Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

Chapter 340: The Final Letter

In the world of the Cthulhu RPG Game, the importance of intelligence needed no explanation.

After preliminarily agreeing to cooperate with Alice, Liu Xing couldn’t help but ask with curiosity, "Miss Alice, aren’t you worried about your cover being exposed while you’re undercover in the Deep Sea Gospel Society?"

Alice chuckled confidently and replied, "Of course not, Ryuusei. You should know that my acting skills have reached a level where I could easily win an Oscar. After all, my acting teacher was an Oscar-winning actress herself. Besides, the persona I’ve adopted within the Deep Sea Gospel Society was meticulously crafted by my senior brother. I’m sure you’ve heard of his name; he’s currently hailed as the rising star in the world of detective fiction."

"Fisherman?" Liu Xing instinctively mentioned a title.

In the memories of "Watanabe Ryuusei," apart from renowned detective fiction authors like Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, there was one pseudonymous detective fiction author named "Fisherman" that stood out.

This "Fisherman" was currently one of the most famous newcomers in the detective fiction world. His three detective novels had received critical acclaim and commercial success. The latest one had even been adapted into a movie with an impressive cast, including several world-renowned actors and actresses.

What made "Fisherman" unique was that his detective novels were not traditional detective stories. They intertwined elements of science fiction and horror, and the culprits were often not ordinary humans. However, "Fisherman’s" deductive process was always logical and convincing.

Therefore, though "Fisherman’s" detective novels had sparked debates initially, as his fan base grew, the skeptics were gradually silenced. In the age of thriving social media, fans could indeed exert significant influence.

What intrigued "Watanabe Ryuusei" about "Fisherman" was the fact that he had never revealed his true identity or real name. Currently, the only information available was a masked video of "Fisherman" on Oil Turtle. It revealed him as an Englishman, approximately twenty-five years old.

Most importantly, the events and monsters depicted in "Fisherman’s" novels gave Liu Xing a sense of déjà vu. In simple terms, reading "Fisherman’s" novels felt like reading Cthulhu Mythos fiction.

So, "Watanabe Ryuusei" believed that "Fisherman" was likely a fellow enthusiast of the genre.

Now, Liu Xing was certain that "Fisherman" was the senior brother Alice had mentioned.

Indeed.

Alice nodded with a smile and continued, "That’s right, Fisherman is my senior brother. His detective novels, Ryuusei, you’ve probably read them, right? I’m not bragging, but his novels are intricately woven with strong logic. That’s why even the traditionalists in the detective fiction world recognize his works as detective novels rather than horror or science fiction."

Although Liu Xing hadn’t read "Fisherman’s" novels, he could tell from Alice’s admiration that they held a special place in her heart. So, Liu Xing nodded appreciatively.

"Rest assured, Ryuusei. As long as there are no major unexpected incidents, it’s impossible for anyone in the Deep Sea Gospel Society to uncover my true identity. But Ryuusei, since you’ve dealt with those fanatic NPCs on the Yueshihao cruise ship, it proves that you have some skills. I mean, I know the level of those fanatics on Yueshihao, so could you help me understand how you handled them?" Alice looked at Liu Xing earnestly.

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected Alice to be curious about these matters. However, regarding the Yueshihao incident, Liu Xing had nothing to hide. "Well," he began, "I can attribute about half of the credit for handling the fanatics on the Yueshihao cruise ship to two Chinese men. They were aware of the fanatics’ conspiracy and convinced my classmates and teachers to understand the situation. This allowed me to hide safely in the shadows."

"Then, on that morning, I was surprised to find that the two Chinese men were armed. They took control of the situation as soon as they entered, forcing one of the fanatics to use a type of poisonous incense that rendered everyone unconscious. Fortunately, I had anticipated that the fanatics might use poison incense, so I had taken an antidote beforehand, which saved me."

"As I pretended to be unconscious, the remaining two fanatics unexpectedly turned on each other. The Deep One hybrid was killed by the other fanatic. I seized the opportunity, rose to my feet, and killed the remaining fanatic when he was unaware. So, it was mostly luck on my part."

Alice nodded, smiling, and said, "Luck is also a part of strength. If you had been unlucky, you might not be here now. But we must address an important issue: how to escape Fisher’s Village. Ryuusei, I know you and your group had some reservations about me and concealed certain things. Could you now tell me the truth?"

Liu Xing furrowed his brow. Since Alice had mentioned it, he felt there was no need to keep anything hidden. Thus, Liu Xing openly explained the current situation to Alice. However, regarding Ling Ishikawa sneaking into Alice’s room, Liu Xing decided to continue concealing it.

After he finished, Liu Xing also asked Alice, "Miss Alice, since your mentor, Professor Clark, is a mysterious studies professor at Miskatonic University, has he introduced you to mythical creatures like the Shoggoth in Fisher’s Village?" In Liu Xing’s view, if Alice knew about Shoggoths, it would be extremely helpful. After all, Ancient One Sirius’s knowledge of Shoggoths dated back hundreds of millions of years and might lead to misunderstandings. The Shoggoths in Fisher’s Village had evolved, and if Alice knew about them, she could provide more accurate and useful information about the current situation.

So, Liu Xing looked at Alice with a hopeful expression, silently praying that she knew about Shoggoths.

Then, Liu Xing heard the sound of dice hitting the table, indicating that KP Green Light was making a secret decision about whether Alice was aware of Shoggoths.

After a moment, Alice finally spoke, "If I’m not mistaken, Ryuusei, the black, elongated creatures you mentioned are very likely a type of mythical creature called Shoggoths."

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow, it seemed like his luck was on point today, as both hidden votes had succeeded.

Thinking about this, Liu Xing quickly asked, "So these mythical creatures are called Shoggoths, Miss Alice. Do you happen to know any weaknesses of these Shoggoths? It’s highly likely that we will have a direct confrontation with them in the near future."

Upon hearing Liu Xing’s question, Alice sighed first and then reluctantly said, "Well, my mentor is aware of the existence of Shoggoths, but he doesn’t have detailed information about them. Shoggoths are a peculiar kind of mythical creature, primarily serving as subordinates to other mythical creatures or as servants to certain Wizards. Even my mentor doesn’t have comprehensive data on Shoggoths."

"However, Miskatonic University has conducted some research on Shoggoths because there was an expedition team from Miskatonic University that encountered an attack by Shoggoths in the past. Fortunately, one of the team members was a mysterious studies professor proficient in various forms of magic, and he managed to subdue one of the Shoggoths."

"After studying the captured Shoggoth, they found that Shoggoths have extremely flexible bodies, capable of transforming into almost any shape. When necessary, they can harden their bodies to the strength of steel. Shoggoths can also weaken the effects of flames and electrical shocks on them. Even ordinary handguns and rifles are ineffective against them."

"Furthermore, Shoggoths possess rapid self-regeneration abilities. So, if you can’t kill a Shoggoth in one go, it becomes very troublesome to deal with them. Besides the information provided by Miskatonic University, my mentor heard a rumor from his contacts, suggesting that Shoggoths have exceptional adaptability and can quickly adjust to their surroundings. This means that Shoggoths in different locations might possess different abilities."

Liu Xing nodded. It appeared that his luck was indeed excellent this time. Alice’s comprehensive knowledge of Shoggoths had provided valuable insights into their characteristics, which would be helpful in preparing for future encounters.

"Oh, by the way, Ryuusei, I heard that you found some strange letters. Well, I have one such letter too, and it appears to be written in Chinese characters," Alice suddenly mentioned.

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected this third letter to be in Alice’s possession, but it confirmed his previous speculation. These three letters were meant to explain (or mislead) the module’s background. As time approached, these letters would automatically surface.

Thinking about it, Liu Xing immediately said, "Oh, Miss Alice, please retrieve that letter as soon as possible. According to our earlier assumptions, the content of this second letter is crucial, and it might even mention why Shoggoths have appeared in Fisher’s Village."

Alice nodded and pointed upstairs, saying, "The second letter is in my room. I found it inside a book that I borrowed from Matsui Yui to pass the time. You see, there’s no entertainment available in Fisher’s Village, and I had planned to return the book to Matsui Yui tomorrow. So, I wanted to finish reading it today, and that’s when I stumbled upon the letter. I’ll go upstairs to get the letter now, and while I’m at it, you can gather everyone from the third floor. Ryuusei, you can gather everyone from the second floor. I believe they’re also curious about the contents of this letter."

Liu Xing nodded, but he knew that Alice hadn’t coincidentally discovered the letter like this. She had obtained it through some means at the beginning and had been waiting for the right moment to reveal it.

Seeing through without exposing it.

So, Liu Xing went upstairs to the second floor.

Before Liu Xing could even knock on the door, Ling Ishikawa opened it and whispered, "Leader, what did Alice want from you just now? Did she discover our true identities?"

Liu Xing shook his head and glanced at Zhang Jingxu’s room. He spoke softly, "We’ll discuss this matter later. For now, just know that Alice isn’t part of the Deep Sea Gospel Society. Now, come downstairs. Alice might have found that second letter."

Ling Ishikawa raised an eyebrow, looking surprised at Liu Xing. However, he didn’t say anything and proceeded to knock on Lu Tianya’s door.

Soon, everyone gathered in the first-floor hall, where Alice held a yellowed letter in her hand.

"Well, everyone is here now because Alice has found the second letter. After our detailed conversation, I’ve come to realize that Alice is a trustworthy ally. So, I’ve shared all that information with her," Liu Xing cleared his throat and began.

Alice wasted no time and handed the letter to Zhang Jingxu. Among those present, only Zhang Jingxu and Lu Tianya understood Chinese characters, and it was apparent to anyone with keen eyes that Lu Tianya and Zhang Jingxu shared a close relationship.

Without hesitation, Zhang Jingxu took the letter and opened it.

To Liu Xing’s surprise, this second letter consisted of four pages, whereas the first and third letters contained less than a page of text.

However, Liu Xing quickly noticed that among these four pages, two of them had maps. One seemed to be a map of Fisher’s Village, and the other appeared to depict underground tunnels.

Could Inoue Kenjiro or Li Yongjie know about the Underground Ruins in Fisher’s Village?

"These two maps will be set aside for now. Let’s first read the contents of this letter. It’s addressed from Inoue Kenjiro to Li Yongjie, and judging by the timing, it should be the second letter," Zhang Jingxu began.

"At the beginning of this letter, Inoue Kenjiro mentions the sudden appearance of a seemingly bottomless sinkhole in the southwest direction of Fisher’s Village’s old site. Villagers reported witnessing a black creature emerging from the sinkhole, which is most likely the mythical creature that Panda Pig saw."

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