The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 282: Completion

A pair of rubber boots appeared in the quiet bedroom, a space filled only with the patter of rain.

Stepping around the bloody mess of clothing and what was left of a face, the boots came to a halt before the antique book.

The book, which had fallen to the floor, snapped shut.

A long-fingered hand lifted the antique book and retreated silently into the shadows beyond the doorway.

...

Outside in the downpour, the members of the Night's Watch saw a figure emerge from beneath the awning.

Lu Li picked up Thomas's umbrella, opened it, and walked toward the Night's Watch.

"That thing... it feels wrong," Anna whispered.

"It's over," Lu Li replied, addressing both Anna and Plis, who was watching him with a questioning gaze.

Plis and the others took a subtle step back, their eyes fixed on the open doorway behind Lu Li. "Is Thomas still in there?""Yes."

Indeed.

Plis turned to David. "David, contact the others. The source of the contagion has been secured. Tell them to prepare for retrieval. We'll wait here for another investigator."

"That won't be necessary. Just contact the team that handles the aftermath," Lu Li said suddenly.

Plis and David, who had already started to turn away, stopped and looked at Lu Li expectantly. "Did something happen?"

"He's dead," Lu Li stated bluntly. After a moment's thought, he added, "He was careless."

And unforeseen circumstances.

Thomas's actions had been bold and risky—the kind of move only someone ignorant of the supernatural would make.

Even to Lu Li, his actions had seemed more reckless than suicidal. His own warning had been born purely of caution.

Both Thomas and Lu Li had understood the same thing: Petra brought the antique book home and read it, and while the furniture had been destroyed, she herself had remained unharmed.

So Thomas had read it too, only to be killed by his own clothes, which suddenly came to life.

Thomas had become a victim of his own experience.

"The hunter often becomes the hunted."

"A real shame..." Plis said, but his voice, seemingly inured to death, held no trace of sorrow. He continued giving orders. "Just to be safe, I'll have to ask you to remain here with the source of the contagion. We'll keep our distance until the others arrive."

"Alright."

Lu Li saw nothing wrong with the precaution. Holding the antique book, he knew he had to be vigilant, especially since a senior investigator had just died because of it.

He stood under the umbrella near Petra's house, lost in thought.

Thomas's death, for instance, had been so sudden he hadn't even had time to react. Petra, by contrast, had been luckier—she survived for seven days before the anomaly awakened and consumed her.

What could account for the difference?

Lu Li knew too little about the antique book to draw any conclusions. Perhaps something else had happened to Petra during that week. Or perhaps... and the thought was rather ironic...

Petra had read the book naked.

Lu Li was inclined to believe there were other reasons.

After all, the sight of a woman in her late fifties reading a book in the nude would be a shock on par with encountering the supernatural.

A short while later, the house awakened, and the sinister call once again filled Lu Li's mind. The house seemed unaware of what had happened... although, no, it was still making that constant chewing sound.

Several more minutes passed before figures appeared through the rain.

A small squad from the Night's Watch had arrived.

The newcomers, wearing the same cloaks as Plis, stopped several meters away. Two of them stepped forward; one approached Plis, the other, Lu Li.

The man who approached Lu Li was carrying a leather case. He opened it and said, "Please place the source of the contagion inside."

A few raindrops splattered inside the case, leaving small, dark spots on the leather lining.

The case was empty.

Lu Li did as he was asked. As soon as the book was inside, the Night's Watch officer closed the case, snapped the latches shut, and returned to his comrades.

A strange chewing sound seemed to emanate from the case, only to be immediately swallowed by the drumming of the rain.

The person who had been walking toward Plis now approached Lu Li. A young, freckled face peeked out from under her hood. She held out a pocket alarm clock the size of a fist and asked him to hold out his hand.

She was about to test Lu Li for contamination.

"This might sting a little, please hold still," the young woman from the Night's Watch said. She wound the alarm clock and pressed it against Lu Li's palm.

A burning sensation pricked his skin where the device made contact. Lu Li frowned, watching as the clock's three hands spun wildly, as if it were broken.

After a few seconds, she pulled the device away. "Congratulations, Investigator Lu Li. You're clear."

The Night's Watch squad that had been keeping its distance now approached Lu Li and Plis. Their captain was a tall, heavily bearded man. The tips of his bushy mustache were dotted with water droplets, like morning dew.

The man recognized Plis and began speaking with him.

Lu Li walked over to them. "What are your plans for the house?"

"These contaminated houses will be documented and then destroyed. Don't worry," the bearded captain said, turning his gaze to Lu Li. "We'll also be checking every house and resident in this district. You're free to go."

"I'll leave it in your hands, then," Plis said with a nod, then turned to Lu Li. "Let's go."

The case was drawing to a close. His task complete, Lu Li followed Plis away from Elm Street. They passed through the police cordon and returned to the Little Thunder district.

The area was still teeming with police officers and a small Night's Watch contingent. Members of the Alliance met Lu Li and Plis and escorted them to a nearby tavern.

The establishment was serving as a temporary rest stop. It had everything they needed: hot water, food, and beds. It looked like they were settling in for a long watch.

An Alliance staffer led Lu Li to a room, informing him that hot water, food, and medical supplies were all prepared.

Considering how long he had been out in the rain, Lu Li didn't refuse the offer.

Once in the room, Lu Li stripped off his wet clothes and sank into a wooden tub. Warm water enveloped his body, chasing away the chill. Steam rose and filled the room like a thick fog.

Suddenly, something strange materialized in the air. The steam condensed in one spot, forming the hazy silhouette of a person.

"Anna?"

Lu Li fixed his gaze on the silhouette.

The steam swirled, and the indistinct figure hastily vanished.

Lu Li averted his gaze.

But just then, a translucent figure appeared in the doorway.

"I didn't mean to come in," Anna murmured, slipping into the room and turning her back to Lu Li. "You... why did you call for me..."

Lu Li narrowed his eyes.