The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 554: The Beautiful Flower Rolan

"Please, come in. It's been a while since I've had any students, so things are a bit of a mess..."

Gavril York apologetically kicked a newspaper away from the door, clearing a path for the wheelchair to enter his office. He then pulled open the curtains, letting sunlight spill into the dim room.

Although he was a history professor at Shutes University, students had shown little interest in the subject since the catastrophe—especially after the order to destroy all history books had been issued a few months ago.

The new "anomalies" department was far more appealing to them.

All the old professor had left were his memories and the few scraps of knowledge that survived on loose papers scattered around his office.

Gavril York hadn't tidied up in a long time, and the investigator's visit only heightened his fluster. He hastily straightened a few things, wondering why Lu Li was here. Could it be about his self-made historical manuscripts...?

When Gavril York moved to put on water for coffee, Lu Li stopped him. "I just have a few simple questions. We'll leave right after."

"Yes, of course," the professor nodded.

He set the cup down and sat on a shabby sofa, crossing his legs. He was clearly nervous, as if he were being interrogated by the police.

From that angle, he noticed the fire agate bracelet on Lu Li's wrist, peeking out from under the sleeve resting on the wheelchair's armrest."That's..." the professor began.

Gavril York froze. It seemed he had an inkling as to why Lu Li was here and what that bracelet signified.

It seems he really does know a lot.

Lu Li weighed the situation in his mind and deliberately raised his hand, fully revealing the bracelet—a gift from the Mother of the Swamp.

"I remember!" Gavril York jumped up, his excitement palpable. He stared at the bracelet with genuine fascination. "That's Princess Rolan's bracelet! I was sure it had vanished with her... Have you found the princess?"

Princess Rolan... Was that the Mother of the Swamp's name before?

Lu Li didn't reveal the truth about the Mother of the Swamp, aware of the Main Continent's wary attitude toward anomalies. He answered briefly, explaining that he had found the piece of jewelry on the arm of a skeleton while exploring some ancient ruins on the Allen Peninsula.

"So that's how it is..." The professor sighed heavily and sank back onto the sofa. "The disappearance of Duke Aeddar's beloved daughter really was the cause of the war between the Principality of Saint Mark and the Kingdom of Ellen. It's a shame the truth came out so late... If it had been discovered sooner, perhaps..."

His voice held a mixture of excitement and relief that at least one mystery from the past had finally been solved.

"Could you tell me more about her?" Lu Li asked.

"My apologies..." The professor gave a distracted smile and apologized, remembering the purpose of Lu Li's visit.

Lu Li waved a hand, indicating that no offense was taken, and Gavril York began to recount the history of the Principality of Saint Mark and the details surrounding Princess Rolan.

However, the information described in the books didn't give Lu Li any real insight into the Mother of the Swamp's life. It mostly covered the princess's lineage, her political marriage, and her subsequent disappearance.

What was widely known, however, was the popular adoration for Rolan. According to legend, the people of the Principality of Saint Mark loved her dearly. Crowds would gather whenever the princess appeared in the streets, calling her "the most beautiful flower Rolan" in the Principality of Saint Mark.

Until that beautiful flower withered away in a dark, forgotten swamp.

"Has a portrait of her survived, at least?" Lu Li inquired.

Perhaps an image of her would help the Mother of the Swamp recover more of her memories.

"The oil portraits were lost to fires long ago, and the books were burned a few months back," the professor answered grimly, not hiding his bitterness.

He still couldn't understand why the Council of Elders had given such an order.

"But if you're very lucky, you might find a copy of 'On the Dramatic Events in the Principality of Saint Mark.' It contained an attempt to recreate Rolan's portrait based on contemporary descriptions. Though, there's no guarantee the likeness is accurate..."

Lu Li considered this.

"Did Duke Aeddar's line survive?"

"I don't recall his descendants being wiped out," Gavril York frowned, thinking. "Perhaps some of the heirs survived the war, but they would have surely lost their former glory long ago."

Now, people only find Saint Mark in history textbooks, and even then, it's always preceded by the word "former".

A couple of hundred years can erase even the most important things.

"Where should I try to learn about the descendants?" Lu Li asked for clarification.

"City hall. They keep archives on things like that—on Duke Aeddar's lineage and descendants."

"Thank you for your help."

Lu Li gave a short nod and was about to head for city hall.

Just then, there was a sharp knock at the door.

"Strange... I don't often get visitors," the professor muttered as he opened the door.

A figure in a black robe stood on the threshold. It was not an unwelcome visitor.

"An exorcist... I didn't expect to see you!" Gavril York exclaimed in surprise.

"I heard that Lu Li, the investigator, was visiting you," a man in his thirties said as he entered the office, smiling brightly. "Senior Investigator Lu Li, good afternoon. I am an exorcist from the Fule family. My name is Kig Fule."

Such an introduction meant this was the very person the owner of the Curiosity Shop had mentioned—the representative from an exorcist family.

"You know me?" Lu Li asked, surprised.

"The one who tolled the death knell for an Evil God..." Kig Fule quoted Lu Li's moniker. "Though the Allen Peninsula is far away, your deeds have already entered the ballads of the bards."

As a member of an ancestral exorcist family, Kig Fule understood the threat of an Evil God even better than an ordinary exorcist. He was past the age of youthful stubbornness—exorcists with that trait rarely live long—and so he was very respectful toward Lu Li.

Gavril York watched in astonishment, not interrupting the conversation. He was beginning to realize that Lu Li was no ordinary man.

"Do you have business with me?" Lu Li inquired.

Kig Fule understood that investigators had their quirks. Glancing at Anna and noticing nothing unusual, he said with curiosity, "I teach the basics of anomalies to the students here at Shutes University. I was hoping to invite you to give a lecture."

The small figure under the robe relaxed ever so slightly.

It seemed Kig Fule still hadn't suspected that there was anything unusual about Anna.

"I don't know how," Lu Li replied calmly.

"Just sharing what you're willing to is enough."

After thinking for a moment, Lu Li nodded. "Alright. When?"

"Whenever you'd like."

"Then let's go now."

After saying goodbye to Gavril York, Anna wheeled Lu Li's chair out, and together with Kig Fule, they headed for a lecture hall.

"What do you usually teach?" Lu Li asked.

"The most basic things: Mind Level, staying in well-lit areas, avoiding darkness and the unknown, not touching strange ancient objects—manuscripts, parchments, old books..."