Eldritch Horror Theatre

Although she didn't know this Honma, tracking someone down through her connections was a simple matter for Naya.

On the way there, however, she remained rather quiet.

The bizarre turn of events left her momentarily unsure of how to react.

During Fu Qian's exchange with Qiao Yanchuan, she had sensed that something was off; Fu Qian was clearly investigating something.

But at least from her perspective, Qiao Yanchuan hadn't shown the slightest abnormality.

If this had nothing to do with supernatural forces, then even if the old man was up to some dirty business, Fu Qian was overstepping.

"What Qiao Yanchuan said wasn't necessarily the whole truth."

After racking her brain and still failing to make sense of it, Naya finally sighed and spoke.

"I know."

"You know?"

Now it was Naya's turn to be surprised.

She had vaguely sensed from Qiao Yanchuan's subtle expressions and body language that he was hiding something, but she hadn't expected Fu Qian to share the exact same thought.

Then why had he let Qiao Yanchuan off the hook so easily?

"Yeah. Otherwise, why would I be paying visits to two different people?"

Fu Qian gave her a meaningful look.

"How could I make the amateur mistake of thinking a few intimidating words would make him confess everything?"

"Old Man Qiao is a veteran of the jianghu. Whether he has guts or not is up for debate, but he's definitely slippery. Unless you hold a blade to his throat, he'll never be completely honest."

"I just couldn't be bothered to tangle with him earlier. It would've been a waste of time."

"So you're looking for this Honma to see if their stories conflict? You planned this from the very beginning."

Naya's eyes lit up. She hadn't realized Fu Qian had formulated a plan so early on.

"Exactly. But to be honest, it's a highly inefficient method."

Fu Qian nodded.

"The only reason I chose to do it this way is because you're tagging along."

"...Well, my apologies then. And if I weren't tagging along?"

Naya asked, exasperated.

"Isn't it obvious? I would have just held a blade to Old Man Qiao's throat."

Fu Qian smiled faintly, leaving the rest unsaid.

"...I am the head of the Disciplinary Department."

Naya's expression twisted for a moment before she finally forced the words out.

"Don't worry, my hands are always clean. I won't add to your workload."

...

Brother Honma's home wasn't far. The two arrived at their destination as they spoke.

Compared to Old Man Qiao's residence, this place completely lacked that jittery, paranoid atmosphere. Everything looked quite peaceful and harmonious.

Since their target was so relaxed, Fu Qian didn't stand on ceremony either.

Stopping Naya from taking the front door, Fu Qian simply led her in by vaulting over the wall.

"Brother Honma, I trust you've been well."

Making their way in completely unopposed, it didn't take them much effort to locate the languid, long-haired Honma.

At this very moment, the man was staring at a table full of delicacies with the affectionate gaze one might reserve for a lover.

Upon seeing his two uninvited guests, his reaction remained exceedingly calm.

"Welcome, welcome. To have both professors visit me together is an absolute honor."

Sure enough, just like Old Man Qiao, this guy was also well-informed!

Fu Qian wasn't surprised. He sat directly across from the man and swept his gaze over the table, noticing that not a single dish had been touched.

"Brother Honma, your appetite doesn't seem to be very good?"

"It's actually quite excellent."

Honma maintained his lazy posture, looking as though nothing in the world could stir a single ripple in his heart.

"I am simply enjoying the fine food!"

Hmm?

This time, even Naya couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.

"The pleasure brought by delicacies doesn't just lie in the fleeting moment of consumption."

Honma smiled and shook his head.

"How so?"

"Some things are hard to convey with mere words."

Compared to Qiao Yanchuan, Honma undoubtedly carried himself with far more poise, speaking confidently before the two of them.

"What I can tell you is that resisting the desire to satisfy your appetite is equally full of pleasure."

"The pleasure of restraint? That sounds quite similar to your behavior at the ball."

Fu Qian looked thoughtful.

Didn't you fucking say this was an emergency? You rushed all the way over here just to philosophize about this bullshit?

Seeing the two of them sit down to debate principles, Naya was absolutely dumbfounded.

"To be honest, there really is no fundamental difference."

Honma looked at Fu Qian with open admiration.

"In truth, the varieties of pleasure have always extended far beyond just food and lust."

"For example, the two of you standing before me right now could crush me to death with the twitch of a finger."

"But once I restrain the fear brought on by this mortal threat, it will similarly bring me considerable pleasure—"

What kind of freak was this!

Seeing Honma get more and more worked up as he spoke, Naya genuinely couldn't bear to listen anymore.

"We came to see you about something."

"Is it about Jia Yi? I am very sorry about his death, but I'm afraid I can't help you."

Facing Naya's taut expression, Honma smiled effortlessly. He looked like he was thoroughly enjoying the sensation.

"Of course, I know you might not believe me. The two of you are welcome to try applying some pressure on me. It will undoubtedly only make the experience better for me."

...

To think this guy was even harder to deal with than Qiao Yanchuan!

The killing intent radiating from Naya rose so sharply it was practically visible to the naked eye.

She had run into a lot of headaches today, and now she was forced to tag along on Fu Qian's investigation, only to encounter two guys who were each more punchable than the last.

It left her in a thoroughly foul mood.

Unfortunately, even in the face of the coercive aura of a Mid-Tier Transcendent, the man seated across from her didn't show a hint of fear. Instead, Honma's face was painted with an expression of pure ecstasy, making the veins on Naya's forehead bulge in irritation.

The problem was, she couldn't actually just slap the bastard to death.

Gritting her teeth, Naya looked over at Fu Qian.

Rather than wasting time with this guy, they might as well go back and harass Qiao Yanchuan.

"Is that so? Then you're in luck. I've always loved helping people out."

Seeing the standoff, Fu Qian finally made his move.

First, he swept his eyes over the table.

"If I'm not mistaken, these should all be your favorites?"

"Indeed."

Honma looked over the spread with an intoxicated expression.

"If they weren't, the effect wouldn't be quite as potent."

"And among all these, which one is your absolute favorite?"

Fu Qian asked with a genial smile.

"My absolute favorite? It definitely has to be this."

Honma pointed at a bowl of intensely fragrant soup.

"This is made from the nest of a supernatural creature—a very specific breed of bird. Although it might not be worth mentioning to you two professors, getting my hands on it cost me a considerable amount of effort and money."

"Even then, the total amount I acquired was only enough to brew two servings."

At this point, Honma seemed to realize something. He looked at Fu Qian with amusement.

"Don't tell me you want to shove my head into it? To be honest, the effect probably won't be that good, because I know you absolutely won't kill me."

"Then shouldn't the effect be spectacular?"

The moment Honma finished speaking, Fu Qian made a single swift motion. In a flash, Honma's head was plunged straight into the bowl.

"Restraining the fear of death inside your absolute favorite dish—now that's what I call a spectacular bonus. The ultimate pleasure."

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