Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 225 - 225 Eighty-two

225: Eighty-two.

Investigator Simulation Event One 225: Eighty-two.

Investigator Simulation Event One Tesla was certain that Old Pique was hiding inside, and after calling out, he resumed his gentlemanly demeanor.

Less than a minute later, Old Pique came from the backyard carrying his drawing board and, after setting down the board and his brushes, sat down and complained, “It seems I am never going to live to a ripe old age.”

With an unconcerned smile, Tesla picked up a brush and began to doodle something simple on the drawing board while explaining to Lu Li, “You’ve already seen part of the normal Sanity Value test questions yesterday, and I don’t think it’s necessary to use the rest.

As I’ve said before, the questions in the Sanity Value test are actually unrelated to sanity, they are purely for psychological assessment and challenge.

So, I made some adjustments and changed your test questions to a part of the ‘Investigator’s Rookie Trial,’ though it still has nothing to do with Sanity Value.”

“The ‘Investigator’s Rookie Trial’ is usually used to test those who are preparing to join the ranks of investigators, so your responses will greatly impact whether you are suitable to join the investigators.

The trial questions have hidden scores, and each of your answers will be calculated into those hidden scores to ultimately decide if you are suitable to become an investigator.”

With the branches of the Soul Tree, Tesla was not worried that Lu Li would answer against his own conscience.

Although Tesla didn’t think that Lu Li would intentionally conform to the correct answers.

He held up two fingers, once again drawing Lu Li’s attention to his ring, “So this time, there are actually two assessments: evaluating whether your responses are suitable for becoming an investigator, and assessing whether your Sanity Value is suitable for becoming an investigator.”

If there were scores for the trial questions, it meant there were relatively fixed answers.

Lu Li asked, “What if my answers aren’t within the ‘standard answers’?”

Tesla, with a look that suggested he had expected this question from Lu Li, glanced over the drawing board and meaningfully said to Lu Li, seated across the table, “Your test paper will be tagged as special, allowing an examiner to score it.”

“Who is the examiner?”

“Usually, it’s me, the regional head, and the guys from headquarters.

But I think you’ve already scored one point from me in advance, right?” Tesla set down the brush without showing the drawing board to Lu Li, instead holding onto it.

“Let’s start with the standard trial then.”

After capping the brush and setting it aside, Tesla sat up straight, his gray suit crisp and neat, “You are a newly inducted Apprentice Investigator and have been tasked by the organization to venture into a mysterious and dangerous ruin.

Your mission is to figure out what’s inside the ruin.

You have nothing on you so, before setting out, you must choose from the initial equipment prepared by the organization – only one item.

Will you choose – equipment to conceal your presence; offensive equipment; Exploration Equipment; or something else?”

Lu Li: “Offensive equipment.”

Tesla, looking serious, gave no opinion, as if Lu Li were truly getting ready to explore the ruin and he was a dispassionate storyteller.

“You have chosen offensive equipment.

After leaving the organization, you have three days to prepare.

Next, you plan to—”

This time, there were no multiple-choice options, as if Lu Li truly had the control to act freely within the story.

Lu Li: “How long will it take me to reach the vicinity of the ruin?”

“Half a day.”

Lu Li: “Is there a human settlement near the ruin?”

Tesla’s eyes showed a subtle hint of appreciation, “A village with less than a hundred people.”

Lu Li: “I choose to bring food that won’t impede my movements, water, torches, and medicine.

After resting for a day, I will set out and investigate clues about the ruin in the village.”

“You have made thorough preparations for this operation.

After a night’s rest, you feel relaxed and gain a ‘slight increase in physical strength.’ The half-day journey doesn’t tire you out much, and the ‘slight increase in physical strength’ disappears.”

“Upon reaching the nearby village, you ask the villagers about the ruin, but they are reticent and scared to discuss it.

Next, you plan to—”

Lu Li: “Keep asking, look for a villager who is willing to talk and villagers willing to exchange clues for resources.”

Tesla’s mouth seemed to display a hint of a smile, “You tirelessly ask the villagers again, and finally, an elder believed to be mad tells you some things about the ruin, and you gain ‘a small amount of information.’ It is now afternoon, and you decide—”

Lu Li: “Find a place in the village to rest for the night, somewhere safe.”

Tesla is the master of the story, and Lu Li has to make sure his arrangements are foolproof to avoid Tesla adding complexity to his challenges.

Tesla was almost compelled to applaud, not because Lu Li’s approach was similar to that of most investigators who had experienced several incidents but because he intentionally reduced the chance of accidents in the story, avoiding falls into the pits that he, the “storyteller,” might dig.

This gave Tesla the illusion of a confrontation.

“You spend some time and energy finding a safe place, and it is worth it.

You successfully find a warm and bright resting spot.

The night is not quiet, with whispers from the ruin and footsteps outside your resting place in the dead of night.

But because your resting spot is safe, you spend a relatively secure night and gain ‘a small amount of inner strength.’ Day breaks, and next, you plan to—”

Lu Li: “Eat a small amount of food, just enough to not be hungry.

Drink a small amount of water, not so much to cause excretion.

Then, head out to explore the ruin.”

“You leave the quiet village shrouded in the morning mist and step into the ruins where the ground has turned pitch black.

Recalling yesterday’s investigation, you know the range of the ruin spans several kilometers, and only a few hundred meters near the foot of the mountain is the real part of the ruin.

Although the perimeter of the ruin is dark and devoid of life, it’s not dangerous, but you lose ‘a small amount of information (1/3).’ Next, you will—”

Lu Li: “Remain somewhat alert and quickly pass through the outer area.”

“Doubting the words of that madman, although you pass through the perimeter of the ruin relatively quickly, you still remain vigilant.

‘A slight loss of physical strength,’ ‘a slight loss of mental energy.’ At last, you see the withered mountain range in the distance, surrounded by black stone pillars standing tall.

A sense of suffocation hits you, but you quickly calm down, and ‘a small amount of inner strength’ disappears.

You decide—”

Lu Li: “Approach the ruin and figure out what the black stone pillars are.”

“The crooked black stone pillars set in the dirt unsettle you.

You approach one, and its rough and mysterious surface, full of odd textures, reminds you of the village madman’s words that the pillars are made from the bones of human cadavers.

Realizing the ruin might be dangerous and feeling a hint of fear, you lose ‘a small amount of information (2/3),’ and due to the fear, ‘a small amount of inner strength disappears.’

“While you examine the pillar, you suddenly hear a cry for help coming from the direction of the ruin.

Next, you will—”