Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 298 - 298 Group of 155 Investigators and Judges

298: Group of 155 Investigators and Judges 298: Group of 155 Investigators and Judges Lead-gray seas stretched out to the invisible horizon, filling the view.

Several sailors hoisted seawater from the ocean, repeatedly drenching the deck with their wooden buckets.

From the mast lookout, a sailor peered into the distance.

The day had not yet brightened, and the sky remained overcast, but visibility was still decent.

Lu Li emerged from the cabin, met by the slightly chilly sea breeze, which quickly robbed him of his warmth.

He saw an old man exercising his joints near the railing not far from the cabin.

The old man, noticing Lu Li at the front of the cabin, did a few squats and then walked over to him.

“Moving keeps you from rusting,” he said, buttoning up the top few buttons of his expedition suit.

“Did you rest well?”

“Fairly well,” Lu Li’s gaze drifted towards the ocean in front of the deck.

“Where are we now?”

“Less than 20 nautical miles from Rhodest Port; just a bit further, and you will be able to see Belfast.”

As they neared the coast, other ships began to appear on the surrounding sea, shadows standing on the decks of some nearby vessels looking towards the steamer, seemingly curious about the ship that sailed at night and returned to port during the day.

These ships made those who had been sailing all night on the steamer feel less alone.

“[Rustle, rustle…

I don’t care how high the sky is, nor how thick the ground…]”

A sailor sitting on a wooden barrel tinkering with a radio was startled by the sudden burst of music.

Lu Li narrowed his dark eyes and withdrew his gaze, saying, “Can you tell me about the rescue team?”

Despite Lu Li’s expressionless face and flat tone, the old man still sensed a hint of interest, “What do you want to know?”

“Things like the weekly pay.”

“There’s no pay; we retirees volunteer for the rescue team.”

Hearing this, Lu Li dropped the subject: “I have no more questions.”

However, the old man didn’t want to end the conversation there and asked with interest, “Are you in need of money?”

Lu Li nodded.

Constructing shelters and collecting supplies required a large amount of money.

“Investigators have much more leniency than watchmen; you can take on some commissions in your spare time to make money, try tackling bounty quests after gaining enough experience, even ten percent of the information can fetch you several contribution points.

Or you could become a personal exorcist.”

“Personal exorcist?”

“With more and more anomalies, many wealthy nobles are willing to hire an exorcist to protect them in times of trouble, be it for the short term or long term.

As an investigator, you are more in demand and command a higher price.”

Lu Li nodded, acknowledging the vital information provided by the old man: “I’ll consider it.”

“I see Belfast!”

At that moment, an excited shout came from the mast.

The old man looked up, towards the lookout pointing ahead from the mast.

Lu Li looked directly into the distance.

At the end of the lead-gray sea, a silhouette emerged on the horizon.

Two days later than the time he had agreed with Anna, Lu Li had finally returned.

…

Belfast City, Rhodest Port.

As the port emptied with fishing boats departing after a night’s docking, the crowded scene dissolved, leaving behind only a few cargo ships at the desolate dock loading and unloading goods.

The sound of a steamboat whistle came faintly from afar, a common occurrence at the harbor, and the bustling workers did not even look up.

Only the dock dispatcher waved a flag, signaling the boat returning in the early morning to enter the harbor.

The steamboat docked at the pier, lowering its gangplank.

A tall figure descended from the gangplank, footsteps solidly hitting the wooden dock.

Two carriages and a steam locomotive were parked in front of the dock.

A middle-aged man with deep wrinkles and brown hair, who had been standing by, took off his top hat and said with a smile, “I am the head of the Investigative Judging Committee, welcome back.”

“Thank you,”

Lu Li glanced briefly at the Three-Eyed Crow Badge on the man’s chest.

Its golden pupils indicated that the man before him was an Investigator of the third rank: an Agent.

They would next examine Lu Li’s physical and mental condition, and document the event information.

Having learned this from an old man, Lu Li said, “May I go home first?”

“It’s better not to, as certain unseen essence and contaminants on you could pose a great risk to the city.”

Contaminants were a generic term generally used to summarize those strange presences that could affect the surroundings.

Understanding this, Lu Li then said, “How about if I write a letter back?”

The middle-aged man replied with a wry smile, “That too, some contaminants could distort people’s minds through written words or even conversation, just to be safe.

Don’t worry, we’re mainly here to record your experiences in this event.

It won’t take much of your time.”

Before Lu Li could respond, footsteps were heard from the gangplank behind him.

“Uncle,”

The middle-aged man looked behind Lu Li and called out the identity of the person behind him.

The one he addressed as uncle was the captain of the rescue squad, the old man.

Lu Li’s gaze shifted between the two, noticing similarities between them, such as the impressive wrinkles.

Feeling Lu Li’s gaze, the old man explained, “After each rescue, the rescue squad also has to undergo an inspection, you know, they are always mysterious and pervasive.

If what you’re curious about is something else…

yes, I am this guy’s uncle.”

Lu Li nodded, not saying much, “Let’s go.”

However, the old man did not follow them.

After Lu Li entered a carriage, the two carriages directly left the dock.

As they crossed paths with the steam locomotive, Lu Li saw several figures step down from the locomotive and approach the old man and the steamboat behind him.

These individuals wore black uniforms, with a badge depicting a half-open pupil.

They were the Nightwatchmen.

“We’re responsible for receiving people, the Nightwatchmen handle inspections, each to their respective duties,” the leader explained beside him.

“Don’t I need an inspection?” asked Lu Li.

“You’re an investigator, not subject to their scrutiny,” the Chief said as he pulled out a segment of bamboo tube from his pocket and removed the lid.

From the darkness inside the bamboo tube, a golden beetle-like insect crawled to the edge, took flight, and hovered in the confined space of the carriage.

“If it lands, it indicates contaminants are present on you.”

Lu Li watched the beetle silently.

As time passed, it neither landed nor departed.

“What does this indicate?” Lu Li inquired.

“Nothing at all.

It’s just slow in checking,”

Just as the chief had mentioned.

The carriage stopped in front of the Anres Brothers Underground Pipe Maintenance Station and it finally completed the inspection and crawled back into the chief’s bamboo segment.

“Not bad, you don’t have any contaminants,” the chief appeared relieved as he spoke with a smile.

“We’ve arrived, let’s get out.”