Eldritch Horror Theatre

He was already gone?

Although the search had gone smoothly, the information Alan had been so eager to provide was clearly the last thing they wanted to hear.

Yuan Shan scrutinized the man, who had instantly relaxed and leaned back in his seat, then sought Fu Qian’s opinion with a glance.

”This is a bit unexpected.”

Fu Qian looked thoughtful for a moment, casually spinning the gun in his hand to help him think.

Naturally, to everyone else, this sight was decidedly less pleasant.

Alan, who had just relaxed, found his gaze almost entirely drawn to the muzzle, his body involuntarily tensing every time it swept past him.

”He said it himself. Things were getting too unfriendly around here, so he was leaving right away.”

Without waiting for Fu Qian to ask, he abruptly sat up straight and spilled everything he knew.

”I haven’t seen or heard from him since, so I figure he’s already gone.””Is that so...”

The gun in Fu Qian’s hand finally wobbled to a halt.

”Thoughts?”

Yuan Shan frowned slightly.

Although she didn’t know the exact reason, the teacher had clearly set up this search as some kind of test.

For the target to have likely vanished long ago felt a bit off to her.

More importantly, as a demigod who managed countless affairs, she had no problem telling whether an ordinary person was lying—even without Fu Qian’s ability to sense flesh and blood down to the cellular level.

Although this Alan seemed even more frivolous than Moglin, he was obviously far more inept. Pulling off a lie in this situation would simply be beyond him.

”Should we just report this? Wandering around aimlessly is a waste of time.”

”True enough.”

Fu Qian actually sounded completely in agreement with Chief Yuan’s proposal.

”It took some effort to get here, and it’s a shame to waste a perfectly good night on this.”

As he spoke, Fu Qian let his gaze roam over Alan. The man grew visibly tense under the scrutiny and soon cracked.

”Everything I said is true... I didn’t tell any of the people who asked before. Did that guy stir up some trouble? Wait, are you from the casino?”

He jolted in horror as realization seemed to strike him, draining the last hint of color from his face.

”I really don’t know him that well! I just piggybacked off his luck to make a little money, and my luck went bad again right after... If you want it back, I still have some of it left...”

Even as he babbled, his hands were already fumbling in his pockets, though his expression betrayed a deep reluctance to part with the cash.

”Of course not. You’re always welcome to come again.”

Fu Qian had no qualms about letting the casino take the blame as he smoothly tucked the gun away.

”What do you take us for? Do you think we would do something as classless as robbing you in a place like this?”

”Today, we’re here purely as paying customers.”

He snapped his fingers, shifting his attention to the dancer huddled in the corner.

In the span of their brief exchange, the woman—an employee with full lips and a striking figure—had quietly found a piece of clothing to drape over herself.

”What’s your name?”

Meeting her fearful gaze, Fu Qian smiled warmly.

”...Sharman.”

”Very good, Sharman. Mr. Alan’s time shouldn’t be up yet. Shouldn’t you finish your work?”

As he spoke, Fu Qian actually took a seat to the side, settling in with the posture of an appreciative spectator.

He even patted the spot next to him, signaling to Yuan Shan that he had saved her a seat.

This guy really knows how to mix business with pleasure!

Fu Qian’s conduct made Chief Yuan frown.

Of course, she wasn’t naive enough to think Fu Qian actually had such leisurely interests.

The most likely explanation was that some clue had tipped him off about this dancer.

The problem was that even if that were true, Yuan Shan had absolutely no interest in watching someone strip in a place like this.

Sigh!

Regardless, when dealing with someone who was facing the threat of death largely because of her, she wouldn’t refuse this minor bit of cooperation.

She sighed silently and stood behind Fu Qian, still refusing to sit in the leather chair.

...

Suddenly the center of attention, Sharman looked unabashedly nervous and reflexively glanced at her original client, Alan.

Unfortunately, the man’s mind was clearly in chaos, rendering him completely incapable of offering any guidance.

”Doing what you excel at is a highly effective way to stabilize your emotions.”

When she gave up on seeking help and looked back at Fu Qian, he was still smiling, offering this gentle encouragement.

Left with no other choice, Sharman finally dropped the clothing and slowly rose to return to her stage.

”What do you think?”

About half a minute later, as Sharman fell into the rhythm of her routine and her emotions visibly focused, Fu Qian looked back to consult Yuan Shan.

”I can tell Mr. Alan really likes this place. He has an excellent eye.”

Yuan Shan nodded.

”Agreed.”

Fu Qian sighed and reached out toward Alan.

”What do you guys want—”

His words were cut off as he crumpled to the floor with a heavy thud.

”Alright, Sharman. Thank you for the performance.”

Holstering the gun he had just used to knock the man out, Fu Qian hesitated. Deciding he didn’t want to dig through Alan’s pockets, he fished two bills from his own pocket and tossed them onto the table.

”I have a few things I’d like to discuss with you privately. Don’t worry, Mr. Alan can’t hear us now.”

Fu Qian observed the dancer, who had managed to grit her teeth and stifle a scream when her client collapsed.

”Do you know Midas?”

”I don’t know him...”

Her face was stiff, but after a moment of hesitation, Sharman bent down to pick up the cash and shook her head.

”Do you know any other strange people?”

”You mean...”

”The person who told you to keep an eye on Alan.”

”I didn’t—his name is Ross.”

Frightened by the subtle hint of displeasure on Fu Qian’s face, Sharman quickly changed her tune.

”What kind of person is he? Describe him to me.”

In an instant, Fu Qian’s expression shifted back to pleasant, coaxing her with a gentle tone.

”An old client my mother used to know well. He came around here a lot for a while, and then suddenly showed up again recently...”

Between the threat to her life and the stack of cash, Sharman quickly abandoned her final shreds of hesitation and rapidly answered Fu Qian’s questions.

”He paid you to watch Alan?”

”Yes.”

”Watch for what, exactly?”

”Anything at all, as long as it was out of the ordinary... especially any strangers who came looking for him.”

It seemed his good luck really did have a catch to it.

Exchanging a glance with Yuan Shan, Fu Qian gestured toward Alan’s pockets.

”You can take all his money in a minute and pin the blame on us.”

...

At this highly tempting proposal, Sharman’s breath hitched almost instantly.

”Now for one last question. According to your arrangement, how were you supposed to notify Ross if you found something?”