The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 242: Anna's Changes

Click...

The lock clicked softly, and the door eased open, revealing the figure standing behind it.

A musty smell of damp wood, a lingering remnant from the rainy season, wafted from the room. Lu Li, long accustomed to it, hadn't noticed the scent before. But after being away for several days, it was palpable again.

Lu Li stepped into the detective agency. The living room and bedroom were empty and quiet; Anna was nowhere to be seen.

But as Lu Li approached the kitchen, a figure emerged.

The ghostly Anna stood there with a toothbrush in her mouth, her cheeks covered in white foam. She looked at Lu Li in surprise.

"You're back!"

After standing frozen for a moment, Anna suddenly snapped out of it and rushed joyfully toward Lu Li.

She didn't seem angry with him for breaking his promise, but she still chided him lightly, "You promised you'd be back the next morning."

"Something came up," Lu Li replied, stopping Anna by placing a hand on her forehead.He still planned on selling this expensive suit, so he didn't want to get it dirty.

But Anna wouldn't be deterred. She pressed her head against Lu Li's hand, trying to get past it to hug him.

Lu Li had to distract her with a question. "Did anything happen at the agency while I was gone?"

Anna's attention immediately shifted. She nodded and said, "Mhm, the daily papers came, the Investigator Weekly, and another letter. It's all over there."

Anna pointed to the desk. Lu Li glanced in that direction, but just then, something soft bumped against his chest. When he looked back at Anna, she had already retreated and was standing before him, giggling.

A smear of toothpaste was left on Lu Li's suit.

In a way, her persistence was the complete opposite of his composure.

Pleased with her little prank, Anna clasped her hands behind her back. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"No."

"Then go buy something, quickly! My cooking skills have improved a lot these past few days," Anna declared.

"Alright."

Lu Li nodded and left the detective agency, even though he had only just returned.

As she watched Lu Li leave, Anna's smile gradually faded. A quiet sigh echoed through the agency.

An almost tangible shadow crept out from beneath Anna's feet. A dark, ominous feeling accompanied it.

"It's a good thing I managed to hide it... If Lu Li found out I disobeyed him, he'd be very upset... I'll never tell him."

As she was thinking this, Anna suddenly sensed something strange.

She lifted her head and froze.

Lu Li had returned and was standing calmly in the hallway outside the door.

He had seen everything.

...

The sofa swayed slightly, as if Lu Li were still on the ship.

Ignoring the faint dizziness from the long sea voyage, Lu Li calmly regarded Anna, who stood before him with her hands clasped.

"When did this happen?"

Lu Li broke the silence. His voice was as level as always.

"Yesterday..." Anna lowered her head, nervously fidgeting with her fingers like a guilty child.

It happened the day after Lu Li failed to return.

Lu Li asked, "Are you a vengeful spirit now?"

"N-no... I remembered your warning and was afraid of losing myself, so I didn't..."

"How close are you?"

Anna uncertainly held up her thumb and index finger, pinching them almost together. "I think... just a tiny bit..."

Anna wasn't a vengeful spirit, which meant the Night's Watch wasn't hunting her.

"Why did you want to hide it from me?"

"I was afraid you'd be angry..."

To Anna's surprise, Lu Li didn't scold her. Instead, he began to analyze her power. "A ghost and a vengeful spirit differ not only in strength but also in the latter's possession of a mental projection, like the black halo over Michelle's head. A mental projection grants abilities. Yours is this shadow. What can it do?"

Anna hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "I can't use the shadow's power yet."

"Perhaps you'll be able to once you become a full vengeful spirit," Lu Li surmised. "Until I learn more about them, don't become one."

"Okay!"

Anna nodded vigorously, a look of relief on her face. Then she saw Lu Li stand up from the sofa, unbutton his shirt, and walk toward her.

"Huh?"

Anna was flustered and didn't know where to look.

Lu Li took off his shirt and tossed it to her. Caught by surprise, Anna failed to catch it, and the shirt landed over her head. Lu Li's voice sounded from nearby. "Get the toothpaste off it."

"Oh."

Anna pulled the shirt off her head and watched Lu Li walk into the bedroom. The sound of a wardrobe opening came from within.

Returning to the kitchen, she put away her toothbrush and turned on the tap to rinse the toothpaste from the shirt.

Soon after, Lu Li, having changed into clean clothes, left the detective agency to buy food.

After he left, the agency grew quiet again. Anna turned off the water. Her voice sounded from behind the kitchen door.

Guilt was hidden deep in her eyes.

She had, after all, deceived Lu Li.

Several hours ago, she had become a vengeful spirit.

If she told him now, he would surely be angry. It was better to wait a while and pretend it had just happened suddenly...

...

Lu Li walked along the cobbled expanse of Sailor Street under an overcast sky. People bustled all around him.

Lu Li didn't doubt Anna's words.

Not only because he trusted her, but also because he hadn't noticed any changes in her.

This was important, as Lu Li didn't want Anna to become stronger if it meant altering her personality.

And such changes were usually for the worse.

But nothing of the sort had happened with Anna. Lu Li didn't understand why, and it made him realize just how much he still didn't know.

After buying groceries at the market—where prices were steadily rising—Lu Li returned to the detective agency.

The shirt was hanging on a line in the kitchen, water was boiling in a pot, and Anna, snatching the groceries from Lu Li's hands, hurried back into the kitchen.

Everything was as it had always been.

Half an hour later, the aroma of simmering meat drifted from the kitchen, filling the entire agency.

Soon, Anna emerged from the kitchen with the pot. She ladled some broth for Lu Li and served him a large portion of meat, awaiting his verdict.

"Well? Is it better than before?"

As Lu Li tasted the broth, stars seemed to sparkle in Anna's clear eyes.

"Perhaps."

Lu Li's answer was noncommittal.

It wasn't delicious, but it wasn't bad either.

For now, Anna only knew how to cook this one dish. Of course, she might have learned other recipes, but Lu Li wasn't yet ready for any new culinary experiments.

After lunch, Lu Li felt a faint drowsiness, likely brought on by the cozy atmosphere of the detective agency.

In no hurry to get to work, he lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes.

On this quiet, peaceful morning, Anna sat at the table with a book in her hands, occasionally glancing over at Lu Li. Her eyes were filled with a sense of calm and ease.

"If only it could always be like this."

Anna thought.