Stargazy Pie

After hearing these three stories about the castle, Liu Xing felt that he had already figured out the true background of this game.

The castle's first owner had probably been a titled wizard. While building the castle, he encountered a Mythical Creature and used an Elder Sign to drive it away. That first owner had most likely already been studying Mythical Creatures and possessed some Cthulhu Mythos Knowledge.

Although the castle's later owners did not continue researching Cthulhu Mythos Knowledge, the first owner's research notes had likely been passed down. Thus, three hundred years ago, a Secret Church worshipping the Great Old Ones appeared in Ains Town. After the castle's owner at the time led troops to wipe out that Secret Church, he had likely obtained other items related to the Cthulhu Mythos besides the Great Old One statue that had been smashed and buried in the castle's Back Garden. After witnessing those strange items, the owner recalled the stories of his ancestors, found the notebook left behind by them, and continued their unfinished work of researching Cthulhu Mythos Knowledge, passing it down through the generations.

A hundred years ago, a group of England soldiers stopped at Ains Castle because of a rainstorm, only to vanish without a trace overnight. Liu Xing felt that the soldiers had most likely been sacrificed by the castle's owner at the time to some Great Old One.

"Now we can basically be certain that we'll be facing a wizard with a single-digit SAN Value." Bai He Cheng had left the door open when he came in, and Liu Xing, who was facing the doorway, noticed that Old Wayne was still cleaning the hall outside. That was why he spoke so bluntly, without worrying about meta-gaming.

Chen Ling and the others nodded. After all, this was not their first Cthulhu Mythos tabletop RPG, so they all had some understanding of it. They knew that wizards who came into contact with Cthulhu Mythos Knowledge generally had single-digit SAN Values. And a single-digit SAN Value meant that someone had become an intermittently insane person, capable of doing anything without restraint... At that thought, Liu Xing could not help looking at Bai He Cheng...

If Bai He Cheng had not still been his teammate, making it inappropriate to roll dice, Liu Xing would have performed a Psychoanalysis Check on him to see exactly what Bai He Cheng's SAN Value was.

But Liu Xing now understood that if he had passed the Inspiration Check earlier, he would have seen the statue—or perhaps a projection—of some Great Old One. In that case, his SAN Value definitely would not have survived intact.

"By the way, I just triggered a Hidden Roll. When I looked toward the Back Garden, KP had me make an Inspiration Check. Luckily, I failed and didn't see anything. Now that Sister Wang has mentioned it, it was probably the Great Old One statue buried in the Back Garden." Liu Xing explained what had just happened.

When Bai He Cheng heard that, an interested expression appeared on his face as he looked toward the Back Garden.

Liu Xing and the others naturally knew what Bai He Cheng was thinking. Chen Ling immediately stepped forward and pulled Bai He Cheng away, making him take his eyes off the Back Garden. Wang Qi, who stood by the window, also drew the curtains shut in perfect coordination.

After all, everyone knew what might happen if they triggered the plot involving that Great Old One statue. It would not be a big deal if only Bai He Cheng lost SAN Value, but it would be bad if they summoned a Mythical Creature or triggered some spell. Making everyone perform a SAN Value Check would be the least of their problems—they might even suffer a Total Party Kill.

Thus, Wang Qi watched Bai He Cheng like a hawk, keeping an eye on his every move. If Bai He Cheng made any suspicious move, Wang Qi would go over and teach him a lesson...

At that moment, Old Wayne walked in. "Everyone, please follow me to the sitting room for lunch."

Old Wayne noticed that the curtains in the room had been drawn and said somewhat awkwardly, "Uh, the castle's original gardener suddenly resigned, so the Back Garden hasn't been maintained for a long time."

Noticing the nervousness in Old Wayne's tone, Liu Xing contacted KP004. "KP, I want to use Psychology on Old Wayne."

Psychology, 44/70, Success.

"You discovered that Old Wayne was clearly lying, and he seemed to be concealing some fact."

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow. Old Wayne was not simple. From the information KP004 had given him, he knew that Old Wayne had some knowledge of the Back Garden.

Serving as an accomplice.

That was the first phrase that came to Liu Xing's mind. Old Wayne likely knew the castle owner's secret and had been helping him do certain unspeakable things.

But now was not the time to fall out with him, so Liu Xing smiled and shook his head. "Not at all. I just prefer living in dim environments, so I drew the curtains."

"What? Liu Xing, are you a vampire?!" Bai He Cheng's astonished voice rang out as soon as Liu Xing finished speaking.

Liu Xing was speechless. Just as he was about to apologize to Old Wayne, he caught the fleeting look of surprise on Old Wayne's face.

Liu Xing hurriedly thought, KP, I want to make another Psychology Check!

Psychology, 56/70, Success.

"You noticed that when Old Wayne heard the word 'vampire,' surprise flashed across his face, along with a trace of suspicion and wariness."

Liu Xing understood.

Led by Old Wayne, Liu Xing and the others arrived at the dining table in the large sitting room. Everyone sat down casually, while Old Wayne skillfully served dish after dish from a nearby cart.

However, when Liu Xing looked at the famous British dish in front of him—Stargazy Pie—he felt awful all over.

A fish head stood upright in the middle of the plate, an eerie gleam in its eyes. Around it were potatoes and beans, with fish soup as the base, except the soup was the same color as muddy water...

Would eating this thing cost SAN Value? Liu Xing was deeply suspicious.

As for the other food on the table, there was only bread and mashed potatoes. Liu Xing felt even more pressure. British cuisine truly lived up to its reputation...

Of those at the table, everyone except Bai He Cheng avoided the plate of Stargazy Pie that looked like it would cost SAN Value. They silently ate bread spread with mashed potatoes, while Bai He Cheng happily ate his serving of Stargazy Pie. For the first time, Liu Xing felt a sense of admiration for Bai He Cheng.

And so, lunch ended in silence. The four untouched plates of Stargazy Pie formed a stark contrast with the empty plate before Bai He Cheng.

"...Because Player Bai He Cheng finished the famous British dish Stargazy Pie, Player Bai He Cheng is awarded +1 Willpower. However, Player Bai He Cheng, please make a SAN Value 0/1 Check."

In a daze, Liu Xing felt as though he heard a trace of helplessness and confusion in KP004's voice.

The sound of dice hitting the ground rang out. Bai He Cheng chose a Hidden Roll.

"Whew, that was close. That was really close," Bai He Cheng said happily.

P.S.: Still asking for bookmarks and recommendations. I was a little tired today.