Eldritch Horror Theatre

Back in Dunis, Crow Feather's movements truly lived up to the phrase coming without a shadow and leaving without a trace.

At the time, Fu Qian had wondered what kind of concealment technique could leave him completely unable to detect a single trace.

Thinking about it now, if the Kisaragi Chie sitting in front of him had tossed playing cards into the empty air to lay out an Eight Trigrams Formation while "conversing" with Nepheli, wouldn't it look strikingly similar to that scene back then?

Just like Nepheli moments ago, Crow Feather had only ever existed in Wehle's perception. This explained why, during the subsequent two encounters with the Clamor, both Crow Feather and Wehle had been absent from the Lighthouse.

It wasn't that they didn't want to split up—they simply couldn't!

The Origin Council truly possessed an endless array of methods. Was this a gift from Rom?

Fu Qian clicked his tongue in silent admiration, thoroughly convinced that this trip had not been in vain.

This was merely a guess, of course. After all, even though Crow Feather remained unseen, he had genuinely displayed extraordinary abilities distinctly different from Wehle's. That was why Fu Qian hadn't suspected this possibility at the time.

In comparison, Nepheli—who could do nothing but flap her lips—was a vastly inferior version.

He had even kept a completely straight face, waiting for Crow Feather to "arrive" before helping him resolve the Divine Blood Curse.

Crow Feather was like an entity pieced together entirely from information, yet he still operated within the realm of extraordinary power.

What an eye-opener. It seemed these technical exchange meetings really were necessary after all.

Hmm...

Suddenly dragged back to her actual job, Kisaragi Chie clearly still hadn't figured out the situation. She stared blankly at the playing cards in front of her.

After a brief hesitation, she pulled her attention away from the cards and studied Su Gao, deploying her ultimate technique of reading facial expressions.

Unfortunately, Su Gao's trademark expressionless face yielded absolutely no valuable information.

"I apologize. My abilities are limited, and I cannot give you an answer right now," she said. "I can only express my hope that you will find what you are looking for, Violetta."

With a long sigh, Kisaragi Chie frankly admitted her inability to help.

How rare. A fortune-telling hut that actually operated honestly.

Fu Qian silently critiqued the establishment. A moment later, he handed over his own playing cards as well.

"Then do you think I'll find what I'm looking for?"

"Mister Dancy... you will find what you are looking for."

Kisaragi Chie looked startled at first, but she quickly gave her answer.

So certain?

Fu Qian nodded.

Kisaragi Chie clearly hadn't read his expression, nor had she studied the cards. She had simply blurted out the conclusion on pure instinct.

It seemed that even though she had forgotten Nepheli's story, a certain lingering impression remained—such as the distinct sense that he had already obtained quite a few answers.

"Thank you," Fu Qian said. "Actually, whether we gain anything is hard to say, but you certainly have."

Without pressing the matter, Fu Qian pulled out a banknote and pushed it across the table.

It was part of the employee wages he had requisitioned before leaving the warehouse.

"Hmm?"

Kisaragi Chie didn't rush to take the money. Instead, she stared at Fu Qian in surprise, clearly failing to grasp his meaning.

Just as she was struggling to figure it out, the door creaked as it was pushed open from the outside.

"Oh, you still have customers!"

Kisaragi Kana sashayed into the room, shooting a smile and a greeting at Fu Qian and Su Gao.

"Mister Dancy, Violetta," she said playfully. "I had no idea you two were so interested in fortune-telling."

Kana...

Upon getting a clear look at the newcomer, Kisaragi Chie felt a momentary wave of unreality.

She had agonized over countless possible fates for her younger sister. Given the nature of her profession, it was incredibly difficult for her to comfort herself with overly optimistic scenarios.

Yet here her sister was, returning home far faster than anyone could have anticipated.

"Madam Suzune, please come in."

Facing this reaction, Kisaragi Kana flashed a flawless smile. She turned and invited the person standing outside to come in. It was none other than the hot-blooded youth, Hayami Suzune.

"Pardon the intrusion."

Compared to her demeanor at noon, Hayami Suzune looked even more displeased. Her face tightened noticeably the moment she spotted Fu Qian and Su Gao.

"Following a preliminary investigation, we have temporarily cleared Kisaragi Kana of suspicion."

She turned to Kisaragi Chie, explaining the current situation with strict formality.

"However, given the unique nature of her abilities, she is strictly grounded at home for the long term. She must report to me once every two days to verify her condition. I need you to help supervise her and ensure she complies. Is that understood?"

"Understood."

Kisaragi Chie listened earnestly, agreeing without a second's hesitation.

"Mister Dancy really does have a nose for the scent of women. I wonder what kind of 'harvest' you're anticipating here?"

After confirming that Kisaragi Chie grasped the gravity of the situation, Hayami Suzune finally retracted her gaze and let out a cold snort.

She had obviously overheard the tail end of their conversation.

"Nothing at all. I am already quite satisfied with today,"

Fu Qian said with a smile, harboring no prejudice against the hot-blooded young investigator. A moment later, he looked as if he had just remembered something.

"So you still have to work today? I thought you would be helping Delin and the others babysit this afternoon."

Why would I be helping Delin and the others babysit? Hayami Suzune's gaze instantly turned several degrees colder.

"I know you're just maliciously provoking me and don't actually intend anything by it," she said, "but I regret to inform you that I saw her just a moment ago. And by the looks of it, she has absolutely no intention of paying you a visit."

"What a terrible shame."

Seeming to catch Su Gao's silent sigh, Fu Qian commented with a smile.

...

"Mister Dancy, thank you for your help."

After Hayami Suzune stormed off in a huff, Kisaragi Kana sat down with a smile. Ignoring her sister entirely, she immediately offered her thanks to Fu Qian.

"What did I help with?"

Fu Qian asked, feigning surprise.

"Even though Madam Suzune didn't say so, I know they must have gone to you regarding Takagi's death."

As she brought up her ex-boyfriend, her tone remained completely devoid of emotion.

"If they didn't say anything, how do you know what kind of advice I gave them?"

"I just do."

Kisaragi Kana shook her head, her smile growing even sweeter.

"I can feel it. I know exactly what you would have said."

"But that wouldn't have been enough for them to release you so quickly."

Fu Qian asked curiously, looking at Kisaragi Kana, whose confident demeanor was on full display now that she had advanced to the Transcendent Tier.

In his estimation, the odds of her being let out this fast were practically zero.

"That's true. As for why they let me come back, the reason is quite simple."

Kisaragi Kana tapped a finger against her ample chest.

"Early this morning, someone stabbed me right here."

So that was it. Fu Qian understood instantly.

Sure enough, with the buff from her notoriety, the situation was far more severe than what Hayami Suzune and Laige had described.

It was so humiliating for them, in fact, that they had completely omitted the detail when they showed up at his door earlier today.

"You don't look injured in the slightest," Fu Qian mused. "So this is your transcendent ability?"

Fu Qian thought for a moment before voicing his question.

"Yes. It seems I've acquired a rather boundless vitality."

Kisaragi Kana was clearly quite pleased with this, lightly tracing her fingernail back and forth across her own throat.

"When I fell to the ground, for a brief moment, I actually thought I had died."

Actually, you might very well have died.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!