Eldritch Horror Theatre

Everyone was just trying to get by. Showing up to work without putting in the effort was practically a required skill.

To Fu Qian, certain things were far from baseless speculation.

The word ”Lie” had been appearing with increasing frequency lately in traces related to the Progenitor of the Blood Clan.

For instance, Demon Mountain, which he had just visited, carried a strong sense of déjà vu in this regard.

Not to mention that the final mission summary had directly mentioned the word ”Lie” more than once.

But even these were not the deciding factors.

Regarding the pitiful First Apostle, the mission summary back then had explicitly stated: [Although Herbert gouged out his own eyes immediately, he still drifted further and further away from the great existence.]

First Apostle Herbert’s loyalty had actually long been officially recognized by the Warehouse.

Rather than questioning the legitimacy of the inheritance, Herbert was clearly more worried that he wouldn’t be able to keep up with his former fellow believer’s footsteps.

So for Fu Qian, the situation that had been complicated and bewildering just moments ago was actually quite easy to judge.As for why he hadn’t shared this information immediately...

”So that’s how it is. This situation just got a lot more interesting—it also brings a certain strange rumor to mind regarding why Herbert turned out like this.

”Remember when I told you that the authority of dreams belongs to the gods?”

He did not question Fu Qian’s source of information, nor did he show any displeasure. Instead, Patches sank into deep thought, as if old memories had been stirred.

”I remember.”

Fu Qian nodded. He was not surprised by this clue about finding a way out of a desperate situation.

”Few people actually know that even under these circumstances, there is still a King of Nightmares.”

Not disappointing his expectations, Excellency Patches went on to drop an astonishing title.

The authority of dreams belonged to the gods, yet there was still a King of Nightmares?

That truly qualified as a strange rumor.

Fu Qian had seen plenty of old-timers by now.

Some were low-key, some sinister, others greedy or deranged—

But they all shared one common trait: they wielded various authorities, hiding in the dark while standing at the very top.

And now here came a King of Nightmares with no authority?

He could only say that his horizons had been broadened once again.

Besides, Excellency Patches had indeed gained something early on, even with Herbert fallen to such a state.

That was right. In Fu Qian’s eyes, this latest sharing practically proved one thing: what seemed like a broken trail had actually already yielded a rich harvest for Patches.

As everyone knew, this old-timer was an avid fan of only telling half the story.

Fu Qian wouldn’t believe for a second that when the authority of dreams was mentioned earlier, he had somehow forgotten about this special character, the King of Nightmares.

So he had deliberately hidden it and kept quiet before.

Why deliberately hide it?

Explaining it away as pure malice would be too shallow.

He had noted long ago that while these old-timers might possess vast power, upon closer contact, most of them were still quite worldly, acting with very strong purpose.

Patches, who rarely liked to show his face, had stepped out to chat with him for so long this time. No matter how you looked at it, he was interested in Annalise and the Law.

Under these circumstances, if it was necessary, why would he indulge his malicious humor and hold back key information?

The only explanation was that he had already obtained something valuable and judged that even if he offered up information about the King of Nightmares, there was no way to advance the situation and gain more.

Fortunately for Fu Qian, he had never held much expectation for the moral integrity of higher entities.

It was not a matter of measuring a noble mind with a petty heart. After all, let’s not forget that he was a higher entity now too, and he had held back his own secrets early on.

This was called being birds of a feather.

In short, facing this expected possibility, Fu Qian chose to hold back a bit regarding the ”Lie”, saving it to bring out when necessary.

The facts proved that the effect was excellent. The team that had looked ready to disband instantly regained its cohesion.

”How is that possible? Isn’t he afraid that the eighteen routes of gods will join forces on a crusade against him?”

In any case, they shared a certain unspoken understanding, and given that both of their skins were as thick as city walls, neither felt the slightest bit embarrassed by it.

Fu Qian did not hesitate to lower himself and ask.

Snatching an authority was one thing, but forcefully staking a claim when the authority was in someone else’s hands was truly a first.

”Hehehe—there probably aren’t even eighteen people who know of his existence.”

Patches’ expression was similarly unfazed; he even seemed to find the image of the gods joining forces for a crusade quite amusing.

”That low-key?”

He wasn’t just unknown to the world, but completely invisible even within the circle of higher entities?

He had to say, quantifiable metrics were great. Fu Qian instantly understood the scale of the King of Nightmares’ concealment, marveling inwardly.

”That is the benefit of not holding authority. It also has to do with his state of existence. You can think of him as lacking a physical form like yours or mine.”

Patches offered a rather philosophical explanation—without power, there was no responsibility.

”Is the you inside a dream the same you as outside the dream?”

Without waiting for Fu Qian to express further admiration, he continued speaking, posing an abstract question.

”Interesting. Logically speaking, it must definitely be the same one, or else the perceptive higher entities would have noticed long ago.

”But it is precisely because their perception is so keen that higher entities can fully realize they are dreaming, and can even split their attention to remain awake outside the dream. At that point, it does seem like two versions of themselves have appeared.”

Fortunately, Fu Qian had always been an enthusiast for this kind of question, and he followed the train of thought immediately.

”Well said. And it is indeed exactly as you described. The relationship between the two selves isn’t a split, but at most a reflection.

”It is just like looking into a mirror, otherwise it would have been discovered long ago.”

Patches was also deeply satisfied with how smoothly their conversation was flowing.

”But the reflection in the mirror doesn’t belong to you?”

A character like him certainly wouldn’t use metaphors randomly. Fu Qian instantly grasped what Patches was trying to convey.

”Exactly. The you inside the mirror is part of the mirror, and the King of Nightmares can be seen as the owner of the mirror.”

Just as expected, Patches instantly confirmed it.

”The wills of all those who enter the dream dictate his form. That is why I said he has no fixed image.

”Furthermore, this does not conflict with the control of the dream authority. Everything is still decided by the will of the one in control; he only holds the nominal ownership.”

That was truly quite abstract.

It was not hard for Fu Qian to understand, and in passing, he even understood why this entity had never been discovered.

Calling him a conceptual creature would almost be an understatement.

The incompetent King of Nightmares? Letting others do whatever they pleased on his own turf?

”I understand now. Herbert’s problem lay in the fact that he realized the person in the mirror wasn’t himself?”

Although the thought was a bit crass, everyone knew that incompetence was relative. Fu Qian quickly returned to the case at hand.

”Yes, he shouldn’t have realized it. That way, the whole process might have been more natural—it looks like the King of Nightmares didn’t want him to mention anything regarding the ’Lie’.”

Patches sighed in lament.

”You cannot stop me!”

Even Herbert very cooperatively roared out a line.