novelraw Chapter 436: The Farewell
Chapter 436: The Farewell
Humanity could not resist the coming destruction, any more than ants in a garden could withstand an approaching storm.
In the early days of the industrial age, when medicine was still in its infancy, even a common illness or injury could have been a death sentence for Lu Li.
“Will you come back?”
Despite the sadness of their imminent parting, a flicker of hope remained in Remi’s eyes.
She didn’t consider following Lu Li with her brother. He had already done far too much for them, and besides, how could a monster board a great ship?
“Perhaps.”
Lu Li opened the drawer of the wooden desk and took out a sheepskin map wrapped in cloth. He didn't have to worry about it being eaten by insects, so he had only taken care to protect it from moisture.
In the face of the plant calamity, the first to suffer were not humans, but insects.
Ordinarily, in the hot and humid Belfast Julys, one would want to strip down to nothing, but the biting insects lurking in the grass always made that impossible.
Now, however, Belfast was so cold that the coast felt like it was about to freeze over, and the pesky insects had vanished without a trace.Most ordinary people saw nothing wrong with this, just as they saw no problem with the trees ceasing to grow—with the exception of the farmers.
Lu Li unfolded the map and handed it to Remi.
“As long as you don’t harm the elms, the forest is mostly safe. Except for Quiet Hill.”
Remi took the map as Lu Li continued, “I haven’t had time to explore it, so be careful there, just in case.”
Remi put the map away and looked at Lu Li with a serious expression. “We’ll build a cabin near the cave. We’ll keep the shelter safe and wait for your return.”
The trials they had endured did not seem to have diminished the siblings’ gratitude toward Lu Li.
Lu Li said nothing in response. When Remi asked about his Mind Level, he paused for a moment before replying, “Not good.”
Lu Li explained his condition.
“Have you tried the method I described in my letter?”
“The price is too high,” Lu Li answered.
Among the sailors of Port Roadster, there was a saying: a man who falls overboard is half drowned, half dead from thirst.
The sailors used this saying to laugh at the mainlanders who thought seawater could be drunk like any other water.
The method Remi had suggested was no different from drinking seawater—Lu Li could not afford the enormous price he would have to pay for consuming anomalies.
After all, he was only human.
But with the gradual decline of his Mind Level, Lu Li would eventually be forced to... start consuming anomalies to cope with the consequences.
In any case, it couldn’t get any worse.
“I’ll look for edible anomalies nearby,” Lu Li said, adding the option to his list of possible solutions.
He opened the cellar and showed the siblings that there was enough food to sustain Jimmy for some time, and enough tools to build a small cabin.
As for how to get wood... Remi and Jimmy, who knew the Elm Forest, understood how to avoid its dangers.
As ten o’clock approached, Lu Li, unwilling to delay any longer, stepped out of the cave. Remi and Jimmy followed him.
Lu Li turned to Anna and said, “Say goodbye to Enni.”
Anna nodded silently and floated toward the lone, thin, withered elm tree.
“That’s Anna’s sister, the future mistress of the Elm Forest,” Lu Li told the siblings.
“We’ll take care of her,” Remi promised, committing it to memory.
Under the drizzling rain, Anna, whose translucent form seemed blurred, whispered something quietly, then picked up a small stone and carved a mark on Enni’s trunk, level with her own height.
After the goodbyes were said, Lu Li took the wagon—which the siblings had asked him to return to the rental agency—and, amid Remi and Jimmy’s farewells and the unseen emotions of the forest bidding him farewell, departed from the clifftop.
...
“Here’s your deposit, 80 shillings. Thank you, sir.”
After returning the rented wagon, Lu Li made his way to the Snow Quarter on the coast.
As noon approached, Lu Li’s wagon reached the Investigators’ base.
A din rose from Port Roadster, the continuous blare of ship horns creating the illusion that the port had returned to its former glory.
The Snow Quarter was also packed. People waiting to board ships crowded the bars on the waterfront street, spilled onto the beach, and pressed against the railings.
Anna remained in the wagon while Lu Li entered the repair shop alone and descended into the basement.
But Tesla wasn’t there. Not only him, but the other three leaders of the Belfast branch were also absent.
It seemed he wouldn’t be able to learn the secrets of “the door” or Richard’s whereabouts before he left.
The nominal owner of the Friendship and Love Repair Shop, an Alliance employee who did in fact bear the name Andreis, took advantage of the lack of customers to offer to contact Tesla for Lu Li if it was urgent.
Lu Li glanced at the time—it was only a few dozen minutes until noon—and, declining the offer, returned to the wagon.
Hooves clopped as the wagon set off toward the top of the hill.
Lu Li sat inside the carriage while Anna drove the horses. As time passed, the jostling grew more intense. Pulled from his thoughts, Lu Li drew back the curtain and peered outside.
Simple, dilapidated wooden houses stretched into the distance, and the broken bluestone pavement presented a serious challenge for any drunkard.
By the time Lu Li realized where they were, they had already ventured deep into the slums.
Anna had hoped this stretch of the journey would end quickly—the rough ride was causing Lu Li discomfort. But, as if on cue, two figures suddenly appeared before the wagon, blocking its path.
“We’ve been stopped by two strange fellows,” Anna’s voice echoed in Lu Li’s mind.
Lu Li stepped out of the carriage and looked at two young men in work overalls with straps, clutching wooden clubs in their hands.
“Sir, could you spare a little money?” one of them, who had a simple face, asked politely, only to be immediately shoved aside by the other, a young man with brown hair. “Shut up, you dolt! We’re here to—"
“How much do you need?” Lu Li asked calmly, looking at them.
“We just need...”
The simple-faced young man didn’t get to finish before the brown-haired one cut him off, putting on a ferocious expression.
“Everything! Give us all your shillings!”
As soon as he spoke, both young men felt an icy chill wash over them.
They were lightly dressed and began to shiver involuntarily.
“That’s impossible. I will give you 20 shillings.”
There were no residents or passersby around the wagon who might witness this strange robbery.
“This is all your fault, you idiot!”
Mike shot his accomplice a furious glare, then swung his club for show, making the air whistle to intimidate Lu Li. “You don’t seem to get it,” he said loudly. “We’re robbing you, not haggling like some shopkeeper!”
“I am an investigator,” Lu Li stated. Noticing the confusion in the young men’s eyes, he added, “You can think of me as an exorcist.”
“Are you a cop?” Mike asked suspiciously.
“No.”
“Then that doesn’t count!”
“But I protect people from anomalies.”
Vigil leaned toward Mike and whispered, “He’s a good man. Maybe we shouldn’t do this...”
Mike shoved his unhelpfully conscientious friend with his shoulder. He wanted to say something more, but couldn’t, and finally relented. “Fine, 20 shillings it is...”