The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 284: Tesla's Worries

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Droplets echoed through the gray hall.

Murky water swirled behind the narrow windows near the ceiling. Rivulets streamed down the glass, falling into the wooden buckets below.

A bucket stood beneath each window, collecting the water. The combined drips merged into an uneven rhythm.

In a dim corner of the lounge area, Tesla leaned against the counter, bottle in hand, speaking with an Alliance employee.

"It's not that I'm particularly concerned," the Alliance employee remarked, "but don't you find the investigators' base... a little... plain?"

Tesla turned, leaning his back against the counter, and answered casually, "Even if it were furnished like a nobleman's mansion, investigators wouldn't stick around. Besides, 'a little' and 'overly' are contradictory."

"I was just trying to be diplomatic," the Alliance employee said, waving a hand as if giving up on convincing the careless investigators. He glanced past Tesla. "You have a visitor."

A figure appeared at the entrance of the tunnel, heading toward the lounge area.

"We'll leave it at that," Tesla said, recognizing the approaching man. He waved a hand dismissively and walked over to meet him, bottle still in hand. Remembering something, he called back to the Alliance employee, "Get another glass of milk."

"Milk won't help you sober up."

"It's not for me."

Lu Li took a seat at the farthest table. Tesla settled in across from him and asked nonchalantly, "Are you prepared for the rainy season?"

"Yes."

He still needed to buy a few more groceries. Later, Lu Li planned to stock up on non-perishables and canned goods—the latter would come in handy sooner or later.

The faint scent of alcohol wafting from Tesla reached Lu Li.

"Have you been drinking?"

Tesla produced a bottle from under the table, its clear liquid sloshing inside. "Just noticing? I've had this for a while."

"Before I smelled it, it could have been anything," Lu Li replied.

"The mark of a professional exorcist. You're already an excellent investigator," Tesla praised him with a smile, then sighed. "It's just... friends are becoming a rarer commodity. It's a little sad."

"Thomas?"

"Yes. Despite some of his aristocratic airs, he was a good man." Tesla lowered his hand and warned Lu Li, "I know how he died. Don't repeat his mistakes. Never let your guard down when you're facing the unknown."

"I know."

So, it was Thomas who died, not two investigators.

"So, why are you here after closing the case? Have some questions? By the way, the next person on duty is... let me think... Rachel. So for the next three weeks, bring any questions to my home."

"I came to submit a case report."

"The case at 33 Elm Street?"

"Yes."

"The evaluation department hasn't arrived yet, so you could wait... Although, now that I think about it, they're swamped because of..." Tesla trailed off, then continued, "You can just tell me. As the head of the Belfast branch, I have the authority to fill in for them temporarily."

Lu Li looked at him calmly. "I can wait."

Tesla suddenly leaned forward. His brown eyes, which had been clouded by alcohol, were suddenly clear and sharp. A cunning, hunter-like smile spread across his face. "Don't worry, I'm not drunk. This is just lemon juice with a splash of alcohol."

Lu Li remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"Someone's trying to make a move on me. I don't know who, so I decided to 'create' the right conditions for them," Tesla whispered.

With that, he leaned back in his chair, resuming his act of slight intoxication, and undid the top two buttons of his shirt. Then, turning to the Alliance employee who had brought the milk, he said, "Bring us some paper and a pen."

The Alliance employee left for a moment and returned with several fountain pens, a notepad, and an inkwell.

"Fountain pens?" Tesla looked at the items on the table, slightly surprised.

"Tristan accidentally sat on the box of all the ballpoint pens while he was weightlifting," the Alliance employee explained. "They're all broken now."

"That was last week, if I recall."

"Tristan said he'd buy a new box soon."

"Alright," Tesla shrugged and turned to Lu Li. "Many aristocrats use fountain pens, calling it a noble tradition. But when no one's watching, they secretly use convenient, practical ballpoint pens."

"A fountain pen will do just fine," Lu Li said, reaching for one.

His handwriting would just be a little worse.

"That's not for you," Tesla said, intercepting Lu Li's hand. He picked up a pen, opened the notepad, and said, "You talk, I'll write."

The Alliance employee returned to his post at the counter.

"Is that alright?" Lu Li asked.

"Of course. The Investigators organization doesn't mind sharing information on cases that don't affect one's Mind Level. I want to know why Thomas died."

Lu Li thought for a few seconds about where to begin, then started his calm account. "To earn some money, I was looking for anomalies during the strange rain. For various reasons, I found myself near Elm Street..."

He described how he had entered the cafe, discovered the problem, saved the people inside, summoned a Black Crow, contacted the Investigators, and how the Night's Watch had later arrived and cordoned off the street to find the source of the contagion.

As he spoke, Lu Li asked for his own pen and a few sheets of paper, jotting everything down. When the Trader next appeared, he could simply hand over these notes and save himself the trouble of repeating the story.

He then recounted the discovery of the source, Thomas's arrival, their joint investigation of the house at 33 Elm Street, and how Thomas had opened the Cursed Antique Book and been killed by the animated clothing.

The story didn't end there. Lu Li continued, describing the events that occurred after he left Elm Street. When he mentioned calling Petra's friend and what she had told him, Tesla's pen froze in his hand.

"So that's how he died... so senselessly."

Tesla set down his pen. Lu Li waited for the ink to dry, offering no reply to his comment.

"Well," Tesla said, changing the subject, "how about we go lay some flowers on poor Thomas's grave?"

"When?"

"The news of his death probably hasn't reached his daughter yet. Maybe in three days, maybe seven. I'll let you know."

After a brief silence, Lu Li nodded. "I'll think about it."

Tesla seemed to understand what Lu Li was thinking and said with a smile, "Don't worry, he and his daughter weren't on the best of terms, so she won't come after you."

"Let me know when you're going."

"Alright."

Lu Li downed the milk in one gulp, said his goodbyes to Tesla, and headed for the exit.

Watching Lu Li leave, Tesla, who hadn't really been drinking, suddenly called out after him, "I think I finally realize you were right."

"About what?" Lu Li turned back.

"Nothing."

Lu Li continued to watch him.

Tesla thought for a moment, then said, "Read tomorrow's Investigator Weekly. You'll understand what I mean then."