Eldritch Horror Theatre

The two who burst in were naturally the Siren experts who had just crossed paths with Fu Qian.

Judging by the timing, they had clearly discovered the scene of the massacre, conducted a brief search of the perimeter, and hurried straight back.

As for how Fu Qian had timed his words so perfectly?

Simple. He had been monitoring the commotion over there the entire time.

From the moment Gerald took an interest in his right hand, Fu Qian had been stalling under the guise of a martial artist, waiting for this exact moment.

As the highest tier of Combat Power within the small inn, his sensory domain vastly outstripped everyone else’s.

Thus, the illusion of his words carrying absolute law was crafted to thrilling perfection.

At the very least, the glare Gerald shot him was instantly filled with genuine murderous intent.

”What happened? Take your time and explain.”

Naturally, Gerald wasn’t buying any nonsense about drawing blood. He kept his devouring stare locked on Fu Qian, his tone icy....

The two men who had rushed back to report also froze at the sight of Fu Qian’s unfamiliar face. They clearly hadn’t expected a newcomer to arrive at a time like this, nor did they understand what he had just said.

However, the difference between a real team and a bunch of stragglers immediately became apparent.

”The man we left to watch our backs is dead!”

Without asking a single question to satisfy his own curiosity, the man quickly described the bloody scene Fu Qian had witnessed earlier.

”He couldn’t have been dead for long when we got there. The traces at the scene show he was ambushed from behind.”

”We figured the killer hadn’t gone far and immediately searched the area, but unfortunately, we didn’t find any suspicious traces... or anyone at all.”

As he spoke, he cast a glance at Fu Qian.

This guy was obviously highly suspicious.

Just died, ambushed from behind, even his head taken away...

Yet after hearing this description, Gerald frowned deeply, and the glare he directed at Fu Qian actually softened a fraction.

Judging by the timeframe and the resulting scene, pulling that off seemed well beyond this guy’s capabilities.

”How is that possible?! Who is so tired of living that they’d pull a stunt like this in the Wasteland!”

Before Gerald could even speak, a mocking, oddly pitched voice rang out from nearby.

A single glance revealed it came from a young man in the Ji Clan’s ranks—someone who looked even younger than Gerald.

Though his face was plastered with an exaggerated look of shock, his tone dripped with unmistakable schadenfreude.

He remained entirely unfazed by the furious glares of the Siren group. He even pointed a finger at Fu Qian.

”I suggest you strictly interrogate this Mister Lu. His behavior is simply too suspicious.”

”Makes sense.”

Faced with this obviously malicious suggestion, Gerald actually nodded. Then he let out a cold sneer.

”You sound like you have a lot of experience with this, Amir. Is it because you also had people die here last year?”

Obviously, the mocking retort was the main point.

”Yeah, why else wouldn’t we dare bring too many people this year!”

Unexpectedly, the other man displayed the sheer composure of letting spit dry on one’s face. Confronted with Gerald exposing a sore spot, he immediately replied with a tone of total concession.

”You’d better not let me find out that this actually has anything to do with the Ji Clan...”

Faced with this kind of posturing, Gerald—who was, after all, the one who had actually lost a man—was ultimately the first to lose ground in this battle of passive-aggressiveness.

”Don’t worry, you won’t.”

Meeting this naked threat, Amir finally let his voice turn vicious and uncompromising.

”Just like how you kept things hidden last year.”

...

Sounded like quite a bitter feud!

Fu Qian, who had been somewhat marginalized for the moment, watched their clash with great relish, taking absolutely no offense at being left out in the cold.

First of all, the team Amir led was confirmed to indeed be from the Ji Clan.

And judging by his words, the Ji Clan had lost personnel here last year, and their prime suspect was none other than Siren.

As two major factions trying to expand their influence in the Wasteland, being at each other’s throats was hardly surprising.

Given the level of caution Siren had displayed, they were clearly on guard against a similar situation.

But precisely because of that, losing someone now—compounded by the mockery—was clearly infuriating them all the more.

”So, can Mister Lu explain himself?”

Fortunately, as a mature adult, Captain Gerald quickly sought a new target to vent this anger on.

Without asking his subordinates to take him to the body, he stared at Fu Qian—currently surrounded in the middle—and asked coldly.

”So you’re actually taking his suggestion?”

Under the gaze of such a formidable lineup, Fu Qian frowned slightly, his face a picture of surprise.

”Does this mean that if I can’t explain myself clearly, I’ll be facing strict interrogation and torture next?”

...

This rhetorical question, paired with Fu Qian’s exaggerated tone, made Gerald nearly choke on his own breath.

Although the man’s behavior was suspicious, Gerald had already judged the probability of him being the killer to be low. Regardless, they definitely couldn’t just let him off easily.

But phrased like that, it made it seem as if Gerald was truly following Amir’s orders, leaving him with a stifling frustration and nowhere to vent it.

”You don’t need to worry about all that, Mister Lu. You just need to think carefully about how to explain things clearly.”

Taking a deep breath, Gerald tried to make his tone sound calm and collected to maximize the threat.

”Sorry, I can’t explain it clearly.”

Unfortunately for him, Fu Qian’s response was just as brisk. At the same time, he looked down at the glass of liquor in front of him and slid it right back where it came from.

”Also, because my heart is filled with shame, I won’t be drinking this liquor.”

”If you want to torture me, please, be my guest.”

Without even looking at Gerald’s reaction, he stood up, walked over to another boarded-up window, and sat down in an empty seat.

”Mind buying me a drink?”

He had taken the only empty seat at the table. Across from him sat a woman with red hair and a black dress. With a powdered face and red lips, she possessed an undeniable mature charm.

Meeting this somewhat familiar face, Fu Qian asked with a beaming smile.

Madam Nora, one of Old Man Tyr’s old friends. Back when they first met in the bar, this was the exact same thing she had said to him.

In fact, at this very moment, Old Man Tyr was sitting right beside her.

Of course, whoever they were, watching Fu Qian walk over step by step inevitably filled their expressions with shock. They simply couldn’t understand why this guy had approached them.

...

As it turned out, Madam Nora was quite generous.

Although she was a bit bewildered and absolutely unwilling to provoke the Siren faction behind Gerald, trouble had landed squarely on her doorstep unprovoked. Exchanging a glance with Old Man Tyr, she ultimately braved Gerald’s fierce glare and called out to the proprietress.

”Don’t look at me. The rest area in the back doesn’t even charge a fee, so I don’t think I have any obligation to provide an explanation either.”

Meeting the glare Gerald directed at her, the proprietress shook her head and casually tossed a bottle of liquor over.