Eldritch Horror Theatre

Lady Raven.

A high-collared gown and a sheer cloak—this expected visitor truly looked the part of a pampered lady.

Even on her somewhat aged face, her features were notably soft, showing none of the bitter resentment typical of a resistance faction—even though she was currently answering a violent invitation.

Mariana's arrangement came as no surprise to Fu Qian.

Once provoked into taking him along, she had painted herself into a corner.

His threat level was steadily rising, and his motives were growing increasingly alarming. Leading him straight into the organization could invite total disaster with a single misstep.

Yet if she refused and broke her promise, she would likely face total disaster right on the spot.

Caught in this deadlock, using his somewhat cooperative attitude to sacrifice a minor Base and slip away—thereby retaining the initiative for the organization—was the best possible outcome. At least from her perspective.

Everyone's perspective had its limits, while leaders were universally known for their far-sighted vision.

To prevent wavering loyalties, confronting it head-on was the only option.

Either wipe it out cleanly, or painstakingly prove it false.

That was why, after forcing the pace and drawing that attack just now, Fu Qian was absolutely certain this meeting would take place.

It was also why he had been willing to play along the entire way.

The worst-case scenario for him was simply wasting time waiting, only to be besieged by a large group of elite awakened ones. One way or another, a conversation was bound to happen.

And the best-case scenario was playing out right now. Without any need for announcements, Lady Raven had kept track of Mariana's group all along. The moment they left, she appeared in a peaceful posture to discuss ideology.

Not a single moment wasted.

"You may call me Raven, or Madam."

After the greeting, the visitor walked straight over to take a seat, introducing herself immediately.

"Understood, Lady Raven."

Fu Qian remained as easygoing as ever, shutting the door and taking a seat nearby.

"First, thank you for showing kindness to Mariana and her team, and for not taking offense at their intrusion. I came here today for a sincere conversation."

Lady Raven's expression was genuine, her words direct.

"I brought only one guard with me, and I left them outside, so please do not worry about any hostility."

"Not a problem. I've been looking forward to this chat myself. I should thank Mariana for setting it up."

...

Fu Qian waved a hand dismissively. However, his overly casual attitude made Lady Raven fall silent for a moment.

She had appeared so quickly, yet there was not a trace of surprise on his face. The only explanation was that he had seen right through Mariana's supposedly foolproof plan, and perhaps even knew exactly how she had arrived here...

"There is a certain connection between myself and every awakened one."

With that in mind, Lady Raven opted to be even more forthcoming.

Just as expected.

Fu Qian still showed no surprise.

"But they don't know that?"

"They do not. When guiding a group of lost souls, it is sometimes necessary to maintain a certain sense of mystery."

"Understandable. Is that also how you discover new members?"

Fu Qian deeply appreciated Lady Raven's candor.

"Yes. Sometimes I realize they are special even before they do... and I find ways to tell them to believe in themselves."

"Only now, I don't think I can continue doing so with a clear conscience."

Reining in her emotions, Lady Raven studied Fu Qian and cut straight to the chase.

"To be honest, I've never heard any mention of the Dark Moon in that world. Where exactly did you learn of it?"

How wonderful. A leader who didn't waste time was a rare gem indeed!

Faced with her questioning, Fu Qian felt even more pleased about orchestrating this meeting.

"Initially? From the Painting World, I suppose."

The Painting World?

Lady Raven was visibly taken aback.

"That special Nightmare that pulled in so many people? The problem is, even there, there was absolutely no mention of the Dark Moon."

"You certainly know a lot about that place."

Without rushing to answer, Fu Qian offered a smiling observation.

Lady Raven's two sentences held a massive amount of information. They not only proved she could traverse the world he came from, but also that she had conducted targeted investigations—such as looking into the recent Nightmare incursions.

It wasn't surprising; after all, she needed a frame of reference for her own predicament.

"Not nearly enough."

Lady Raven, however, remained quite humble.

"Furthermore, there are certain details I haven't fully shared with Mariana and the others."

"I get it. At a certain stage of development, relying on authority to maintain cohesion is a perfectly normal approach."

Fu Qian expressed complete understanding.

"In short, from the very first day I opened my eyes in that world... the Stars, the commandments, The Order. I have been striving to understand as much as possible to solidify my own convictions, as well as the faith of everyone here."

Lady Raven looked as though she were reminiscing about momentous, bygone days.

"That process was incredibly disorienting and painful—so much so that I never want anyone else to suffer through it."

"If it weren't for the guidance of the Stars, I might still be lost in confusion. Yet now, I hear claims that they are nothing more than an illusion."

It was obvious she was trying her best to keep her emotions in check, but Lady Raven's gaze still sharpened considerably.

"Excellency Grimshaw, I am not entirely sure what your ultimate goal is, but since you willingly cooperated to come here, I imagine you must have questions for me."

"If possible, I would like to propose a trade. In exchange, please be absolutely honest in answering my questions."

"Deal. When was the last time you entered that world?"

Fu Qian's smile widened as he agreed without a second's hesitation.

"The day before yesterday. Why?"

"So you haven't slept for the past two days?"

Fu Qian wore a look of surprise.

"If going to sleep was all it took to enter reality, this Nightmare wouldn't be quite so complicated."

Lady Raven let out a soft sigh.

"The opportunities to traverse that world appear almost randomly and are incredibly difficult to grasp."

"Even I simply began experiencing this earlier than Mariana and the others."

"The only comforting part is that no matter how long the interval between visits, only a single minute passes over there. So, there's no need to worry about missing anything."

That certainly fit the definition of a Nightmare.

Having acquired this new piece of knowledge, Fu Qian rubbed his chin.

"And what about coming back?"

"It requires falling asleep, but it is equally beyond my control."

"And while the passage of time on this side doesn't strictly adhere to that one-minute rule, overall, the timelines of the two sides essentially run parallel."

I see. How interesting.

Fu Qian nodded slightly.

"So, when was the very first time you woke up?"

"A month ago."

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