Eldritch Horror Theatre

Of course, the assumption that tasks no longer yielded rewards was merely drawn from experience. The Warehouse might very well make a direct judgment based on an excessively unique change, denying him any chance for regret.

Even if it proved slightly more lenient—say he consumed a trait, sensed something was wrong, and the Warehouse did not immediately evaluate his status change—the reward wouldn’t necessarily be empty when the task inevitably ended in failure.

Regarding the first scenario, considering his opponent was highly likely a true God who had lived through countless ages, Fu Qian never expected to secure absolute certainty.

All he ever sought to avoid was a gamble where his odds of winning were fifty percent or less.

These potential low-probability edge cases merely served as a slight discount to his calculated win rate.

As for the latter scenario, Fu Qian was nowhere near naive enough to believe he actually had as many chances for trial and error as his total SAN Value.

On the contrary, he judged the probability of that latter scenario occurring to be exceedingly high.

To Blazing Rainbow, who had slaughtered countless predecessors, the operational mechanisms of the Warehouse had to be intimately familiar.

In His meticulously crafted trap, an inescapable open scheme, how could He possibly have left such a massive loophole?

Unless that loophole had been left there on purpose.In truth, Fu Qian had never entertained the beautiful fantasy of intentionally failing the task, letting the Warehouse reset everything, and trying again.

In his plan, there was only one real opportunity for trial and error: Transcendence.

That was the only method to restart without triggering a task failure check.

As he had noted before, a professional never wasted resources of any kind.

Two traits, two attempts.

From the moment he consumed the first trait, this gamble had to end with a clear winner.

Fu Qian reasoned that only through this precise stacking of choices could his odds of winning climb above fifty percent.

As for the remaining hundred-plus points of his SAN Value, they naturally wouldn’t go to waste.

That would serve as his entry fee to face Blazing Rainbow directly.

He hoped the entity wouldn’t disappoint him.

......

[......8%...13%...21%...34%...55%...89%...100%, Containment Scenario loaded successfully.]

[This is a magical metropolis, the place where human nature is reflected in reality.

The abyss of indulgence, the hidden sanctum.

Fueled by desire, it burns to forge even greater desires.

Identities are tempered here, reborn as a brand-new self.

Faith serves as the anchor of true self, ensuring people always know the Depth to which they have fallen.

As well as what kind of favor they are fortunate enough to receive.

Such a place never lacks for legendary tales, serving as a delight for most to talk about.

Of course, people might not be able to endure it when a living legend truly stands before them.]

”Welcome to... the Sacred Night Capital.”

This last sentence, although inexplicably seamless with the preceding task introduction, was clearly not spoken by the same voice.

Regaining his five senses, Fu Qian silently gazed at the familiar face before him.

A face just as familiar as that final sentence.

Within the moderately sized but luxuriously appointed space, the Night Watchers’ Demigod, Yuan Shan, was staring at him with a stern expression.

If his memory served him right, that phrase was exactly what she had said when they first arrived at the Sacred Night Capital.

In fact, the vehicle beneath him had not even come to a complete stop yet.

Fu Qian peered through the small window beside him, taking in the familiar night scenery outside.

He had already harbored a suspicion when listening to the task introduction, and reality proved him right: he had actually returned to Casino City.

This was truly... fantastic!

......

A Grade 3 task, no restrictions on abilities or items, a familiar location, a familiar night, and a Tier 2 Transcendent tainted by Blazing Rainbow just a short distance away.

What could possibly serve as a better stage for him to prepare for Blazing Rainbow?

In truth, this was the absolute ideal progression of his plans.

The Warehouse had not only taken the hint in assigning the task, but the nature of the task itself accommodated him to the extreme.

Of course, Fu Qian did not believe the Warehouse had suddenly become a mind-reader, specifically tailoring this task for him.

A professional’s luck always stemmed from their professionalism.

As far back as his time on Ye Island, he had vaguely detected a pattern: the Warehouse’s task assignments carried a certain proximity bias.

In other words, if an anomaly existed near his physical location, there was a far greater probability that it would be assigned to him as a priority.

There could be multiple underlying logical reasons for this mechanism, but ever since he realized it, Fu Qian had been pondering exactly what circumstances he could use it in.

If that were not the case, how could he have so boldly walked right into the trap with Yuan Shan?

And securely prepared the traits before casting himself into the net?

This was also why, when he played the role of a Sacred Night Capital bandit the previous night, he had been so remarkably friendly to that professional team.

With Midas being an existence so resemblant of an anomaly, how could he not nurture it properly to increase the likelihood of it becoming a Warehouse task target?

Observe, analyze, summarize, and then push every condition to its absolute limit for verification—only then could a miracle possibly manifest.

Merely burning incense was never enough, especially with characters like Henry around, who would gladly write their own names on someone else’s offerings.

”The honor is entirely mine.”

Pulled from his reverie, Fu Qian looked at Yuan Shan in excellent spirits.

”......Do you even know where we are?”

His reaction caused a trace of confusion to seep into the woman’s stern demeanor.

”With such an obvious landmark outside, how could I not?”

Fu Qian pointed outside matter-of-factly.

”......Then did you know the Sacred Night Capital is the Night Watchers Northern Headquarters?”

Yuan Shan’s confusion did not wane; rather, it deepened.

”I do now.”

”Considering I had never even heard of the Night Watchers Northern Headquarters, I wouldn’t be surprised no matter where it was located.”

”Even situated right in the legendary Casino City, I actually think it complements the setting quite well.”

Fu Qian continued to smile.

”Alright.”

Having completely failed to shock him, Yuan Shan looked somewhat resentful. However, her attention shifted elsewhere the very next moment, and her brows knitted even tighter.

”What is all this random junk on you? I don’t recall you bringing any of this aboard.”

Hmm......

Fu Qian looked down at himself.

He really couldn’t blame Chief Yuan for making a fuss; his current getup was indeed a bit ostentatious.

Although the Warehouse hadn’t brought him in wearing his bathrobe, outfitting him instead in the clothes he had worn at the time.

But aside from the items tucked away on his person and those merged into his very flesh, the items he was holding in his hands purely due to their sheer bulk included the Head Cage and the Lantern.

Furthermore, the two traits, the Giant Egg and the Crystal Sun, were clutched in his palms like Baoding balls.

Beyond that, he even had the Transparent Longbow slung across his back.

With an arsenal like this, it would theoretically be difficult to even clear a basic security check.

”Dangerous items naturally require special storage methods.”

Fortunately, in response to Chief Yuan’s interrogation, Fu Qian smoothly plagiarized an excuse he had used once before.

......

Yuan Shan immediately fell silent.

She wasn’t blind; she could naturally tell these were all transcendent items.

His specific mention of the word ”dangerous” was clearly hinting at the true nature of their trip.

This guy truly came prepared for the worst!

”Not bad, right?”

Finding herself momentarily speechless, she finally turned her gaze out the window and asked with feigned nonchalance.

”Not bad at all.”

Fu Qian obligingly repeated the exact exchange from his past memory.

[Containment Fulfillment Conditions: Prevent the lucky Midas from becoming a reality.]

......Truly not bad at all!