novelraw Chapter 271: The Deal
Chapter 271: The Deal
Anna and Count Dracula were fundamentally different.
The former had once existed in this world and possessed a human personality. Dracula, on the other hand, had been confined to his painting from the moment he gained consciousness, with no memory of a human life—or perhaps he had never been human to begin with.
However, they would have to wait for the Trader to arrive to determine his true nature, since only humans could become ghosts.
On the way back, they passed the burnt-out library. Nothing had changed since Lu Li's last visit; the place remained desolate and abandoned.
As he walked by, Lu Li felt a gaze upon him, one devoid of hostility. He remembered that a vengeful spirit was hiding in the cellar beneath the ruins.
Lu Li tilted his head slightly. Beside him, a soft song drifted through the empty air, audible only to him.
With Anna by his side, he no longer needed to avoid contact with this spirit.
But not now. Lu Li was waiting for a more opportune moment.
For instance, when the Investigators discovered the cellar and officially launched an investigation.
Lu Li returned to the detective agency before nightfall. Anna went to the kitchen to light the stove and prepare dinner, while Lu Li placed the silent portrait of Count Dracula by the door, next to the Deep Sea Stone.Outside, the sky finally darkened completely. Two lit oil lamps in the agency cast a faint glow.
It wasn't as bright as the electric light in Mery's house, but it created a cozy atmosphere.
After a while, Anna brought out stewed pork and potatoes, along with a steamed fish.
The aroma of rich broth and fish mingled in the air, stirring the appetite, but the taste... well, at least the stewed pork and potatoes were up to Anna's usual standard.
The fish wasn't perfect, but Anna had at least learned how to gut and scale it, so it was edible.
Aside from the wave of nausea that came after eating it.
After dinner, it was time to rest. Lu Li washed up while Anna carried one of the lamps into the bedroom, diving into bed and pulling the covers over herself—even though she couldn't feel their softness or warmth.
"Good night!"
Anna called out from the bedroom.
Lying on the sofa with an arm over his forehead, Lu Li didn't answer, as if he were already asleep.
Silence fell over the detective agency.
From time to time, gusts of wind would drive raindrops to patter softly against the windowpane.
...
A breeze seemed to have slipped into the agency. It wandered through the room, gently stirring the lightest of objects.
Like the white cloth draped over the painting.
The cloth lifted slightly, then settled back down.
...
The wind blew again, stronger this time. The cloth billowed, revealing a corner of the painting.
It was a strange wind, for the curtains remained perfectly still.
...
The wind grew stronger. The cloth rose and fell, silently sliding downward.
... ... ...
The rhythmic gusts continued in the corner of the agency.
For a few minutes, perhaps longer. With a final gust, the white cloth slipped completely off the painting, revealing the image of a slightly breathless, middle-aged man.
Dracula had no time to rejoice before his expression froze. He saw that, just outside the painting, the emotionless face of a sculpture was staring intently at him.
What the devil was wrong with this man... Why did he have all sorts of cursed things in his house?!
Unable to speak, Dracula stared at the sculpture in despair and silently closed his eyes.
As a former resident of the art gallery, Dracula was, of course, well aware of the peculiarities of his "colleague."
An elegant but colorless hand picked up the fallen cloth and draped it over the painting once more.
Silence returned to the detective agency.
This time, there were no strange gusts of wind.
...
5:30 a.m.
At a time when the sky would normally be starting to lighten, it was still dark today.
Thick clouds blanketed the sky. The sound of rain drifted into the agency.
Lu Li, whose internal clock was already set, woke up at his usual time without Anna's call. He lay still, listening to the sounds coming from the neighboring houses.
"What's this, you're awake already?" Anna, who had emerged silently from the bedroom, saw Lu Li's open eyes. Muttering something to herself, she drew back the curtains. "What a heavy rain... Is this an Anomaly rain? It looks like we won't be able to go out today."
Anna said, rubbing her eyes, then headed to the kitchen to make Lu Li breakfast.
Everything had been prepared the previous evening; it just needed to be reheated.
Anomaly rain...
Lu Li glanced out the window at the dark sky. The deep gray of the clouds was oppressive.
There were already people on the street. Did they not know the dangers of an Anomaly rain? Or was there something else to it?
Lu Li rose from the sofa, washed his face, and returned to his desk. He picked up the telephone and called Tesla.
"Lu Li? Has something happened?"
Tesla's smooth voice came quickly through the line.
Lu Li asked him about the specific effects of the Anomaly rain.
Tesla considered for a moment before replying, "Of the three calamities, the Anomaly rain has the least impact. It can only transform inanimate objects, not living things. If you get caught in it, the worst that will happen is you'll catch a cold, so don't worry. You only need to be wary of the anomalies born from the rain."
"I recall you're in urgent need of money. After every Anomaly rain, special assignments are posted in each district, inviting all local Investigators to eliminate the new anomalies. The headquarters then rewards them with contribution points. If you're interested, you can summon a messenger; it will record all your activities."
"Understood."
After hanging up, Lu Li returned to the dining table.
Breakfast was ready. After waiting a moment, Anna asked cautiously, "So we can't go out today?"
"We can, just not to the Elm Grove," Lu Li replied.
"Oh." Anna nodded, understanding his decision.
The visibility outside was too poor, and the grove was a long walk through the woods. They could wander around all day and find nothing.
"But what do you mean, 'we can go out'?"
Lu Li told her about the phone call. Anna's eyes lit up. "I want to go too!"
She had been waiting for a chance to show off her abilities and protect Lu Li.
"Alright."
Lu Li set down his spoon, picked up his wooden bowl, and took a sip of the meat broth.
Anna asked excitedly, "When are we leaving?"
"We'll wait for the Trader or the Black Crow," Lu Li answered.
The Trader and the messenger usually arrived sometime after dawn.
After breakfast, Lu Li waited in the agency for a while. Perhaps the inspection wasn't over, or maybe the heavy rain had slowed the messenger's flight, but a knock came at the door before a tap came at the window.
Water dripped from wet clothes, and a small puddle formed on the floor around a pair of boots.
"Here to make a trade?" a voice asked from beneath a damp scarf, getting straight to the point.
Lu Li nodded and asked the price of the Deep Sea Stone.
"899 contribution points."
The equivalent of 8,990 shillings.
In just three days, the price of the Deep Sea Stone had risen by 110 shillings.
And this time, Lu Li didn't get a discount.
Lu Li nodded, picked up the white-cloth-covered painting by the door, and offered it to the Trader.
"Do you accept living anomalies?"