Chapter 30
Cthulhu World 3
Arthur moved behind Howard, and together they entered a men's clothing store.
The moment they stepped inside, the shop owner greeted them with a professional smile. Howard exchanged a few brief words with him, and the man nodded pleasantly before heading into the back room. He soon returned, pushing a long metal rack filled with various clothes—almost all of them matching Arthur's size, as though they had been prepared for him in advance.
Arthur began examining the clothes carefully, running his fingers over the fabrics, weighing his options with a calm gaze until he found what he was looking for.
He entered the fitting room while Howard waited outside.
After a few minutes—
Arthur stepped out.
He was wearing black fabric trousers, a black cotton shirt, and a fitted black coat that gave his body an elegant, well-proportioned appearance.
Howard paused for a moment, then smiled and clapped his hands in admiration.
Arthur selected a few additional pieces in the same size, paid for them, and the two left the shop so Arthur could get a haircut that suited his new appearance.
Half an hour later—
Arthur finished cutting his hair.
The long strands were gone, replaced by short, neat hair that sharpened his features and enhanced his presence.
Afterward, they entered a quiet restaurant, away from the noise of the streets. They sat at a side table, and Arthur began eating while asking Howard about this world—in an indirect, cautious manner that would not arouse suspicion—about the city, the people, and the nature of life here.
Howard answered all his questions honestly and calmly, without suspecting Arthur's intentions.
Then—
Diiing
| You have successfully completed your mission
You have obtained 100 points
New mission
Explore your objective and Howard's objective
And what is pursuing him and help him achieve it
Time limit: three hours
Success: 250 points
Failure: Return to the world of One Piece with half your stats |
"Damn you, system…
Do you want me to fail by force?"
Arthur controlled his emotions and took a deep breath. He calmed his thoughts, then continued speaking with Howard, trying to lead him into revealing his objective… or the truth of this dark world.
Two hours passed.
And finally—
Howard began to speak.
Arthur felt an inner sense of relief; the mission was on the verge of completion. All he had to do now… was listen.
Howard spoke in a low voice, his eyes watching Arthur cautiously:
"I think the most merciful thing… is the human mind's inability to comprehend the contents of the universe.
We live on a peaceful island of ignorance, surrounded by black seas of infinity, and it was never meant for us to sail far."
He paused briefly, then continued:
"We were destined to remain in our place, but one day… those scattered pieces of knowledge will succeed in opening cracks in the wall of reality. Then we will realize our terrifying position…
Either we will go mad, or we will flee from the light into the darkness… into safety… where the new dark ages await."
His voice was steady, but beneath it lay buried terror.
"The theologians and philosophers understood the magnitude of this dark universe, where humans are nothing but accidental incidents.
They glimpsed it… but it was not their words that frightened me.
It was those dark epochs I see in my dreams… that terrify me whenever I think of them, and drive me toward madness."
Howard stopped speaking and lifted his gaze to Arthur.
He expected mockery… laughter… or a look of pity.
But Arthur was listening with absolute seriousness.
Howard smiled at that, as he was not accustomed to this kind of reaction; he was used to people mocking him and laughing at him.
But once again, Howard realized that Arthur was truly different from the rest.
And so he continued:
"This glimpse came from scattered and unconnected things…
From old newspapers, and the diaries of a dead university professor.
And I hope no one else succeeds in assembling this picture again."
He sighed deeply.
"After my uncle died in a strange accident, I tried to investigate the cause of his death… but to no avail.
Then I was informed that I was his only heir.
He was unmarried and had no one but me.
I took everything he owned—the books, the studies, the notes—and gathered them in my home.
I had to organize them, for in a few days an article would be published about him as a renowned professor."
He paused for a moment, then said:
"Most of his books were ordinary academic ones…
But what caught my attention…
Was a medium-sized wooden box."
"I tried to open it, but it was useless.
I brought a hammer and struck it with all my strength… and it was not scratched."
His tone trembled slightly.
"In that moment, I felt something truly strange—I mean, think about it. An old wooden box… unaffected by a hammer?
I struck it… and struck it…
But after half an hour or less, exhaustion overcame me, and I had not left a single mark."
"I thought the problem was with me.
So I brought another wooden box and a table…
One strike—they shattered.
So why that box?"
He fell silent, then said:
"After thinking for a long time… I remembered my uncle's keychain.
He always carried it. I searched for it… and found it.
More than twenty keys."
"I began trying them…
Until the box finally opened."
He lowered his voice:
"When it opened…
A black, bloody light gathered around it for a fraction of a second… then disappeared.
Inside it…
There was an engraved piece of clay, and old torn papers.
But what truly terrified me…
Was the symbol above the engraving."
He slowly raised his head.
"A massive creature…
The body of a man…
The face of an octopus with dangling tentacles…
And bloody dragon wings."
He stopped.
"And it was enormous… of a size that cannot be described."
He lowered his gaze.
"And above the image… two words were written."
Arthur looked at him calmly.
"What was written?"
Howard swallowed and said in a faint voice:
"The Cthulhu Cult."
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