The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 442: Farewell to the Detective Agency

Leaving the noisy gates of the estate, the carriage rolled along the quiet road beside Agate Lake.

This was not the way home. Before returning to the detective agency, Lu Li wanted to visit Tesla.

However, at the gates of Tesla's house, he was met with closed doors and dark windows. A guard informed Lu Li that Tesla had left with his family and servants early that morning.

Lu Li suspected where Tesla had gone—to the shelter.

But Tesla shouldn't have been in such a hurry.

Perhaps something had happened before morning that Lu Li didn't know about?

In any case, Tesla's sudden departure was a worrying sign, and Lu Li needed to act quickly.

Wasting no more time, he steered the carriage straight for the detective agency.

While they were away, Aunt Mary had lit the fireplace. Three ship tickets, already delivered by the postman, lay on the table.

“I’ve bought groceries, everything will be ready soon,” the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and Aunt Mary, wearing an apron, peeked out, glancing at the table.Besides the tickets, a large black crow sat on the table, and next to it lay a parcel.

“I’ll help,” Anna said, emerging from the In-Between.

She knew Lu Li hadn't eaten anything at Aileen's farewell dinner and decided to take the opportunity to learn how to cook from Aunt Mary.

“Contact Daisy first,” Lu Li said, walking over to the crow.

The telephone line in Belfast was already working.

Anna dialed the number. Lu Li removed a note from the crow's leg. It detailed his actions and reward for the Tenebrae incident, as well as a new title.

“The One Who Tolls the Funerary Bell of the Evil God.”

The title had no practical significance; it was akin to a noble title bestowed by the royal family, such as “Rose of the Mountain Peaks, Viscountess Luna” or “Star of the Violet, Count Roland.”

Aileen also had such a title: “Queen of Belfast Gold,” which meant “the wealthiest person in Belfast.”

This title would now accompany Lu Li. Whenever he appeared at an exorcist gathering or his name was mentioned in a formal setting, he would be introduced as: “The One Who Tolls the Funerary Bell of the Evil God, Senior Investigator Lu Li.”

Additionally, his weekly salary had increased from 700 to 1400 shillings.

Quickly scanning the description of events, he paused on the last line.

“The reward for your outstanding service and the item you require have been delivered with the crow.”

Lu Li didn't hurry to unwrap the parcel. He opened a paper bag on the table, tore off a piece of still-warm white bread, and placed it before the crow. Only then did he unfold the waterproof paper.

Inside the box lay a worn holster and a badge with a black crow.

The holster was heavily worn, as if taken from a police officer with several decades of service. Strange, non-human scratches were visible on it, forming a bizarre symbol.

As soon as Lu Li took it in his hands, a sense of calm washed over him, and the dark shadows outside the window, which resembled spreading filth, paled slightly.

Only such a holster could contain the three fully bloomed roses of “The Atonement.”

Lu Li retrieved the suitcase from the corner of the bedroom. To the accelerating tick of the Mind Level counter, he opened the suitcase and quickly placed “The Atonement” into the holster.

The moment he touched the pistol, the counter clicked with frightening frequency, but as soon as the weapon was in the holster, the sound slowed again.

This time, however, the counter’s ticking didn't stop completely, and it had nothing to do with “The Atonement”...

Anna, who had been watching, lowered her eyes, put down the telephone receiver, and said quietly to Lu Li, “No one is answering at the Academy, nor at her home.”

“Where does she live?”

Anna shook her head. “I don't know, but we don't need to look for her. I think she can take care of herself.”

Lu Li looked intently at Anna, nodded, and shifted his gaze to the last item in the box: a new investigator badge.

Lu Li took out his own badge. The black crow on the new badge already had two eyes, and unlike the bronze one-eyed crow, both eyes on the new badge were silver.

The color of the eyes indicated Lu Li’s status as a Senior Investigator, while their number signified his promotion from exorcist to spirit exterminator.

The third empty eye socket symbolized the highest rank—demon hunter.

Lu Li was holding both badges when the crow, which had been pecking at breadcrumbs, suddenly let out a loud, un-crow-like cry, snatched the old badge, and swallowed it.

...

Anna discreetly withdrew her protection from Lu Li.

Lu Li assumed this was some method for returning the badges. He put away the new badge, raised his arm, and the crow, with a flap of its wings, landed on it. Lu Li carried it out of the house.

Walking back down the hallway, Lu Li suddenly noticed that the handmade teddy bear was no longer by the door.

Perhaps a child who had forgotten it earlier had come back for it.

Lu Li opened the door. The thought had barely crossed his mind when a timid voice came from the other end of the hall.

“Mister Lu Li.”

A little boy was standing by the door of one of the rooms, clutching the teddy bear that had previously been by the door.

Lu Li remembered the boy. He was the son of the woman who had asked him for canned food the day before their trip to Tenebrae.

The boy approached Lu Li, held up the teddy bear, and hid his face behind it.

“My sister asked me to give this to you.”

Lu Li didn’t take the toy. “Has her illness passed?”

There was a pause. The boy lowered his hands, revealing reddened eyes. He sniffled and said, “My sister... she’s gone to another place...”

“Thank her for the gift.”

Lu Li took the teddy bear.

The boy didn't reply. He turned and ran back to his room. There was a soft click as the door closed.

Lu Li looked at the teddy bear’s button eyes and returned to the detective agency.

Anna, who had heard the entire conversation, remained silent, just watching Lu Li quietly.

The food was nearly ready. Lu Li quickly packed his things into the suitcase, placing the handmade teddy bear inside as well.

Just as he latched the suitcase shut, there was a knock at the detective agency’s door.

Opening the door, Lu Li saw JoJo and Frank with backpacks and suitcases.

Lu Li asked JoJo why she had come, though he already had an inkling.

“I’ve made up my mind. I’m going with you to the Lennon Archipelago!” JoJo declared with a radiant smile, seemingly having already recovered from Oliver's death.

“Me too!” Frank added loudly, as if echoing her.

It was hard to imagine that Frank, who was several years older than JoJo, had become her “little brother.”

“Alright.”

They had arrived just in time. After packing the prepared food, Lu Li, Anna, JoJo, and Frank took their luggage, left the detective agency, and boarded the carriage.

Sitting in the carriage, Lu Li cast one last glance at the house where he had lived ever since arriving in this world.

“Let’s go.”

Turning away, Lu Li pulled on the reins, and the horse, with a clatter of hooves, carried them away from Sailor Street.