Eldritch Horror Theatre

The towering Abyss vanished from the sea in the blink of an eye.

The legendary ship full of transcendents didn't even make a splash.

Almost simultaneously, the roaring gale and giant waves began to dissipate.

Blaming this on severe weather was an insult to anyone's intelligence.

This was undoubtedly a highly targeted attack—and a remarkably efficient one.

According to Brother Jia He's earlier introduction, the Abyss was practically a symbol of dominance within the Anjing Sea Area.

Anyone with half a brain could figure out that the only ones capable of pulling this off—and bold enough to try—were their equals.

Someone wanted to challenge Anjing's control over Ye Island? What had just happened amounted to a slap in the face.

As for the person who had stepped in to protect their cruise ship, Fu Qian had seen her clearly. It was the woman they had met yesterday, Jia Keke.

In that moment, quite a few things clicked into place for Fu Qian.

"That... the ship..."

Amidst the mess, Brother Jia He had finally found a seat. He stared blankly at the spot where the Abyss had vanished, unable to hide his shock.

This was simply too surreal.

The majestic behemoth from just moments ago was gone without a trace.

It was as if a giant sea monster had dragged it straight down into the depths.

"Brother Jia, that was pretty impressive!"

Questioning his own sanity, Jia He realized the mysterious young man had leaned in and was gazing at him with deep admiration.

"What was impressive?"

Fu Qian's words left him momentarily confused.

"You just said the ship's name was a bit unlucky, and then it immediately sank. It's like your words carry absolute law!"

Fu Qian clicked his tongue in praise, even looking Jia He up and down.

"Don't tell me you're a transcendent? A prophet? Wait, that lightning and those waves were definitely a little strange..."

Turning to look out the window at where the Abyss had sunk, then back to Jia He, Fu Qian frowned and lowered his voice.

"You can't just say things like that!"

Realizing what Fu Qian was implying, Jia He went pale. He hurriedly waved his hands in denial.

"I'm no transcendent, and what just happened has absolutely nothing to do with me!"

"Really?"

Fu Qian gave him a suspicious look.

"You're saying the ship sinking was just an accident? It didn't look like one to me."

"It really didn't... but it had nothing to do with me!"

Jia He was observant enough to recognize how bizarre the whole incident was.

But an attack this severe would surely incur Anjing's towering wrath, leading to unimaginable consequences.

He wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.

Even if he knew he was innocent, there was no guarantee the Anjing Company wouldn't vent their anger on him, especially since they were about to arrive at Ye Island.

"Whatever you do, don't talk nonsense!"

Jia He noticed that even though they had kept their voices down, a few other passengers in the dining hall were already glancing their way.

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed. So, what was it connected to?"

Fu Qian nodded his understanding, then stubbornly pressed the interrogation.

What was it connected to? How should I know...

"All passengers, return to your rooms immediately."

At that moment, the Captain's voice echoed over the intercom, successfully bailing Jia He out.

However, compared to his earlier excitement when calling everyone to see the Fluorescent Sea, the Captain's tone was noticeably heavier.

"We will be docking shortly. Due to the severe weather, please do not leave your rooms until you receive notice to disembark."

What kind of severe weather was this?

Fu Qian glanced at the glowing sunset out the window. Jia He, meanwhile, looked as if he had been granted amnesty, hurriedly standing up to take his leave.

"I'm heading back. It's really too dangerous out here!"

...

No wonder he had been able to book a luxury suite on the very same day.

Following the Captain's orders, Fu Qian returned to his room from the dining hall. As he admired the sunset, he reflected on the events of the trip.

Just as Jia Keke had known about the plan in advance and boarded the ship to prevent collateral damage, it was likely that others had caught wind of it and decisively canceled their trips to avoid the storm.

"It's probably a conflict between some major factions."

"That transcendent was here specifically to ensure the safety of this ship."

On the other side of the partition, realizing he had returned, Su Gao stepped out and leaned against the railing to gaze into the distance.

"Although she isn't very strong, her ability is clearly suited for this."

Her deduction was evidently the same as Fu Qian's.

"Do the Night Watchers ignore conflicts of this nature?"

Fu Qian nodded.

"Conflicts are bound to happen. Keeping them away from ordinary people is the most appropriate approach."

Su Gao confirmed his guess.

"Understood."

Fu Qian looked toward the increasingly distinct coastline.

When the Abyss was attacked just now, their ship had undoubtedly been the closest, but a few other nearby cruise ships had also been caught in the crossfire.

Without exception, those ships had also received some measure of protection and suffered no actual damage.

"Which brings up a question. How do the Night Watchers determine if ordinary people are caught in the crossfire? Such precise control would require omniscience, wouldn't it?"

"You're right. The Night Watchers aren't omniscient; they can't investigate everything perfectly."

Su Gao shook her head.

"But once they find out, they can make the offending party pay a brutal price."

"Not a bad choice."

Fu Qian looked impressed. Influencing the expected outcome by increasing the potential for massive losses was indeed a relatively viable way to establish deterrence.

...

Perhaps spooked by the incident, the Captain moved remarkably fast.

In less than an hour, the cruise ship successfully docked, bringing their journey to an end.

Under the crew's guidance, the passengers quickly disembarked in a chaotic yet orderly fashion.

"Mister Fang."

Surprisingly, Jia Keke hadn't slipped away. Instead, she had specifically waited on the shore, stepping forward to greet them when she saw Fu Qian and Su Gao.

She was certainly bold enough to match her skills. Wasn't she afraid Anjing might come looking for her?

Or perhaps, conflict aside, there was a tacit understanding about protecting civilians under the heavy pressure of the Night Watchers?

"No wonder you were so cold!"

Glancing deliberately at Su Gao, Jia Keke muttered a pointed complaint before asking her next question.

"Are you two here on vacation?"

"Of course. Aren't you, Ms. Jia?"

Regardless of her motives, Fu Qian still appreciated her actions, so he responded with a smile.

"How leisurely!"

Jia Keke let out a genuinely heartfelt sigh, avoiding a direct answer.

"Where are you heading next? I'm quite familiar with this area."

"Thanks, but we'll probably head to Narrow Path first."

Fu Qian had planned his itinerary long ago.

"Narrow Path?"

Jia Keke looked somewhat surprised.

"That's a bit far, and there aren't many interesting places to see."

"It doesn't matter. I just happen to like the flavors over there."

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