Chapter 2953: Birthday Party

'Is this like Platform Three-Quarters?'

The wall was a deep, smooth cyan-black. Chief Yuan's decision to ram straight into it certainly seemed a bit thick-headed.

But it turned out she was still mindful of public property; a moment later, her body slipped right through the solid wall and vanished.

The sight was straight out of a movie, making Fu Qian marvel inwardly.

Of course, the fact that the final step was executed this way made it even less likely that the "password" had been figured out by sheer coincidence.

'So how exactly did they get it?'

'I wonder if I'll get a chance to ask about that on this trip.'

Harboring fond hopes for the Feast, Fu Qian matched her speed and threw himself at the wall.

...

'Sure enough, very efficient.'

He didn't even feel an impact before his vision was flooded with bright light.

Day turned to night and back in a fraction of a second. As his foot touched the ground, Fu Qian caught sight of Yuan Shan's back once more, bathed in the light of a sun that hung almost directly overhead. Without a doubt, the password had been accepted.

Just from the drastic shift in daylight, it was obvious they had crossed an immense distance, saving them a massive leg of the journey.

However, the scenery at their destination didn't quite match his expectations.

On one hand, the architectural style was undeniably far more classical than that of the Sacred Night Capital.

High walls, narrow windows, flying buttresses, intricate corbels, and cobblestone streets... A profound sense of age rushed out to greet them.

It was also far more solemn. Among the densely packed structures, there was no shortage of magnificent, monumental architecture. At a glance, he couldn't spot a single venue suitable for a strip club.

On the other hand, as the forbidden grounds of the highest authority, it felt a little too vibrant and lived-in.

Never mind expecting the aesthetic of a High Tier Sanctuary or a spacetime fortress; in just a few moments, Fu Qian had already spotted several figures going about their peaceful, everyday lives.

Most importantly, there was a visible sense of fragmentation.

Despite the neatly laid out streets, the stylistic clashes between different districts were simply too jarring.

It was like a seamless, colossal jigsaw puzzle where every piece had been pulled from a different picture.

Ultimately, a myriad of buildings that had no business existing in the same era stood shoulder to shoulder, bathed in the exact same sunlight.

"It feels a bit different from the Sacred Night Capital, doesn't it?"

As Fu Qian quietly took in the sights of their new surroundings, Yuan Shan watched him, clearly anticipating his reaction.

"But I still have to say it. Welcome to—"

Her expression turned completely serious a second later.

"The Birthday Party."

...

'Are you guys serious with that name?'

Yuan Shan's dramatic pause was obviously a deliberate callback to her introduction of the Sacred Night Capital.

Only, compared to the Capital, the name she just dropped sounded even more utterly bizarre.

The Night Watchers were iron-blooded and ruthless, maintaining the order of the entire world. Why would the name of their ancient Base sound so obnoxiously festive?

"Interesting. Has it always been called that?"

Fu Qian didn't bother hiding his curiosity.

"It was already called that when I joined, at least."

This time, it was Old Man Henry who answered.

Still sporting his heavy, smoky makeup, the old man had arrived right behind them, easily dodging the issue of scaring any passing children.

However, as he glanced around, there was no trace of nostalgia or relief at returning to an old haunt. If anything, his face looked even gloomier.

"I already notified them, but it seems we might still be a bit early."

Yuan Shan offered the explanation from the side, addressing the lack of a welcoming committee.

"But this works out fine. We can walk there from here. Want to guess our destination?"

By contrast, she didn't seem to feel any discomfort regarding the Birthday Party, enthusiastically offering to show Fu Qian the local sights.

'The destination?'

Fu Qian pondered her question for a moment.

"The Restricted Zone?"

...

"Why do you say that? There's no Tower of Night here."

Yuan Shan just blinked at Fu Qian's answer and gestured at their surroundings.

She wasn't wrong. Despite the dazzling array of monumental architecture, the towering Spire characteristic of a Night Watchers Base was glaringly absent.

It was quite the contrast. For all its grandeur, the Night Watchers Headquarters actually lacked its most iconic landmark.

"But the paths from inside the Tower are here."

How could Fu Qian have missed a detail like that? He simply jutted his chin forward to point.

Yes, the complex maze of routes inside the Spire seemed to have found its prototype right here.

This place definitely had no Spire, but if one took a moment to mentally map out the streets ahead, it perfectly matched the layouts of the routes he had—and hadn't—walked before.

That included the T-intersection right behind them.

And the direction Fu Qian had just pointed out was the exact starting point of that "password" route.

Granted, he didn't know for sure what was hidden there; he severely lacked intel on that front. But with Chief Yuan asking like that, the pool of possible answers was small enough to make the guess incredibly easy.

"You're absolutely right. But don't worry, there's nothing filthy or dangerous hidden in there."

Not bothering to keep him in suspense any longer, Yuan Shan offered a comforting smile and took the lead. Sure enough, she headed in the exact direction he had guessed.

...

'So, does this count as a vivid manifestation of the world's underlying fragmentation?'

As they began traveling the route in reverse, Fu Qian absorbed the local atmosphere while analyzing this unique banquet invitation.

On one hand, Yuan Shan had mentioned early on that spatial traversal in this world was exceedingly dangerous and shouldn't be attempted lightly.

It was dangerous enough that a certain Tier 2 competitor with the honorific name Needle Witch possessed a unique set of abilities that made her virtually irreplaceable in certain situations.

On the other hand, whether it was Laerdin or the Shattered Crown in the Ash Sea, both seemed to suffer from chaotic underlying laws—which was exactly why these special backdoors existed to be exploited in the first place.

In short, the contrast was striking. The central hub of the Night Watchers—a place that ought to anchor the world's sense of security—actually radiated an underlying chaos.

'I wonder if Old Man Henry's dislike for the "smell" of this place has something to do with that... wait, what's that over there?'

Amidst his musings, the trio turned another street corner. To his surprise, a deeply familiar sight entered his field of vision.

'A Laboratory?'

Yes, it was slender, towering, and wreathed in intricate carvings. It looked exactly like a legendary mage's tower, bearing a striking resemblance to his own workspace and Professor Lisa's Laboratory.

'They actually have these here too?'

The origins of those independent Laboratories back at the Academy had always been rather murky.

Seeing one here definitely added another layer of intrigue to the Birthday Party. He felt a sudden urge to walk over and take a closer look.

"What is it?"

As their guide, Yuan Shan naturally kept a close eye on whatever caught Fu Qian's interest, and she immediately followed his gaze.

"—Looks like our welcoming party is here."

Before Fu Qian could even answer, she interrupted herself a moment later, gesturing forward to indicate that their reception had arrived.

Although it was a party of one.

The man was massively built with a dark complexion. Just standing there in silence, he looked like the very incarnation of power and destruction...

"Long time no see, Excellency Logan."

Following her gaze, Fu Qian easily recognized the newcomer and called out a friendly greeting.