The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 1010: Professor Haig's Invitation

[The Order of the Radiant Knights Begins Second Ground Expedition with Support from a Mysterious Figure]

[The second expeditionary army, under the command of Deputy Commander Agon Bagdadi and five grand knights, departed at dawn, returning to the surface via the Road of Sighs. This operation aims to clear the area around the Midnicht alchemy tower and establish a garrison. "Red Copper," the latest creation from the alchemy laboratory, also accompanied the expeditionary force. Rumor has it a mysterious figure is following them.]

The outer city, also known as the "City Street," connects the inner city to the Road of Sighs via Fast Avenue.

On a bench in Fast Park, not far from the avenue, Lu Li lowered the "Morning Gazette."

In the distance, workers were clearing a road crushed by heavy tracks.

Only a short time had passed since the second expeditionary army of the Order of the Radiant Knights had marched through. From the moment Lu Li heard the commotion from his third-floor hotel room, saw the scene from his window, left the hotel, walked to the park, and bought a morning paper, only about ten minutes had elapsed.

This was Lu Li's second day in Midnicht, having arrived on the advice of Silver Cross Elephant.

In the early morning, the park was nearly empty. Aside from the vagrants and refuse collectors occupying the benches, the only people around were those hurrying to work.

After calmly finishing the newspaper, Lu Li returned to his hotel before more of the city's residents began to stir.

He had specifically rented the attic room on the third floor of the hotel. With no neighbors, he wouldn't be disturbed, and he wouldn't disturb anyone either.Lu Li had underestimated the effect of his aura of humanity on his surroundings. Chaos had quickly erupted upon his arrival in Midnicht—people were subconsciously drawn to him, the faithful grew wary and greedy, and there were possibly hidden anomalies as well.

It seemed to be a grim preview of how badly things would go for Lu Li if he ventured into the Old Sewer or to the surface.

Before causing an incident, Lu Li had temporarily returned to the Academy of Giant Trees' encampment to seek help from Vice Dean Kris.

Vice Dean Kris had asked the Merchant, Anthony, to bring Lu Li a vial of an alchemical potion that functioned like perfume. When opened, it released a foul stench that concealed Lu Li's life force—a stronger aura masking his aura of humanity.

Passersby no longer subconsciously drew near Lu Li; instead, they kept their distance. Even if someone, momentarily letting their guard down or failing to locate the source, did approach him, they would only catch a stronger scent of rot and the smell of an anomaly mixed with the aura of his life force.

If it weren't for his Academy of Giant Trees badge, Lu Li might have been suspected of being a "rot anomaly" and taken away by the city guards or a passing knight.

He had only managed to rent the attic room thanks to the badge and a nearly tripled price that the owner had agreed to.

Since [Treewhisperer] was not a Combat-type Cursed Title, Lu Li temporarily avoided contact with the devil's daughter—and she, in turn, made no attempt to contact him, as if she had long since forgotten him.

Back in the attic room, Lu Li corked the perfume vial and removed his cloak while the stench dissipated. He added a few logs to the fireplace, ignoring the unpleasant crackling, and returned to his bed to pick up the book he had left half-read.

Lu Li went nowhere. Only at night did he use the power of [Dreamwalker], entering the dreams of the hotel's other guests to master the ability.

The quiet day passed in a sea of words. In the morning and afternoon, the hotel owner would bring food, knock on the door, and leave.

In the evening, the "ball of light" outside the round window on the west side of the attic grew dim, transforming into a cold moon. Lu Li lit an oil lamp, closed his book, filled the fireplace with coal, and returned to the single bed, from whose frame shoots were sprouting, to sink into a chaotic sleep and wait for the other guests to fall asleep.

Strange phenomena, a misty chaos overflowing with joy, anger, and sorrow. Sometimes he would alter the nightmares of a few guests, like the Pan of Wasteland myth who roamed through dreams, spreading beauty and peace.

Late at night, when no new dreams appeared, Lu Li drifted off to sleep himself.

Ash covered the embers, and the fireplace radiated a faint, cold light. Lu Li awoke in the early morning.

Overnight, more sprouts had pushed through the wooden planks of the bed where Lu Li slept, though they weren't as lush as the one planted in the flowerpot on his nightstand.

As he was rekindling the fire, Lu Li planned to buy a morning paper just like yesterday and go to the park to read. Just then, the Merchant, Anthony, appeared, carrying a letter from a familiar acquaintance: Professor Haig had learned from other professors that Lu Li had left the Academy of Giant Trees. He surmised that Lu Li might be in Midnicht and temporarily without lodging, so he invited him to stay at his home.

Lu Li accepted Professor Haig's offer and sent back the hotel's location. A professor of mysticism from the Academy of Giant Trees was, apparently, more omniscient than any book.

Ringing the service bell, Lu Li threw on his black cloak, uncorked the perfume vial, and informed the hotel owner, who came up to the attic, that he would be checking out.

"— Side effects of an alchemical experiment. They'll wither in a few days."

Lu Li explained to the hotel owner.

The hotel owner said nothing, ignoring the foul stench for the sake of the badge and the shillings. The cadaverous reek had transformed into the smell of rotting silt. It was hard to say whether it had become more disgusting, less so, or had simply turned into an anomaly of its own.

Lu Li packed a few books into his suitcase, picked up the flowerpot with his other hand, and returned to the common room on the first floor.

"The descendants of gods from the Five Knightly Orders are participating in this year's Tournament of Ten Powers..."

"No one will be able to take the championship from an exorcist."

A cook and a servant were whispering at a round table in the empty common room. Lu Li walked past them, covering his nose in disgust, and went outside.

After waiting for a dozen or so minutes on a bench in Fast Park, across the street, Professor Haig's carriage slowly pulled up.

"It's been a while, Your Excellency."

Professor Haig climbed out of the carriage. He gestured toward the luggage with a slight bow, not speaking his name aloud.

Lu Li gave a nod of acknowledgment, declined Professor Haig's attempt to take his suitcase and flowerpot, walked around the horse as it turned its head, and climbed into the carriage.

After Professor Haig was seated, the coachman guided the carriage back toward the professor's manor in the inner city.

"I have been keeping an eye on you... Your Excellency. Congratulations on mastering the release of your power."

Professor Haig had practically witnessed Lu Li's progress with his own eyes over the short span of two months; not even a month of confinement could stop him.

However, he didn't yet know that Lu Li had already become the Lord of a Cursed Title.

Some twenty minutes later, the carriage arrived at Professor Haig's manor, located in a district patrolled by the city guard.

"My wife."

Upon entering the detached house, Professor Haig introduced Lu Li to a slender woman and the large man standing beside her:

"This is Mim, and our son, Sisoran, who turned eight a few days ago."

"Eight years old?"

Lu Li looked at the "large man," who was taller than the doorframe and gazed down at him with a foolish grin.

"He... stinks..."

Sisoran pinched his nose.

"My apologies, Lu Li, Your Excellency..." Professor Haig asked his wife to take Sisoran to the dining room to prepare lunch, then added bitterly:

"Sisoran became like this because of an anomaly..."

In that incident, Professor Haig's poor child, Sisoran, was catalyzed. The only fortunate thing was that he wasn't afflicted with any deformities.

Professor Haig led Lu Li to a guest room on the second floor, which would serve as Lu Li's temporary lodging for a while. After a brief conversation, Professor Haig went back downstairs to help.

Lu Li surveyed the neatly tidied guest room, placed the flowerpot on the windowsill, and opened his suitcase.

He put the clean clothes into the wardrobe, and the few books he had brought were stacked on the nightstand.

All that remained in the suitcase was a pale blue, misty Potion of the Emerald Dream, which emitted a faint glow.

Lu Li was gazing at it when he heard Professor Haig call from downstairs.

Lu Li drank the Potion of the Emerald Dream.

Perhaps soon, or perhaps at some point in the future, Lu Li would need it again.