The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 169: Simulated Event 3

"I'll keep backing away," Lu Li said.

"You began to retreat. Suddenly, the villager, who had been repeating the same phrase, raised his head and charged at you with a roar, 'Become a totem of suffering and remain in these ruins for eternity!'"

"Because you had already started to back away, there was some distance between you, but the monster is faster than you, and the gap is closing. What will you do?" Tesla asked.

"I'll continue to retreat and ask, 'Where is your sister?'" Lu Li replied.

Initially, Lu Li had chosen weapons as his equipment.

But it seemed he had forgotten about them, opting instead for a strategy of stealth and communication, which, as it turned out, was proving highly effective.

Tesla didn't understand Lu Li's behavior, but that didn't stop him from continuing the simulation.

"Your words reached the frenzied villager. 'Sister...' he mumbled, and his charge faltered. His movements slowed until he came to a complete stop. He whispered something quietly, then, as if grasping a lifeline, he cried out, 'Save my sister! I hid her in the ruins, she must still be alive! Please, save her!' What do you say?" Tesla prompted.

"I'll ask him how he became like this," Lu Li answered.

"It seems you've touched a sore spot for the villager. With an expression of incredible suffering, he told you how he and his sister ended up in the ruins. One day, they both heard a call coming from the depths of the black earth. Every villager knew it was dangerous there. But driven by curiosity and the incessant call, the brother and sister decided to venture into the ruins.""They passed through the stone forest and, after hesitating briefly at the entrance, overcame their fear and went inside. It was pitch-dark. When they decided to leave, they discovered that monsters had appeared outside. The creatures had apparently descended from the mountain and, having taken over the entrance to the ruins, had made a lair there."

"To hide from the monsters, the brother and sister retreated back into the ruins and got lost in the darkness. The call they had heard from outside was gone. They could feel something moving in the ruins. Terrified, they hid in a small side room. It was cold, but relatively safe. Droplets of water running down the damp walls helped them quench their thirst, but food was a much bigger problem. On the third day, dying of hunger, the brother decided to leave his sister and go in search of food."

"At first, he remembered the way, but eventually, he became lost. In the darkness, he walked by feeling the walls, and from time to time, he felt something rush past him, or that he himself was passing by something. He tried not to make any noise. After several hours, exhausted by hunger and fatigue, he finally saw a light—it was the exit."

"At the bottom of the steps leading out of the ruins, a fire was burning, with meat roasting over it. The appetizing smell wafted through the air. To the brother's relief, there were no monsters in sight."

"He rushed down the steps, tore off a piece of still-undercooked meat, and greedily devoured it. He remembered his sister waiting for him in the cold ruins, so he grabbed another large piece of meat and was about to head back when he suddenly stumbled, fell, and lost consciousness. The last thing he saw was the piece of meat, now covered in dust, falling from his hands."

"When he awoke, the warmth made him think he was back in the village. But when he opened his eyes, he saw only the tall stone forest, the ominous ruins, and the monsters sitting around the campfire. For some reason, they weren't touching him, merely dragging him closer to the flames. They sat by the fire, conversing with each other in an incomprehensible language."

"He thought he was going to be eaten, but then he noticed that his shadow had sprouted the same scales as the monsters, and he realized he was turning into one of them."

"Perhaps it was because of the meat he'd eaten, or maybe the monsters had done something to him while he was unconscious. It didn't matter. He stood up and ran toward the ruins. The monsters paid him no mind, but as he approached the steps leading to the entrance, an icy, sinister voice echoed in his head:"

"A servant is not permitted to enter the master's chambers!"

"The voice spoke these words, and he knew he could not disobey. Even though the monsters no longer posed a threat to him, and the ruins were right there, he couldn't enter and find his sister. He tried to leave the stone forest and call for help from the village, but that failed as well. The monsters could only exist where the black stone pillars stood."

"Over time, his shadow began to grow, becoming just like the monsters'. It gained a physical form. His consciousness grew hazy, he began to lose himself, assimilating with the monsters and becoming like them."

"In this semi-conscious state, only one obsession remained—to save his sister and find help. But because his mind was poisoned by a malevolent energy, that idea became twisted into what you saw earlier."

"In the end, your conversation with him awakened a part of his human consciousness and dispelled the evil energy shrouding his mind," Tesla said. "Having heard the brother's story, you understood what had happened and no longer viewed him with hostility. Mission progress updated (60/100). What will you do next?"

"I'll ask why he didn't try to enter the ruins from another side," Lu Li replied.

"I can feel that there is some terrible... master in the ruins. Even the faintest wisp of its aura makes my soul tremble. If I get too close to the ruins, my soul will shatter..." he said in agony, and the monster clutched its head along with him.

"Can you help me? My sister, she must still be alive. Help me get her out of there, I'm begging you..." he pleaded. His vulnerable, grief-stricken appearance left you speechless. You didn't trust the words of this creature that had turned into a monster, but your objective was also inside the ruins, and your interests seemed to align. What will you do?" Tesla asked.

"I'll ask him for more details about the situation inside the ruins and where his sister might be," Lu Li answered.

The admiration in Tesla's eyes grew even stronger. It wasn't because of Lu Li's intention to help, but because he knew how to obtain the necessary information.

"You want to help me?! That's wonderful! I... I'm sorry, I lost control of myself..." he apologized sincerely, then told you everything he knew. You have obtained "information of medium importance." What will you do next?" Tesla asked.

"I'll ask him to create a diversion outside to draw the attention of the monsters at the entrance, giving me a chance to slip inside," Lu Li said.

At that moment, Tesla was slightly taken aback and stared intently at Lu Li.

"You've decided to trust this creature, which has transformed into a monster and just recently tried to attack you, and have asked it to distract the other monsters at the entrance to the ruins."