Chapter 2962: Aunt Thirteen of Los

A revolver's design inevitably loses some kinetic energy, after all.

There was no warning shot, of course. Brother Calm fired fast and aimed true.

He was even remarkably thoughtful about it, aiming exactly an inch below the navel—right where the intestines coiled.

He was striving for maximum agony, ensuring his target wouldn't die right away.

And the result of this kindhearted prayer was that, in that very moment, a miracle truly occurred.

The copper-jacketed bullet didn't even reach its target before it was effortlessly pinched between two fingers.

"Sorry, but this is the only suit I brought, and I have a meeting to attend later."

Fu Qian offered an earnest explanation as he tossed the bullet back.

He wasn't necessarily trying to intimidate the man. It was just that, as an invited guest, getting a hole blown in his clothes before he even met the host would somewhat tarnish the Academy's image.

"You picked up his mask? Why? I don't recall you having any conflict with my nephew."

It turned out that Brother Calm truly loved his nephew. Even facing a guy who caught a bullet barehanded, he still calmly demanded answers.

Of course, the most important point was that Professor Fu had integrated into their circle with just a couple of sentences, seamlessly becoming a member of their criminal gang.

"We really don't have any conflict, but I'm destined for this mask."

Unfortunately, in response to the man's tearful, blood-stained accusation, Fu Qian merely tapped the mask and gave a classic excuse.

Conclusion one: he himself could also be drawn into the "total mess."

His outsider constitution hadn't created any barrier between him and the crowds inside the Birthday Party.

Roar—

The next sound that rang out wasn't a gunshot, but a bloodthirsty roar, accompanied by a massive amount of green, corrosive fluid spewing from Brother Calm's mouth.

Faced with a villain intent on murdering him for his treasures, he underwent a terrifying mutation, exactly like the middle-aged man in the bow tie before him.

"It seems pre-packaged meals really aren't safe to eat."

Unfortunately, that observation only earned a sigh. By the time the corrosive fluid hit the ground, his target was long gone.

There was only a retreating figure pushing out the door, looking as though he had firmly resolved to find a restaurant with an open kitchen.

Conclusion two: the mutations in the crowd did indeed stir up some ripples, making the "river" before him even more treacherous.

Even if they themselves were so weak.

...

"Are you sure you want to wander around wearing that?"

For Yuan Shan, this kind of targeted testing was clearly baffling.

However, since Fu Qian was willing to change locations, she was happy to oblige.

The only problem was that after quickly chasing him outside, seeing Fu Qian still wearing that Blood-Tears Mask made her feel rather awkward.

"Is it that flashy?"

Fu Qian asked, somewhat curious.

"Not really around here. After all, there are plenty of bizarre things out and about... but where I'm taking you, it might attract the cops."

Yuan Shan caught up to walk beside Fu Qian as she offered her critique, casually pointing the way.

"Sounds like a high-end venue."

Fu Qian wasn't the type to ignore advice. Hearing that, he actually took it off.

Conclusion three: wearing the mask or not had no effect on the tearing sensation.

Maintaining this seemingly normal conversation was putting him under increasing pressure.

"It's not so high-end that you have to dress like that... and that's assuming I haven't remembered the way wrong."

Yuan Shan sighed softly, glancing left and right before locking her gaze on a peculiar building with an exterior wall cast from iron.

"Make sure you copy my movements exactly in a moment."

...

Oh? The last time he got this kind of warning was right before they entered the Birthday Party.

Yuan Shan's words undoubtedly carried a lot of information, and Fu Qian immediately complied.

Sure enough, her subsequent path looked a little rigid and mechanical.

Approaching the bizarre building quickly, he could see that the inside was a total mess, clearly abandoned for a long time.

Never mind the aroma of food; there was only the smell of rusting cast iron.

However, paying no mind to the desolation, Yuan Shan led Fu Qian straight up the stairs, going all the way to the top floor. The top floor was, of course, equally desolate. Fortunately, Yuan Shan had no intention of staying and continued back down.

The route downstairs was much more bizarre, genuinely evoking the procedures back at the Night Watchers Base.

Of course, compared to that, this was much simpler. Just as Fu Qian rounded the third corner, a delightful aroma wafted into his nose.

Even the floor beneath his feet was instantly clean and tidy, polished enough to reflect a person's image—

"I haven't been here in a while. Good thing I remembered it right."

Yuan Shan took a deep breath, looking extremely relieved.

"Is it really this free to come and go?"

Scanning the bustling restaurant before them, Fu Qian expressed concern about the Night Watchers' attendance system.

So those few steps just now really were inputting a spatial password?

Even though it was the same building, what lay before them felt like another location in a parallel universe.

Even outside the restaurant, the scene was one of bustling prosperity.

"As long as we don't scare anyone, it's fine. The food inside is just too awful."

Yuan Shan, completely unfazed by the idea of traveling a bit far for lunch, hailed a waiter.

...

"Actually, the Birthday Party isn't completely isolated from the world. You could even say it's embedded into this place; it's just that entering and exiting requires a password."

A moment later, seated at a large booth against the wall, Yuan Shan continued to explain her actions.

"So there's more than one place like that?"

Fu Qian played along with curious interest.

"Of course. I know of at least five myself. And it's two-way, so we can head back the exact same way later."

"Every time I come over, I make a habit of popping out like this to get some fresh air. Are you feeling any better?"

Yuan Shan immediately confirmed it, even adding a word of concern.

"A bit better, yeah."

Fu Qian answered honestly.

Conclusion four: the regional nature of the tearing effect was extremely strong. The moment he left the Birthday Party, there was no longer any need to resist it, though the trauma he had previously sustained remained.

"It's a shame we can't stay too long. Excellency Stoss has a fiery temper, and if he can't find us, he probably won't be happy... Otherwise, I'd take you somewhere farther out. Los has a lot of great food."

Lately, Yuan Shan had really taken to sighing in lament.

"Los?"

Although it was just a casual remark, the name of the city made Fu Qian blink.

"You've been here?"

Yuan Shan seemed even more surprised by his reaction.

"More than that. I even met an Aunt Thirteen here."

Recalling a past mission, Fu Qian mused on how truly strange the world could be.

"What Aunt Thirteen—wait, you've met Thirteen?"

After a moment's confusion, Yuan Shan caught on, clearly shocked by how wide Fu Qian's social circle was.

"You could say that. She had a special staff."

Fu Qian recalled the Night Watchers chief with the peculiar name, and even the scene of their clash back then.

Of course, the most crucial part was that the "Huo" mentioned earlier had also been encountered during that mission.

'Did I actually carry out a lower-realm mission from the Night Watchers Headquarters that long ago?'

Now he finally seemed to understand why the Night Watchers' lineup for that mission had been so luxurious as to include two Demigods.