The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 949: Beneath the Surface

"That's a fact, isn't it?"

Professor Kris observed the instruments on the table. Compared to science, which demanded lengthy research, mysticism and alchemy—disciplines that focused on strengthening the self—offered greater advantages. Of course, their drawbacks were also more numerous.

"Such a narrow-minded view," the old man retorted frantically. "Science isn't a discipline; it's systematized knowledge. Mysticism can be a science, and so can alchemy!"

"That is why you are here, and why we are here." Professor Kris had no desire to debate the definition of science with him. She turned to Lu Li.

"Dear, tell him about your discovery."

Lu Li briefly summarized his knowledge of Humanity.

"A new discovery... I do love new discoveries." The old scientist seemed to sink into his own thoughts.

"Let me think... how to verify its existence..."

"In fact, we've already proven it exists."

Sterling froze at Professor Kris's remark."Then why did you seek me out?"

"For more detailed experiments," Professor Kris said.

"Can't your academy handle that?" he retorted. Having learned that the tastiest part of the "cake" was already gone, Sterling had no desire to pick at the scraps.

"It can," Professor Kris replied.

The cave, illuminated by a fluorescent glow, fell silent for a moment. The stubborn, half-mad old scientist silently accepted Professor Kris's help. He took out a notebook and a quill, flipping to a clean page.

"Exorcist, tell me more about this Humanity."

A theory required practical proof. Once the scientist Sterling learned that Lu Li could absorb Humanity from slain anomalies, he brought two cages containing weak anomalies from the back of the cave.

"Spheroids," he announced. "The best kind of test subject."

Sterling motioned for Lu Li to kill one of them.

The anomaly died uneventfully. After a faint trickle of Humanity flowed into Lu Li, Sterling told them to wait and disappeared back into the cave.

Sterling, now fully engrossed in his experiment, had a touch of madness about him.

"It's not their theories that get scientists ostracized..."

Watching Sterling's retreating back as he ventured deeper into the cave, Professor Kris murmured to Lu Li:

"When knowledge itself becomes a curse, formalized knowledge is exceptionally dangerous. Compared to precise data like '0.01 milliliters,' '0.02 pounds,' or '0.03 centimeters,' instructions like 'about a third of a measure,' 'a half-full wooden bowl,' or 'herbal juice left to settle for a few days' are far safer, even if they're less efficient."

"So, the more specific the knowledge, the more dangerous it is?"

"Yes... which is why one shouldn't seek to master too much of it."

Lu Li grew pensive. Perhaps this curse affecting knowledge was a Calamity in its own right.

The sound of shuffling footsteps and scraping metal echoed from the back of the cave. Sterling returned, hauling a heavy iron cage.

The coffin-sized cage was packed with more Spheroids. Their semi-soft black carapaces enveloped their bodies, trapping them within the iron bars.

Sterling picked up the two dead Spheroids and tossed them into the cage. Sensing food, the survivors unfurled. The cilia beneath their shells began to writhe slowly, like the arms of a starfish, as they crawled over the corpses.

One of the two corpses was quickly swarmed by the creatures, with others trying to clamber on top. The second corpse, however, was completely ignored.

"It's not fresh."

Beneath a drooping eyelid, Sterling's eye seemed to gleam.

"'Humanity,' isn't it? Since this Spheroid's Humanity was absorbed by Mr. Lu Li, the others are no longer interested in it!"

"Are you sure?" Professor Kris asked, watching the scene with great interest.

To prove his theory, Sterling snatched up another Spheroid that had rolled aside, dispatched it with the deftness of an executioner, and tossed it into a corner of the cage.

The two Spheroids that hadn't managed to get to the first meal slowly began to stir, crawling toward the new corpse.

Only the corpse of the Spheroid Lu Li had killed remained untouched.

"You see? They prefer food from which the Humanity hasn't been stolen." Lu Li could feel the excitement radiating from Sterling as he hunched over the cage.

"Anomalies don't hunt for flesh... they hunt for Humanity!"

"We've suspected as much for a long time," Professor Kris sighed softly.

"Many of the things anomalies do are inexplicable. Bodiless anomalies hunt other anomalies, for example. Powerful anomalies still seem to require sustenance... We've always wondered what it is they're truly after... Now, it seems we've found the source."

"Congratulations, Sterling. The next issue of the Journal of the Academy of Giant Trees will feature your name."

Sterling completely ignored Professor Kris. Lost in the joy of scientific discovery, his fervent gaze fixed on Lu Li.

"This is uncharted territory... And you! Exorcist! You are the key to unlocking it!"

The experiment continued. Sterling removed the two fresh corpses from the cage. The remaining Spheroids, weakened by hunger, paused for a moment before they began to stir again, finally turning to the corpse Lu Li had killed.

"What does that mean?" Professor Kris asked.

"The flesh itself still attracts them." Sterling's manic energy gave way to contemplation.

"Perhaps it's the sustenance, or perhaps it's the residual Humanity..."

We could even propose a new hypothesis: humans need food to sustain life. But what if it's not the food itself we need, but the Humanity the food contains...

"Perhaps the two aren't mutually exclusive." Before Sterling could overcomplicate the issue and drive himself mad, Professor Kris reined him in.

"We can view Humanity as a form of energy. Humans eat to replenish their energy, and anomalies hunt to replenish theirs."

"Dear, how much Humanity did you gain from that vengeful spirit?" Professor Kris asked.

"Less than half."

"And the Spheroids?"

"A negligible amount."

The experiment needed to continue, but the scale of "Sterling's Home" was clearly insufficient for further research.

They needed more detailed data, to observe the changes between low and high Humanity, and ultimately, to complete the puzzle.

"I can get you into the Academy of Giant Trees... but you'll have to be smuggled in as an alchemical ingredient."

"I don't care!"

Sterling was ecstatic. The fanatical way he stared at Lu Li was reminiscent of the very anomalies that craved him.

With the research on Humanity temporarily postponed, Professor Kris moved on to the next topic: the craft of making Spirit Guns.

"A Spirit Gun? You have need of those obsolete relics?"

Sterling was puzzled.

"Lu Li's ability to absorb Humanity comes from his Spirit Gun," Professor Kris explained.

"That's impossible!"

Sterling denied it vehemently, but when he saw Lu Li's calm expression, he was stunned.

"Is it true?"

"Mm-hm."

"And I suppose the third flower blooming is also impossible?" Professor Kris pressed.

"It's possible... but the price is too great. As I recall, there have never been more than a dozen Spirit Guns with three blossomed flowers," Sterling wavered.

As a man of science, he would believe it if presented with sufficient proof.

"How did you do it? What is the price of three flowers? Where is the pistol now?"

"A few anomalies, one Evil God. The gun was destroyed, but for... certain reasons, its power now resides in me."

"That is why we need your help." Professor Kris paused, covering her mouth to hide a faint chuckle.

"And you won't have to be smuggled into the academy as an alchemical ingredient."