Eldritch Horror Theatre

Once the conspiracy theories started, they simply couldn't be stopped.

Fu Qian, of course, had noticed all the various oddities long ago.

So much so that when considering just how much of an impact an outsider could have on this world, he never hesitated to let his imagination run wild.

And whether inside or outside of a mission, his predecessor Ji Feng was simply too perfect a subject to observe.

Near the Superior Being Rank, tied to Bloodline Power, the Mind World... and possessing a mission history that likely spanned far longer than his own.

What kind of Butterfly Effect would such an existence stir up within the Bookstore World?

It was exactly this question that prompted his bizarre theory—beyond just a brain in a vat—of someone soaking in the water when he first saw that murky jar in 1-093.

Because transcendent power existed in this world, the will of a higher entity could influence far too much.

And because transcendent power existed, "concepts" carried tangible force.

Unless isolated by something on the level of the Other Shore, simply imagining the consequences of Old Man Ji shivering in his jar—and what that would do to the entire human world—was a terrifying prospect.

Truly fascinating.

Of course, with this sort of thing silently nourishing all things, proving it without the Old Man's own confession would be far too difficult.

But using that as a foundational premise raised even more interesting questions... For instance, did the Warehouse know?

Was this imperceptible guidance an unintentional side effect of Ji Feng's abilities?

Or was it a mysterious ritual? A little social reform experiment orchestrated by the Old Man?

Or had the Warehouse orchestrated this intentionally? Was it even the mission itself?

Ultimately, if the Warehouse was truly involved in this, what was its goal?

This wasn't some short-term scheme; no matter how you looked at it, it was a massive undertaking.

......

He could feel the weight of history once again, even here in the transcendent world.

Upon realizing this potential hidden side to his fellow outsider, Fu Qian didn't find it indescribable or incomprehensible. Instead, he saw an incredibly intricate, elegant historical structure taking shape, and it filled him with fascination.

Compared to theories about a master god, a master computer, or a master dream, he actually preferred this explanation of the world.

Of course, there were far too many possibilities right now to make a definitive judgment.

Hopefully, the upcoming scientific expedition and his little paternity test plan would yield more interesting discoveries.

Sighing softly, Fu Qian placed the boxes back one by one.

Perhaps due to his recent increase in authority, the boxes hadn't automatically returned to their original positions despite being carried so far away.

But that was the extent of it. Aside from the special Emissary Mask, he had no rights to use the Items inside these boxes. If he did, he would have far more ways to research them.

For now, he might as well take a short break and return to entertain his guests.

Though he had to turn this off first.

Finally deciding to clock out for the day, Fu Qian casually dismissed the Crimson Storm.

Professor Lisa was still a bit too green when it came to sociology and ethics; something on this scale was far too extreme for her.

......

"You're certainly taking your time..."

Unfortunately, quiet acts of goodwill rarely received any gratitude.

As Fu Qian donned his mask, the dimly lit Laboratory reappeared before him.

He only managed to take a few breaths of the different air before Professor Lisa's complaints caught up to him, accompanied by a clatter of glass and metal.

As a highly educated intellectual, she clearly wasn't suited for serving others.

Before clocking in earlier, he had asked Lisa to brew some tea.

It seemed she had managed to find the supplies and follow through, though clearly through gritted teeth.

"Smells good. Looks like all that time you spent freeloading at my place paid off."

Ignoring her annoyance, Fu Qian smiled and took a deep sniff, showing his complete satisfaction with the aroma.

"You think I have that much free time, just running around for no reason?"

Clearly unwilling to admit to the accusation, Professor Lisa snorted, taking a veiled jab at a certain two members of Apocalypse who never seemed to do any actual work.

But even as she defended herself, she let the issue of Fu Qian making his guest brew tea drop, sliding the cup across the table toward him.

"So you really think Cass is fine? Is it possible the situation is even more serious than you thought?"

With the distractions out of the way, she could no longer hold back her worry.

......

It shouldn't be more serious than I think, but it's probably more serious than you think.

Lisa's worry was only human nature. As the Dean's trusted subordinate, the elder was ultimately her pillar of support.

With Cass getting into this kind of situation right after returning from the expedition, it was impossible not to overthink things.

Based on their previous exchanges, the man in question was practically a Black Box.

Under the circumstances, expecting Professor Lisa to sit here and wait quietly was asking a bit much of her.

"It's possible. After all, I only know part of the situation, and my visual and auditory hallucinations have been acting up lately."

But a person always had to learn to grow. Fu Qian picked up the tea and took a sip, completely unswayed by her hospitality, and delivered a pessimistic answer anyway.

The so-called hallucinations naturally referred to the Etched Intellect. A single misstep could send him wandering into a false historical branch, forcing him into his new habit of constantly checking his watch.

Fortunately, while he had been fully prepared to deal with an Etched Intellect flare-up during this mission, the anomaly hadn't acted up once from start to finish.

There was reason to suspect that since a mission inherently involved entering a potential history, the condition simply wouldn't trigger.

Visual and auditory hallucinations?

Unfortunately, Lisa clearly wasn't privy to such secrets, and for someone in the Demigod Realm to suffer from physical ailments...

"Nothing's happened to you too, has it?"

Lisa almost jumped out of her seat, scanning him with a look of pure worry.

Two of Apocalypse's great pillars faltering in a single day was enough to terrify anyone.

The worst part was that neither of them were exactly stable individuals to begin with, making this sudden development feel entirely on brand.

"Relax,"

Fu Qian said, waving a hand to comfort her.

"I'm used to it."

......

"Then regarding Cass..."

Rendered speechless once more, Professor Lisa struggled for a long moment before finally deciding to pivot back to the issue with Cass.

"If the situation really is that serious—we might need to wait here a little longer."

Professor Fu's next words were startling, though it was clear he had been anticipating this all along.

Phew...

Faced with his slightly abnormal train of logic, Professor Lisa remained silent for a moment before letting out a long breath and pouring herself a cup of tea.

......

Knock knock!

The dim sky outside gradually darkened. Over the short passage of time, Lisa hadn't spoken much, though her tea-brewing skills had visibly improved.

Fu Qian sat watching the clouds roll by outside the window, looking more and more like a tranquil monk, when his peaceful state was abruptly shattered by a sudden knock at the door.

Huh?

Lisa looked up in disbelief; clearly, she hadn't sensed anyone approaching.

Before she could react further, the door was pushed open from the outside.

"Thanks for waiting."

Standing there with a smile, Cass's complexion looked decent enough. His gaze swept over the two people in the room before finally settling on Fu Qian.

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