Eldritch Horror Theatre

”First of all, thank you both for your candor.”

As a professional, Sakura Asao had taken a moment to mentally brace herself. She was determined not to let Anjing Company appear weak.

Taking a deep breath, she began by pointing out that Anjing was fully aware of every move Fu Qian and his companion had made.

”I think this is a positive development for both of us.”

”By ’both of us,’ I specifically mean Anjing and the two of you.”

She deliberately emphasized ”the two of you,” clearly hoping Fu Qian and Su Gao would act in their own interests rather than out of collective loyalty.

”According to our information, your meeting with the Night Watchers was merely an informal contact. We can even respect your privacy and refrain from prying into the details.”

Knowing there was little hope for her original demands, Sakura Asao decisively chose to retreat in order to advance.

”In fact, you can treat my visit today as a friend dropping by. There’s no need to be tense.”

Since neither Violetta nor Dancy raised any objections, Sakura Asao continued with assurance.”I wonder how Ms. Violetta feels about Ye Island? One thing I can guarantee is that here on Ye Island, if Anjing Company can’t provide something for you, no other organization can—legitimate or otherwise. That includes the Night Watchers.”

How domineering!

Fu Qian was perfectly clear on Sakura Asao’s meaning. She was merely applying both grace and might, hoping he and Su Gao would turn traitor so she could permanently eliminate a hidden threat.

The only question was whether it was truly appropriate for her to lay it out quite so nakedly.

”It seems the pressure on Carlos’s end is truly massive.”

...

The remark was a bit of a leap, but Sakura Asao clearly understood it.

...

”When someone makes a mistake, feeling the pressure is only natural.”

After a brief hesitation, she chose not to cover for Dr. Carlos. A hint of schadenfreude even flashed across her face.

”This also highlights how brilliant the two of you are.”

”And given your good relationship with the Night Watchers, I believe you’re fully capable of evaluating the situation and won’t be blindly optimistic.”

”Understood.”

”There’s also a very important point. Across the entire transcendent world, Anjing Company is absolutely the most transparent organization in its operations. I trust you have some understanding of this?”

”With Ms. Violetta’s strength, the immunity granted to you would be quite substantial.”

”That is true.”

Fu Qian nodded.

Compared to those archaic organizations built around families and bloodlines, Anjing Company was vastly superior in terms of efficiency.

Its core operational rules—such as the belief that only strength mattered—might seem overly crude, but to some extent, it was the most suitable model for growth and propagation in this world. It was the best method for absorbing nutrients.

The reason was simple: in this world, people were not equal.

To some degree, a transcendent’s strength and Rank were similar to capital in his original world—accumulated within a single person in a specialized form.

A company serving capital—that logic flowed much more naturally.

”Actually, we merely visited an old friend today and had some snacks.”

Although Sakura Asao’s polite platitudes had lacked any meaningful substance so far, her logical flow and emotional delivery alone were easily worth three thousand.

Fu Qian didn’t mind giving her a little information so she could report back and complete her assignment.

”Delin, right? He’s a rather decent adventurer with considerable strength.”

Sakura Asao undoubtedly found this useful, commenting with a smile.

”I actually feel it’s a bit of a pity he chose to retire instead of joining Anjing.”

”Oh, wasn’t he afraid of repeating Kawasaki’s disastrous mistakes?”

Fu Qian added in a completely casual tone.

...

In that instant, Sakura Asao visibly froze.

”Oh, what Kawasaki?”

Although she tried her best to act as if nothing were amiss, the result fell short.

”The Kawasaki who met a miserable end. Though, of course, their distant branch families didn’t suffer quite as badly.”

Fu Qian tapped his fingers against the mask, speaking in a completely conversational tone.

’He actually knows! How is that possible?’

For a moment, Sakura Asao’s mind was filled with exclamation marks.

In her judgment, Fu Qian and Su Gao might have had dealings with the Night Watchers, but calling them ’old friends’ was little more than making an empty show of strength.

However, the connection between Delin’s retirement and the near extermination of the Kawasaki Family was kept highly confidential by the Night Watchers.

Even Anjing, the local tyrant of Ye Island, only had speculations about the matter.

Yet this guy was incredibly certain, even knowing the subsequent fate of the Kawasaki Family. She simply couldn’t imagine how he had found out.

Unless they really did have a special relationship with the Night Watchers!

Could it be that the Night Watchers found Anjing to be an eyesore and set a trap together with Siren?

Anjing had been a bit arrogant these past few years, but that would be far too extreme!

Furthermore, if that really was the case, why would he reveal such top-secret information to her...

Sakura Asao, who always prided herself on seeing through people, felt an unprecedented sense of bewilderment.

In fact, she wasn’t the only one deeply affected.

Although Su Gao, sitting next to him, didn’t react nearly as strongly as Sakura Asao, the moment Fu Qian spoke the surname Kawasaki, her aura grew even more still.

Fu Qian could understand her confusion. After all, from her perspective, he had no reason to know any of this.

Even if his relationship with Chief Yuan was good, he would still need a reason to look up those documents, wouldn’t he?

However, Su Gao’s composure had always been exceptional. Despite her puzzlement, she controlled her expression and body language, ensuring Sakura Asao didn’t detect anything unusual.

Regardless, dropping this piece of information now was entirely beneficial to their situation.

’Not bad at all!’

Fu Qian was highly satisfied with her performance.

Often, you didn’t need to do anything well; simply choosing not to act was enough.

But not everyone possessed such perceptiveness and self-control.

However, the forcibly composed Su Gao looked a little different from usual, seemingly taking on a trace of an inhuman aura.

She was completely still and translucent, like a sculpture.

Even though her outward appearance was completely different, it inexplicably reminded him of the first time he had seen her.

The presence of her humanity felt thin, all her emotions hidden away.

Wait a minute. It seemed like this feeling hadn’t just appeared now, but had started the moment she sat down...

In the next moment, Fu Qian suddenly sensed a trace of something wrong.

Turning his head without batting an eyelid, Fu Qian brought both Sakura Asao and Su Gao into his field of vision.

The events of the past few minutes flashed rapidly through his mind.

Sakura Asao had entered the room, everything completely normal, and it had seemingly remained that way up until now...

After a brief interaction with her, he had called Su Gao downstairs. The abnormality in Su Gao seemed to have begun in that exact moment...

Yet Su Gao, who was always highly perceptive, hadn’t noticed anything this time...

And neither had he...

A feeling of extreme danger surfaced in Fu Qian’s heart.

To silently and formlessly influence a demigod without her noticing—especially a demigod whose perception was so incredibly sharp...

Didn’t someone mention before that Anjing only had one Emperor?