The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 1009: A New Beginning

Like any ordinary old woman, Mildred Humphrey washed the coffee cups and agreed.

"Becoming a Lord deepens the curse as well. For example, my Hunter title makes me prefer to use webs, and I've developed an appetite for insects. Just as you hate those who harm plants, I hate those who harm spiders."

After measuring out ground coffee and a powder made from some unknown fruit, Mildred Humphrey returned to the sofa by the fireplace, waiting for the kettle to boil. The steaming water filled the coffee cup, releasing a swirling mist that blended the aromas of coffee and herbs.

Cradling her cup, Mildred Humphrey curled up on the sofa. For an elderly person who had survived the abyss of despair and stood on the brink of death, there was nothing more wonderful than quietly sipping a cup of coffee with friends by a warm hearth.

"My deepened curse is presence..."

Silver Cross Elephant, who was still far from old age, also savored the moment, speaking slowly. "The Lord's Cursed Title of 'Hunter' grants me the power to be the best at what I do, but the curse makes me easily noticeable at all times. Even a blind man could sense my silent approach."

The two Lords, who had mastered the release of their powers for over a decade, explained the unknown details and prohibitions to Lu Li more thoroughly than any book could.

"Be careful about increasing your Cursed Titles, and be especially cautious when releasing their power... We know that with every release, the curse deepens, and so does the temptation... Volier Kobers, who held the most Cursed Titles before you, fell after releasing his second one. He destroyed everything in his path: anomalies, humans, lairs, divine towns... Although you have the power to absorb Humanity, the river will eventually run dry."

Both Silver Cross Elephant and Mildred Humphrey had endured that long despair. It was like striking a match in a blizzard—a faint, brief glimmer of hope that was instantly extinguished by the cold night.

Once the scales begin to tip, they tip faster and faster—Lu Li took the warning to heart.

Creak—

The slightly ajar door interrupted their conversation. The Merchant Antony had returned with the anomalies.

"We can begin."

Silver Cross Elephant set aside his half-finished coffee, picked up his old silver crossbow, and walked over to the pen.

The Merchant Antony placed the weak anomalies, wrapped and bound in an alchemical carpet, into the enclosure. They struggled and thrashed as Lu Li approached—they had already sensed the aura of his Humanity.

Silver Cross Elephant raised his silver crossbow, and three bolts shot through the air like streams of light, striking the ropes outside the alchemical carpet.

Snap—

The ropes broke and the alchemical carpet unfurled, revealing three figures inside: one weak anomaly, one plant anomaly, and one featherless chicken.

At that moment, Lu Li released his Cursed Title: Treewhisperer.

A phantom grove of young trees, bathed in a soft light, appeared behind him, and the life force of the forest spread outward.

The dynamic in the pen shifted. The weak anomaly, craving life force, rushed toward Lu Li. Sensing a threat beside it and vitality ahead, the featherless chicken also flapped its wings and charged forward.

As it neared the edge of the pen, the plant anomaly's roots shot out like vines, chasing down the weak anomaly and wrapping around it tightly. The roots pierced its body, absorbing its nutrients.

The featherless chicken was blocked by the pen's barrier, clucking in agitation.

The weak anomaly withered and dried up, discarded by the roots. The plant anomaly, like an octopus, moved slowly and deliberately toward Lu Li.

Because of the Treewhisperer Cursed Title, it was protecting Lu Li. Yet because of its anomalous nature, it once again attacked the featherless chicken and stared greedily at Silver Cross Elephant and Mildred Humphrey.

A flash of white light erupted as a web bound the plant anomaly, saving the poor featherless chicken cowering against the barrier. Mildred Humphrey then looked at Lu Li.

The dirt at Lu Li's feet loosened and swelled as sprouts pushed their way through, growing at a slow but visible rate.

His Humanity was being steadily, slowly drained.

"Wait," Silver Cross Elephant said thoughtfully, stopping Lu Li, who was about to retract his power. He made an incision on the back of his hand with his silver crossbow.

A thin line of blood appeared, but before any drops could form, it began to gradually heal and close, sealing completely within a few seconds.

Without hesitation, Silver Cross Elephant made three more progressively deeper cuts on the back of his hand, observing the speed of their recovery.

"An auxiliary type, then..." Mildred Humphrey whispered.

"For a nascent form, its power is not weak."

It was a pity it wasn't a combat or defensive type. That would have meant Lu Li could, to some extent, travel outside of human civilization—in the Old Sewer, for instance, or even on the surface.

The release of a Cursed Title was not permanent. Over time, the phantom figure behind the user would gradually grow until it reached its Mature form.

"The Mature form is the peak of a weakened Cursed Title, and also the end of our path... but for you, it is different," Silver Cross Elephant said.

The true form of a Cursed Title, released without being weakened, was called the True Form.

For Lu Li, the greatest obstacle ahead was not his Humanity, but the very act of attaining the True Form—a feat that required walking the edge of life and death.

Within a few dozen seconds, the first wound had completely healed, the second had scabbed over, and the deepest third wound was closing.

Silver Cross Elephant gestured for Lu Li to retract his power, but only when the wounds had formed scabs did the shadow of the tree behind Lu Li dim and disappear.

A few dozen seconds of continuous power had transformed the ground around Lu Li into a lawn, lush with vibrant life force, like the peak of summer. It stood in stark contrast to the bleak, wilting Swamps.

Lu Li called for the Merchant Antony and contacted Professor Kris, asking him to bring a mirror.

Soon, Lu Li returned to the hut with the mirror, accompanied by the two Lords. Standing before it, he released the Cursed Title once more.

This time, he truly saw the figure of the young tree behind him. As if waking from a harsh winter, the branches of the sapling, shrouded in a faint light, had sprouted a few small shoots, and its crown stood slightly taller than Lu Li.

At chest height on the trunk, Lu Li saw a carved mark—

And when he retracted his power, the first shoot grew into the shape of a leaf.

The mark Anna had left on Enni in their childhood prompted Lu Li to contact the Land of Light to check on Enni's condition.

"Don't worry, she is still thriving," the Distorted Figure replied.

The phantom shadow of a Cursed Title appearing behind its user was merely a spiritual manifestation.

His purpose for joining the Academy of Giant Trees was already complete, and Lu Li had planned to leave within the next few days.

Silver Cross Elephant suggested, "If you're going to travel, Midnight is a good place. It's the heart of human civilization, our influence provides protection there, and you'll be in time for the March Supremacy Tournament."

"I don't intend to participate," Lu Li declined again.

Silver Cross Elephant shook his head slightly.

"One of the rewards for the tournament is a Cursed Title."

Undoubtedly, it was the combat-type Cursed Title he needed.

In the end, Lu Li did not sever his ties with the Academy of Giant Trees.

It was not just because of the tournament in a month's time, but also because of Silver Cross Elephant's parting words.

"Don't forget to visit us in the Swamps. There's always new prey being brought in, and there are other Lords who need help."