The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 753: Model

The tunnel, lit by fluorite lamps, stretched into the depths. Wisps of gray fog swirled over the swamp, and in the mud, indistinct silhouettes of anomalies stirred. This place was a breeding ground for disease and corruption.

"This is the closest, relatively safe path," Prusius explained hastily, lifting his snout. "The other passages are far more dangerous, and we'd have to take a huge detour."

"Safe?"

Katerina sarcastically gestured toward her feet.

The swampy ooze by the bank churned at her movement, and thin, serpent-like limbs flashed amidst the splattering mud.

"We can take a boat. Look, one's already on its way."

Prusius extended a forepaw, pointing deeper into the swamp.

An empty boat was gliding across the mire, leaving ripples in its wake as it headed for the bank.

"The swamp won't touch us as long as we're in the boat."

The boat drew nearer, and the churning mud fell silent, as if soothed by its presence.The bow of the boat nudged gently against the bank.

To prove his point, Prusius leaped into the boat. It rocked slightly, sending ripples across the water that were instantly swallowed by the mire, but the swamp itself remained calm.

"We're human. The local diseases and filth will kill us," Katerina objected, not bothering to hide her distrust of Prusius.

"But the other paths are even more dangerous..."

Just then, footsteps sounded from behind them.

A tall Inhuman with six arms and fish-like gills approached the swamp passage.

Prusius instinctively leaped out of the boat, giving way. The Inhuman seemed to smile at him, stretching its lips wide before settling into the boat.

Thanks to the robes Lu Li and Katerina wore, which resembled the garb of believers, the Inhuman didn't interact with them. Dealing with cultists was more trouble than it was worth, no matter where you were.

Without changing course, the boat slowly pushed off from the bank. Deprived of its calming influence, the swamp began to churn once more.

"What about the other paths?" Lu Li asked, silently watching the boat recede into the distance.

"The two closest passages... one is only open to Inhumans; humans and other creatures aren't allowed. The other runs through a section of a secret tunnel..."

A passage swarming with Inhumans and another through a secret tunnel. It seemed that besides the swamp, there truly was no other choice. Unless, of course, Prusius was lying.

"I want to go there!" Elder Sister piped up, peeking out from behind Lu Li's shoulder.

"We'll wait for the next boat," Lu Li said.

Numerous boats crisscrossed the swamp. After a short wait, another one arrived.

Prusius hopped inside, followed by Katerina, who climbed aboard despite her revulsion. Lu Li went after them.

The stench of rotting mud intensified the moment they pushed off from the bank.

"How do we get it to go?"

"Just think of your destination. If there's more than one of you, you have to say it out loud," Prusius replied, then called out to the boat, "To the far side of the swamp!"

The boat began to move slowly toward the brightly lit exit on the far side.

On the small islands dotting the swamp, figures stood frozen in place, waiting for the boat to pass.

"Whatever you do, don't look at them or answer them," Prusius warned, glancing nervously at a silhouette on a bank a few dozen yards away. "And don't even think about leaving the boat. We're only safe as long as we're inside."

The boat drew near an island, and an old woman on the bank turned toward them. She held a wooden bowl brimming with what looked like a savory meat broth. She gave a slight wave to Lu Li and his companions.

They passed so close they could have reached out and taken the bowl. Heeding Prusius's warning, Lu Li and Katerina ignored the old woman and floated past in silence.

On a second island, a beautiful young woman was waiting, sunk to her waist in the mire.

"Help me... I don't want to die..." she pleaded, her tear-filled eyes fixed on Lu Li and Katerina.

The third island was crowded with crawling, humanoid figures caked in mud. They wore half-rotten human heads like masks, and crimson lights burned in their eye sockets. As the boat drew near, they straightened up with an awkward, grotesque mimicry of human posture, trying to draw the travelers' attention.

Leaving the third island behind, the boat reached the center of the swamp.

Here, they came upon another island—the fourth on their journey.

On the island stood a disproportionately long wooden house, looking like a freshly baked loaf of bread that had been stretched until the fibers of the dough were visible.

At the edge of the island, right where the boat was meant to pass, stood a familiar figure.

The tall woman known as Model.

"The way out is dangerous. It's blocked by Inhumans. Stop here and come ashore."

As the boat approached, Model bared a set of spike-studded fangs, her low voice making the very air vibrate.

Just as they had on the previous islands, Lu Li and Katerina ignored her.

But as the boat drifted past, Model suddenly leaned forward, her hooked nose greedily inhaling the travelers' lingering scent.

Lu Li's scent seemed familiar.

Bloodshot veins of hatred spiderwebbed across her deep-set eyes. She turned her head with a mechanical jerk, dropped to all fours, and crawled after the boat, grinding her teeth.

Fortunately, the boat had already pulled away from the island before Model could reach it.

"Why did she attack us?" Katerina asked, bewildered. "When we first got here, wasn't she offering her services as a guide?"

"Model holds a grudge... She recognized me and thinks I stole her business..." Prusius stammered, trembling with fear.

"So she's after you?"

"N-no... Us. If she catches us, she'll eat all of us."

Lu Li glanced back. Hindered by the swamp, Model was pacing restlessly along the bank.

"Are we safe?" Prusius asked timidly, cowering in the boat.

"No."

Lu Li looked back at the island.

Model was no longer on the bank, but the danger hadn't passed.

Moving on long, spider-like legs, she was leaping from one patch of solid ground to the next, pursuing the boat through the swamp.

"She's catching up to us!" Prusius yelped, his whole body trembling and his tail tucked between his legs.

Model was moving faster than the boat. Soon, she would overtake them and lie in wait up ahead.

"Do you have a plan?" Katerina asked, her eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching figure.

Model seemed far more tangible than the phantom mantis, and Katerina wasn't sure she could handle her.

Lu Li gave a slight nod and spoke quietly to the boat. "Go back to the entrance where we started."

The boat turned and began to head back.

In the distance, the leaping Model paused for a moment before resuming her pursuit.

The boat passed the three islands again. The anomalies mimicked human gestures, the girl in the white dress was still crying for help, and the old woman still stood on the bank with her outstretched bowl, close enough to touch.

But they were still losing ground to Model.

By the time the leaping Model reached the entrance, Lu Li's boat was still dozens of yards from the bank.

"This isn't going to work," Katerina said, her eyes glued to the approaching Model. "She's faster than we are... We won't make it to the bank in time."

Lu Li didn't answer Katerina. Instead, he quietly addressed the boat again. "Turn around. Head for the exit."