Eldritch Horror Theatre

That begged the question: if Siren and the Ji Clan really did have some sort of tacit understanding, what was their goal?

Because they were cooperating on a grand strategy against Anjing and didn't want to cause too much friction?

Even if that were true, there were plenty of other ways to handle it—such as one side simply withdrawing.

There was absolutely no need to make it so deliberate.

Such a heavy-handed performance felt intentionally staged for an audience.

Like the murderer of those two people, for example?

He had suspected as much earlier; the second victim's death felt like a deliberate attempt to drag him into the mess.

Considering he was a Scavenger who had merely dropped in at the last minute, the odds of him being targeted for revenge were minuscule. Whoever was behind this clearly wanted to plunge everything into chaos.

Did the true killer want to provoke a conflict among the factions and reap the benefits?

The Ancient Giant Dragon?

That was certainly the easiest answer that came to mind.

Looking at it from that angle, the Elena Squad was highly suspicious.

After denying he was Ji Ping, Fu Qian rapidly processed the results of his probing, successfully pinning his temporary allies as the prime suspects.

They had the motive, the capability, and the window to commit the murders.

But after a glance at Elena and her two companions, Fu Qian mentally shook his head.

Unfortunately, there was one discrepancy. According to Gerald, suspicious deaths had also occurred the last time the blessing appeared, and the Blind Idiot Squad hadn't existed back then.

The most likely scenario was that, having eased tensions, the higher-ups of both factions had reached a consensus regarding the suspicious points of their last conflict. This time, armed with a degree of tacit understanding, they were trying to flush out whoever was intentionally muddying the waters.

And the reason the second death had happened so quickly was because the mastermind realized their initial attempt to stir the pot was inefficient. They wanted to introduce a new variable—Fu Qian himself—to throw the situation into total chaos.

If that was true, who could it be? The mission target, the Oathbreaker?

He couldn't rule it out. Unfortunately, dragging this confrontation out probably wouldn't yield any more meaningful information.

"You aren't Ji Ping..."

Fu Qian's earlier analysis had been incredibly vivid, but that final denial threw Gerald right back into confusion.

But of course, Gerald wasn't going to be fooled that easily.

"You think I'm going to listen to your nonsense? Don't worry, Siren doesn't accuse people without cause. In fact, this is simple. You just need to come back with me right now to verify your identity..."

"That's one way to do it."

To everyone's surprise, Fu Qian actually nodded.

"But didn't you just say we'd do that after the business here was concluded?"

"You don't need to concern yourself with that. Considering the appearance of a dangerous individual like you, the risks of this operation must be re-evaluated—"

The next moment, Gerald found himself unable to continue.

Within his vision, the omnipresent grayish-white was slowly fading, the surroundings gradually restoring to how they had been before.

He deactivated Ash Descent?

Accompanying that thought was a brilliant radiance shining in above the inn's louvered half-doors.

The blessing...

In that instant, Gerald wasn't the only newly freed person to momentarily lose his voice.

It really was the blessing...

After waiting for so long, it just had to appear at this exact moment.

"So, have you finished re-evaluating the operation's risks?"

The very next moment, the madman's deeply provocative voice rang out.

"Time is precious, you know."

When Gerald didn't answer, Fu Qian kindly offered another reminder.

I...

The remark was undeniably grating. For a moment, Gerald's face twitched.

But no matter how irritating it was, he couldn't tear his eyes away from that Bright Light.

It wasn't too far from the inn. The radiance pierced the heavens and earth, as if a golden sun had descended into the ruins below.

Bathed in the light, countless fantastical phenomena seemed to churn within it.

Abandon the mission entirely and take this guy back?

Before the blessing appeared, that might have barely been justifiable, but now...

"We're leaving. Proceed according to the original plan."

Gerald quickly made up his mind, calling out to his team.

"Mister Lu, I'll have to trouble you to stay here a little longer."

He looked at Fu Qian and the Sunken Anchor wrapped around him, letting out a cold sneer.

"Drink as much as you like. Put it on my tab."

"How could I possibly impose!"

Faced with such profound hospitality, Fu Qian offered a polite reply, immediately turning to look at the inn's blonde proprietress.

"Did you hear what the man said?"

...

The proprietress was clearly a woman of wide experience. Even after that barrage of sudden twists, the smile on her face hadn't completely dissipated.

But once she processed what Fu Qian had actually said, she still blanked out for a moment.

"Of course, please, be my guest. It's just a pity I don't have much to offer here."

"That's quite alright. I've already been treated to plenty."

Fu Qian waved a hand, smoothly sliding another bottle of liquor from her grasp.

His attitude practically begged for a beating, but as a professional operations leader, Gerald kept his emotions in check.

Facing his readied squad, he wasted no more time. He stood up and took the lead, heading for the door without sparing Fu Qian another glance.

The man might be strong, but while bound by the Sunken Anchor, he would have to expend enormous energy for every single step.

Until its duration expired, even if he forced himself to move like he had earlier, there was absolutely no way he could escape anywhere in a place like this.

And judging from past experience, the blessing never lasted very long.

"We're leaving too."

Faced with these sudden shifts—and the fact that Fu Qian had once again tucked his right hand away—Amir held back from stepping forward, signaling for his own people to move out.

The detour had been bizarre, but things seemed to be back on track, albeit in an unusual way. There was absolutely no reason to abandon the mission now.

It was at this moment that the difference between the regular forces and the stragglers became glaringly apparent.

Faced with the long-awaited blessing, Siren and the Ji Clan quickly took the lead. The remaining rogues fell silent, but their intense eye contact spoke volumes.

People had died bizarrely in rapid succession, and unlike last year, it didn't look like the deaths were caused by a conflict between Siren and the Ji Clan.

Couple that with the unidentified madman sitting right in front of them, and the situation seemed utterly unpredictable, even lethal...

Should they risk continuing? Technically, they had all just escaped with their lives once already.

Soon enough, multiple groups got up and headed out the door—but a glance confirmed they were walking in the opposite direction.

Caution sails a ship for ten thousand years; they had clearly chosen not to put themselves in harm's way, abandoning the operation.

"Tyr?"

Watching this unfold, Nora finally tore her gaze away from the freeloading madman and quietly leaned close to Old Man Tyr, hoping he'd make a decision.

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