Eldritch Horror Theatre

Get out of the car? Was it really that serious?

The situation at the checkpoint ahead had suddenly changed.

They had just been discussing how to go their separate ways upon reaching their destination. Yet, before anyone could even finish a yawn, they were coming to a halt?

Chief Yuan's words were undoubtedly startling. Considering the situation just now, the chances that she was joking to lighten the mood were slim.

Fu Qian surveyed the scene before them, quietly sighing to himself.

"Is that necessary?"

On the other side, Nepheli simply spoke her mind and questioned the decision.

"It can't be helped. The road is blocked."

Yuan Shan shook her head, clearly standing firm on her decision.

"You mean these traffic cones?"

It was so incredibly crude that he could only marvel at it.

Indeed, there wasn't even a crossbar. This so-called checkpoint consisted solely of four rubber traffic cones lined up in a row to block the path.

The guard booth next to them continued the trend they had seen along their entire journey—it was completely empty.

"Yes. This clearly indicates no trespassing."

Yuan Shan actually nodded in earnest, confirming that was the reason.

Following traffic rules this strictly? It certainly lived up to being a special domain suspected of being tied to his own will.

Of course, he didn't believe for a second that Yuan Shan was just a law-abiding citizen. He was certain there was a hidden motive, while also taking a moment to silently flatter himself.

"Can't we just move them? There's clearly no one guarding them... or would moving them trigger something terrible?"

Nepheli obviously couldn't have missed this, yet she continued to question it. Her reasoning was perfectly sound.

Such a flimsy checkpoint simply could not be mentioned in the same breath as the ravines they had encountered earlier, especially since a perfectly smooth road lay beyond it.

Under these circumstances, let alone sneaking the cones away while it was unmanned, it wouldn't be surprising if a more aggressive driver just ran right over them, even with guards watching.

"Of course we could, and it wouldn't cause a commotion..."

Seemingly unsure if Nepheli was truly ignorant or just playing dumb, Yuan Shan shot her a glance before replying expressionlessly.

"But that is exactly the problem. If we pass the checkpoint through non-compliant means, we will merely arrive on the other side of it—we won't be able to leave this place."

...

So this was already the exit? That was rather fast.

Yuan Shan's meaning was easy to grasp. In the ensuing silence, Fu Qian examined the crude checkpoint again. It suddenly seemed to carry a different sort of gravity.

Although they hadn't been given a clear answer on how to leave this place, it had been obvious for a while that the method would be quite peculiar.

They were a group of superhumans capable of scaling the heavens and delving into the earth, yet they were forced to travel by vehicle.

When faced with a deep ravine blocking the road, they had to fill it in rather than leap across. Even carrying the car and jumping over was prohibited.

It obviously carried heavy symbolic significance. To sum it up, it seemed they had to travel via vehicle and arrive at a specific location through normal driving in order to complete the departure process.

The current situation undoubtedly confirmed this judgment.

They couldn't even force their way through a checkpoint. They had to stop the car according to the rules and seek a legitimate method of passage.

Otherwise, they might not face any punishment, but they would simply continue wandering this plane, still trapped inside.

"Is there any other road we can take?"

With Nepheli backing down, Wen Li, who had been silent this whole time, finally offered a suggestion.

"Unfortunately, no. This is the only road."

Yuan Shan's response remained resolute. She even turned off the engine as she spoke.

"Then if it's blocked, how are we supposed to pass?"

Although Nepheli didn't stop her, she didn't readily agree either, choosing instead to verify their plan of action.

Placing a few of these cones made it a dead end, and since it was their only exit, didn't that mean they were stuck?

"Wait. Wait for these things to be moved by the guard."

Yuan Shan, displaying the composed demeanor of a veteran driver, wasn't panicked in the least.

"There's actually someone working here?"

Nepheli looked quite surprised.

"You could say that. During the time you were trapped inside, haven't you seen him?"

Yuan Shan nodded, confirming the fact while expressing curiosity about Nepheli's experiences.

...

"No."

Nepheli clearly didn't want to elaborate on why she was here, or why she needed help to leave.

Faced with Yuan Shan's question, she fell silent for a brief moment before bluntly denying it.

"But that doesn't seem to mean we must get out of the car."

"We can just stay right here and leave the moment they return. Don't tell me you need to find a place to eat?"

Frowning slightly, she still voiced her objection to Yuan Shan's arrangement.

And at first glance, her point made sense.

Even if they didn't proactively search for the guard, was it really necessary to leave the car while waiting?

None of them had the kind of fragile constitution that would starve from missing a single meal. Why not just sit here with the engine off?

"We really don't—do you?"

The mention of eating actually drew some agreement, surprisingly from Wen Li.

Though the very next moment, she turned to check on Fu Qian.

Among everyone present, his situation was obviously the most unique.

"Well... I'm not very hungry."

Suddenly receiving such care, Fu Qian wasn't overly flattered. He took a moment to seriously gauge his appetite before stating that he could hold out.

"Don't force yourself. There might actually be a place to eat nearby."

Looking as though she refused to mistreat a captive, Wen Li shook her head and opened her door. Her gaze ultimately fell on a brown car parked on the side of the road.

It was also the only relatively intact car they had seen on their entire journey.

...

"Yes. I believe this car came from the outside, just like us... As for their motive, I'll leave that to your imagination."

Sure enough, Yuan Shan immediately confirmed that the car was the real reason.

"They came for him? I believe we just discussed this."

Nepheli reacted quickly. Before Yuan Shan could even finish, she glanced at Fu Qian, guessing that it might be a faction from the Academy harboring ill intentions.

"Then it looks like we really do need to get out and take a look. Otherwise, who knows when these barricades will be lifted..."

With a sigh, she promptly joined the party of those disembarking.

"Yes, especially since it looks like an open invitation."

Having quickly reached an agreement, Yuan Shan looked pleased. She openly admitted that disembarking was for one reason only: to find the passengers of that empty car.

They could forgo eating, but could they really tolerate a group of people clearly targeting them wandering around?

Did this locked-down checkpoint and the missing guard truly have nothing to do with that car?

The other party clearly didn't mind leaving such obvious traces. Sitting around foolishly was undoubtedly the most idiotic course of action, a complete surrender of their own initiative.

"Let's go. I know a pretty good place nearby."

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