Eldritch Horror Theatre

Her dominance was palpable.

It was said that the truly strong never needed to shout.

Su Gao’s answer was neither serious nor frivolous, and even its logic jumped around a bit.

Yet that soft final sentence directly silenced Nepheli.

Showing up voluntarily to coexist peacefully was naturally ideal. But if you did nothing and just hid, that trench would still be filled in.

Because first, this situation had already been identified as someone causing trouble; and second, the person causing the trouble was guaranteed to die. Therefore, the problem would be solved.

Whether they found out where the person was or who they were at the time wouldn’t affect the final result in the slightest.

Granted, if one were to be pedantic, there were too many points to refute. But that absolute confidence radiating through calmness—a trait highly characteristic of Executive Yama Su—won Fu Qian’s approval while practically blinding the target of her words.

Not only that, but even the two beside them were caught in the crossfire.

Whether it was Yuan Shan or Wen Li, both fell silent alongside her, their gazes drifting out the car windows to contemplate life.”Now I believe it really is you...”

The subtle atmosphere lingered for nearly half a minute. The scenery outside the window remained unchanged: empty streets shrouded in white mist.

Within this isolated, otherworldly scene, Nepheli finally composed her emotions.

When she spoke again, she harbored no remaining doubts about Su Gao’s identity.

”It’s just... how could someone like you get trapped in a place like this?”

What followed was confusion.

”Or to put it another way, I can’t imagine anything being able to trap you.”

...

’Isn’t this evaluation a bit too high? Is Classmate Su Gao this famous within the Origin Council?’

Nepheli’s words undoubtedly invited wild speculation; they went far beyond mere flattery.

She had just said she was trapped here and couldn’t get out, yet in the very next breath, she couldn’t believe Su Gao would be trapped too. The disparity between them was stark.

Furthermore, considering Nepheli had likely overheard their earlier conversation in the car, it meant that while she held Su Gao in extremely high regard for some unknown reason, she couldn’t quite match the face to the name.

How did such a situation come about?

Although seeking logic in a virtual world was a laughable endeavor, at that moment, Fu Qian naturally thought of the organization behind Nepheli.

The Origin Council had always maintained a rather broad scope of operations. Had they dealt with Classmate Su Gao before?

”Do you know who she is?”

To his relief, Nepheli didn’t need prompting. Already taking the initiative to resolve their doubts, she turned to the rest of them to ask.

”We only just found out... but from the sound of it, there’s more we don’t know?”

Yuan Shan looked entirely focused on driving, and Fu Qian, sparing his vocal cords, wasn’t in a rush to speak. For the moment, it was Wen Li, the host of this carpool, who answered.

”Of course. It seems my luck is quite good today. Not only did I meet some kind Samaritans, but I also accidentally stumbled upon an incredible secret.”

Even with only one person responding, Nepheli still smiled brightly, gesturing toward the front passenger seat.

”Why doesn’t Excellency Su Gao take that item out and show them? I’m sure it will be an unforgettable sight.”

’An item?’

With Nepheli hyping it up to such an extraordinary degree, her audience couldn’t help but take it seriously.

Even Chief Yuan, who was driving, stole a couple of extra glances from the corner of her eye.

Unfortunately, the person beside her was practically devoid of accessories. Only the uniquely shaped Longsword was somewhat special—Clack!

Amid the soft sound, the blade was drawn just a fraction, revealing a sliver of cold steel.

However, this lasted for only a single breath before it was swiftly sheathed again. Throughout the entire process, Su Gao hadn’t even turned her head.

...

’Don’t bother me, or you will die.’

The sword in Su Gao’s hand was naturally no ordinary weapon. But as a swordsman himself, Fu Qian didn’t think it was anything earth-shattering.

Therefore, rather than a demonstration upon request, her recent action was a rejection through body language, stating clearly that she had zero interest in chatting with Nepheli.

’Heh...’

Judging by the latter’s reaction, this was exactly the case. Nepheli looked somewhat awkward after the rejection, though she didn’t seem ready to let the matter drop just yet.

”Since the person in question is unwilling to show it, I’ll just describe it... Rumor has it that it’s a Die made of a special material, which can bring extraordinary luck.”

Sure enough, she stopped pestering Su Gao and pivoted to satisfying the curiosity of Yuan Shan and Wen Li. But the item she mentioned... the Gambler’s Hand Bone?

Fu Qian recalled a certain trinket he had once gifted to Classmate Su Gao. He hadn’t expected it to command such a high degree of interest in this time and space. Was it really a case of him having a discerning eye failing to recognize a pearl?

”I don’t know if it actually works for luck, but it seems there’s a special contract behind it.”

Amid Fu Qian’s musings, Nepheli discreetly observed Su Gao’s reactions. Only after confirming that the other party had no response to being openly discussed did she boldly continue.

”What contract?”

As expected, Wen Li’s interest had been piqued, and she casually followed up with a question.

”Some kind of oath? I’m not too sure.”

With an attentive audience, Nepheli’s delivery grew even more expressive. She shook her head first, then gestured outside.

”I only know that through the special connection upon it, this Excellency Su Gao can draw out an Incomplete Sword from any time and space that truly belongs to her.

”They say it was once stained with true Deity’s blood. And because it is incomplete, it thirsts. That sword is incredibly greedy toward all of the Transcendent Tier. While destroying them, it simultaneously provides its wielder with limitless nourishment.”

...

’What in the world is all this? Professor Nepheli, you’ve completely misread the situation, haven’t you?’

Fu Qian, who had been enthusiastically playing the role of an audience member, couldn’t help but frown at what he was hearing.

It wasn’t exactly complete nonsense. Theoretically, most of what Nepheli mentioned was actually true, a fact that made one marvel at the Origin Council’s intelligence network.

The problem lay in the causal links she drew, which felt like the absolute extreme of an overactive imagination.

It was as if she had watched a few fragmented clips and completely fabricated the plot connecting them—could it be that Excellency Rom had genuinely shared some fragments with them?

While finding it deeply bizarre on one hand, Fu Qian vaguely struck upon an explanation on the other.

From Nepheli’s previous statements, he knew that although Rom was in poor condition, he would occasionally guide them and impart some forbidden knowledge.

Under those circumstances, it wasn’t entirely impossible that he had helped them see some fragmented scenes.

Especially since the current scenario was already like an alternate reality; the only requirement was for it to logically make sense.

”And I am fortunate enough to have not just heard the rumors, but to have seen it with my own eyes. I saw Excellency Su Gao plunge that murder weapon into the body of a Deity.”

Even as he tried to process this, Nepheli shocked everyone once again, revealing the monumental feat of Su Gao’s that had truly left her astounded.