The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 448: News from Maple Town

The Mother of the Swamp watched the departing carriage until it vanished beyond the edge of the swamp.

The road Lu Li traveled didn't grow any busier once he reached the main continent. The blockade resulting from the Tenebrae incident was enforced in both directions, meaning he would have to cover some distance before reaching the next town and seeing any signs of human life again.

"The map is in the brown suitcase," Lu Li told Anna.

Anna slipped back into the carriage, opened the suitcase, and retrieved several maps. Finding the one for the main continent, she handed it to Lu Li.

Lu Li unfolded the map, which smelled faintly of pine needles. Comparing it with the position of the Bloody Tentacles that had descended beyond the mountains, he mused, "If the tentacles aren't far, they must be either over the Coastal Town or somewhere along the road from Lilmur to Lioncity."

His finger traced a path between the two points on the map, one roughly 80 kilometers from the swamp road, the other about 130.

The Coastal Town was situated right at the edge of the mountains; by following the road around them, they could reach it.

Of course, there was a chance the Bloody Tentacles had come down directly in the mountains, but even Lu Li wouldn't risk venturing deep into the wilderness, far from any settlement. The master of the tentacles would have no reason to do that... unless they weren't human.

Regardless, once they reached the Coastal Town, the true location of the Bloody Tentacles would become clear.

"Maple Town is about twenty kilometers ahead. We could stop there to rest."Anna's ghostly finger pointed to the edge of the map, directly in their path.

"No need to rest. We'll buy supplies and head straight for the Coastal Town."

Lu Li didn't want to waste any time. If possible, he still preferred to make his way to the Lennon Archipelago.

Having memorized the route, Lu Li folded the map. Anna took it and tucked it back into the suitcase with the others.

The road was marked on the map as Ross's County Road, named after the Count Ross who had built it.

The Fallen Leaves Mountains shielded them from the sea wind. Once the carriage was a few kilometers from the swamp, the salty breeze so characteristic of the Allen Peninsula vanished from the air.

The drizzle that had persisted along the swamp road also ceased, as if the mountains themselves had barred its way.

Anna, having no sense of smell, didn't notice the change in the air, but she shared Lu Li's sentiment—this scene was strikingly similar to her daydreams.

Just the two of them, Lu Li and Anna, traveling by carriage across a vast continent, enjoying each other's company.

The first part of her dream had come true perfectly, but instead of a warm, gentle breeze filled with the fragrance of growing things, they were surrounded by nothing but a dreary, lifeless forest.

The Fallen Leaves Mountains looked like a place from a fairy tale, home to a wicked witch and teeming with snakes and wild beasts. But the reality was far crueler—the forest held neither witch nor dangerous animal.

In the lifeless mountains, the only sound was the occasional rustle of leaves stirred by the wind.

After a long and wearying journey, the first town they had encountered since the swamp finally appeared ahead: Maple Town.

Its purpose was the same as Tenebrae's, and it had been built around the same time. As the carriage drew near, Lu Li saw the same sorrow and apprehension on the faces of the passersby that he had seen on the residents of Tenebrae.

A squad of knights stood guard at the town's entrance. Their horses were old, their armor was tarnished, and the blades of their swords and spears were coated in dust. Only the resolute expressions on the young knights' faces and the Spirit Guns at their hips suggested they were still ready for a fight.

They quickly spotted the carriage arriving from the direction of the swamp road and watched it approach with surprise. It likely puzzled them to see someone traveling toward the main continent when everyone else was trying to flee to the Lennon Archipelago.

"What are our colleagues thinking, letting civilians through the swamp road?" the captain of the knights muttered before heading toward the carriage with his men.

The Investigator Badge that Lu Li produced instantly dispelled the captain's displeasure. He straightened his posture, tucked his helmet under one arm, and struck his chest with his right fist. "Greetings, esteemed exorcist!" he declared.

The attitude toward exorcists differed somewhat between the Allen Peninsula and the main continent.

The more commercialized Allen Peninsula, lacking a rich culture and history of its own, tended to measure a person's worth by their wealth.

The main continent, by contrast, was more conservative and traditional. Its people respected exorcists as the ancient, mysterious defenders of humanity who had protected them for centuries. Most of them, at least.

However, with the rise of industry and the proliferation of anomalies, exorcists were gradually losing their aura of mystery—though not nearly as quickly as on the Allen Peninsula.

Hidden in the In-Between, Anna smiled. She was glad to see Lu Li treated with such respect.

Lu Li glanced from the captain to the Spirit Guns on the belts of the knights standing behind him.

"No Night's Watch here?"

The captain answered respectfully, "Sir, due to manpower shortages, only knights maintain order in remote and sparsely populated towns like this. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"We're just passing through. We need to buy some food before we head on to the Coastal Town."

The captain didn't ask who Lu Li meant by "we," perhaps assuming it was a slip of the tongue. He simply summoned one of his knights and ordered, "Go and buy the finest food in town for our esteemed guest."

Then he turned back to Lu Li politely. "If you don't know the way, we can provide an escort to the Coastal Town."

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," Lu Li replied. The captain insisted on helping nonetheless, personally escorting Lu Li to the best restaurant in Maple Town.

The town's streets were sparsely populated, and some residents were leaving with their belongings packed. The captain explained that it wasn't just the people of Maple Town; for the past several days, residents all over the region had been abandoning their homes.

Those without money were heading for larger cities. Those with some savings were making for the capital, Fastcity, or for what was considered the safest place in the world: the Lennon Archipelago.

The captain informed Lu Li that nearly half of Maple Town's population had already departed. As the situation continued to deteriorate, he expected more would follow, until the town was completely deserted and there was no longer any need for a garrison.

Noticing Lu Li's gaze on his Spirit Gun, the captain patted the holster. "These were issued to the knights by the United Exorcist Organization," he explained. "They help us fight off lesser ghosts and monsters."

Then, with a mix of curiosity and hope, he asked, "And what about your weapon?"

"The same as yours," Lu Li answered, lifting the edge of his coat to reveal the holster.

"How many roses have bloomed on its barrel? One? Two?"

"All of them."

Genuine astonishment spread across the captain's face, and his already respectful demeanor deepened into something closer to reverence.

After seeing Lu Li off with his newly purchased supplies, the captain watched the carriage recede into the distance, leaving Maple Town behind.

"I like it here," Anna said softly, materializing beside Lu Li.

Lu Li said nothing. He simply took the reins and steered the horse toward their destination: the Coastal Town.