novelraw Chapter 177: Their Letters
Chapter 177: Their Letters
"I've finished the books."
The next morning, Anna floated over to the sofa, blinking sleepily and rubbing her eyes.
The mold on the ceiling dissipated, swirling into a thick, black fog. Lu Li, who was lying on the sofa, shifted his gaze from the ceiling to look at her.
Though they were just ordinary novels, each two to three hundred pages long, finishing three in a single night was quite a feat, even for a ghost who didn't need to sleep.
"All of them?"
"Well, I didn't like one of them, so I skipped it, hehe..." Anna confessed, scratching the back of her head sheepishly.
Lu Li had chosen books he thought might be useful; two were collections of short stories, while the third was titled "Notes on Observing Wildlife."
It was natural that a book on such a niche topic wouldn't appeal to most people.
Especially not to a young girl.
"I see. I'll buy more later."Lu Li looked away, and the mold on the ceiling vanished.
Clutching the last book, which had only ten pages left, Anna floated toward the bedroom.
"Don't stay up all night reading next time."
His calm voice followed her.
"Huh?"
Anna stopped, her clear eyes widening slightly as if she were seeing Lu Li for the very first time.
He's worried about me? This guy... he actually knows how to care about someone.
"Alright," Anna chirped and drifted back into her room. A moment later, the sound of her humming drifted out; the young ghost seemed to be in high spirits.
If she kept this up, they'd have to spend every shilling they earned on new books for her.
With that thought, Lu Li, who had already been awake for a while, sat up and gazed at the gloomy sky beyond the window.
This year, the rainy season felt especially grim. In years past, there were always a few sunny days to break the monotony, but this year, the clouds hadn't parted even once.
But compared to the fact that plants had stopped growing, a perpetually overcast sky seemed like a minor problem.
Turning away from the window, Lu Li rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen. The sound of splashing water soon followed. A moment later, he emerged, droplets of water glistening on his forehead.
He took a kettle and a one-shilling coin from the table and went out into the hall to fetch hot water from the communal boiler.
Two people were already in line. The first was holding a pail, filling it from a massive tank that looked like a wine barrel.
Next to the second person stood... a bucket. A large wash-tub, really, so big it nearly blocked the corridor.
A shilling bought you a bucketful of water, regardless of the bucket's size, so naturally, the bigger the better. At the very least, you wanted to get more than you would from a running tap.
The resident leaning against his wash-tub stepped aside, politely letting Lu Li go first. Lu Li thanked him and, after waiting for the man ahead to finish, filled his kettle with freshly boiled water and returned to the detective agency.
After pouring a cup of water, Lu Li set the kettle on the dining table. He fastened the cuffs of his shirt, then picked up the black tie from the back of the sofa and knotted it neatly at his throat.
"Are you leaving?" Hearing the activity, Anna peeked her head out of the bedroom.
"Yes." Lu Li walked over to the coat rack and took down his woolen coat.
Buy books, eat breakfast, and look for some tea.
Perhaps it was the lack of modern filtration, but the city water was unpleasant. Even boiled, it retained a slightly sharp, metallic tang. Lu Li needed tea, or something like it, to make it palatable.
Of course, it was also possible that the water supplied to the common folk simply didn't receive such thorough filtration.
Taking an umbrella from by the door, Lu Li straightened up and reached for the doorknob.
"Don't forget to buy meat."
His hand, poised to open the door, froze. "You want to cook again?"
"Yes! I'll cook for you myself," she chirped.
"...That's not necessary."
Anna's voice grew quiet. "Am I a bad cook...?" she asked plaintively.
"Yes."
Anna clasped her hands together, pleading, "I'll do my best! Just one more chance, please..."
Lu Li said nothing. He set the umbrella aside and walked into the kitchen. After a quick survey, he began gathering all the items that might catch Anna's eye and be mistaken for ingredients: a bag of expired cane sugar, a soaproot used for laundry, a box of rat poison from the corner, and a handful of soil from the windowsill.
Under Anna's bewildered gaze, Lu Li packed everything into a leather bag, took it with him, returned to the door, and pulled it open.
Creeak...
The door opened, revealing a tall figure standing right outside.
The figure was tall enough to have to stoop slightly in the doorway. They wore a grimy coat, and a matching scarf was wrapped so high it almost completely hid their face. The layered outfit was reminiscent of the city's homeless, who piled on whatever clothes they could find—multiple shirts, several coats—to stay warm.
Yet, despite the filth on their clothes, the figure gave off no unpleasant odor.
"A Trader?"
The figure's mysterious air and appearance brought one possibility to mind.
The Trader had appeared the day after Lu Li had contacted the Investigators. Perhaps they'd found something out.
Could it be that his application to join the Investigators was finally moving forward?
"What do you need?" a low voice rumbled from behind the scarf.
Lu Li didn't answer immediately. He simply stepped back, clearing the doorway. "Come in."
The doorway was no place for a conversation.
Head lowered, the Trader entered the detective agency. Lu Li closed the door, taking the moment to consider what he needed.
Knowledge wasn't his top priority at the moment. If he managed to join the Investigators, he could access most of what he needed to know from them.
Meeting the eyes of the figure behind the scarf, Lu Li stated his request. "I need books on geography and history—the region doesn't matter, though the Allen Peninsula would be ideal. I also need four maps: one of Belfast, one of the Allen Peninsula, one of the continents, and a world map."
The Trader replied curtly, "Official maps or internal ones?"
"What's the difference?"
"Internal maps contain more information."
"Understood. One of each."
"Very well. The next Trader will bring them."
"And when will that be?"
"After the next Trader arrives."
"What is the payment?"
"Shillings, information, items, an Anomaly."
Anna hid in the bedroom, peeking out at them. Their conversation made her feel as though she were listening to two Lu Lis.
The discussion ended there, but just as the mysterious Trader was about to leave, Lu Li suddenly asked, "How much for a Spirit Gun?"
"500 shillings."
......
Half an hour later.
Kneeling on a chair to water the potted plant on the windowsill, Anna spotted a familiar figure passing by outside.
Her world instantly brightened. She stood up and floated to the door to wait.
Faintly, she heard footsteps approaching in the hall. Before they even reached her door, it swung open.
Lu Li entered the room. Anna took two large paper bags from him and nodded toward the table. "A letter for you. It was delivered a few minutes after you left."
Today's love letter?
Lu Li placed the umbrella by the door, closed it, took off his coat, and hung it on the coat rack.
"Who's it from?"
"Two people... hmm..." Anna tilted her head in thought.
"I think their names are Remi and Jimmy."
Lu Li's movements came to an abrupt halt.