The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 965: A Maiden's Thoughts

"Mr. Lu Li, did you pass?"

"Mmm."

Lu Li's response only deepened Bentler's frustration.

Uncovering the truth hadn't been difficult. Of everyone present, only the little boy had been harmed by the touch of Lu Li's left hand, and the couple's panicked reaction, hiding the child behind them, proved they knew everything.

"Please, don't take him! He won't hurt anyone!"

The couple's pleas drew Bentler's attention. They were in tears, begging the gatekeepers not to take their child from them.

The little boy clung to his mother's clothes, hiding behind her in fear.

Even though it was an anomaly, the sight of the terrified child made it hard to think of him as one.

The gatekeepers ignored the pleading couple, their expressions cold and resolute as they gathered together.

"What will you do with him?" Lu Li asked the gatekeeper beside him."Nothing," the gatekeeper replied indifferently.

The couple raised their heads in disbelief.

Ignoring the stunned couple and the quiet whispers from the caravan, the gatekeepers announced the results: all four students, except for Bentler, had passed the trial.

"Mimics are a very low-level threat, and you get ridiculously few academic credits for them. We usually just forbid them from coming near the Academy of Giant Trees," Yeger muttered, as if to himself.

"Because we shouldn't take out our frustrations on creatures just as weak as we are..."

Only then did Bentler realize what kind of anomaly he was dealing with. Frustrated and confused, he asked:

"A mimic? But the professor said their mimicry is very primitive."

"That's how they start out. This one has been with the couple long enough to become more human-like."

"I see..."

All that remained for Bentler was to wait out his two-week suspension for failing the trial.

The gatekeepers led the students back to the hanging roots of the lift. They truly did let the couple and their anomaly-child leave, but they could no longer rejoin the migrant caravan.

The fact that they had hidden this from the entire caravan was undeniable. Whether it was the deception or the anomaly itself, the caravan could no longer accept them.

Still, they were close to their destination. Even if they had to go on alone, the couple wouldn't face much trouble.

"Do mimics affect the minds of those around them?" Lu Li asked at that moment.

"No. If they were truly dangerous, we wouldn't classify them as a low-level threat," Yeger replied.

"The rumors are flying that the exorcist is moving up to the middle courses. It seems they're true. Mr. Lu Li, have you found a team yet?"

"Not yet."

"You should consider our Holy Light Squad. The captain is a level-six mystic and the deputy captain is a level-six alchemist. We have more than enough power and logistical support."

"I'll think about it."

Lu Li knew little about the rules of the middle courses. Before forming a team, he figured he should probably ask Professor Kris.

Back at the root lift, the two upperclassmen who had remained silent and inconspicuous the whole time slipped away without a word.

Yeger extended another earnest invitation to Lu Li before they parted ways, each returning to their own area.

The gloom and pressure of the trial grounds vanished, replaced by sunlight and warmth. Lu Li spent the rest of the day in the library, preparing for the upcoming level-two exams.

Fudot arrived for dinner in the great hall a little later than usual, her delicate face looking prouder than ever, a smile barely suppressed.

"You look very happy," even the slow-witted Dogmeat noticed.

Fudot lifted her chin. "In a few days, I'll pass the level-two mysticism exam, and then I can move up to the middle courses."

"Are you going to the middle courses with Lu Li?"

"I... I wanted to graduate with honors, but my family wants me to advance to the middle courses as soon as possible!"

Fudot seemed to be flustered, trying to hide something.

"Why?"

Lu Li sensed something.

"...My family wants me to follow you," Fudot turned away, stirring her stew with a spoon.

"Isn't that good? You can go to the middle courses with Lu Li," Dogmeat said enviously, licking the tip of his nose.

"Of course... it's not! I wanted the honors promotion!"

"If you need help, I can contact your family," Lu Li said, frowning.

"I... You stupid Dogmeat, stop chomping!" Fudot sputtered, startled. She suddenly cried out, slammed her spoon down, and stormed out of the hall with a toss of her golden hair.

"What's wrong with her?" Dogmeat, like the other students, watched Fudot leave in surprise. He then looked down at her plate and said regretfully,

"She didn't eat anything... such a waste of food."

Lu Li said nothing, pondering the scheme behind this.

The Lince family was forcing Fudot to follow him, to get closer to him. What was their goal?

A gesture of goodwill or a web of intrigue?

Fortunately, Lu Li wasn't alone at the Academy of Giant Trees. He had powerful patrons and allies.

"What am I going to do if you all go to the middle courses..."

The thought belatedly occurred to Dogmeat.

"First, learn to read."

After dinner, Lu Li put on his cloak and left the Crown Level, heading down to ask Professor Kris about the rules for the middle courses and inquire about the Lince family.

Knock, knock, knock—

He knocked on the door of the senior alchemy lab. Hearing a lazy voice from within, Lu Li entered.

"Darling, don't you know that knocking on a lady's door at night is a hint?" Professor Kris was standing by her alchemy table, bathed in the soft glow of the fireplace. With silver-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, she looked both beautiful and intelligent.

"I want to know the rules for the middle courses."

"The Trunk Level is kept secret for a reason, darling," Professor Kris said, mixing powders at her table without turning around. "You'll find out when you get there."

"Do you know the Lince family?"

"Of course. They're one of the bloodline families." As she mixed her alchemical ingredients, Professor Kris explained the origins and current standing of the Lince family.

They were a bloodline family that rose to prominence during the Age of Anomalies. Their mystical power came from the secret cult of the Eye-Worm—perhaps from the Eye-Worm itself. The creature's larvae serve as their companions and weapons.

"So, why do you want to know?"

Lu Li explained Fudot's predicament without holding anything back.

"Schemes and ploys... is that what you really think?"

Professor Kris's surprise was evident not only in her voice, which had lost its lazy, seductive tone, but also in the way her narrowed eyes fixed on him.

"You don't understand schemes," Lu Li said. It wasn't the first time he'd had to point this out.

"You don't understand women..." Professor Kris sighed—a rare sound—and set aside her ingredients. "Looks like I'll have to spell it out for our innocent exorcist. The proud young lady wants to follow you, but she's too embarrassed to admit it. So, she needs an excuse to hide her real motive. Understand?"

"Mmm."

Lu Li's thoughts turned to Anna—the way she used to be.

Professor Kris resumed her work, murmuring to herself, "Darling, you're quite the ladies' man. Perhaps I should consider having Claire join your team once you make it to the senior courses."

His question answered, Lu Li promptly left the professor's lab and returned to his room. He took out the eyeball to summon the Trader.

Before his promotion to the middle courses, there was one more thing Lu Li needed to prepare.