Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 308 - 308 165

308: 165.

Hades with a bleeding heart 308: 165.

Hades with a bleeding heart Not counting the Sequence 1 from Hades, which cost 2000 shillings, buying the basic Spirit-Calling Gun only requires 500 shillings, and during special offers, the price drops to 350 shillings with bullets included.

Furthermore, with the 20% discount on basic equipment resupply after each event, one typically doesn’t need to spend 300 shillings to purchase a Spirit-Calling Gun.

The recycling price for a Spirit-Calling Gun that has bloomed its first rose is 1000 shillings.

This implies a threefold profit margin.

But no one wants to make money this way.

Most members of the three major organizations don’t have financial troubles.

Even if they do, such time-consuming and laborious actions, which also deplete Sanity Value, are not within their consideration.

To accumulate a Spirit-Calling Gun’s first bloomed rose, at least the amount of one resentful spirit is needed.

The aura accumulated by a Sequence 1 is now roughly equivalent to two resentful spirits, yet the second rose has only bloomed halfway.

Making money with the Spirit-Calling Gun is not feasible.

After inspection, the merchant returned both Spirit-Calling Guns to Lu Li without finding any faults or charging a fee.

In the end, Lu Li paid a deposit of 792 shillings for one cubic meter of Deep Sea Stone and a deposit of 18 shillings for 3 portions of expired newspapers, then watched the merchant leave.

Lu Li didn’t forget to mention the two pieces of valuable clothing; the merchant fell silent, though there was no dissatisfaction with Lu Li treating him like a second-hand dealer.

After the merchant left, Lu Li began preparing for the trade that would take place two to three days later.

Picking up the phone, Lu Li dialed a number.

Soon, the call was connected, and a gentle female voice came through the handset.

“This is Michael Tesla’s Mansion.”

Anna immediately pricked up her ears, staring intently at the telephone.

“Is Tesla there?” Lu Li asked, recognizing the identity of the woman on the other end.

“He’s gone to work, but I can pass on a message if you have business with him.”

“At the investigator base?”

“…Yes.” Realizing Lu Li was not one of Tesla’s ordinary friends, the woman changed her tone: “He’s on duty this week, so you can find him at the base or call.”

The woman then gave Lu Li Tesla’s office number.

After jotting it down, Lu Li hung up and dialed the investigator base.

A brief busy signal was followed by a familiar voice.

“Congratulations on joining the investigators.”

Lu Li had heard this phrase many times in the past few days.

Skipping the meaningless chatter, he directly proposed to Tesla to exchange investigation points for shillings.

“Currently, private trades of investigation points typically go for 11 or 12 shillings each, but even so, it’s not worthwhile.

Investigation points are much more useful than you might think.

How many shillings do you need?

If it isn’t much, I can lend you some.”

“Thirty thousand shillings, at least.”

Even without accounting for losses due to cutting, covering ten square meters of space with Deep Sea Stone would require four cubic meters, and that’s with the minimum thickness of 10 centimeters.

After a moment of silence, the other end, Tesla, said: “…Let’s talk about the transaction of investigation points instead.

How many do you have?”

“Three hundred seventy-three.”

“It looks like you received a good assessment during the evaluation event.

I can buy your investigation points at the rate of 13 shillings each.

How many do you want to sell?”

“All of them.”

The rate of 13 shillings would give Lu Li an extra 400 shillings, which was quite good.

“Alright, but are you really sure?

Investigation points are far more important than those 5000 shillings.”

“Shillings are more important to me.”

“If you insist.” Tesla’s tone was somewhat helpless: “When do you need it?”

“The sooner the better.”

“Later, I’ll have a servant go to the bank to withdraw the money for you, and if you ever change your mind, you can come to me to repurchase the investigation points at a ratio of 11 Shillings.

For any extra, consider it my help to you.”

“Thank you.”

“Instead of thanking me, you’d better watch your Sanity Value.

According to the procedure, you must come in to test for your Sanity Value tomorrow.”

“I’ll be there.”

The movements of Tesla and his servant were quick.

An hour after the phone call, there was a knock at the door, and a woman dressed as a maid in her fifties brought cash, mentioning that the investigation points could be given to Tesla the next day.

Now, the shortfall was down to 1,251 Shillings, very close indeed.

Lu Li started to do up the top button of his shirt, tightened his tie, and after leaving the desk, walked toward the coat rack.

He had a debt to collect now.

Before setting off to his destination to collect the debt, Lu Li first took his shirt and trousers to a clothes shop to sell.

The owner offered a buyback price of 200 Shillings, but after a poker-faced negotiation by Lu Li, they agreed on 250 Shillings.

Muttering “Why does it smell like toothpaste?” the owner took the clothes back into the inner room and, shortly after, returned with the money for Lu Li.

Now there only remained a shortfall of 1,000.

…

Ding-ling—ding-ling—

The clear and pleasant sound of the wind chimes echoed through the empty, silent hall.

“Oh, look who’s here?

My old friend—long time no see.”

The figure behind the counter swiftly put away a large handful of Shillings and spread his arms as if to welcome Lu Li’s arrival.

In the dim light, Lu Li approached the counter, his silhouette clearly outlined under the glow of an oil lamp.

Without a word, he took out a badge from his pocket and showed it to Hades.

Hades’ eyes fell on Lu Li’s hand, and, unable to help himself, he exclaimed in contracting pupils, “You’ve become an investigator!?”

Along with the surprise came wariness.

Hades was well aware that this black-haired man opposite him never did anything pointless; his visit this time was definitely not to flaunt his new status.

Worse yet, as he grew stronger, it became increasingly difficult to get more Shillings out of his hands.

He surely hadn’t come this time to demand back what he’d been cheated of…

Hades shuddered, suddenly realizing something, his alertness peaking even though his face betrayed a friendly and amiable expression, “It’s to be expected.

A talented young man like you—who wouldn’t notice?

Ahahaha…”

Only Hades was laughing.

The sense of foreboding in his heart grew denser, and he felt compelled to break the ice preemptively, “Do you remember the Light-illuminating Fruit?

Consider those documents my gift to celebrate your becoming an investigator.”

“What else?”

“What else?” Hades feigned just the right amount of confusion.

“The Spirit-Calling Gun’s price difference.

I’m here to get back those 1,500 Shillings.”

Hades felt a plunge into the abyss; he’d guessed right.

What hurt even more was realizing that he couldn’t resist.

It was not just because of the gap in their positions.

Though an investigator held a high status, Hades’ decades of operation were not for naught.

What troubled him were those investigators—scattered though they were, they were surprisingly united.

If they knew one of their colleagues had been swindled out of a large sum of money, they would certainly visit endlessly in succession…

The money could be returned, but the loss had to be stemmed!

Hades clenched his teeth, his pupils seemingly tinged with blood, “Deals are always cash on delivery, but since you’re my friend, I can refund part of the difference.

However, as a half-merchant, you should let me make some profit…”

As he spoke these words, Hades’ heart bled.