Eldritch Horror Theatre

Heh...

Although the Academy bustled with activity, a profound silence filled the Laboratory as noon approached.

"Professor Lisa and Claudora don't look alike."

Faced with Fu Qian's abrupt leap in logic, Cass seemed to lose the thread of the conversation for a moment. He pondered with a faint, ambiguous smile before directly pointing out the flaw in the question.

"They really don't."

Faced with this critique from leadership, Professor Fu proved readily accepting good advice, his expression perfectly natural.

"I once had a brief exchange with that respectable senior in a surreal place akin to a dream. I must admit, in terms of academic temperament, Professor Lisa falls far short."

The next moment, under Cass's watchful gaze, Fu Qian looked up at the ceiling, appearing lost in a distant memory.

"A wise and serious lady. So much so that she didn't quite fit the temperament of Apocalypse... And at the end of our conversation, she asked me what she was like in the future."

Paying no mind to Cass's reaction, Fu Qian simply recalled that past scene in the Underwater Prison and the lines he had spoken.

"Professor Claudora didn't press further. She seemed satisfied to remain in Apocalypse in any state. However, the moment I answered, I was accidentally Overthinking it a bit—in what state was she remaining in Apocalypse?"

"The answer seemed obvious enough: a hidden location, tight security, and even a professional instructor guarding it. Though that particular instructor was somewhat different from the rest... so much so that a strange thought popped into my head at the time."

Having finally finished his recollection, Fu Qian looked at Cass's unchanged face.

"And judging by your reaction just now, the relationship between them really isn't that simple, is it?"

"That thing around Lisa's neck—has she never taken it off since putting it on?"

...

"What did she look like?"

Not in a rush to answer Fu Qian's question, Cass countered with one of his own, mimicking him as he fell into his own recollection.

"Beautiful black hair. Even when she ran into trouble, she still kept herself meticulous, and she was very kind to others."

Fu Qian didn't mind the deflection, casually describing her.

In fact, the way he saw it, the Old Man wasn't even questioning his claim by asking this; he just wanted someone to help him reminisce.

"...You're right. That thing around Lisa's neck has indeed never been taken off."

With his help, Cass didn't have to reminisce for long before arriving at an answer.

Sure enough.

In that moment, Fu Qian felt as if he had brushed against some long-buried secret.

Although the part about them looking alike was utter nonsense, his earlier recollection of that strange thought was entirely genuine.

When he affirmed Professor Claudora's academic achievements back then, a thought really had popped into his head: over the years, had there truly been no successful projects involving her remains?

Judging by the current situation, it was no easy task for Transcendent creatures without divinity in this world to take human form; otherwise, the Apocalypse professor wouldn't have launched a dedicated project for it.

Yet, a successful case was sitting right in front of them—not only had she joined the Academy as an instructor, she even served as the guard for the Claudora Flesh, a material that allowed anything to undergo limb grafting.

As a highly imaginative academic, what sprang to Fu Qian's mind at that moment was exactly how Professor Lisa had become human, along with that Black Ring around her neck.

It seemed Professor Lisa's overbearing attitude in Apocalypse had a real reason behind it after all.

...

"The connection between Lisa and Claudora is very simple: she possesses a piece of her flesh."

Without waiting for Fu Qian to ask further, Cass continued, speaking freely about the past.

"After various potions and rituals proved ineffective, I settled for the next best option. I allowed the flesh, which had already lost any recognizable form, to fuse directly with a living Transcendent creature."

"Things did not go smoothly at first. Even with just a tiny amount, the host would rapidly dissolve into a puddle of mud. That was, until I met Lisa—do you know how I met her?"

However, old habits die hard. Mid-sentence, he suddenly shifted gears and decided to test Fu Qian instead.

"An advancement ritual?"

Fu Qian didn't mind. Not only did he give it serious thought, but he also casually poured Cass another cup of tea.

"Heh... Apocalypse gaining a talent like you is truly our greatest catch in years."

Enjoying the harmonious atmosphere, Cass seemed thoroughly satisfied. Confirming Fu Qian's guess, he pointed to his own unusual, vertical pupils.

"For my advancement ritual to the Demigod Realm, one of the required materials was an adult of Lisa's kind. To a certain extent, it even altered my physical appearance... Fortunately, when I later traveled around searching for special Transcendent creatures, I stumbled upon Lisa, who was still very young at the time."

'Sure enough. I actually guessed it based on his appearance, too,' Fu Qian thought to himself upon seeing Cass specifically bring this up.

After all, the very first time he met this expert, he had marveled at his overly peculiar appearance.

Those eyes in particular—even if one didn't immediately think of a snake, they were undeniably reptilian.

From that perspective, it made Professor Lisa's exceptional treatment much easier to understand—she actually seemed to share a sort of kinship with the Dean.

"Her reaction was utterly astounding. I had never seen such a perfect fusion before."

While Fu Qian pondered the nepotism running rampant in their Work Unit, Cass continued his story.

"For a very long time, Lisa maintained a normal form, and even her divinity wasn't obvious... But eventually, the day came when some rather unsavory changes began to manifest. Fortunately, I had thought of a countermeasure in advance. I gave her an item I had prepared—that's right, it was another spoil from my external expeditions."

Toward the end, noticing that Fu Qian was staring pointedly at his pocket, Cass patted it again, confessing to his crimes without the slightest hesitation.

...

Her fate really had been rather bumpy; the chaotic entanglement of the world was just like that.

The transcendent item around Professor Lisa's neck had actually been snatched by Cass while he was hiding under an alternate persona. For a moment, Fu Qian deeply lamented the rocky path of her scientific research career.

There was also the Dean's relentless pursuit, though it felt like his motives went beyond mere scientific research—

Even if Professor Claudora hadn't wanted resources wasted on saving her, her colleagues were ultimately unwilling to just sit by in the face of such a curse.

As for the implications when comparing Cass's earlier statements with his current ones, one could easily imagine the despicable acts he had perpetrated over the years.

"I have benefited greatly. I'll have to ask the Dean for more guidance on scientific expeditions in the future."

Expressing his deep admiration for such feats, Fu Qian followed Cass's gaze toward the door as they bantered.

"I heard Linghui's side caused quite a commotion—ah?"

The subject of their conversation, Professor Lisa, didn't notice Cass sitting on the other side until she walked through the door. For a moment, she stood completely stunned.

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