The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 920: Betrayal

The Distorted Figure from the Church of Twisted Vines was also in Port Roadster, wearing the guise of her sister, Helena.

A grim, rune-etched sailing ship was moored at the pier. Built mostly from the remains of other vessels, the brand-new ship looked as though it had been sailing for decades, though it had only completed a few trials in the bay.

The sails were rising as the cultists retreated aboard the vessel. Their leader, however, remained before Lu Li and his companions, speaking softly:

— We mourn the fall of our Lord, and so we must face the outside world—a world of danger, hardship, and yet, splendor. We will remember our friendship. If we find a new, untainted land, a safe harbor, we will return to let you know.

The leader presented the Distorted Figure with an ancient tome containing the spells of their cult. While the deity's fall had rendered most of the incantations useless, some of the general techniques and alchemical knowledge within could still prove valuable.

To Lu Li, he gave a sacred artifact from the cult, its power now a mere echo of what it once was. Its only remaining function was to sense the approach of heretics. In the presence of cultists from the Church of Shadows, it would release a steady, colorless vapor as a warning. Its range was a mere fifty meters and shrinking, making its symbolic value far greater than its practical use.

In return, the Distorted Figure provided a shipment of supplies, which the cultists loaded onto their ship. Lu Li gave the leader several eyeballs, explaining how to use them.

— We have great need of these...

The leader was more pleased than expected. He knew their long voyage would be anything but smooth, fraught with peril. If they ran into trouble, they could now purchase supplies from the Merchant. And if disaster struck, they would have time to escape into the Merchant's In-Between.

This made Lu Li wonder if the Merchant was capable of more than just trade.He watched the leader board the ship and give a final wave. With its anchor raised and sails unfurled, the vessel slowly made its way out of the bay.

— What are you going to do next?

The Distorted Figure, still wearing Helena's form, approached Lu Li. She acted much more human when she wasn't revealing her true nature.

She already knew of the grim fate that had befallen the tentacle cultists, and of the spectacular resurrection of the ancient god.

— Wait, — Lu Li said.

Wait for the Deep God to reclaim his throne. Wait for Enni to grow. Wait for all allied factions to gather their strength.

— Want to join forces and purge Belfast? The winter makes them sluggish and easy to find. We could use that.

— Did the Prophet give his permission?

— It's just an idea of mine.

— ...Not now, — Lu Li finally declined after a moment of consideration.

Right now, all he could do was wait.

...

“Eternal Ancient One Repels Invasion, Annihilates Anomaly Nest in Ubdikdor Principality”

The next day, under Enni's tree.

Lu Li scanned today's newspaper from Midnicht. The headline was about the Deep God.

The byline read “Observations from the Giant Trees,” the official name for the Academy of Giant Trees' newspaper, which confirmed the headline's authenticity. The Deep God, in search of his scattered remains, had appeared in the Wastelands.

The Ubdikdor Principality was located in the northeast of the Wastelands, a region almost entirely composed of major anomaly hubs—home to countless nests, either fallen or destroyed by other anomalies. News of the event had traveled to the surface through the Old Sewer, but casualty reports were still unavailable.

The following day, the papers reported another incident: an attack—or rather, a purge—in the southeastern Wastelands. The event had actually occurred two days prior, but news traveled slowly from the sparsely populated region.

On the third day, a small divine city, standing alone at the foot of the World's Spine mountains, witnessed the ancient being's passage. They relayed accounts from the locals: “His immense, sacred form soared through the clouds, and the entire city was unsettled by the ancient being's passage.”

For the next two days, there was no further news of the Deep God. Given that He had passed over the World's Spine mountains, it was likely He had journeyed to the other side of the range, into lands unknown to humankind.

— He's... drawing... too much attention, — Ophelia remarked, her tone grim. She was not optimistic about the Deep God's newfound fame.

This was not good.

The Deep God was clearly still searching for his remains, still trying to recover his strength. People, isolated in their cities, were always the last to know. If the news had reached them, it meant it had already spread across the entire Wastelands.

The enemies of the Deep God—the beings who sought to seize the world for themselves—would also learn of the ancient one's return.

His return would be anything but easy.

Mayor Matteus was also facing problems; his plea for help had been delivered by the Merchant the next day, right alongside the explosive news.

...

The western part of Vinnelag, a warehouse near the slums.

Watched by eyes peering from behind frosted windows, the Inquisition seized the warehouse, driving out all other soldiers and administrators.

— Block it off? Destroy it? You can't do this!

Valendo, the mayor's aide, stared at the Inquisition captain, his expression a mixture of disbelief and fury.

The mayor had been wrong. They had all been wrong. The Inquisition was really capable of such a thing.

No one paid him any mind. The men, identified by their insignias, were like cold steel, impassively carrying out their orders.

— Do you have any idea what you're doing?! — Valendo demanded, getting right in the captain's face.

— Countless citizens need firewood! You're killing them!

There was still no reply. Valendo watched as the warehouse gates were locked and the remaining soldiers were driven off. His face a cold mask, he turned and headed for the exit.

— Where are you going?

The captain, who had been silent until now, stopped him.

— I'm going to tell the mayor the Inquisition has lost its mind, — Valendo sneered.

— Watch your words, young man, — the captain calmly retorted.

— No need to look for that mayor of yours. Our knights are searching his office right now.

With that, he gestured for a knight to step forward and search Valendo.

— Now it's your turn.

...

— This is a coup!

With the veins bulging on his forehead, Mayor Matteus furiously accused the members of the Inquisition who were ransacking his office.

They confiscated everything related to Lu Li, including all correspondence and the Merchant's eyeball. Once again, Matteus was placed under house arrest.

Some twenty minutes later, his aide Valendo returned. Matteus asked, his voice heavy with disappointment:

— So, the warehouse has already been blockaded by those madmen?

Valendo didn't reply. Instead, he bent over, reached deep into his throat, and painstakingly retrieved an eyeball.

— After what happened last time, I was afraid they'd try this again... so I hid one, — he explained, gasping for air as he wiped a string of saliva from the corner of his mouth.

— Mr. Mayor, please, contact the exorcist... and tell him what the Inquisition has done!

...

— We must help the mayor! — Prusius exclaimed, practically bouncing with rage.

Lu Li remained calm, considering the situation.

To be honest, before this, he hadn't had any particular animosity towards the Inquisition.

It was difficult to judge their actions as right or wrong—they were trying to protect civilization, to preserve the purity of their people. And they weren't entirely unreasonable; Vinnelag and Midnicht maintained embassies and open communication. The Inquisition had even helped him when he was in danger.

But now they were going to extremes.

Extremism was never the answer.

Lu Li's gaze fell upon the latest edition of the Midnicht newspaper, and his dark eyes narrowed.

[Terror Over Midnicht as Ancient Being Attacks]

The Deep God had returned... and last night, He had attacked Midnicht.