The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 193: The True Mind Level

"The ability to perceive anomalies is also known as supernatural perception... or intuition. Unlike the Mind Level, it doesn't have clearly defined stages; it's more of a concept, so we generally describe it in broader strokes."

"Those with strong intuition can more easily perceive the reality hidden from ordinary eyes—anomalies, for instance. The good news is that they don't need to rely on other anomalies to possess this level of perception. The bad news is that they are also more susceptible to their influence."

Lu Li didn't consider his own intuition to be particularly high. Without his Spirit Gun, he could rarely detect anomalies on his own. "Is it possible," he asked, "for intuition to be acquired—say, as a result of a lowered Mind Level?"

Tesla considered this. "There's a very strong possibility. A lowered Mind Level affects one's intuition, and yours is indeed in the second stage."

"That's why I'm postponing your official appointment. You should use this time to rest and relax, to recover your Mind Level as much as you can."

Lu Li pressed for more details about the nature of the Mind Level. The information he received generally aligned with what he already knew, but it contained one key contradiction: whether the Mind Level could actually be restored.

From Gades, the Night's Watch, and Joel, Lu Li had learned that the decline of the Mind Level was irreversible. However, snippets of conversation with the Investigators suggested otherwise.

Lu Li needed the exact, unvarnished truth.

"Actually, we generally divide a decline in one's Mind Level into two types: a normal decline, and one caused by contamination. The first is triggered by emotions, the second by anomalies."

The first type is closer to its literal meaning, so you could call it a 'mood level.' It's linked to a person's emotions and their environment. Sadness, despair, pain—as well as darkness, terror, and loneliness—all of these can lower one's Mind Level. Various phobias also fall into this category.This kind of decline can be offset by positive emotions and a better environment: joy, love, bright light, the company of others.

This recoverable component of the Mind Level doesn't have a special name; we just call it the Mind Level.

An irreversible decline of this first type occurs under only one condition: when a person experiences intense, prolonged negative emotions or is subjected to a detrimental environment for an extended period.

For instance, if their entire family has been killed, or is slowly dying.

This permanently lowers a person's Mind Level—or, more accurately, its threshold. For example, from a baseline of 100 down to 90 or 80. Even after recovering, they can only ever reach that new ceiling of 90 or 80.

In other words, if someone remains in a state of depression for a long time, or suddenly suffers an unbearable trauma, it becomes difficult for them to ever be as cheerful as they once were.

Unless that person has a particularly resilient temperament.

So in that sense, the decline of this first type of Mind Level is subjective. The Mind Level of someone with photophobia might constantly drop just from being in the sun, while a madman might burst out laughing at the death of his family, and his Mind Level wouldn't change at all.

The second type of Mind Level is the same for everyone.

Regardless of age, gender, wealth, or station—be it an aristocrat or a beggar, an exorcist or a spirit exterminator—upon contact with an anomaly, your Mind Level will irreversibly decline.

This is what we call the true Mind Level, or contamination from the In-Between.

"It may sound absolute, but unfortunately, we have yet to find any way to restore the true Mind Level," Tesla sighed. "It's because of the true Mind Level that so many excellent Investigators have been forced into retirement... or have gone mad..."

Tesla stopped short. A realization dawned on him, and he stared at Lu Li in astonishment.

Lu Li remained perfectly calm, his expression unreadable. No emotion seemed to touch him. Neither joy nor fear registered on his face.

And that meant that all the damage to his Mind Level thus far...

...had been to his true Mind Level.

A chair scraped against the floor, then fell silent. Tesla reached for his cane, but Lu Li caught his arm.

The chain of his monocle swung.

"Your position is incredibly dangerous," Tesla said urgently. "Most Investigators in your condition would already be preparing for retirement."

Lu Li met Tesla's gaze, his dark eyes as deep and still as a pool. "You said it yourself: 'most Investigators'."

"The rest are either dead or mad!"

"I won't go mad."

"But your Mind Level will keep declining."

"I'll stop when I sense the danger."

Tesla stared at Lu Li. As always, the man's dark eyes were a mask of tranquility.

This wasn't the look of someone making a reckless decision.

"This isn't like you," Tesla said, slowly lowering his cane. Lu Li released his arm. "What's driving you to continue, even at the cost of your Mind Level? Why are you so determined to become an Investigator and confront these anomalies..."

"A desire to learn the truth of this world. And money."

Down the hall, one of the wooden doors creaked open, and a towering figure peeked out. "Sounds like you two are having a disagreement. Need me to come mediate?"

"Get lost, you giant," Tesla said, annoyed.

"Alright, then."

Tristan vanished back behind the door.

Tesla sat down again, smoothing the wrinkles in his suit.

"I don't approve..." he said wearily, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. "...but it seems I can't change your mind."

...

"I don't approve either!" Anna slammed her hands on the table, but the gesture made no sound.

When Lu Li returned to the detective agency and told Anna about his day and the decision he'd made, her reaction was even more vehement than Tesla's.

"Why?"

Lu Li emerged from the kitchen carrying a jar of cane sugar. He sat at the table and began spooning it into a glass of milk.

Tesla had left the milk. There wasn't much, but just enough for Lu Li to drink before it spoiled.

"I-It's just... it's too dangerous!" Flustered, Anna struggled to find the right words.

"I'll stop when I sense the danger," Lu Li repeated.

Anna opened her mouth to argue, but a sharp knock on the door cut her off.

It was the postman, delivering the newspaper Lu Li had subscribed to.

Anna turned invisible. Lu Li opened the door and took the paper.

"Wait," Lu Li called out to the postman.

"I need to send a letter. Can you take it?"

The postman shifted his bag. "Of course, sir. And where will it be going? Postage to a neighboring county is five pence, and ten for any other county, as long as it's within the Allen Peninsula."

"To Arumbed County."

Lu Li returned to the table, took a pen, and wrote the recipients' names on the envelope: Remi and Jimmy.