The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 545: Survivors in the Estate

The pale morning finally broke, though it brought no light.

The ominous fog retreated reluctantly toward the deep waters, granting people a brief respite.

From the depths of the cave atop the cliff, cautious footsteps echoed as Lu Li, supported by Anna, emerged at the entrance. He held a suitcase, ready for a long journey. The children immediately understood that a farewell was at hand and crowded around Lu Li, unwilling to let him go.

Jimmy and his sister quickly joined them, accompanying Lu Li to Enni's tree.

Looking at the treetop, Lu Li noted that it was no different from the day before.

It was a small shame he wouldn't get to see a new bud appear before he left.

As they said their goodbyes, Jimmy and his sister remained by Enni's tree, while Anna lifted Lu Li into her arms and soared into the sky, heading over Sugard Mountain.

Anna flew as high as she could to stay out of sight of the grotesque creatures in the ruins of Belfast, while simultaneously releasing a cold, frightening aura. It was the only way to conceal Lu Li's human presence, which burned as brightly as a flame.

Remi's dreams of peace had not come to pass—the more valuable Lu Li became as "prey," the more dangerous anomalies were drawn to the hunt. The path ahead was fraught with risk.

The closer they drew to the calm, mirror-like surface of Agate Lake, the more palpable the sense of dread became. A dark, terrifying call emanated from its depths, as if something truly monstrous lurked in the watery gloom.Anna skirted the edge of Agate Lake, and soon the Joseph Estate came into view. They descended gradually, landing on the roof.

The estate itself was relatively well-preserved, though a layer of dark dust coated the buildings—a remnant of the fire that had raged through Belfast the previous day.

Lu Li glanced toward the backyard, where the clear signs of destruction left by the Shadow Puppeteer were still visible. For a fleeting, memory-hazed moment, it seemed as if a broken, withered tree stood there, its form reminiscent of a lovers' embrace.

Aileen had not restored the basement—perhaps in memory of the past, or perhaps because she had already planned to leave for the shelter.

Upon entering, Lu Li noted that the corridors with their red woolen carpets still looked luxurious, but now they were filled only with emptiness and a hollow echo.

They first made their way to Aileen's bedroom, and it wasn't long before they found a vacant wheelchair near the writing desk by the balcony.

It was slightly smaller than standard models but was sturdy and comfortable. Anna gently helped Lu Li into the chair, then opened the wardrobe, retrieved a blanket with the faint scent of pine, and carefully draped it over his legs. Thanks to her long battle with the Shadow Puppeteer, she knew the location of every item in the room.

Lu Li scanned his surroundings. Aileen's bedroom remained untouched, as if someone still lived there.

The shelter wouldn't have allowed Aileen to move the entire estate, and she herself wouldn't have bothered with useless items. She had taken what mattered most—like the painting that once hung on the wall, leaving behind only a blank space on the wallpaper.

Lu Li thought of the small library in the estate. All the books had surely been left behind, now ownerless treasures.

A few books wouldn't go amiss in the shelter, to help brighten the monotony and boredom of life there.

Anna carefully rolled the wheelchair down the stairs. As they approached the library, they heard voices from behind the door.

It turned out that survivors had taken up residence in the estate—or more specifically, in the library.

Their faces were smudged with dust, but they were dressed in brand-new dresses and tuxedos, as if they had just pulled them from a wardrobe. They huddled near the fireplace, over which a kettle steamed. Someone had brewed coffee, and the sound of quiet conversation filled the air. Books and torn pages were scattered about, some of them having been used as kindling for the fire.

The appearance of Lu Li in his wheelchair seemed to shatter the cozy atmosphere. Everyone stared at him, so stunned they didn't even notice the transparent, ghostly girl pushing the chair.

"I'm an exorcist, and this is my assistant," Lu Li introduced himself calmly, immediately helping the survivors manage the fear that had gripped them.

It worked. When the frightened survivors finally realized Anna was a ghost, they simply held their breath and pulled their children behind them, but they didn't panic.

"Sir... is... is this... your estate?" a young man asked hesitantly, his voice thick with anxiety. He looked particularly out of place in his dirt-stained tuxedo.

"No. The true owner left a long time ago, and I'm sure she wouldn't mind you staying here," Lu Li said, his gaze sweeping over the pile of books but adding nothing more. "We just came to get something."

"Of... of course. Please extend... our gratitude... to Baroness Joseph..." the young man stammered, flustered. He was clearly uncomfortable, not only with the awkwardness of squatting in a stranger's home but also with the tuxedo that seemed to be squeezing the air from his lungs.

"Why didn't you go over the mountain to the shelter?" Lu Li asked, surveying the survivors. They were clearly divided into three groups: two families and a young couple.

"We didn't know what was happening outside..." the young man replied, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. "Besides, here... it's..."

He didn't finish, but Lu Li understood completely.

Not everyone had the strength to leave a safe and comfortable place for a new, albeit potentially more secure, life—especially when danger was everywhere and there were no guarantees.

"Do you have food?" Lu Li asked.

Empty cans and bottles lay scattered around. It was clear these people had been sheltering in the estate for quite some time.

"There are supplies and canned goods in the basement—enough to last us another few months. If you need some, I can go..."

"No, no, a few books are all we need. We'll be leaving shortly," Lu Li said, turning to Anna. "Find some books on geography, history, and culture—and pick out any others you like."

"How many should I take?"

If she were to take them now, Anna could easily carry the entire library, but it was hardly worth overburdening themselves for the journey.

"We'll come back for them later when we return. For now, just take a few so they're not in the way."

"Alright."

Anna headed toward the shelves, and Lu Li turned back to the survivors.

"We're heading toward the Main Continent, passing through Khimfast. If you want to leave, we can take you with us."

The survivors hesitated. The young man was about to agree, but his companion gave his sleeve a gentle, almost imperceptible tug.

His courage vanished instantly. He lowered his gaze and said quietly, "I'm sorry..."

Behind the estate, just a short walk away, was Agate Lake. A little risk was all it took to fetch clean water, and the basement still held stores of food and even wine.

If one could momentarily forget that the world was ending, life here was perhaps even better than it had been before the fall.

While Anna gathered the books, Lu Li asked the survivors about the events of that night, but they only remembered fleeing—the fire, the screams, and then the sudden silence that followed.

He shared some knowledge with them, focusing mainly on the rituals of evil spirits.

Of all the anomalies they might yet face, evil spirits were the most likely threat—they could get in anywhere.

In the end, Anna selected more than twenty books. They could be collected later at the cliff's peak and then taken to the shelter.

After a brief farewell, they left the estate.

"Riding through the sky in a wheelchair is just too strange," Anna remarked, and without giving him a choice, she once again lifted Lu Li into her arms, grabbing the suitcase and the wheelchair as she flew to the other side of Sugard Mountain.