Big trouble was coming.

Just then, a thought suddenly surfaced in Cai Xun’s mind, blending naturally into his subconscious.

“Leave the second floor.”

The thought seemed to urge him to leave, as if it were his own.

Then Cai Xun noticed everyone around him getting up and leaving, one after another.

In less than five minutes, the area had become completely deserted.

“Oh?”

The masked man standing onstage let out a puzzled sound.

He’d had the same thought just moments ago, but hadn’t acted on it. He knew it wasn’t really his own.

And now, this inexplicable suggestion had stolen away the audience he’d drawn in.

That left him a little displeased.

Cai Xun knew this was one of the Night Watchers’ Star effects. It was top-tier even among Moonlit-class abilities, and perfect for clearing an area.

A series of imposing figures arrived on the second floor.

The other Night Watchers had all rushed over after receiving Cai Xun’s signal.

“Noob, are you okay?!”

When Bu Jie saw how out of it Cai Xun looked, he immediately rushed over and steadied him.

“I’m fine. I got caught by his ability, so my head hurts a little. Be careful— that guy’s really weird.”

Cai Xun shook his head and warned his teammates.

The Night Watchers who’d arrived all grew somber, seemingly unwilling to underestimate this Star Eclipse.

According to the information from base, this Star Eclipse only covered an area as small as Wanyu Plaza. But that didn’t mean its core would be easy to deal with. Some bizarre abilities could take down even a highly capable Night Watcher in an instant. This was no joke.

The temperature around them dropped noticeably. Frost spread across the stage floor, layer by layer, then a burst of ice spikes shot toward the masked man.

Bai Tu approached with an ice sword in hand, a completely cold expression on his face.

Just as the ice spikes were about to hit the masked man, a voice rang out, suddenly reaching everyone’s mind.

“It’s impolite to attack someone out of the blue.”

As soon as the words fell, Bai Tu—the first to attack—felt a sharp pain in his head. The ice sword slipped from his hand, and the spikes onstage instantly crumbled and vanished.

A man in a suit and top hat had appeared beside the masked man at some point. His eyes held a mysterious gleam.

The newcomer stunned every Night Watcher around them.

Because he was also an instigator of a Star Eclipse.

And he was using the power of a Star Eclipse!

“It’s the Tragic Shadow Troupe!”

One of the Night Watchers recognized them.

Cai Xun’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s actually them?”

He knew about them.

The Tragic Shadow Troupe was an extremely dangerous group.

They were the first Star Eclipse organization in history to learn to work together. They always appeared as a group, and the trouble caused by their many different Star Eclipse phenomena combining was on par with a “Supernova.”

That wasn’t all. These guys seemed to think just like humans. They knew when to run if they couldn’t win, then would turn up in some other city next time.

The troupe’s shared obsession seemed to be putting on a grand performance in every city.

If they succeeded, the effects would cause huge problems for the ordinary people nearby.

Some people would laugh all day long. Others would be forced to fall asleep or collapse on the spot.

Some people would constantly mistake things for something else, seeing a knife as food or a vehicle as a kitten or puppy.

Some would become so polite it was pathological, like lunatics who couldn’t hold a conversation.

......

That was why they were an evil source the Night Watchers absolutely had to root out!

The Night Watchers had dealt with them plenty of times and compiled information on their abilities, all of which was posted on the Night Watchers’ official website.

So the Night Watchers at the scene quickly identified them.

“The masked man’s codename is Trickster! His Star Eclipse effects may involve removing and replacing concepts. Once you’re affected, you can only break free by realizing that it doesn’t make logical sense!”

“The man in the top hat’s codename is Gentleman. His Star Eclipse effect forces people around him to act polite. They can’t swear or do anything impolite, or they’ll suffer an extremely painful mental shock!”

“This information is only for reference. There should be a Troupe Leader nearby, too. Their Star Eclipse effect is unknown, so we need stronger Night Watchers to back us up!”

After hearing this, the Night Watchers around them grew increasingly grim.

If it were only Trickster, they could still take him down by surrounding him.

Some Night Watcher would eventually break free of the conceptual effect.

Trickster couldn’t keep track of everyone. Sooner or later, the Night Watchers would find an opening and take him down.

But things were different now that Gentleman was here.

His ability could stop the Night Watchers around him from attacking recklessly. Otherwise, they’d only suffer a mental shock and lose their ability to fight.

In this situation, only Night Watchers outside the ability’s range could attack from a distance. That was the only way to find an opening.

One of the Night Watchers stepped forward.

“Hello, gentlemen. Please forgive us for interrupting your performance, but it’s causing pain to the people nearby. As Night Watchers, it’s our duty to stop you. Would you be willing to come back with us? We could sit down, have some tea, and talk things through, each of us sorting out our own troubles. What do you think?”

Speaking politely in front of Gentleman was enough to let them communicate without suffering any punishment.

Gentleman smiled faintly, took off his top hat, and shook his head.

“I’m very sorry, my friend, but I’m afraid we can’t go back with you. Our performance won’t bring people pain, as you say. It will only bring them joy. If we’ve interfered with your work, all we can do is apologize. If you like, we’d be happy to make it up to you with a splendid performance.”

“Oh, no, no, no. We’re very sorry, gentlemen, but we have important work to do. I’m afraid we can’t be your audience...”

While the experienced veteran Night Watcher and Gentleman went back and forth, the other Night Watchers had already started backing away and slipping off.

They couldn’t attack these two head-on. They needed to find the Troupe Leader’s location and give the incoming reinforcements an accurate position.

That was the right move.

A fighter who only knew how to charge in often couldn’t do much against a Star Eclipse phenomenon.

Even Bu Jie, a foul-mouthed Night Watcher, was barely holding back from cursing. He could only keep retreating.

......

Meanwhile.

Inside a car.

A harmless-looking little girl was bored out of her mind watching one of her seniors’ livestreams. She was practically falling asleep.

“Mm... mmm...”

Ye Lan yawned, her dewy eyes drooping like a little kitten on the verge of sleep, but still trying to keep them open.

Then she sat up and shook her head, tossing her loose hair around a few times before she finally woke up.

“This is so boring... Senior Ling Miao’s mission is just too boring!”

Just how boring was it?

Well, all Ye Lan could see in the livestream was Ling Miao wandering around at random, weaving through the crowd nonstop. She hadn’t seen the Star Eclipse at all—not even a single fellow Night Watcher!

Ye Lan seriously suspected that Ling Miao wasn’t some big shot at all, but just an employee slacking off.

“You tricked me again. You’re so mean...”

After muttering to herself, Ye Lan opened the car door and stretched her slightly sore little legs. Only then did she plant her feet firmly on the ground.

She’d made up her mind.

Rather than sit here waiting while watching a boring livestream, she might as well go for a walk.

Ye Lan was going to explore properly!