revitalization of the Rebirth Club as his personal duty—hmph!

Among all the heroes under heaven today, none could represent The Club better than I, Fu.

After sparing a single breath for friendly sentiment, Fu Qian instantly switched to a look of haughty pride, gazing up at the moonless night over the sea.

Nearly half a year had passed since Excellency Lu Ming had recognized his worth and invited him to join the Rebirth Club.In that time, turbulent storms had raged and bizarre mutations had sprung up one after another, leaving the organization fractured and torn apart, with each harboring their own motives.

Some had clung ignobly to life, some had defected to other factions, and plenty had drawn a clear line between themselves and the group. Worse still, even the very one who had created it all in the beginning had lost faith and sought another path. Fortunately, as of today, none of that was anything to fear anymore.

Employee No. 001 had been executed, and the other two magnates had been refined into puppets. No one could stop the rebirth of the Rebirth Club now.

Of course, there was still one pressing matter at hand—picking out an outfit suitable for going out for a drink.

Fu Qian looked down at himself and stirred his flesh and blood into motion.

...

”You haven’t left yet?”

Moments later, in the bar that had once served as a stronghold for the Rebirth Club, Jenny looked at Fu Qian sitting there and expressed her heartfelt surprise.

Clearly, she could not wrap her head around why Fu Qian was still around, or why he had even gone out of his way to change his clothes.

What was more, she herself had actually been away earlier.

After suffering one shock after another in the span of a single day, expecting Jenny to keep tending the bar after Fu Qian left would have been asking far too much of her professional dedication.

As for why she was back now?

When the mysterious big spender left only to return, expecting her to just lie comfortably in the back room would have been asking far too much of her composure. In short, Fu Qian knew full well that the moment he walked through the door, Jenny would definitely come out.

Still, it was obvious she really had turned in for the night; the clothes draped over her shoulders right now were relatively plain, bearing none of her earlier fiery passion.

”Why would I leave? Isn’t night when this place actually gets lively?”

Showing no awareness at all that he was disturbing her rest, Fu Qian acted somewhat surprised himself.

”...I don’t know if I was just too exhausted earlier, but I think I heard some strange commotion?”

Jenny clearly knew she was no match for him. After her gaze went blank for a few seconds, she tried changing the subject.

Not bad. Sure enough, once the night grew late, people naturally gravitated toward sensitive topics.

Fu Qian gave a slight nod, his life experience validated once again.

Besides, Ms. Jenny had not disgraced the prestigious name of The Club this time; her senses were fairly sharp.

Given that the bar had been spared the fallout of the conflict, to the regular patrons and businessfolk, tonight was likely still just a quiet evening.

At most, some inexplicable experiences might have suddenly popped into their heads—like hearing other people talking.

However, the efficiency of a dream invasion varied from person to person. From the moment he walked in to the moment he sat down, the other patrons clearly hadn’t mentioned anything of the sort yet.

”Nothing’s wrong with your head. I heard it too.”

Since she was at least a former member of The Club, Fu Qian met Jenny’s inquiring gaze with confirmation.

”So it was real—what on earth happened?”

It was obvious Jenny hadn’t held out much hope, so she perked up immediately at Fu Qian’s confirmation.

”Anything else besides the voices?”

Instead of eagerly explaining, Fu Qian simply asked another question.

”I think I also saw a moon...”

Seemingly aware she was in no position to press him, Jenny hesitated for a beat before answering.

”A blue moon?”

Fu Qian was slightly more generous this time, using a question of his own to prove he had experienced the exact same thing.

”So it really did have something to do with you?”

Jenny perked up again, though she subtly took half a step back—the very picture of someone out of her depth yet desperate for the thrill.

”Of course. I was watching the show the whole time. And it wasn’t just the voices and the moon—I even saw the Laboratory collapse.”

Fu Qian pointed over his shoulder in a certain direction.

”...The Laboratory collapsed? Why didn’t I hear anything?”

Jenny was visibly startled, finding the claim hard to believe.

”You can go see for yourself.”

Fu Qian had no intention of trying to convince her, gesturing that she could believe it or not as she pleased.

...

Jenny was undoubtedly dissatisfied with Fu Qian’s answer, but there was nothing she could do about his attitude.

At the same time, if she really were to go look... given the persona she was maintaining right now, she probably shouldn’t go doing something like that over a single remark.

”Even if it really did collapse, it has nothing to do with me. So, what would you like to drink?”

The atmosphere had grown a little awkward, but thankfully she had her professional duties to fall back on.

Having made it clear that she no longer cared about The Club’s affairs, Jenny went straight into business mode and reminded him that it was time to order.

”Unfortunately, I’m completely out of money.”

It really was her area of expertise, and the pivot worked. The former big spender Fu Qian spread his hands, indicating that he had already squandered every last bit of his cash.

”Unfortunately, I don’t do tabs here—”

Seizing the rare opportunity, Jenny hardened her tone on the spot.

”My treat.”

Too bad that tough front didn’t even last three seconds before someone chimed in from the side.

Hmm...

Not only that, the noisy bar actually fell quiet right along with those words.

”Thank you very much, Excellency Ibu.”

Unfazed, Fu Qian simply turned his head with a genial smile and greeted the newcomer.

With that red hair and full beard, who else could it be if not the current ruler of the Archipelago? Though perhaps because he had come in a bit of a hurry, noticeable damage could still be seen on his exquisite robes.

It was entirely understandable. While his injuries weren’t as severe as Excellency Sha Ming’s, what this man had gone through inside the dream hadn’t been easy either.

Under a Nightmare invasion, bearing marks like that was completely normal.

On top of that, the whole affair had been rather rushed; from the shattering of the dream to the invitation to come here, only a few minutes had passed in total.

Yes, Fu Qian was naturally the one who had invited him over.

No matter how insensitive one might be to the Law, Ibu could never have missed the commotion over at the Laboratory.

In fact, at the very moment Sha Ming returned to Dust to Dust, Ibu had already been standing on the sidelines as a spectator.

And since Fu Qian naturally understood how the man must be feeling, he hadn’t rushed to invite him for a chat right away, choosing instead to blend into the nightlife first and let the atmosphere relax.

Gratifyingly, Excellency Ibu had adjusted his mindset very quickly as well, even making it in time to buy the first drink.

”Get me a glass, too.”

Better still, after wearing a complicated expression for a moment in response to Fu Qian’s thanks, this seemingly self-disciplined elder actually decided to join in and share a drink with the common folk.