novelraw Chapter 424: Return to Roostown
Chapter 424: Return to Roostown
Port Andrewstown.
The locals proudly called it Port Andrewster, though it hardly deserved such a grand title.
The steamship docked in the narrow harbor, and its sole passenger stepped ashore, suitcase in hand.
“An exorcist carriage is waiting for you at the town entrance to take you to Roostown. We will continue our search for survivors along the coast,” the first mate reported respectfully, his hand over his chest.
He had seen two silhouettes on the beach merge into one as they approached, and he knew this man possessed supernatural abilities.
“I'm afraid there are no more survivors,” Lu Li replied. He didn't believe anyone else could have made it out of the Shadow Swamp alive.
The first mate straightened up and smiled. “We still have to try. What if we find someone else like you?”
“Thank you.”
Lu Li gave a nod of thanks and watched the first mate return to the deck. A long whistle blew, black smoke billowed from the smokestack, and the steamship pulled out of the harbor.
Lu Li turned and walked past the pier, which was lined with nothing but small sailboats and wooden dinghies. Four dark figures awaited him.Wrapped in black cloaks, their faces concealed by sinister bird-like masks with empty black eye slits, they were an intimidating sight.
Lu Li took out his Investigator Badge and walked toward them. The figures froze, and then one stepped forward to meet him.
“Investigator, we are an exorcist team from the United Exorcist Organization. Our task is to escort survivors to Roostown,” said a voice from beneath the mask.
“We're headed there as well.”
“We?”
“My assistant,” Lu Li replied.
He had decided there was no longer any point in hiding Anna. Having an official cover story would help avoid unnecessary questions.
Anna materialized beside him. There was a muffled gasp from beneath the mask, followed by a respectful, “Please, follow me.”
Three of the figures remained on the pier, waiting for any other possible survivors. Lu Li and Anna followed the fourth exorcist toward the edge of town.
Beneath a gray, overcast sky, the streets were deserted.
The doors of the houses lining the road were shut tight, their windows either drawn with curtains or boarded over with planks.
Smoke rising from the chimneys was the only sign that people were still inside. The residents hadn't fled their homes.
It was a troubling scene. The fact that the people hadn’t been evacuated, but were instead hiding in their homes and awaiting their fate, suggested that the United Exorcist Organization had lost control of the situation.
The edge of a floral curtain lifted, and a pair of large eyes peeked out, watching Lu Li and the masked figure with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
Lu Li met the child's gaze for a moment before walking on.
“What are the masks for?” Lu Li asked, averting his gaze.
This was the second time he had seen such masks, not counting his encounter with the first exorcist.
“They’re standard-issue protective gear from the United Exorcist Organization,” the exorcist replied. “They protect against disease and minor contamination.”
Large numbers of corpses often led to epidemics.
“Has anything changed in Tenebrae?” Lu Li asked.
“Yes. Four hours ago, the eye-topped beacon at the entrance to Tenebrae collapsed. The servants of the evil god turned on each other in a bloody slaughter. In the end, the followers of the Mother of the Swamp won. They dragged the bodies into the swamp...” The exorcist trailed off, then asked in an agitated voice, “...Was... was that your doing?!”
“You could say that.”
The exorcist bowed respectfully. “Your name will be known across the entire Allen Peninsula.”
Andrewstown was smaller than Tenebrae, and they soon reached the outskirts of the town, where a horse-drawn carriage waited by a hill. Its driver regarded them with a reserved, respectful expression.
The exorcist held out a simple first-aid kit. “There are bandages, rubbing alcohol, and wipes in here.”
“This will be plenty. Thank you,” Lu Li said, taking the kit and climbing into the carriage.
“It's nothing.”
As the masked figure watched, the carriage turned and started down the dirt road toward Roostown.
Anna set the suitcase containing the First Pistol in the far corner. Lu Li unbuttoned his shirt and began to unwind the bandages, revealing a wound on his abdomen.
The wound was caked with dried mud. Lu Li took a flask of clean water from the kit, soaked a wipe, and began to gently clean the injury. The jolting of the carriage made him brush against it several times, and he winced in pain.
“Drive more carefully,” Anna said to the driver, her brow furrowed.
“Ah... alright, miss,” the driver answered, his voice uncertain.
Once the mud was cleaned away, Lu Li inspected the wound. Fortunately, it showed no signs of infection.
He took the bottle of alcohol from Anna and was about to disinfect the wound, but her spectral hand stopped him.
“Let me.”
Anna could now touch Lu Li without any apparent issue—outwardly, at least.
After dressing the wound and trimming the excess bandage, she buttoned up his shirt.
“Get some rest. It’s still a long way to Roostown,” Anna said, putting the first-aid kit away.
“Alright.”
Lu Li took a few sips of water, leaned back against the seat, and was asleep in moments.
In the gently swaying carriage, Anna watched his profile in silence. She leaned closer, her hand rising to touch his face.
Click... click... click...
The accelerating clicks of the Contamination Detector pulled her back to reality.
Anna snatched her hand back and vanished into thin air.
...
“We're approaching Roostown,” Anna’s voice said, waking Lu Li.
He slowly opened his eyes, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and straightened up.
Opening the carriage window, Lu Li breathed in the cool air and saw the outlines of Roostown ahead.
The bustling streets of Roostown resembled a marketplace. Residents from the area around Tenebrae had been evacuated here. Hired laborers hurried to and fro, carrying belongings, while police and members of the United Exorcist Organization’s Night's Watch maintained order.
The carriage stopped at the town entrance. Someone went to announce his arrival, and soon after, Lu Li saw Tesla approaching.
“What are you doing here?” Lu Li asked.
“Come with me,” Tesla replied, casting a meaningful glance at the empty seat beside Lu Li where Anna stood. “I couldn’t very well stay away when something of this magnitude happened on the Allen Peninsula.”
The bustle in the streets helped to lift the oppressive atmosphere. Tesla led the way, asking casually, “Was resolving the Tenebrae incident your handiwork?”
“You could say that,” Lu Li replied in his usual manner. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you and the Trader everything at once.”
“Good. The Trader is arriving by train, so we’ll head straight there,” Tesla nodded.
“By train?” Lu Li repeated.
“Yes, by train.”
Tesla stopped at an intersection and pointed ahead.
At the end of the street, beside a platform, stood a steam engine, smoke billowing from its stack.
Just then, a cart rolled past, momentarily blocking Lu Li’s view. As it passed, he caught a glimpse of JoJo riding on it. She was sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees, listening to Frank. When she spotted Lu Li, her face broke into a wide smile, and she jumped to her feet to wave.