The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 347: The Death of Rola

The black mass on the plate bore not the slightest resemblance to food.

Rola's hesitation made the narrative stall. To correct the story, the Shadow Puppeteer appeared. Black fog swirled beneath the ceiling, from which writhing claws descended.

The counter clicked faster, and a low whisper echoed in their ears.

A trembling, pale hand reached for the cake, took it, and slowly brought it to his mouth—as slowly as the claws were descending.

Despair was etched on Rola's face. With trembling lips, he cast a pleading glance at the others.

The Baroness feigned composure, but anxiety and compassion lurked in the depths of her narrow eyes. Vincent watched him with pity, while Petra frowned, searching for a way to save him.

Rola's final gaze fell upon the calm Lu Li. It seemed nothing could stir any emotion in the man with the demonically bright hair and eyes.

The claws were drawing near. Rola took a bite of the "cake." It was cold, tasteless—nothing like food was supposed to be.

The claws, trailing black threads from the fog, began to retreat.

At that moment, a calm voice spoke: "You're still not over your dizziness. Why force yourself to eat?"Rola instantly seized the lifeline Lu Li had thrown him. "Not yet..." he stammered, and then he vomited.

He doubled over and stuck his fingers down his throat, forcing himself to vomit, even though he hadn't chewed or swallowed the "cake."

Black crumbs of the "cake," along with the remains of his breakfast, spewed from his mouth onto the hallway carpet.

The ancient voice, which had fallen silent, spoke once more.

["You're still not over your dizziness. Why are you eating?" asked the servant, Lu Li. "Not yet," Rola replied, taking a large bite. The taste of the cake filled his mouth, but Rola had to spit it out. He didn't want to feel sick all day again.]

["How disgusting... Share it amongst yourselves," said the maid, Aileen, in disgust, tossing the plate to the servant Lu Li before returning to the bedroom.]

"How disgusting... Share it amongst yourselves," the Baroness repeated, suppressing a wave of nausea from the smell of stomach acid and vomit. She quickly delivered her line and fled into the bedroom.

Rola raised his head. His tear-filled eyes looked at Lu Li with gratitude. He wanted to say something, but another spasm in his stomach brought up more vomit.

The butler called over a maid who was watching from a distance to clean up the mess, and followed the Baroness into the bedroom.

["What happened?" Sara asked, hearing the commotion outside the door. The maid, Aileen, disgustedly told her that Rola had thrown up. "Was he the only one who ate it...?" Sara whispered. The powder she had made from the old book's recipe had already taken effect. But the death of only one person was not part of her plan... Sara looked up and said to Aileen, "Aileen, help me move the things from the treehouse." "What do you want to move, miss?" Aileen asked. "...The books. Bring the books from the shelves."]

[The maid, Aileen, nodded in confusion. As she was about to leave, Sara called out to her, "Wait. Don't let Rola come. He's still sick."]

["You are so kind to the servants, miss," Aileen smiled sincerely.]

"You are so kind to the servants..." the Baroness uttered, not believing her own words. Spoken aloud, the phrase took on a cruel, ironic meaning.

Rola, who had just overcome his nausea and straightened up, froze.

The Baroness emerged from the bedroom and, avoiding Rola's gaze, relayed "Sara's" words to Lu Li and the others.

Petra, still frowning, said, trying to protect Rola, "You all go. I'll... stay and look after Rola."

["You go on. I'll stay and look after Rola," said the servant Petra, looking at Rola with concern. The maid, Aileen, retorted angrily, "The miss is very worried. What's more important, her books or a sick servant? Now get to work."]

["Do you really think that?" the servant Petra fumed, outraged by her attitude. "Rola has lived in this manor for five years, just like us." "But we are servants! We must obey all our masters' commands!" Aileen shouted back.]

[The servants were on the verge of a quarrel. Afraid of disturbing their mistress, Rola hurried to separate them. "Calm down. See? I'm fine. Petra, go help the miss move her books. I'll just clean up here."]

["Alright, then," Petra reluctantly agreed, shooting a displeased look at Aileen, and headed for the treehouse in the garden.]

The black fog beneath the ceiling swirled once more. Under the gazes of everyone present, after a brief silence, Rola delivered his own death sentence.

"Calm down. See? I'm fine. Petra, go help the miss move her books. I'll just clean up here. After I die, go to the detective agency in Port Roadster and report my death."

The last sentence was not part of the story, a fact evidenced by the tips of claws slowly emerging from the fog.

But Rola ignored them and looked calmly at the others.

"Alright, then," Petra nodded gravely and turned to leave.

"Go, and don't look back," Vincent said quietly, walking behind the others.

Click—the door opened and closed.

"God above the mists, your faith...ful servant..." Rola began.

Then came the sound of a struggle, followed by sudden silence.

In the silent hallway, only the sounds of wind, thunder, and rain remained.

...

"We can't change what has already happened," Petra said in the garden, a safe distance from the Shadow Puppeteer.

An open umbrella shielded them from most of the rain, but the wind still drove cold droplets beneath it.

Everything the ancient voice narrated became reality. It was irreversible. They could only alter what came after, not the events themselves.

For example, when the ancient voice had ordered Petra to slit his own throat, he had been forced to obey. No one could have stopped him. Even if they had managed to interfere temporarily, the Shadow Puppeteer would have compelled him to complete the act. But afterward, Petra could try to save himself.

Perhaps that was why David had died so quickly.

David, hearing the ancient voice, had known the danger but could do nothing. He could only experience a brief moment of despair before "Sara" killed him.

The others had been powerless as well.

They reached the garden, where a black bookcase already stood in a clearing.

After collecting all the black books, Lu Li and the others returned to the manor.

[As Sara had commanded, the servants stacked the books beside the writing desk.]

They walked down the corridor and entered "Sara's" bedroom.

Rola, now transformed into a "character in the story," was gone.