The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 163: Head of the Belfast Investigators

It wasn't his own mind that saved Lu Li, but a phone call.

It was Old Man Pick from the laundry, calling to let him know he could come in for a new Mind Level test.

The meeting place was the same laundry as before.

This time, an Investigator might be present. The world of exorcists wasn't particularly friendly toward ghosts, so Lu Li left Anna at home and went alone.

Anna had asked him to buy or rent a few books while he was out, and Lu Li had agreed.

Books could soothe the soul. If this world ever became uninhabitable and he had to take shelter in some cave or on an island, books could prove incredibly useful.

Lu Li wasn't paranoid, but he believed it was always better to be prepared for anything.

At the head of Sailor Street stood a bookstore owned by an elderly man. As most people suspected, business was not good. Reading books? That was an activity for wealthy and noble families. Common folk were content to ensure their children, just like them, found steady work.

Someone had once asked the owner why he kept the bookstore open when business was so poor. He didn't speak of "high ideals" or "art," but simply replied, "This is my building. Besides me, it can hold a lot of things. Why shouldn't I fill it with books? If someone wants to buy them, I'll have a little extra income. If not, I can read them myself."

Lu Li pushed open the wooden door and entered the shop. Greeted by the old man, he went to the shelves and, after a minute of browsing, selected three pulp novels that cost him 83 shillings.The high price of books was likely the reason for the lack of customers.

Just as he had before, Lu Li took the books wrapped in brown paper and asked if the store had any history or geography books.

And just as before, there were none. The Council of Elders kept a tight grip on books containing knowledge, and no one dared to stock or sell them. It was as if they held not knowledge, but spells to summon demons.

Perhaps the Investigators didn't have such restrictions.

Mulling this over, Lu Li took his package and headed down the hill, toward the waterfront.

Half an hour later, Lu Li arrived at Old Man Pick's Laundry, which still lacked a front door. Inside, even more people were waiting than last time. The place resembled a tavern, and they were, in fact, selling alcohol.

Lu Li stepped into the noisy laundry and approached the counter. Old Man Pick, standing behind it, was jotting something down and only noticed Lu Li when he blocked the light.

"What took you so long?" the old man grumbled, setting down his ledger. He came around the counter, navigated between the occupied tables, and led Lu Li toward the back.

It was the same corner as last time.

"We didn't set a time."

Lu Li followed, looking over the old man's shoulder toward the corner.

A middle-aged man in a top hat with a neatly trimmed mustache nodded and smiled.

Aside from the fact that his counterpart was different, the test seemed to be no different from the last one.

Lu Li took a seat in the corner, and Old Man Pick sat down next to the man in the top hat, introducing him to Lu Li. "The head of the Belfast Investigators."

"A representative, more like," the man corrected. He had the air of a prim, old-fashioned gentleman. Unlike most so-called gentlemen, however, he didn't try to appear affable or courteous, but maintained a calm and reserved demeanor.

"I'm Michael Tesla. You can call me Mike, or Tesla. Old Man Pick told us about you, and about your... item. May I have a look at it?"

Lu Li placed the paper-wrapped books on the table, took out the flashlight, and handed it to Tesla.

Tesla took the flashlight. With nimble fingers, he opened the cap on the bottom, pulled a monocular from his pocket, and fitted it over his left eye. He studied the flashlight intently for a few seconds, then removed the monocular, closed the cap, and returned it to Lu Li.

"What was the name of the person who gave you this?"

"We didn't speak much. I only know they wore a bird-beak mask." Out of caution, Lu Li revealed no other details about the Masked Figure, including their gender.

Tesla rubbed a silver ring on his index finger and murmured thoughtfully, "Could it be her... I heard she was recently conducting trials for newcomers in the Shadow Swamp. Is that where you met her?"

"Yes."

Lu Li dismissed his budding suspicions.

"Could you elaborate?" Tesla looked interested. "Investigators typically conceal their identities. What did you do to make her trust you with the flashlight?"

The question highlighted the stark difference between the Investigators and the Night's Watch. Investigators, for the most part, craved knowledge and information, whereas members of the Night's Watch could be reprimanded for curiosity and forced to copy the regulations.

Like liberals and conservatives.

Interestingly, the Investigators were funded by the conservatives of the Council of Elders, while the Night's Watch was funded by the liberals.

"I can."

Lu Li nodded and glanced at Old Man Pick.

An ordinary man like Pick shouldn't be hearing such things.

"A few words won't hurt, right, old friend?" Tesla said, looking at Pick with a smile.

The old man, who had been about to stand up, sat back down with a sigh. "It's always like this with you."

Tesla offered a gentle smile in return. "Isaac used to say that knowledge can bring temporary troubles, but its benefits are eternal. Sooner or later, that knowledge will be useful."

If a member of the Night's Watch had said that, he probably would have been burned at the stake.

"So, Mr. Lu Li, please tell us how you met her." Tesla's soft voice and smile made the question sound like an inquiry into how a young couple had first met.

Over the next few minutes, Lu Li briefly recounted the story: the invitation on the cabin door, the meeting with the Masked Figure, how he'd given her the invitation, and how she had returned with the Inquirer and given him the flashlight.

Tesla clapped Old Man Pick on the shoulder. "Don't worry, my counter is silent. This story won't lower your Mind Level... though if you start thinking too much about it, I can't guarantee anything."

He turned back to Lu Li. "You are decisive, lucky, and brave. You dared to enter the territory of an Evil God and returned almost unscathed."

The word "almost" put Lu Li on guard, but another phrase interested him even more. "The territory of an Evil God?"

"Exactly as it sounds. An Evil God perceives everything that happens within its domain. Let me think... there's a saying about the Shadow Swamp... Ah, yes—The swamp hears what does not belong to it."

Lu Li appreciated Tesla's candor.

Tesla, it seemed, also liked Lu Li. With an apologetic smile, he said, "My apologies, I always talk too much when I meet interesting young people. We can discuss this later. For now, let's test your Mind Level. If the results are poor, you might not be a good fit for us."