The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 269: The Omen

Himmfast slowly faded from sight.

Lu Li was subtly changing Anna, just as she was changing him.

Had this been the Lu Li from the start, he might have voiced his suspicions about Henry's son directly, not in the veiled manner he had before his departure.

Anna gazed for a moment at the city, shrouded in rain and mist, before turning her eyes to Lu Li.

He had lit an oil lamp and was perched on the driver's seat, holding the reins in one hand while leafing through a local newspaper he had bought before they left.

The wind whipped up by the moving carriage kept flipping the pages, making it difficult for Lu Li to read.

"I'll drive," Anna offered.

"Alright."

Lu Li moved back inside the carriage, handing the reins to Anna.

Perhaps because it was a local paper, Baroness Joseph wasn't mentioned. The front page wasn't covering the Kodasserlsen, but the theft of a painting titled 'Hope'.[Painting 'Hope' Stolen from Woody Museum Last Night]

Aside from the obvious symbolism of 'Hope' being lost, the story only made the front page because Himmfast was a city of the arts.

The second page had an article about the disappearance of the Kodasserlsen, offering no new information. Well, almost none—three more warships had been dispatched from the Lennon Archipelago.

The following pages were filled with local Himmfast news. The 'Cries for Help in the Alley' case was not mentioned.

Setting the newspaper aside, Lu Li found he had nothing to do. He had slept too much over the last two days and now felt unable to rest, let alone nap.

He pulled back the curtain. The rain had grown heavier since they had left Himmfast.

The paper had forecast moderate rain for today, and heavy rain for tomorrow.

And anomalous.

Just then, Anna, who was driving the carriage, suddenly cried out.

"Ah! A crow!"

Lu Li turned around. A dark shadow flickered through the rain and mist, rapidly closing in before landing on Anna's shoulder.

"Hello..." Anna greeted it cautiously, remaining perfectly still.

Was this a result of the 'Cries for Help in the Alley' case?

Lu Li removed the note from the crow's leg and unfolded it in the lamplight.

[Investigator, you are currently in/passing through the eastern Allen Peninsula.]

[Anomalous rain is forecast for this area from this evening until late tonight. Please take precautions.]

[Your assistance in maintaining peace and order in the region would be greatly appreciated.]

[Note: Detailed information about the anomalous rain can be found on the reverse side of this note.]

It wasn't a result of the 'Cries for Help in the Alley' case, but it was useful nonetheless. The note provided information about the anomalous rain.

[Anomalous Rain: Transforms certain special objects within its area of effect into Anomalies. Special objects include, but are not limited to: items tied to strong emotions; places shrouded in the aura of the In-Between; the vicinity of individuals with a low Mind Level.]

[Prevention: Do not get caught in the rain.]

Just like with the Abyss, there was a way to protect oneself from the anomalous rain, and it was quite simple: just don't get wet.

Tucking the note away, Lu Li said to the crow, "That's all."

"Caw!" The crow let out a piercing cry and soared into the air.

"Ow, my ears..." Anna covered her ears and muttered in annoyance. "I don't like crows anymore!"

After a moment of grumbling, her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked Lu Li what was written on the note.

Lu Li told her about the anomalous rain. Anna immediately conjured an illusory umbrella over her head to shield herself from the downpour.

Even though it was just ordinary rain for now.

Even though she was a ghost.

And even though her soul was already protected by a thin barrier.

The road stretched toward Belfast. Lu Li and Anna occasionally passed other carriages, heading both to and from the city. The quiet lasted for the better part of an hour, until it was shattered by the sudden thunder of hooves behind them.

Lu Li and Anna glanced back. Through the rain, about a hundred yards behind them, several riders were galloping at full speed. Moments later, they overtook the carriage and blocked their path.

Anna vanished. Seated inside the carriage, Lu Li pulled the reins to a stop and regarded the horsemen.

"We're from the Himmfast Police Department, you—" The cloaked rider suddenly fell silent, his eyes fixed on the badge with three black crows that Lu Li had produced.

He had seen that badge often in recent months. Like the men in black uniforms, its bearer belonged to a special organization.

The rider's tone shifted to one of respect. "Investigator, my apologies for the disturbance. Have you seen any suspicious individuals?"

"Are you looking for the one who stole the painting?" Lu Li inquired.

Since Lu Li was an investigator, he couldn't be a suspect in the theft.

"Yes."

"I have not."

"Very well. We'll continue our search for the criminal," the young officer said. He pulled on his reins and galloped off with his companions.

The carriage started moving again.

Anna reappeared behind Lu Li. She watched the riders vanish into the rain, then turned to the pensive Lu Li. "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm wondering if we might run into the painting thief up ahead," Lu Li replied.

"That plot sounds familiar... Let me see." Anna returned to the carriage and opened her romance novel. A few minutes later, she rushed back to Lu Li, crying, "I found it!" She read aloud, "On the road, he encountered the thief who had stolen his property. The thief thought that he, like all the others, would shout, 'You accursed thief! I'm taking you to the police!' But he did not. He politely asked the thief if something had happened, if he needed help. Oh, he was so kind that the thief, moved to the depths of his soul, pulled back his hood to reveal a beautiful face..."

Anna abruptly stopped and snapped the book shut.

Quiet fell over the carriage once more, leaving only the sound of rain drumming on the roof.

About ten minutes later, a line of stopped carriages appeared up ahead. People were peering out, whispering and staring into the distance. It seemed the police had caught the art thief.

Anna's eyes narrowed.

The rain made it difficult to see what was happening in the distance, but a moment later, a desperate cry rang out.

"They're here! The world is doomed! We have no hope!!! We're all going to die, you fools..." The shout was cut off abruptly, as if a hand had been clamped over the speaker's mouth.

The onlookers quickly ducked back into their carriages, and a ripple of murmurs went through the crowd.

"He's just a madman, don't look."

But one human and one ghost thought otherwise.

A mounted policeman rode past, leading a carriage. The line began to move again.

"What if we're too late?" Anna asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

Lu Li remained unfazed.

"Do what must be done, and come what may."