Eldritch Horror Theatre

A clear conscience fears no ghosts knocking at the door.

As the dignified Pillar of Apocalypse, Professor Fu devoted himself entirely to scientific research. Upright and uncorrupted, why would he have any reservations about meeting the Night Watchers?

Not to mention that, by pure coincidence, the visitor happened to be an acquaintance.

"Understood."

Having just painstakingly sheathed the Sword in the Stone with both hands, Ji Liushuang let out a breath of relief, not questioning Fu Qian's decision in the slightest.

Now that her superior was back and her worries were dispelled, her inner confidence surged.

"Please, follow me."

After returning the sword to its wooden box in the lounge, she naturally took the lead.

As for Professor Fu himself, it went without saying. Strolling through the restricted grounds of the Sword Comprehension Institute, he looked even more familiar and at ease here than he did in Apocalypse.

"It's just up ahead."

Her timely reminder interrupted his self-reflection just as they arrived at their destination.

This time, she didn't even need to knock. The heavy wooden door swung open from the inside.

"Professor Fu?"

A healthy-looking Yuan Fang poked his head out, unable to hide his surprise.

...

"Chief Yuan."

Although the title felt a bit strange on his tongue, Fu Qian offered a polite nod in greeting.

"I just got back and heard from Classmate Liushuang that you had already arrived."

"What a coincidence."

Glancing at Ji Liushuang behind Fu Qian, Yuan Fang grinned in agreement.

Of course, he didn't suspect that Professor Fu had never actually left, but had merely used it as an excuse to stall while his assistant tested the waters before he made his appearance.

Leaving aside the professor's long list of courageous, fearless feats he had gradually learned about, there was simply no reason for him to worry about the matter at hand.

The Night Watchers might abide by a strict code of conduct, but they weren't unappreciative.

The professor's testing methods might have been slightly extreme, but in the end, both the victims and the Night Watchers had fundamentally benefited from them.

As for the risk of failing to explain himself if his tests yielded no new discoveries, Professor Fu had shouldered it without hesitation.

"Please, come in. Excellency Aike, who is overseeing this matter, has arrived. I brought her here to catch up on the situation."

"Classmate Ji Liushuang has already been an immense help by answering many of our questions. We're very grateful."

Stepping aside, Yuan Fang gestured for the two of them to enter.

"You're too polite. It was the least I could do."

Faced with Yuan Fang's politeness, Ji Liushuang felt no swell of arrogance, well aware she was simply riding on Professor Fu's coattails.

...

"Greetings, Excellency Aike."

As they spoke at the door, the conversation inside the room had already fallen quiet.

Since they hadn't deliberately hidden their approach, the people inside had clearly noticed Fu Qian and Ji Liushuang the moment they drew near.

Glancing inside, Fu Qian saw Professor Chang Mo—the author of the initial investigation report—along with an exquisitely dressed, baby-faced woman who appeared even younger than the professor, scrutinizing him with an expressionless gaze.

It had been several days, but her elegant bearing remained unchanged. It was none other than Excellency Aike, a woman he had crossed paths with twice before.

Unfortunately, that familiarity was somewhat one-sided. She had never even seen the face he was currently wearing.

However, people of the jianghu do not fuss over trifles. While Aike's gaze swept over his face, Fu Qian bypassed the need for introductions and greeted her directly.

"Professor Fu, a pleasure to meet you."

It was only a minor detail, but Excellency Aike clearly appreciated the directness. Her scrutinizing posture subtly softened, and she returned his greeting with practiced ease.

"Thank you for helping us correct our misjudgment. I fully understand the risks you took during the process."

She didn't even bother to probe him, directly defining the nature of the entire incident right from the start.

Just as she had been at Ehm Palace, Excellency Aike might not be overly perceptive, but she was decidedly bold and willing to take responsibility.

Granted, Excellency Aike herself wouldn't retain any memory of her outstanding performance from that time.

In short, whatever lingering worries the others might have had about the atmosphere of this meeting were instantly swept away.

"Just doing what I should."

Naturally, Fu Qian also appreciated her no-nonsense attitude.

"On one hand, it was a form of power well worth researching. On the other hand, it was truly repulsive, not to mention the generous reward we received."

Expressing his satisfaction with both the project and its compensation, he glanced back at Ji Liushuang, making no effort to hide that the reward's intended recipient was no accident.

"I'm glad to hear that. Actually, there is one minor detail I still need to confirm with you."

Aike clearly didn't mind, though a faint curiosity lingered in her eyes as she wondered why this research assistant was so highly valued.

A part-time assistant, no less.

...

As a reward, the Sword in the Stone was undeniably generous, but it also revealed the Night Watchers' underlying stance.

Specifically, given how strongly Professor Fu had emphasized his assistant's contributions, the Night Watchers had really tailored their commendation to match.

Beyond its immense value, the weapon was practically exclusive to the assistant in both practical function and symbolic weight.

As for the reasoning behind it, Professor Fu's methods had undoubtedly crossed a line. Actively taking responsibility while pushing someone else forward to claim the reward—ultimately keeping the benefits for himself—was a blatant exploitation of loopholes that the Night Watchers hardly wanted to encourage.

Thus, the assistant had walked away as the ultimate winner.

Even so, Professor Fu seemed genuinely satisfied with the arrangement, showing no sign of having treated his assistant as a mere tool.

"Go ahead."

By now, Fu Qian had already found a seat, even offering a nod of greeting to Chang Mo beside him.

In contrast, Chang Mo wore a slightly complicated expression, though she ultimately looked relieved.

Naturally, she wasn't petty enough to be upset over her initial draft being rejected. The new findings had corrected her oversight, leaving her feeling nothing but thankful.

Any minor dissatisfaction she felt stemmed from the fact that, upon the Night Watchers' sudden visit, every single person in charge had fled, forcing her to bite the bullet and step up alone.

"The report is already remarkably detailed, so I'm not asking for more specifics, but rather your personal perspective as someone who experienced it firsthand, Professor Fu."

Excellency Aike spoke up in response to his invitation.

"Inside that illusory White-Headed Sanctuary, aside from the power of Ecstasy, did you notice any traces of a higher will at work?"

"Any clear signs of subjective agency?"

Fu Qian nodded slightly, clearly understanding what she meant.

"...Yes."

"I did."

Offering an affirmative answer, Fu Qian let out a soft sigh.

"It was an uncertain impression, which is why I left it out of the report... But aside from the White-Headed Sanctuary, I thought I caught a faint glimpse of fire. Golden fire."

Naturally, he hadn't come here just to reminisce with Excellency Aike.

If his memory served him right, she was well acquainted with Old Man Stoss.

The very same Old Man Stoss who controlled the Flame of Frenzy.

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