Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Churches and shrines of various faiths are concentrated here. When the city was first planned, this was designated as its core district.”

Yuan Shan clearly hadn’t realized there was anything special about her teacher’s name.

Leading Fu Qian into a district that seemed centuries older than the rest of the city, she made the introductions while voicing her amazement.

”For a city built solely for gambling, the concept sounds utterly absurd at first.”

”But as it turns out, it was an incredibly far-sighted decision!”

”As bustling as the casinos?”

Fu Qian chimed in right on cue.

”Every single one.”

Yuan Shan sighed.

”This seemingly worrisome design didn’t just turn out to be bustling, it proved to be entirely harmonious.””Some people even visit every single one of these sites during the day before hitting the casinos at night. Anywhere else, that would be unimaginable.”

”People with pure intentions are often the most tolerant.”

Fu Qian marveled, looking around.

Yuan Shan was absolutely right. Just standing in this spot, one could see several massive religious buildings of entirely different architectural styles.

And their doors were clearly all still open.

”So, does it actually work?”

”It does. At the very least, it keeps people much calmer when they lose money. They start reflecting on whether they just weren’t pious enough.”

”They’re really that reasonable? No one loses their temper and takes it out on their faith?”

”No.”

Yuan Shan shook her head with absolute certainty.

”Because there are always people who win.”

”Understood.”

Fu Qian nodded.

Yuan Shan’s meaning was easy to understand. Even if a sore loser flew into a rage and wanted to vent their frustration on the sanctuary that had failed to protect them, the police wouldn’t need to do a thing. The blessed winners would swiftly teach them a lesson.

”So your teacher had a run of bad luck and came here for help?”

Following that logic, he naturally voiced the next question.

Even though the mental image was a bit bizarre.

”I can’t rule it out...”

Yuan Shan’s expression stiffened at the question.

”Of course, that would be the best-case scenario. I’m worried he’s doing something else.”

”Such as?”

”Such as tampering with other people’s prayers to redirect the blessing to himself.”

Yuan Shan murmured.

”...Very creative.”

Even Fu Qian couldn’t help but marvel at the maneuver.

”Isn’t he afraid of getting caught?”

”Caught by whom? He’s a genuine Tier 2.”

Yuan Shan countered, looking utterly exasperated with her lineage.

So ”Henry” was actually a Tier 2?

It was close to what he had imagined, but the confirmation still made Fu Qian sigh inwardly.

Given the circumstances, it was hard to believe this was merely a coincidence of names.

Judging from Yuan Shan’s reaction to the name Blazing Rainbow, this might be a secret known only to the two of them.

If anyone else knew about it, it would be treated as an anomaly requiring immediate intervention.

At the same time, during an incident orchestrated by Blazing Rainbow, he had encountered a cat named Henry.

Not only had that cat been the Origin of Colors for the mission, but at the very last moment, it had nearly received an infusion of power from Blazing Rainbow.

This Higher Existence, who seemed to clash with the Warehouse at every turn, definitely had some unusual connection to the Night Watchers.

And that obviously meant the danger level of this current trip had skyrocketed once again.

”Found him. He really is here.”

Yuan Shan broke his train of thought, pointing through a doorway beside them.

...

’You really know your teacher well!’

Following Yuan Shan’s reminder, Fu Qian peered into the brightly lit Great Hall.

Even near midnight, a crowd of devout believers remained gathered beneath the massive Sacred Emblem—a true testament to the power of faith.

”Shall we go in?”

Having finally tracked down her teacher, Yuan Shan turned to look at Fu Qian seriously, asking the question in a half-consulting tone.

She clearly understood what Fu Qian would be facing once he stepped through that door.

And even though that fact couldn’t be changed, she still wanted him to think it through.

”Sure.”

His response was incredibly crisp.

Not only that, but his face was the picture of piety, gazing upward with the reverence of a pilgrim.

...

Fu Qian’s behavior immediately reminded Yuan Shan of his usual antics, and her brief surge of sympathy vanished in an instant.

Instead, she turned toward one side of the Church, locking her eyes on a figure seated calmly over there.

The thought of these two guys crossing paths suddenly made her scalp tingle with dread.

”Shall we?”

Amidst her surging emotions, the man who was supposedly marching to his doom turned around and gave her a questioning look, actually hurrying her along.

Right.

Since it had come to this, Yuan Shan didn’t say another word. She gave a curt nod and led the way.

...

”Teacher? I brought him.”

Much like the city itself, the religious sanctuaries of the Sacred Night Capital were remarkably welcoming, raising no objections to the two midnight visitors.

Yuan Shan made no attempt at false courtesy. She led Fu Qian straight to a corner and sat down beside a slightly plump, impeccably dressed older gentleman in a black formal suit, whispering her greeting.

”A pleasure.”

Fu Qian offered a polite greeting, calmly observing this retired Tier 2 of the Night Watchers.

He had a stern face and sat perfectly straight, his hair combed meticulously.

He had even chosen a dimly lit corner over the front rows, where he would have been far more noticeable to the Deity.

At first glance, he looked like one of the most devoted worshippers in the hall.

”Mister Fang, welcome.”

Sensing Fu Qian’s gaze, Henry Campbell finally turned his head slowly, his expression placid.

”Let’s not disturb the others. Follow me.”

He didn’t waste any time. He stood up immediately and gestured for the two of them to follow.

However, he didn’t lead them outside the Church. Instead, he navigated along the edge of the hall and headed deeper inside, arriving at a secluded room.

They encountered others along the way—some even looked like monks in heavy, draping robes. Yet everyone they passed reacted as if this were completely normal, sparing neither Henry nor the trailing Fu Qian and Yuan Shan a single questioning glance.

By all appearances, it was a scene of peaceful harmony. However, he could hear Yuan Shan sighing helplessly beside him, radiating the embarrassment of someone deeply ashamed of her lineage.

A highly unusual ability.

Fu Qian didn’t see an issue with it at all; in fact, he found this deceptively normal but deeply eerie display entirely fascinating.

He had noticed the anomaly earlier. The moment he had walked through the door and laid eyes on the older man, his initial reaction had been exactly the same as everyone else’s.

Henry sitting in that corner had felt completely natural; nothing about it had seemed the slightest bit out of place.

But that had only been on the first glance. The moment he took a second look, prompted by Yuan Shan’s reminder, that feeling vanished.

”Mister Fang, I’ve heard quite a bit about you from Yuan Shan. Thank you for all your help to the Night Watchers recently.”

Gesturing for Yuan Shan to shut the door, Henry looked at Fu Qian with a faint, half-smile, shedding his previously stern demeanor.

”Especially regarding the Logan situation.”