Chapter 1913: Chapter 1911: Tour (Too Lazy, Just Want to Sleep, Roll Around, and Meow)
After the incident with Nyarlathotep, Fang Zheng finally passed a period of comfortable and peaceful days. Francis had already gone to university to study, choosing anthropology as his field of study, while Valentine continued his detective work, collecting clandestine information from around the world.
Until this day, Fang Zheng received an invitation from Professor Allen.
"University celebration?"
"Yes, Mr. Van Helsing."
Professor Allen, sitting on the sofa, put down his teacup and nodded with a smile at Fang Zheng.
"We sincerely invite you to attend the Miskatonic University’s celebration... We hope you will grace us with your presence."
"That’s not a problem, but why me?"
"Well..."
Facing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Professor Allen seemed a bit embarrassed but still spoke.
"After all, you have generously provided us with financial assistance, haven’t you? We won’t forget benefactors as generous as you."
"Alright then."
Fang Zheng certainly understood that the reason they invited him to the celebration was mostly because the previous two times they failed to accomplish anything despite spending money, so they were specially coming to apologize, and also to draw him in, lest they lose such a good supporter. Fang Zheng, of course, didn’t mind this.
Moreover, he also wanted to see the difference between a university celebration in America and a school festival in Japan.
"I will definitely attend."
Soon, Fang Zheng gave his answer.
The celebration at Miskatonic University didn’t seem much different from those Fang Zheng had seen before. The principal brought donors on stage to give speeches, then everyone chatted, and the school held exhibitions showcasing the themes they were researching — most of them concerning the occult.
Fang Zheng even found many specimens from the Elder Ones among them, as well as several artifacts that were clearly related to Outer Gods and similar items... Hmm, from Fang Zheng’s perspective, setting them all on fire might be a good choice.
Perhaps a fire disaster should be arranged for this school at some point?
Although burning these mysterious items might make the university professors feel bewildered, and they might even faint directly, it’s much better than leaving them in the world to harm people.
"Sir, let me take it with me!"
While Fang Zheng was touring the library at Miskatonic University, suddenly, a strange voice caught his attention. The voice didn’t sound human, but more like a tremor from another world. Hearing this, Fang Zheng furrowed his brow, then holding Nymph’s hand, walked deeper into the library. Soon, he saw two figures by a desk further inside the library.
One was an elderly professor, dressed quite properly, while across from him was an astonishingly tall man. He had a face resembling a goat’s, thick facial hair, and wore outdated clothes tightly fitted to his robust, colossal body.
"Mr. Amitici, I must take this book home with me."
At this moment, the tall man was bending over, staring at the old professor in front of him.
"I can’t get the proper conditions here to understand what’s recorded on this. If these petty procedures bind me, stopping me from continuing, it will be an unforgivable crime. Sir, let me take it; I’m a mage, and no one will know the difference in it. I swear, I’ll protect it well..."
Facing the man’s plea, the old professor seemed a bit uneasy, but he still firmly shook his head.
"Sorry, we do not allow arbitrary borrowing here, today is only because it’s an open day..."
"........."
Hearing the professor’s explanation, the man’s expression turned sly. He squinted his eyes, staring at the professor, and the atmosphere seemed to grow heavier at that moment. Meanwhile, ...
"Ahem."
Fang Zheng coughed, breaking the tension, and the old professor turned to look at Fang Zheng in surprise.
"Oh, sir, how can I help you?"
The old professor quickly picked up the book previously near the man and closed it, while Fang Zheng nodded.
"Sorry to interrupt, I wanted to ask about the book ’Historical Mysteries’..."
"Oh, that book is over there, please follow me."
The old professor was visibly pleased to be rid of the man, and he eagerly walked over to Fang Zheng, then turned to look at the man.
"Sorry, sir, but that’s the end of it."
"......Fine."
The man snorted, gathered his information from the desk, and reorganized it.
"If you think so, but perhaps Harvard won’t be as stingy as you."
After saying this, the massive giant walked out of the room hunched over, but as he passed Fang Zheng, Fang Zheng suddenly glanced at him.
"Hey, sir."
"...What is it?"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s call, the man turned his head in annoyance, glaring at him, clearly still holding a grudge for Fang Zheng interrupting him earlier.
However, Fang Zheng didn’t mind at all. He just looked at the man, smiling slightly.
"Do you like barbecue?"
"......?"
"I really like it, you know."
After finishing this sentence, Fang Zheng turned around and left with the old professor, while the man watched Fang Zheng’s back in confusion before quickly leaving the library.
"Whew... Thank you so much, kind sir."
After locking the book back onto the shelf, the old professor finally relaxed. He turned his head and showed Fang Zheng a friendly smile while extending his hand.
"I am Henry Amitici, the librarian here. May I ask who you are..."
"Van Helsing."
"Ah, so you are Mr. Van Helsing. I have heard Professor Allen and others mention your name. Thank you for the help you’ve given to Miskatonic University’s exploration work."
"It’s nothing, just a little effort."
Fang Zheng waved his hand, then glanced out the window.
"Who is that man?"
"He is someone named Wilbur Whateley."
Professor Amitici rubbed his hands.
"He was born in a nearby place called Dunwich. I went there once for an investigation..."
Saying this, a look of worry appeared on Professor Amitici’s face.
"In short, that place doesn’t give a very good feeling."
"Is that so?"
Fang Zheng nodded, and meanwhile, Professor Amitici also arrived at the bookshelf, taking out the book that Fang Zheng was looking for from the other side.
"Do you have any other matters, Mr. Van Helsing?"
"No, sorry to disturb you."
"Not at all, but I still have matters to attend to, apologies."
After saying this, the old professor hurried away, and Fang Zheng also casually flipped through the book before placing it back on the shelf.
Although that man is worth noting, however...
Isn’t it more practical to consider how to set a fire at Miskatonic University?
Two weeks had passed after the school celebration, and then Francis, looking quite shaken, came to find Fang Zheng.
"Mr. Van Helsing, something happened at the school."
"Oh?"
Looking at Francis before him, Fang Zheng was slightly startled.
"What happened?"
"A thief entered Miskatonic University’s library late at night attempting to steal and was killed by the watchdog."
"Oh... that is really unfortunate."
Fang Zheng quietly replied, refocusing his attention on the "Flower Princess" in front of him.
Hmm, I must admit that no matter the era, the pursuit of beauty by humans remains eternal.
"Things aren’t as simple as you think, Mr. Van Helsing."
Seeing Fang Zheng looking as if he was only there for the gossip, Francis hastily spoke.
"That thief was not human!"
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng finally put down the magazine in his hand, looked at Francis, and Francis quickly explained everything he saw at that time.
That night, he was in the school’s research room writing a thesis when he suddenly heard the growling of dogs and the sound of the library’s burglar alarm. Given that Francis had previously braved Deep Divers and hacked Colors of the Stars, at this point upon hearing trouble in the library, he directly rushed out with a crowbar.
Thanks to his youth and agility, Francis was the first to arrive at the library, and in the small reading room, he saw a scene almost impossible for him to forget.
Among overturned tables and smashed chairs, a "thing" was curled up on the ground, lying between the stench of yellow-green and pitch-black viscous liquid. Its clothes were torn and the watchdog stood over its chest, growling quietly. More importantly was the appearance of this thing.
Only its face and hands resembled those of a human, while the rest of its body was completely non-human. Its thorax was akin to that of a lizard with a thick skin layer, and its back displayed black and yellow mottling, resembling the scales of a snake. Below its waist were dense, pitch-black hair and dozens of gray-green, branch-like things, each topped with a red mouthpart and unfinished-looking eyes at their ends.
After that, Professor Amitici led two others to the scene and they cordoned off the library, denying entry to others. In fact, after seeing that creature, the three professors also turned pale and screamed uncontrollably. Francis hesitated whether to give that creature a strike with his crowbar.
Fortunately, before he made a move, that creature died, and shortly thereafter it rapidly shrank and decomposed, turning into a mass of white viscous substance.
"Killed by a dog? That is really quite shameful."
Hearing this, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but comment, while Francis had other thoughts.
"Mr. Van Helsing, Dr. Amitici once asked me about this matter, um... should I bring you..."
"No problem, if he needs something, he can come to find me."
After saying this, Fang Zheng yawned again and began flipping through the magazine in his hand.
But since it could be killed by a dog, in Fang Zheng’s opinion, there was really no need for him to act.
Might as well raise a couple more dogs.
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