Eldritch Horror Theatre

The couple looked far better than they had back then.

Amused by this discovery, Fu Qian adjusted his posture and continued studying the two figures on the balcony.

Even at home, both Mister and Madam Resen were impeccably dressed.

Radiant and entirely at ease, they looked like a couple fully enjoying life.

Not a trace remained of the anxiety he had once witnessed in them.

This stark contrast would undoubtedly make their upcoming conversation far more interesting.

Naturally, Fu Qian remained in no rush to speak.

"Excuse me, sir, but you aren't lost, are you?"

About five seconds later, the couple on the balcony finally noticed him.

That was more like it.

Exceptionally satisfied with this reaction, Fu Qian smiled and shook his head. He gazed around with deep appreciation.

"I hope so. That way, I wouldn't be able to find my way off this street."

...

At these words, Madam Resen was visibly taken aback, but her husband let out a hearty laugh.

"I'm honored you like it here so much. If you have the time, would you care to come up for a cup of tea?"

"Of course. The honor is mine."

Fu Qian gladly accepted.

As for why he had been so certain he would receive an invitation?

Image was everything.

If he had been in the state he was in before going home—dull-eyed, confused, and even barefoot—the chances of securing an invitation would have approached zero.

But today, he had deliberately cleaned himself up before heading out, changing into the brand-new outfit Brother Anke had just bought.

For a couple who dressed impeccably even at home and went out to the balcony just for tea, the likelihood of their first reaction being to call the cops on an equally well-dressed onlooker was very low.

Especially since this strange gentleman had deliberately put on an appreciative expression that they would find flattering.

...

"Pardon the intrusion."

Guided by Mister Resen, Fu Qian soon arrived at the balcony from earlier. Madam Resen had even set out tea and pastries.

After a polite greeting, Fu Qian introduced himself as he sat down, taking a sip of the tea without the slightest hint of wariness.

Just as he thought, it was completely different from Mrs. Harper's blend. The floral notes were far heavier.

"Not at all. With you joining us, Mr. Anke, this afternoon has just become far more interesting."

Mister Resen clearly appreciated this easygoing trust. Urging him not to stand on ceremony, he invited Fu Qian to try his wife's pastries.

Fu Qian naturally did not decline. He sampled nearly everything, offering genuine praise, and smoothly steered the conversation toward local culinary habits.

As it turned out, not only were Madam Resen's pastries excellent, but she was also quite knowledgeable on the subject, eagerly listing off local specialties like cherished family treasures.

"It sounds like you two have lived here for a very long time?"

Nodding frequently as he listened, Fu Qian asked the question naturally.

"Since birth," Mister Resen laughed. "It's the same for both of us."

"Besides, the rest of the world isn't nearly as safe. We rarely ever leave."

Because they lacked the protection of the Celestial Sphere Cult?

Walking here, he had distinctly felt the locals' immense goodwill toward The Order.

A world fraught with danger, where a special religious order drove out evil to protect the region—it was a perfectly logical story.

Fu Qian mused inwardly.

At the same time, without needing to employ any special methods, he was certain the man spoke from the heart.

Amira hadn't been acting modest. For this pair of victims, The Order's psychological counseling had clearly been a massive success.

"So, what exactly is your line of work, Mr. Anke?"

Madam Resen, clearly having enjoyed the earlier string of compliments, smiled warmly as she took over the conversation.

That was exactly what he had been waiting for.

Fu Qian gave a subtle nod.

"I work over at the Art Gallery. I just started recently."

The Rayson Couple's faces instantly froze.

...

"Mr. Anke... how exactly do you know about us?"

Compared to his wife's stunned disbelief, Resen was far more vigilant. His tone instantly turned freezing cold as he demanded answers.

"There was an explosion at the Art Gallery today."

Yet Fu Qian remained completely calm as he continued.

"And earlier than that, five days ago, a staff member mysteriously disappeared..."

"His name was Anke..."

"And today, he was found..."

Seeing Mister Resen gripping the edge of the table so hard his knuckles had turned white—looking ready to throw his guest out at any moment—Fu Qian let out a soft sigh.

"Amira suggested I take a walk around. She said it would help with my recovery."

"She gave you our address?"

That name clearly carried extraordinary impact. Mister Resen's urge to kick him out was instantly derailed.

"She said the two of you are doing remarkably well."

Fu Qian finally dropped his facade, exposing his "hidden" confusion—like a depressed patient stripping away their mask.

Remarkably well...

And the affirmation from The Order that he had relayed clearly held immense meaning for the couple.

Anger still lingered, yet in their subconscious exchange of glances, neither could fully suppress the smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths.

...

"I apologize. The stark contrast in my demeanor might make you feel deceived, but please believe me when I say that was exactly how I wished to present myself."

Given the situation, Fu Qian offered a timely and sincere apology.

"If you want me to leave, please just say the word."

"Not at all. We are very glad for the faith you and Amira have in us."

Faced with this sincerity, the last traces of anger vanished from Mister Resen's face, his grace fully returning.

"Believe me, Anke, no one understands what you're going through better than we do."

"Let me guess—did you come into contact with a certain object inside the Art Gallery?"

As if to prove his claim, Resen immediately asked the question.

"I did. A painting with slightly rotting edges."

Fu Qian was naturally immensely satisfied with this progression.

A painting?

The Rayson Couple was clearly taken aback once more.

From this reaction, Fu Qian confirmed his earlier suspicion: not only was there more than one victim, but there was also more than one Nightmare source.

"You certainly made a wise choice. I believe that same painting you mentioned tormented both of us for a very long time."

Resen let out a long sigh and signaled to his wife, who knowingly rose to her feet.

"It's getting a bit late. Why don't we head inside to talk?"

...

"A blizzard, Underground monsters, and glowing clouds in the sky?"

Following his host's lead, Fu Qian sat down in the elegantly furnished living room and "couldn't wait" to share a few keywords.

"Yes, all of them."

Resen nodded repeatedly.

"Believe me, every single thing you just listed brought us unimaginable terror... How long were you trapped in that Nightmare?"

"Hmm... it felt like a single day that would never end."

"A single day..."

Resen looked slightly taken aback by the answer, but he quickly shook his head self-deprecatingly.

"You are definitely going to be fine, because we were trapped in there for decades... It happened the night after we visited an exhibition."

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