The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 587: Clearing the Inn

Gemini Reid, an exorcist unaffiliated with the three major organizations, knew more than Gavril York, but his knowledge was still limited. He had spent most of his time hiding just to stay alive, not searching for other survivors.

"Beware of anomalies capable of masquerading as humans; most of them can steal our memories..." Gemini Reid's voice suddenly trailed off. A thought flickered through his mind: what if an anomaly had stolen Lu Li's memories...

Lu Li sensed his suspicion, but a doubt like that was difficult to dispel without killing the anomaly in question.

Fortunately, Lu Li could prove it, but Gavril York spoke up first. He told Gemini Reid about the time Lu Li had confronted an exorcist impersonating a member of the Fule family, adding at the end, "What's more, I saw with my own two eyes how Lu Li and his assistant dealt with two anomalies. It was like slicing through butter... er... they killed them! The things didn't even have a chance to react!"

Hearing this, Gemini Reid inclined his head in a slight, apologetic bow. "My apologies for my baseless suspicion."

"It was the right way to be," Lu Li replied.

If he didn't have the ability to see the inverted city, he would have been even more suspicious, though he wouldn't have let it show.

Gemini Reid continued his analysis of the situation. In "Paradise," as the royal city had become, there were undoubtedly many survivors. Some were hiding alone, while others, like them, had formed groups. The three major organizations likely had ways to distinguish anomalies from humans, just as Lu Li did. Their bases would be safer, but also at a higher risk of attack. After all, the purpose of "Paradise" manifesting at this specific time was obvious: the Exorcist Council.

Leaving the royal city was impossible for now. Gemini Reid suggested three possible plans: first, establish a safe house to slowly gather other survivors; second, try to join up with members of the major organizations; or third, operate alone and focus on eliminating anomalies.

However, the choice was Lu Li's to make, and he could just as easily choose a fourth option:"We'll be heading out soon to investigate the Investigators' base," Lu Li announced. "You two will stay here."

First, he needed to pass on the intelligence he'd acquired from the old exorcist, though it was possible they already knew it. Then, he had to figure out the purpose of "Paradise" and a way to escape it.

This situation couldn't last forever. Sooner or later, it would have to either dissipate... or erupt.

"Of course," Gemini Reid replied automatically, but he froze upon hearing the second half of the statement. "We aren't going with you?"

"The risk is too great. It's better for you and York to stay here."

Gemini Reid opened his mouth to protest, but he knew Lu Li was right. The danger on the road would be high, and they would only be a liability.

"Then what can we do?" Gemini Reid needed something to occupy his mind, to keep the dark thoughts at bay.

"Yes, there's something you can do. But first..." Lu Li's gaze dropped to the floorboards.

A hateful eye watched them from a crack between the floorboards.

Anna's fist shot down like a bolt of lightning, punching through the floor. Amidst a cloud of splintered wood, she dragged out a middle-aged man.

Gemini Reid recognized him: it was the innkeeper, the one who'd been bustling around the kitchen earlier.

Anna snatched a knife from Lu Li, and in a flash of movement, severed the man's limbs before tossing his torso aside. Lu Li, as casually as tossing a match on tinder, dropped his spirit pistol onto the immobilized body.

Hiss...

The man's body began to dissolve into vapor.

"That's exactly what I saw before!" Gavril York could barely contain his excitement. "If only we could destroy all the anomalies like that..."

The better-informed Gemini Reid didn't share his optimism. "Do you have any idea how many anomalies have infiltrated the royal city? They're on nearly every street. There must be tens of thousands of them!"

The sheer number was enough to inspire despair.

Lu Li glanced down at the other "guests," whose interest had been piqued, then turned to Gemini Reid. "Before we leave, we'll clear out the rest of the anomalies in this inn. You two will stay here and pose as the proprietors. Mark the windows with the sign of the crow. If I find any other survivors, I'll send them here."

With that, Anna tossed the smoldering remains through the hole in the floor and leaped down after them. Lu Li picked up The Atonement, returned it to its holster, and took the stairs.

"Remember the password!" Gavril York called after him.

Lu Li and Anna didn't leave right away. For several minutes, Reid and York watched from above as the duo put on a "spectacle" of extermination. After clearing the main hall, the pair headed upstairs, moving from one guest room to the next.

Reid and York couldn't help but think that the moniker "The One Who Tolls the Death Knell for Evil Gods" suited Lu Li perfectly.

These common anomalies possessed limited strength. While their abilities were bizarre, their durability was barely greater than that of an ordinary ghost.

But Lu Li didn't let his guard down. Gemini Reid had warned him that he himself had been targeted by the evil spirit known as Visible Song—fortunately, it had only been passing through. It was proof that the city was home not only to common anomalies, but also to evil spirits and spirits of defilement—entities against which ordinary methods were useless.

Unexpectedly, during their sweep, they found a survivor: a hotel servant who had fallen asleep behind the reception desk. Anna nearly mistook him for an anomaly, but his piercing shriek saved his life. Lu Li brought him upstairs to be vetted and then left him with Reid and York.

Once they were finished with the anomalies, Anna gathered the corpses in the main hall. Lu Li, meanwhile, went to find the Dry Claws—first in a drainage ditch in the back alley, then at a small hole in the hall wall.

The scavengers were clustered in the ditch like fish in the shallows, tearing apart the bodies he had thrown to them.

He didn't see the familiar claw with the severed finger among them.

After feeding them three bodies, Lu Li and Anna returned to the hall. Lu Li didn't need any help; he simply waved a corpse in front of the hole in the wall, and the claws tore away the floorboards themselves to accept the "offering."

After the third body, Anna stopped Lu Li. "It's pointless to keep feeding them. Their goodwill isn't infinite."

Instead, she suggested they take the last two bodies with them to feed the scavengers outside.

They found a sack in the cellar, packed the remains, said their farewells to Gemini Reid and the others, and left the inn.

...

Outside, Anna walked beside Lu Li, dragging the tightly stuffed sack behind her. They stopped at every alley and drainage ditch where scavengers gathered. Opening the sack, they distributed the remains like wealthy patrons handing out bread to beggars.

They looked even stranger than the anomalies, and some of the more avaricious passersby seemed to think it a waste.

Anna had no intention of dragging the sack all over the city, and besides, the scavengers were everywhere. They had emptied it before they'd even gone a full block.

Anna tossed the empty sack aside, took Lu Li's arm again, and they headed toward the Curiosity Shop—the front for the Investigators' base.