Eldritch Horror Theatre

Open and aboveboard, radiating an imposing righteousness.

Although Bookstore Owner Fang Xun was officially playing a supporting role during this trip to the Academy, he was likely drawing plenty of attention from the Night Watchers.

Even Chief Yuan, who hadn't tagged along, was probably eagerly anticipating this historic meeting between Boss Fang and Professor Fu.

So how exactly should this meeting play out?

Would Professor Fu stay behind closed doors and refuse to participate, maintaining the stance he had previously conveyed to Li Weixuan?

Or would Boss Fang make a brief appearance before retreating to the background, leaving the investigation to the Academy's elites?

Logically, neither approach was a problem, but the optics were another matter entirely.

He, Fu Qian, had nothing to hide. Why bother with the smoke and mirrors? What was the harm in openly traveling through the Academy side by side?

The moment he accepted this job, Fu Qian had decided exactly how he would handle his entrance. He wasn't going to pretend at all. He would simply parade his dual identities right in front of the Night Watchers.

It wasn't hard to guess why Su Gao seemed a little more relaxed now.

Traveling openly under his true face was one thing, but earlier, she had clearly been worried that she would implicate him and expose his identity.

But since he had opted for such a bold, unrestrained approach, those worries were clearly unnecessary. He had everything completely under control.

"It really is different from other places. Even at this hour, it feels so lively."

Feeling much more at ease as they stepped onto the Academy grounds, Su Gao looked around and offered a glowing assessment.

Lively? That was certainly one word for it.

Fu Qian immediately thought of the endless string of research accidents here and found himself agreeing completely.

"Actually, there's a place even livelier than this right now. I'll take you there to have a look later when we have some free time."

Judging by Classmate Su Gao's reaction, this was clearly her first visit. Fu Qian gave a slight nod, slipping into the rare role of a guide more familiar with the Academy.

...

Although its overall structure was loose and open, the Academy maintained a certain level of security around its core areas.

Especially after the incident that had taken place less than a day ago.

Unfortunately, against two High-Tier Transcendents traveling light, even the heightened security was absolutely riddled with holes.

Chatting and laughing, the two of them slipped deep into the heart of the Academy without alerting a single soul, carrying the distinct air of an incognito inspection.

Fu Qian casually explained the surrounding layout to Su Gao, pointing out a few notable personnel deployments. Before long, the heavily ravaged building of the Benevolent Curse Institute came into view.

"It was pierced outward from the inside."

Since dawn was breaking, the distance didn't stop Su Gao from observing those hideous marks and drawing her own conclusion.

Through their casual chatter along the way, she had gained a decent understanding of Professor Fu's status and reputation within the Academy.

She also had absolute faith that he would use this identity to provide his full support in the ensuing investigation.

But that didn't mean she could just sit back and do nothing.

In her eyes, it was absolutely necessary for her to take charge of the overall situation, allowing Mr. Fu the peace of mind to simply act as an advisor.

"According to what I've learned, dozens of Transcendent-tier Meteors rained down on it, but it doesn't look like they left a scratch," Su Gao noted, sharing her intel while continuing to inspect the structural damage.

"Fifty-seven."

Fu Qian casually provided the exact number while tracing the downward arc of the Meteors with his hand.

"They indeed didn't damage anything else, but they were definitely not illusions. Against their intended target, their effectiveness wasn't reduced in the slightest. Besides, the one who took the hit should already be dead. These marks were left by a final outburst just before death."

"That genderless, featherless Angel?"

Clearly, the intelligence Su Gao had received wasn't nearly as certain about this.

She naturally believed Professor Fu. Furthermore, his confident tone made it entirely clear that he was just as certain the target of the Meteors was the very same entity that had launched the attack in Shangjing.

"Correct. Though Chief Yuan and I generally prefer to call him His Excellency the Prison Archangel. Judging by our encounters, that entity is at least Tier 2."

Fu Qian openly shared the information, holding nothing back.

How could he just go through the motions when Classmate Su Gao was personally attached to this investigation?

No matter what stance he took in participating, this investigation ultimately had to mobilize the full resources of the Night Watchers. It would only be worthwhile if they could uncover something about the Angelic Faith and the covenant.

He wasn't just symbolically going through the motions; he was genuinely looking forward to the results.

"By the way, I've seen Feathers like these before in a forbidden zone known as the Wasteland. There was a massive Mirror there as well."

As they spoke, the two arrived right up to the building. Fu Qian pointed at the chaotic mess of gray Feathers scattered across the ground and continued his explanation.

His senses picked up no signs of human activity inside the building. It seemed Li Weixuan had heeded his warning and refrained from acting rashly.

Given the Night Watchers' astonishing response speed, he and Su Gao might actually be the very first ones to inspect the corpse.

Of course, that didn't mean the Academy had done absolutely nothing. At the very least, the same bright warning tape Professor Ah Kai had previously used to mark the Seed of Death was now wrapped completely around the building—

—and despite the Feathers drifting wildly all over, not a single one had blown past that perimeter.

After all, the Benevolent Curse Institute was one of the Academy's four major institutions. They were hardly just a bunch of freeloaders.

Though it left no visible trace, a barrier had clearly been erected alongside the warning tape to prevent the chaotic mess inside from drifting out.

Its effect was stable, but its restraining force wasn't particularly strong. Fu Qian casually noted this as he quietly slipped through an invisible membrane a moment later.

Su Gao needed no prompting and already followed him inside.

Aside from the barrier, there were naturally guards keeping watch outside as well, but expecting them to detect two High-Tier Transcendents who were deliberately staying hidden was simply asking too much.

"There aren't usually many people here. Most of the Benevolent Curse Institute's professors conduct their research straight from their own residences."

Walking through the building he had already visited several times, Fu Qian casually passed along the information Professor Ah Kai had shared earlier.

True to the latter's word, the interior looked like an absolute disaster.

The dense layer of gray Feathers practically formed a mat under their feet, leaving their footsteps completely silent.

Beyond the original structural layout, the Prison Archangel's dying outburst had also left the interior far more open in every direction.

The final traces indeed extended all the way toward the Underground. Without needing to communicate, the two of them headed straight for it.

"Did you sense that?"

A short while later, facing a deep pit blanketed in Feathers—looking as though an invisible flower had erupted from its depths and bloomed—Fu Qian turned his head to glance at Su Gao, deep in thought.

"Ah... no."

A bit startled, Su Gao nonetheless shook her head honestly, admitting her own dullness.

"That's normal. Neither did I."

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