Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Wisdom King, you really aren’t someone to be underestimated.”

Fu Qian’s pointed assessment clearly gave Jiang En a bit of a shock.

His expression shifted a few times before he seemingly abandoned any attempt at concealment, flashing the textbook smile of someone laying his cards on the table.

”Since you guessed it, I have nothing left to hide. In fact, the Wisdom King figuring it out only makes what I just said more believable.”

”You’re right. I’ve stumbled upon a few opportunities lately, but they require a certain price to be paid.”

”And because of your strained relationship with your family, they refuse to help?”

Fu Qian chuckled coldly.

”Even if they were willing to help, their resources are limited. It would only hold me back instead.”

Jiang En shook his head.

”That wouldn’t be a good choice.””Brother Jiang En... you’re a smart man.”

Nodding slightly, Fu Qian voiced his approval in a low tone. He slowly hefted the heavy Iron Cage and simply handed it over.

”This seat has never liked wasting time. Since you like it so much, just take it.”

”Then I thank the Wisdom King...”

Despite his young age, Jiang En’s composure was impeccable.

Even as he finally got what he wanted, his expression didn’t slip in the slightest. He even offered a smiling word of thanks before reaching out to take it.

”I also enjoy dealing with smart people. If the Wisdom King is interested, I won’t just accept the challenge when the time comes—I’ll guarantee my own defeat.”

”Hmph!”

Fu Qian merely gave a cold snort and let go of the cage.

”I’m serious.”

Jiang En easily caught it, his smile never wavering as he emphasized his point.

”Over the past few years, there are certain things I no longer value nearly as much.”

”If the Wisdom King is willing to pay a little extra, I could even return to the Jiang Clan first before accepting the challenge.”

...

”And in the process, demand a bit of assistance from them so the clan won’t be shamed? Then, after fighting hard and losing, you can pin the loss of those sponsored resources on my head.”

Fu Qian remained noncommittal to Jiang En’s suggestion.

”You’ve calculated everything perfectly. You really don’t pass up a single opportunity to squeeze out a profit.”

”So, is the Wisdom King interested?”

With the Sweet Dream Head Cage in hand, Jiang En clearly prized his new acquisition. As he asked the question, he cautiously took a half-step back with it, as if afraid Fu Qian would change his mind.

”If you leave right now, I might just consider it.”

Dayun Mingwang didn’t sound very happy, however. Though his expression remained hidden, his piercing glare could be felt bearing down on Jiang En.

”Don’t be nervous; I’m leaving right now. After all, if we drag this out any longer, it’ll be hard to explain things if the person in bed wakes up.”

Smiling brightly, Jiang En gestured toward the back of the room.

”It doesn’t matter. I know her. This isn’t our first time meeting.”

Turning his head to glance over as well, Fu Qian replied casually.

”I’m sorry, but I really don’t see the point of the Wisdom King making excuses at a time like this...”

Jiang En’s confusion was entirely genuine. Such a tired excuse—one typically reserved for dodging a vice raid—clearly left him bewildered.

Of course, that didn’t stop him from politely gesturing for Fu Qian to lead the way.

”But time is tight, so... after you, Wisdom King?”

”What do you mean? You want me to go first?”

Fu Qian’s voice instantly grew alert.

”No, no, I meant for you to lead the way.”

Jiang En’s smile grew even brighter.

”I was just worried the Wisdom King might not be able to find the way to the Night Watchers.”

...

”The biggest problem with people who rely on dirty tricks is that they assume everyone else is just like them—that the only reason others don’t play underhanded games is because they haven’t had the chance...”

Amidst the suffocating silence, Jiang En’s tone turned ice-cold with every word.

”Driven by such extreme self-righteousness, your reactions are simply far too easy to predict.”

”You didn’t come here for the transcendent items—”

Dayun Mingwang clearly realized something. Before he even finished speaking, his left arm gave a bizarre twitch.

”Too late. I’m sorry.”

Unfortunately for him, Jiang En was noticeably faster. In a split second, he had already tucked the Sweet Dream Head Cage behind his back.

Not only that, but his five fingers wound through the cage’s thick, heavy bars like gnarled tree roots, weaving and locking themselves tightly into the metal framework.

From the look of it, prying the cage back from him would take a tremendous amount of effort.

Fu Qian hesitated for a moment, ultimately choosing not to make a move.

”The Wisdom King is incredibly strong. I truly have no confidence in facing you in a direct confrontation.”

This reaction seemed to be exactly what Jiang En had anticipated.

”But trust me, taking this item back won’t be easy at all.”

...

”So what exactly do you want to do?”

As the target of this mockery, Dayun Mingwang was clearly displeased.

”Once we actually get to the Night Watchers, do you honestly expect to keep this thing?”

”I don’t need to keep it.”

Jiang En shook his head again, his tone firmer than ever.

”I do have an eye for these things. This is absolutely an extraordinary item, exalted and precious—but its value means something entirely different to me.”

”The Wisdom King certainly wouldn’t follow me obediently, and as I said earlier, I have no confidence in forcing you to come along.”

”Fortunately, with this item in hand, that no longer matters.”

”With such a unique item, I’m certain its chain of ownership can be traced. When the time comes, I’ll just let the Night Watchers track you down for a chat themselves.”

...

”So your objective here hasn’t changed at all. You came to catch the one responsible for all this.”

As Jiang En laid out his plan, Dayun Mingwang—who had been quietly listening the entire time—could no longer hold back, speaking up with a series of cold sneers.

”All that acting and those long speeches just now had one single purpose: to trick an item out of my hands. Something substantial enough to lock down my identity.”

”Exactly. As the Wisdom King mentioned earlier, if this devolves into mutual accusations, this sort of thing would be very hard to prove.”

With his other hand, Jiang En nimbly tapped against the cage.

”So my plan was simple: hand an item like this over to the Night Watchers along with my findings, and leave the rest for the Wisdom King to explain to them in person.”

”And now, whether I go with you or not barely makes a difference... What an impressive young man.”

Fu Qian burst into laughter, no longer bothering to keep his voice down.

”But I still don’t understand your motive. Given your circumstances, this is far from the optimal choice. Unless... are you really Jiang En?”

”Hahaha...”

The latter seemed unexpectedly infected by the atmosphere as well.

”Why wouldn’t I be Jiang En? Are you saying a fallen genius of the past shouldn’t possess such an inexplicable sense of justice?”

”Fair point, that might have been too absolute... Then I only have one question left.”

Fu Qian gave a faint nod. He tapped the mask on his face, his tone taking on a bizarre edge.

”If you are Jiang En... then who am I?”

In that instant, above ”Jiang En’s” head, the Illusory Eye representing the stability of the dreamscape snapped wide open, trembling as though on the verge of shattering.

”You really haven’t made any progress at all... Taylor Gulade.”

Fu Qian showed not a shred of mercy as he coldly spat out the name.