The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 341: Unfamiliar Paths

Lu Li slept fitfully that night.

For one thing, the shouts of his neighbors had been echoing from outside the detective agency since midnight. One moment, a cry went up about a leaking roof; the next, someone was yelling about water flooding the corridor.

The landlord’s voice echoed from the corridor, a constant presence throughout the night.

Thanks to Lu Li's unique standing, the portly landlord treated him with special consideration. For instance, though the detective agency was damp, its roof held firm, and no one asked him to help with the repairs.

He was an honored guest on this "ship"—this leaky, storm-battered apartment building.

5:30 AM.

As Lu Li had asked, Anna woke him, then drifted over to the window to resume her watch over the misty, rain-swept street and the passersby below.

The torrential rain fell in sheets, shrouding everything in a gray haze through which the outlines of objects were barely visible.

The gloomy street and the pedestrians hurrying through the downpour reminded her of a scene from the novel she was currently reading.

The shouting and stomping outside the door hadn't ceased. Lu Li stepped into the hallway. Sandbags had been stacked against his agency's door, a makeshift barrier against the water seeping into the room. The soaked floorboards, slick as waxed wood, reflected the light of an oil lamp on the wall. Across the hall, an array of buckets and basins stood collecting rainwater.One of the tenants was mopping water from the floor. Seeing Lu Li, he greeted him respectfully, "Good morning, Mr. Lu Li. Did you rest well?"

Lu Li nodded. "Thank you for the help."

The tenant waved a hand dismissively. "It's our duty. You protect us from ghosts."

The residents had seen the aristocratic carriages coming and going over the past few days. They believed Lu Li was a powerful exorcist in the service of the nobility, and that by living here, he was offering them his protection free of charge.

Although Lu Li had never actually done anything for them.

After getting some hot water from the kitchen, Lu Li returned to the detective agency, set down the kettle, and picked up the receiver to call the telephone exchange and ask if there were any messages for him.

Receiving a negative reply, Lu Li went back into the hallway, stood under the awning, and opened the small wooden box of rotten meat.

The sandbags in front of the door, stacked ankle-high, protected the room from the seeping water and splashes.

Even in such foul weather, the Black Crows worked without fail. A few minutes later, a black shadow descended from the sky and landed on Lu Li's outstretched arm.

A deafening clap of thunder echoed, its rumble gradually fading into the fog.

"Send a Trader."

Lu Li's calm face was reflected in the crow's black eyes. The bird shook the raindrops from its feathers, plucked a piece of meat from the box, and, spreading its wings, launched itself back into the rain.

Returning to the detective agency, Lu Li accepted a few more greetings from his neighbors. As he waited for the Trader, Anna asked, "Don't you want to go to a shelter?"

[Ksshh... Residents, be... ksshh... Society... ksshh... is now broadcasting... ]

Lu Li, who was tuning the radio, looked up. "Why do you ask?"

"The people here are... nice to you," Anna said.

Lu Li went back to tuning the radio. "Don't court trouble, and don't tread unfamiliar paths."

Anna nodded in understanding.

Just before 5:50, heavy footsteps sounded in the corridor, stopping at his door.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock came at the door.

Anna opened the door and returned to Lu Li's side.

The Trader was a stranger again. Most of his face was hidden beneath a reddish-brown scarf, leaving only his eyes visible in the shadows.

Lu Li got straight to the point. "How much for a Deep Sea Stone?"

"13,777 shillings."

The price had nearly doubled. Fortunately, with the fifty-thousand-shilling reward he'd received, Lu Li could afford it.

"Can you round it down?" Lu Li asked, knowing it was pointless.

"13,775 shillings," the Trader replied.

"Four Deep Sea Stones." Lu Li placed a leather pouch of money before the Trader and then added his own savings of 5,200 shillings. "Deliver the stones to 120 Elm Street. The key is under the doormat."

Lu Li picked up the two small boxes from the table and watched the Trader depart with his life savings before turning back into the detective agency.

Lu Li could now barely afford to eat—fortunately, for the time being, he had a source of free meals.

Having finished his business at the agency, Lu Li climbed into the carriage that had been waiting for him outside for nearly fifteen minutes and set off for the baroness’s estate.

...

"She didn't wake up early; she's still sleeping," the butler informed Lu Li as he breakfasted with the baroness. "The story is moving into its main act. If nothing goes wrong, the real danger begins now. Be careful."

"Understood."

After breakfast, they changed their clothes and gathered in Sara’s bedroom around seven in the morning.

The five of them exchanged a few words and then waited for the Ancient Voice to appear.

Outside the window, the downpour raged, threatening to destroy everything in its path. The sky was only a fraction brighter than when Lu Li had woken up. The rare flashes of lightning offered no sense of security.

At 7:10, right on schedule, the Ancient Voice spoke.

[Chapter Eight: The Ritual of Resurrection]

[Sara awoke in her soft bed, her whole body aching. She was still wearing yesterday’s torn dress. "My lady, did you sleep poorly?" asked the maid, Eileen. "Your eyes are red," she added, noticing Sara's questioning gaze.]

"My lady, did you sleep poorly? Your eyes are red," the baroness repeated.

["Yes..." Sara answered evasively before asking if Fran Francis had left. "He departed early this morning with the viscount," Eileen replied, her eyes filled with unconcealed adoration. "He cares for you so much! The viscount wanted to call for you to see him off, but Fran Francis wouldn't allow it."]

["Really?" Sara lowered her gaze and muttered something under her breath. She thought of the "Book of the Dead" and decided she had to try.]

["Eileen, I'm not feeling well. Could you please tell my tutors I won't be attending today? And don't tell Father," Sara asked the maid. "You're not well? I'll call for a doctor—" "I'm fine, I just want to rest for a while... Please," Sara interrupted.]

["Very well..." Eileen replied. Despite their disagreements over Fran Francis, she was still Sara's friend and, of course, had to keep her friend's secrets.]

The baroness left the bedroom.

[Sara waited for Eileen to leave, then got out of bed, went to the door, and peeked into the corridor. She saw servants standing there as if guarding her. "What are you doing here?" Sara asked.]

"Cleaning," Lu Li answered, not giving the Shadow Puppeteer a chance to control him.

["Cleaning," the servant Lu Li replied. Sara suspected her father had ordered them to watch her, but finding no suitable pretext to get rid of them, she pretended it was a casual question and closed the door again, locking it from the inside.]