Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

For other secret cults, the Shadow Clan is indeed an unconventional presence, considering it originated from a violent organization.

Similar to many industries, most professionals look down upon those who dabble in it as amateurs. They even believe that these hobbyists would tarnish the industry’s reputation and take away their resources, leading to their hostility towards them.

Therefore, as far as Liu Xing knows, the Shadow Clan is currently despised and excluded by many secret cults, even though the Shadow Clan is more powerful than most secret cults.

Hence, Liu Xing finds Ling Ishikawa’s words reasonable. There is a possibility that certain secret cults want to scapegoat the Shadow Clan. After all, for those secret cults, the cost of scapegoating others is not too high. They can easily manipulate their fanatic believers to complete missions at all costs, even if it means sacrificing their lives. Even if they get caught afterward, they would rather die than surrender.

Moreover, if the blame falls on the Shadow Clan and it prompts the Island Nation authorities to take action against them, it would be a great opportunity for those secret cults. After all, as the saying goes, the land of the Island Nation is limited, and everyone desires to gain more benefits. If the Shadow Clan were to be eliminated, the portion of the pie that would be up for grabs would be tempting for most secret cults.

Therefore, Liu Xing believes that, unless something unexpected happens, it is highly likely that someone will try to pin the blame for the Tokyo Skytree explosion on the Shadow Clan, even though those people know that the Shadow Clan had nothing to do with it.

At least Liu Xing thinks that there is an 80-90% chance that the Tokyo Skytree explosion was not caused by the Shadow Clan. Furthermore, the escape of Kusanagi Masanobu is also likely unrelated to the Shadow Clan.

The reason is simple. Even if Kusanagi Masanobu possesses a lot of incriminating evidence against the Shadow Clan, it is not a big deal for the current Shadow Clan. On the contrary, the Shadow Clan might turn the tables and take advantage of the situation. They could use the Island Nation authorities to "operate" on themselves, removing the label of "violent organization" and transforming into a pure secret cult.

Wouldn’t that be delightful?

Moreover, this is not a movie. Escaping from the Island Nation police for someone like Kusanagi Masanobu, who is firmly under their control, is not that simple. Even if he is rescued, it is not good news for himself. It would bring him no benefits but constant harassment from the Island Nation police. So it would be better to find an opportunity to kill Kusanagi Masanobu outright, tying up loose ends and leaving no evidence.

Therefore, Liu Xing believes that the one rescuing Kusanagi Masanobu from prison is most likely an enemy of the Shadow Clan, not the Shadow Clan itself.

Of course, Liu Xing thinks that the Tokyo Skytree explosion and Kusanagi Masanobu’s escape are probably unrelated because the escape of Kusanagi Masanobu does not require diverting attention. It’s highly likely that he will no longer appear in people’s sight.

Or, in other words, he doesn’t exist.

As for the incident with the teeth, Liu Xing believes it is also unrelated to the Tokyo Skytree explosion. Although this incident may be related to a mythical creature or secret cult, fundamentally, it is just a small case. Even if we consider it as a module, it is at most an upgraded module in the Ghoul area. Is it worth diverting people’s attention from the Tokyo Skytree explosion?

Therefore, using the process of elimination, the case most likely related to the Tokyo Skytree explosion is the Tokyo Bay container corpse incident.

According to Oko Hayato’s statement, the dozens of bodies found in the containers in Tokyo Bay did not have any obvious injuries. Therefore, it is highly likely that they were sacrificial offerings used in a ritual ceremony by a certain secret cult. Perhaps due to some mistakes during the process, these used offerings were abandoned in the containers, which were then left on the Tokyo Bay dock by accident.

Moreover, it is highly probable that these bodies hide some secrets. This could be detrimental to that secret cult. Therefore, to be safe, that secret cult took the risk of orchestrating the Tokyo Skytree explosion to divert the attention of the Island Nation police and have an opportunity to erase the evidence on those bodies.

Of course, it is also possible that the Tokyo Skytree explosion has no connection to these incidents at all.

Liu Xing shrugged and said, "Well, how these things develop afterward is of no concern to us. After all, we are just spectators enjoying the show in this incident. So let’s calmly watch the spectacle andsee how it unfolds. It’s always intriguing to observe the intricate web of secrets and the hidden motives of various factions. We’ll keep an open mind and gather more information to see if any new developments shed light on the true culprits behind the Tokyo Skytree explosion and the other related incidents.

In simple terms, the current Worshipers of the Yellow Sect are a group of misfits.

Zhang Jingxu and the others are well aware of this fact, so they abandoned the topic and began discussing their upcoming visit to Kabukicho.

Kabukicho is a place that sparks the imagination of men. After all, it is not only the largest but also the highest quality red-light district in Asia, without rival.

What’s more, Kabukicho is home to several renowned adult establishments, where certain world-famous Island Nation sex educators preside. So, for Liu Xing and the others, the opportunity to meet the teachers who have been "living" in their computers is quite exciting.

Moreover, Liu Xing and his companions are currently not short of money.

However, the lively discussion came to a halt when they noticed Lu Tianya’s "amicable" smile. Everyone obediently fell silent.

However, Liu Xing and Ling Ishikawa exchanged glances and quickly reached an agreement. They decided that after leaving Alice’s bar later, Zhang Jingxu would take Lu Tianya away first, while the two of them would explore Kabukicho.

Liu Xing noticed that Ling Ishikawa had already taken out her mobile phone to search for the location of the "Tiger’s Den."

Since Lu Tianya had interrupted the conversation, Zhang Jingxu, driven by his survival instinct, forcibly diverted the topic back to the mythical creature under Cross Lake. He said, "By the way, I took the time last night to consult a friend who specializes in researching mythical creatures. He mentioned that the mythical creature under Cross Lake is likely related to an ancient creature called the Stone Water Fish. Strictly speaking, this Stone Water Fish cannot be considered a mythical creature because it is incredibly weak and lacks any attacking ability. However, it can store a large amount of water within its body. A Stone Water Fish the size of an egg can store around five hundred milliliters of water. Moreover, this Stone Water Fish can even survive in the desert by drying up its surface, resembling a stone. In this dormant state, the Stone Water Fish slowly consumes the stored water. Generally speaking, a Stone Water Fish that is fully hydrated can survive in extreme conditions for nearly a hundred years."

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow, surprised to learn about such a peculiar creature.

However, on second thought, it might be the morbid taste of the Cthulhu Role-Playing Game Hall that often features bizarre creatures in its modules. Like the Stone Water Fish, these creatures have almost no combat capabilities, but their unique abilities are intriguing, making them popular choices for pet keeping among many players. Moreover, these peculiar creatures can be highly useful in certain situations.

For example, the Stone Water Fish is like a portable water bottle.

Of course, the characteristics of this Stone Water Fish do bear some resemblance to the mythical creature under Cross Lake. Therefore, Liu Xing believed that if the mythical creature under Cross Lake was indeed artificially created, it should have the genetic traits of the Stone Water Fish.

With that in mind, Liu Xing curiously asked, "So, what is the weakness of this Stone Water Fish?"

Ling Ishikawa interjected, "It’s definitely electricity. After all, aquatic creatures are generally vulnerable to electric attacks."

This isn’t Pokémon.

The others looked at Ling Ishikawa disdainfully for her witty remark.

Zhang Jingxu smiled and said, "No, no, Ling Ishikawa, you’re mistaken. Judging from the name of this Stone Water Fish, it is actually a combination of water and earth attributes. Therefore, it doesn’t fear electric attacks. At least in my friend’s laboratory, electric shocks have no effect on dormant Stone Water Fish. However, they do have some effect on active ones. But the best way to deal with Stone Water Fish is to use fire. After all, fire is highly effective against the majority of creatures in this world."

After cracking a joke, Zhang Jingxu continued, "So, unless something unexpected happens, it’s highly likely that the mythical creature under Cross Lake has some connection to the Stone Water Fish, similar to the synthetic beasts we encountered on Zekiel Island. However, the technology used to create the mythical creature under Cross Lake is much more advanced than what the Ancient Ones used."

Liu Xing shrugged. The Ancient Ones on Earth were indeed quite weak. At least compared to their counterparts living in the universe, they were several levels behind. And they didn’t even realize their own degeneration. The Ancient Ones on Earth were truly embarrassing...

After finishing their barbecue, it was already 7:30 in the evening. Therefore, Liu Xing and the others paid the bill and headed straight to Alice’s bar.

Alice’s newly opened bar is located in the 2nd district of Kabukicho, surrounded by a street full of bars. However, what Liu Xing and Ling Ishikawa are particularly concerned about is the presence of numerous adult establishments nearby.

As for Zhang Jingxu, he is engaged in a conversation with Lu Tianya, not daring to look away. It seems that Zhang Jingxu has also realized his current situation.

"Fortunately, the explosion of the Tokyo Skytree was very timely; otherwise, Hu Li would have already arrived in Tokyo," Ling Ishikawa said with a grateful expression.

Although Ling Ishikawa and Hu Li haven’t officially confirmed their relationship, it’s clear to anyone with keen eyes that Hu Li has set his sights on her. And most importantly, it can be determined from the Panlong Town module that Hu Li is actually a yandere.

This makes Liu Xing feel fortunate that he is still a single dog... But then again, it doesn’t seem like something worth celebrating...

Soon, Liu Xing and the others arrived at their destination.

Since it’s the first day of business, a sign outside the bar boldly displays a 50% discount for all customers. As a result, even though it’s still early, there is already a long line of people waiting outside the bar. However, Liu Xing and the others bypassed the line and entered the bar through the VIP entrance, thanks to their invitation cards.

As Liu Xing expected, there is a row of electronic lockers at the entrance of the bar, specifically used for storing belongings.

However, it’s not yet time to retrieve their belongings, so Liu Xing and the others followed the waiter to a private booth.

The bar is already filled with people.

After a while, Alice came over with a bottle of liquor in hand.

Then, Alice directly sat down next to Liu Xing.

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow and said somewhat surprised, "Alice, is it really okay for you to sit here now?"

Alice shrugged and confidently replied, "No problem at all. The waitstaff in this bar are all under my employ, and I’ve already thoroughly checked the bar before the opening. So, you don’t need to worry about the Deep Diving Society discovering our relationship."

Looking at Alice’s confident expression, Liu Xing nodded and said, "Alright then, Alice, what did you call us here for this time? And of course, the most important thing is how long it will take for you to help me switch my major."

Alice chuckled and began, "Regarding the major switch, I’ve already arranged for someone to take care of it. However, since the new academic year has just started, you’ll have to wait at least another month. So, for now, Liu Xing, focus on attending your classes. As for why I called you all here today, I wanted to inform you that the Deep Diving Society has transferred a group of personnel from the Cosmic Country. These individuals have already arrived in Tokyo, but you can rest assured that they are unlikely to go to Tokyo Comprehensive University."

Liu Xing furrowed his brows and asked seriously, "What are these personnel transferred by the Deep Diving Society here for? Could it be that the Deep Diving Society will make a big move during this time?"

"Yes, the Deep Diving Society is indeed planning some major actions during this period. However, for now, I’ve only heard that they might take action against a certain secret cult in Hokkaido. Recently, the Deep Diving Society had a conflict with that secret cult, and their branch in Hokkaido was completely eradicated. So now, the Deep Diving Society wants to regain face and strike back. Therefore, during this period, Liu Xing, you must refrain from using any forceful means against the Deep Diving Society branch within Tokyo Comprehensive University. Avoid giving them a reason to divert their attention towards you," Alice nodded and explained.

[Thanks for reading at Patreon.com/maxnkoga , if you supporting this novel, a heartfelt thankyou, enjoy the content!]