The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 674: Alone

The negotiations Count Flay Adler had been anticipating never materialized—all he received was the Trader's cold consent.

In the firelight, Count Flay Adler's brow furrowed, his expression radiating aristocratic authority.

It all seemed far too simple. In business, simplicity rarely boded well; it usually concealed pitfalls, complications, and the other party's ulterior motives.

"This could cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of merit points," the count declared, leaning forward and staring intently at the eyes hidden beneath the hood.

"Mr. Lu Li has sufficient merit points," the Trader replied.

The count leaned back against the sofa. The only sounds in the room were his own breathing and the crackle of logs in the hearth.

After a moment of thought, the count inquired, "May I ask who this Mr. Lu Li is?"

"No."

Traders did not sell information about exorcists, especially not to outsiders. But Count Adler seemed to grasp something, nodding with an expression that said, "I thought as much."

"Understood... The House of Adler agrees to the deal."Meanwhile, the captain, who had been languishing in the drawing room, was brought back into the main hall.

Only the count and his steward were seated by the fireplace.

"I've accepted his offer," the count announced, meeting the captain's eager gaze. Throwing aside his lap blanket to signal the audience was over, he added, "You know what to do, Grey."

Clearly, the count had managed to learn something while the captain had been kept waiting.

"Of course!" Grey exclaimed, trembling with excitement as he bowed. "I will ensure that Mr. Lu Li remembers the count's goodwill..."

Flay Adler was pleased with Grey's astuteness; the subordinate's betrayal no longer even mattered to him. "Good. Go and make an impression on your new master."

The steward escorted Captain Grey from the estate. The icy night wind did nothing to cool his ardor.

Now, he was the president of the "Fourteen Ships" company. And all because one man had wished to cancel the night sailings.

A carriage sped along the cobblestone road, back toward the commercial district by Port Prince Fantes. Grey informed Lu Li of the count's agreement, then announced to the stunned first mate that he was being promoted, and sent him off to the docks to hasten the preparations for the Reyslin's departure.

Captain Grey demonstrated his capabilities to his new master, and Lu Li, true to their agreement, appointed him president of the company.

The new company president could have summoned another captain, but he chose to command the vessel himself.

An hour later, the new first mate, a man named Tar, hurried over with a report: the Reyslin was ready to set sail.

Dawn was breaking, and a morning mist crept across the port.

The medium-sized liner, carrying only two passengers, sounded its horn and slowly pulled away from the pier.

Normally, the crew would have grumbled about the back-to-back voyages, but this time was different.

A daytime crossing was safer, everyone knew they were getting five times their normal pay, and rumor had it that their passenger was the new owner.

It was rumored that Captain Grey had spent his entire savings on fresh fruits and vegetables just to provide a single, worthy welcome.

But no one laughed at his supposed "foolishness." To go from being the captain of a single vessel to the head of a company with dozens of ships—the payoff was obvious.

Knowing Lu Li was in a hurry, Grey ordered full steam ahead along the river channel to reach their destination as quickly as possible.

Traveling at maximum speed, the Reyslin arrived in Vinnelag two hours ahead of schedule—at four in the afternoon.

The largest port on the Main Continent.

Vinnelag's Moon Bay was somewhat reminiscent of Port Roadster. The dozens of ships anchored in the cove seemed to evoke Roadster's former glory.

However, Vinnelag lacked the bustling commercial energy of Belfast, perhaps due to its gray-and-black stone buildings, smoking chimneys, and the dark attire of the passersby.

It also had a proper municipal government.

Gulls circled over the port beneath a sullen sky, and the ship's horn shattered the cold silence of the sea breeze.

The Reyslin moored at a vacant pier. The dockworkers were surprised to see only a handful of people disembark from the liner.

"Do you know anyone here?" Lu Li asked.

Selika leaned weakly against him. The full day of travel had left her seasick.

"Allow us to make some inquiries," the captain offered respectfully.

Lu Li watched him go ashore and saw him return shortly after, holding a familiar-looking envelope.

A newsboy was still on duty at the pier, waiting for Lu Li with a letter.

Inside the envelope were notes from Aunt Mary and Anna.

Aunt Mary once again pleaded with them to stop. She was about to sail across the strait to the Fallow Lands—this would be her last letter.

Lu Li had expected something similar from Anna. But surprisingly, Anna wrote that she had found a lead: an evil spirit might be behind Aunt Mary's actions, pulling the strings of the conspiracy she was caught in.

Anna wasn't sure if she could confront it, but she was going to try. She promised to leave clues upon her arrival in the Fallow Lands. If Lu Li chose to follow, they would guide his way.

"Can we get to the Fallow Lands from here?" Lu Li asked Captain Grey calmly.

The captain replied with some embarrassment, "The Reyslin is too small for an ocean crossing, and besides, the crew needs to rest..."

The stokers had been working flat-out for more than twelve hours and were completely exhausted.

"The last liner to the Fallow Lands departs in half an hour. If you need, I can arrange for passage," the first mate offered.

Lu Li nodded and turned to Selika. "The rest of the journey will be too difficult for you. Take the Reyslin back to the prince's port."

"No, I'll wait for you here," Selika said. She didn't insist on accompanying him, but she was firm on this point.

Lu Li didn't argue. He disembarked from the Reyslin and waited on the pier with the captain and Selika.

A few minutes later, the first mate returned, complaining to Captain Grey that the Ashori only had second-class tickets available—first and business class were already full.

Lu Li gave a dismissive wave, counted out a thousand shillings for Selika, asked Captain Grey to look after her, and boarded the large ocean liner, the Ashori.

The Ashori's final destination was the Lennon Archipelago. It would make a brief stop at Port Most in the Fallow Lands, which was where Lu Li would disembark.

Lu Li stood on the deck, looking down at the Reyslin below. The deck of the Ashori was crowded with other passengers, all waving goodbye to their loved ones on the pier.

Soon, a deep horn sounded, and tugboats began to guide the Ashori out of the harbor and into the open sea.

Lu Li averted his gaze and headed for his cabin.