Eldritch Horror Theatre

Good thing his name isn't Jerry, or I'd really have to question his species.

After listening carefully to Henry's request, Fu Qian silently judged him.

"So why is this person called a rat?"

"Simple. He's a shameless luck thief!"

Huh?

Henry's answer made Fu Qian look him up and down. To his surprise, the old man actually wore a look of absolute righteousness.

The problem was, judging by what your student had said, that sounded an awful lot like a self-introduction.

After all, he was the sort to sneak into a church and change the names people used in their prayers—who else would do something so wicked?

"That guy has been mingling all over the Sacred Night Capital for a long time, swindling people and keeping his movements hidden."

The more you talk, the more he sounds like you!

As Fu Qian mocked him inwardly, he saw Henry shift his hand. The encroaching darkness rapidly retracted, and the sensation of surrounding filth dissipated right along with it.

It seemed he had passed the first test and wouldn't be killed on the spot.

Fu Qian noticed Yuan Shan visibly let out a sigh of relief. He nodded and continued asking.

"So whose luck did he actually steal?"

"Mine."

Henry answered as naturally as could be.

"Huh?"

"Not only did he steal the good luck that was meant to be bestowed upon me, but he was even shameless enough to share it with others. He's earned himself quite a reputation."

Are you seriously saying this with such a straight face?

Even if that were true, stealing a luck-thief's luck to share with others basically made him a heroic outlaw, didn't it?

Fu Qian looked over at Yuan Shan in astonishment, only to find her already covering her face with one hand.

With a piece of work like this for a teacher, the fact that Chief Yuan had only picked up a shopping addiction meant she had managed to stay remarkably uncorrupted.

Fu Qian sighed.

"So these Deities actually work? Honestly, I don't think that's a scene you'd want to see."

"They don't. But if they did, the effects should have manifested on me."

Fu Qian's commentary caused Henry's expression to shift slightly. He narrowed his eyes and stared at him for a few seconds before slowly explaining.

"But this guy's luck is outrageously good. I want you to find him."

Just as he thought.

Fu Qian praised him inwardly. Although Yuan Shan's teacher was highly eccentric, his actions clearly weren't meaningless.

From their previous conversation, he knew the Night Watchers setting up such an unorthodox base definitely served a special purpose.

Along the way, Fu Qian had actually paid attention to the multitude of religious buildings. They truly gathered all the common faiths present in the world today.

But that was also the problem.

If his earlier speculation was true—that the names of ancient Divine Entities were systematically hidden, and even their myths were deliberately rewritten and obfuscated—

Then after so many years of manipulation, there was a high probability that these currently popular faiths did not actually point to any real entity.

That meant the significance of this area's existence lay far more in psychology than in mysticism. Receiving blessings was nothing but a beautiful fantasy.

But the question remained: what if someone actually received one?

Fu Qian didn't think Henry's actions were ordered by the Night Watchers.

However, with everything Henry was doing, if someone's luck really did undergo a specific change, could that indicate that something had actually manifested behind one or more of these faiths?

To take it a step further: if someone with heaven-defying luck truly appeared in the casinos of the Sacred Night Capital, and that person wasn't a transcendent, shouldn't they draw the exact same suspicion?

"An ordinary person?"

Fu Qian blinked as he reached this conclusion.

"An ordinary person."

Henry confirmed his guess.

"Although I haven't seen him, there are no signs indicating that he's a transcendent."

"I see... Ridding the people of this menace is my absolute duty. We absolutely cannot let this villain continue his rampage."

Fu Qian pondered for a moment, then stood up the next second with an expression of absolute righteousness.

"Good. Let Yuan Shan accompany you; she is more familiar with this place."

Looking at Fu Qian with a strange expression, Henry gave a slight nod and offered his student's help.

"Then I'll have to trouble Chief Yuan."

Without making any attempt to refuse, Fu Qian readily accepted the assistant.

Chief Yuan was indeed familiar with the area, but ninety-nine percent of this arrangement was clearly just to have her keep an eye on him.

Old Man Henry didn't mind using this method to make it explicitly clear: the threat to Fu Qian's life hadn't been lifted. They were merely in a stage of delicate, unspoken agreement.

Fortunately for him, he had no intention of running away before achieving his goal anyway, so there was no need to make things difficult for Chief Yuan.

As for what would happen if Old Man Henry didn't keep his promise after he helped out?

Extracting information about the Blazing Rainbow didn't solely rely on words.

The old man's name alone made him worth a violent test.

...

"Apologies for the display."

The heavy wooden doors closed behind them, and Yuan Shan spoke up immediately, completely unconcerned about whether the person in question could hear her.

"The last time I saw him, he actually wasn't this unhinged."

"How could you say that? The old man is a paragon of virtue. Even in retirement, he hasn't forgotten to contribute his remaining energy. I can't admire him enough."

Fu Qian, however, signaled that Yuan Shan didn't need to be modest on her teacher's behalf.

"...I'm sure you noticed it too. The title you asked about is, in a certain sense, an absolute taboo."

Yuan Shan shook her head and sighed.

"That's why when you came to me, I asked how you knew that I knew."

"Even within the Night Watchers, this information is strictly controlled... After all, to certain entities, a title can mean a great deal."

"Understood. But before I came to you, I honestly didn't know that you knew."

Yuan Shan was trying her best to provide him with information within her clearance, so Fu Qian offered a truthful explanation.

"This is what they call a blessing in disguise. If it weren't for this series of coincidences, how else would I have had the chance to chat with the old man here, let alone rid the people of a menace while I was at it?"

You call this a blessing in disguise? You don't actually think that just because my teacher is willing to answer your questions, he won't kill you, do you?

Faced with Fu Qian's penchant for courting death, Yuan Shan could only sigh in helpless admiration.

"So, do you have a specific plan for finding this person?"

As she spoke, she waved her hand, and a faint sound echoed nearby.

A clergyman who would have bumped into them had his attention drawn away and instinctively went to check on the noise, allowing the two of them to easily slip outside.

"I do!"

Only then did Fu Qian speak with absolute confidence.

"I'm not familiar with this place, but since it's a secret Sanctum for the Night Watchers, I believe finding someone will be incredibly simple. We might as well head downstairs and ask them for a favor."

...

"Tell me you're joking."

Yuan Shan looked at him as if she were staring at an alien.

We finally managed to limit the situation to my teacher, and now you want to deliver yourself right to their door?

"I'm joking."

Fu Qian nodded.

"...That wasn't funny at all. Besides, if you really want to ask for help looking for an ordinary person, the Night Watchers might not be as professional as the police."

Yuan Shan couldn't stop herself from wanting to roll her eyes, but she still patiently offered her advice.

That's not necessarily true!

The logic sounded solid, but Fu Qian shook his head inwardly.

For an ordinary person to have never been seen by a Divine Emissary—that fact alone made him far from ordinary.

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