The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 124: The Decline of Tenebrae

The old woman wasn't a great storyteller, though she knew how to build suspense. But so far, she hadn't answered either of the two questions he'd asked.

Anna, whose curiosity had famously been her undoing, could no longer contain her impatience.

— Then tell us about what’s outside the window first.

Fortunately, Lu Li was a man of firm convictions, not one to be easily sidetracked.

— What’s outside the window is connected to what lies deep in the swamp. You might as well move on to the second question, the old woman said slowly.

Lu Li remained silent, his gaze fixed calmly on the old woman’s eyes.

— Don’t look at an old woman with a failing memory like that, she chuckled, revealing a gap-toothed smile and waving a dismissive hand. — Alright, I'm being too slow. So, you've come to Tenebrae. You're a detective, so you must have heard some rumors about the town?

— The ghost and the Six-Armed Savage? Lu Li asked.

— Yes, but don’t think... they’re like us, the old woman drifted into her memories again and continued slowly.

— No one knows what they are... All we know is that after the town was founded, these creatures appeared like shadows in every dark corner of Tenebrae. They hide there, watching the passersby.— Then why didn’t people move the town somewhere else?

— You’d be better off asking the local families and the town head about that, the old woman replied with a hint of irony, leaning back in her chair. — I suppose the people and the noble masters back then decided it was too expensive to move the town. So what if a few people disappeared and died? That’s nothing compared to the cost of relocating.

— Are they from the Shadow Swamp?

— Back then, most people thought so, because these creatures were only found in Tenebrae. Then someone saw a ghost at the edge of the swamp, and it all became clear. Many people left the town after that, but many stayed. Sometimes, poverty is more terrifying than those dreadful things.

The old woman sighed, pulled a pipe from the pocket of her red sweater, and waved it in front of Lu Li. — You don't mind?

— I do.

The old woman ignored him, picking up a simple oil lamp from the table. She tilted her pipe to light the tobacco, took a few puffs until smoke billowed from her mouth, and leaned back with a satisfied air before continuing, — My mother was one of those who stayed. Later, they discovered that the ghosts, the Six-Armed Savages, and all the other foul things crawling out of the swamp only appeared at night and disliked bright places. They also realized the creatures mostly just scared people. As long as you didn't go deep into the swamp, they didn't seem to cause any real harm.

— That’s why I warn outsiders to draw their curtains at night. We might be used to it, but you’re not. If you scream in terror, there’s no telling what might happen. You can think of them as a pack of children who like to play deadly pranks.

— Even though people knew it wasn't that dangerous, they were still afraid. Until one day, Tenebrae unexpectedly became famous. First came the adventurers who’d heard tales of monsters. Then came officials and scientists studying the creatures. After that, more and more people started to arrive. Nobles, the wealthy, young folk. The very things that terrified the townsfolk seemed new and exciting to them. A lot of people came to Tenebrae in those days, which is why there are so many taverns here.

— And what happened next?

— And then...

The old woman fell silent, not answering Lu Li right away.

The tobacco in her pipe glowed brightly, and thick white smoke curled from her mouth and nose, shrouding her narrowed eyes.

— And then... a few decades passed. More recently, when the Night Calamity came, the tourists stopped coming. As you can see, the only outsiders we get now are passing merchants.

With that, the old woman chuckled, then broke into a fit of coughing. After clearing her throat, she continued, — Perhaps this Night Calamity came from the Shadow Swamp as well.

The smoke gradually cleared. The old woman knocked the ash from her pipe, tucked it back into her sweater pocket, and slowly rose to her feet. — The food's nearly ready. I'll go serve it up.

The old woman returned to the kitchen behind the counter, and Anna's voice sounded beside him. — It seems the locals used the creatures from the swamp as a source of income... Do you think they're the ones watching us?

— Possibly.

At least, here in the tavern’s bright main room, he no longer felt the sensation of being watched.

Anna fell silent as the old woman reappeared from behind the counter, carrying a steaming pot.

Thump.

A pot of stew was set on the table, its broth still bubbling. The old woman took a ladle and filled the wooden bowl in front of Lu Li. It contained chunks of rabbit meat and what looked like brown, mushy, and wrinkled lightfruits.

An appetizing aroma rose from the hot steam.

— Thirty-two shillings. I'll add it to your room's bill.

Expensive. The pot of stew cost as much as an adult earned in twelve hours of hard labor. But it was also payment for the answers to Lu Li's questions.

— If you want bread, I have some, but only black bread.

— I don't need any.

— Suit yourself, the old woman said, setting aside the towel she'd used to hold the pot. — Oh, by the way, if you're not sleepy after you eat, you can go for a walk.

Hearing this, Lu Li looked up at her. The old woman said nonchalantly, — It's bright and lively outside. Ever since they installed the gas lamps, everyone’s gotten used to taking evening strolls.

Lu Li turned his head to look out the window. On the wide, lamp-lit street, he could see the silhouettes of people passing by.

— People are less afraid when they’re together.

With that, the old woman returned to her kitchen.

Averting his gaze, Lu Li picked up the spoon beside his wooden bowl, scooped up some of the broth, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to his lips.

— How does it taste? Anna asked curiously.

— Not bad.

The broth had a sour tang, likely from the lightfruits.

The pot was about the size of two cupped hands, so there wasn't much stew. Ten minutes later, Lu Li finished the last of it, leaving only a few mushy fruits at the bottom.

He rose from the table, intending to go outside.

......

The warmth spreading from his stomach helped Lu Li ward off the night's chill.

The gas lamps dimly illuminating the street were spaced quite far apart, and because the avenue was so wide, Trio Street wasn't as bright as one might expect.

The street was bustling with people: locals, as well as merchants and caravans stopping for the night. Unlike during the day, a few vendors had set up stalls along the roadside, their presence dispelling some of the gloom brought on by the darkness.

As was his habit, Lu Li headed toward a newspaper kiosk not far from the Big Wave Tavern.

— Sir? What can I get for you?

The young newsboy, who had been arranging old newspapers, set them aside, turned, and smiled.

Behind him, in a stack of old papers, a bold headline on one of the pages caught Lu Li's eye.

[The Tenebrae Hoax]