The lighthouse has a tower guard, which makes sense.
Even at the Domain of the Dead, being stopped by a guard feels a bit too down-to-earth.
But at that moment, Fu Qian was not anxious; instead, he tried to understand while asking questions.
One must admit that there was quite a contrast between the voice and the appearance.
The voice was low but powerful, yet the face was similar to that of the earliest "Wise Dead" elder.
As for the reason, it was easy to understand for a flesh expert—young with an old face; a tower guard’s job is typically exposed to the elements.
"Of course, I’m a local..."
At this point, the tower guard seemed to realize the visitor wasn’t friendly, so he finally stepped out from behind the creaking front desk.
"In any case, there’s no one here, and it’s not open to outsiders. If you’re looking for someone, come back after the storm clears; I don’t have time for such matters."
In the next moment, he even blocked the way, showing a stance unwilling to negotiate.
"I can tell you indeed are busy working."
Fu Qian’s gaze fell on the clattering keys, which were notably more polished compared to other surroundings, indicating frequent handling.
"But will the storm here ever stop?"
Instead of forcing through, he merely raised a doubt at that moment.
"Oh? You don’t seem so dumb."
The tower guard’s expression finally changed, and he scrutinized Fu Qian again, offering what sounded like a high evaluation.
"Isn’t it better to keep dreaming? Being too awake might not be a good thing."
But this stance lasted merely two seconds before his tone shifted again.
"But you seem to be in good spirits."
Fu Qian, unfazed, effortlessly fibbed in response.
"What exactly are you intending to do? Just because you’ve woken up doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want."
Ultimately, the tower guard couldn’t withstand the pressure and ended the encrypted exchange.
...
Is it really like this?
He seemed the complete opposite of the "Wise Dead" elder.
Though the logic jumps were strong, Fu Qian, who had delved into the nature of this place’s existence, could fully understand the tower guard’s reaction.
For starters, neither the Minotaur nor Laurie matched the clarity of this person, who should also be considered among the "Wise Dead."
However, unlike the elder, he didn’t see himself as one of the deceased who fell into the Domain of the Dead; rather, he looked down on everything with the stance of a mainlander.
He regarded those confused souls as mere living corpses, their consciousness indulging in dreams akin to "another Moore," and deemed the current scene as real.
It was quite an easy thought process to understand, even had a certain déjà vu compared to recent studies on doomsday topics.
Yet here arises another question: why continue working here after "waking up"?
"You seem to be acting with impunity? Were those keys obtained properly?"
Without hiding his doubts, Fu Qian directly gestured toward the guard’s waist.
"That’s my business... Now we’re talking about your business..."
Feeling agitated finally, the tower guard’s voice became deeper.
"Understand that at a certain level, work becomes a necessity."
Fu Qian’s expression turned serious, straightening his appearance.
"Actually, I’m the same; I’m here to check the fire safety."
...
You’re even dripping wet.
In such high-rise buildings, fire safety is paramount.
But Fu Qian’s own image made this statement sound rather outlandish.
Though he spoke the truth.
To Fu Qian, there was genuine anticipation of finding the cause behind the Domain of the Dead catching fire here.
"Interesting... but unfortunately, I still can’t let you in."
The tower guard seemed to have realized that his counterpart came looking for trouble, his face turned completely cold.
"Understood, but making your work more meaningful—what if I insist on going in?"
Fu Qian admired such courage and did not hesitate to challenge this diligent worker.
"I certainly won’t use force against you, but you’ll need to try the keys yourself."
This time, the tower guard’s reaction was rather intriguing; instead of quickly escalating to action, he offered a weak threat.