Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 327 - 327 One hundred and eighty-four

327: One hundred and eighty-four.

“Omen 327: One hundred and eighty-four.

“Omen The whole of Himfast gradually disappeared from view.

Just like Lu Li was subtly changing Anna, Anna was also changing Lu Li.

If it had been Lu Li at the beginning, he might have stood before Old Henry when he had some speculations, telling him the possible outcome for his son, rather than doing so in a comparatively tactful way before leaving.

Anna gazed blankly for a while at the rain mist that enveloped the area behind her, then withdrew her gaze.

Her eyes returned to Lu Li, who had lit the oil lamp, sitting at the edge of the carriage, one hand holding the reins, the other flipping open a local newspaper he had bought before leaving the city.

The wind generated by the motion of the carriage was against Lu Li, causing the newspaper in his hands to constantly roll and fold, hindering his reading.

“I’ll drive,” Anna said.

“Hmm.”

Lu Li retreated back into the carriage, leaving the reins to Anna.

Perhaps because the newspaper was a local one, Baron Joseph did not appear in it.

But the front page was not about the missing Immortal Giant either, instead, it featured an art theft case of a painting called “Hope.”

[The world-famous painting “Hope” on exhibition at the Woody Museum was stolen last night]

Aside from the metaphorical implication of “hope being lost” within the theft case, this news appeared on the front page simply because this was the City of Art, Himfast.

The second page reported on the missing Immortal Giant, stating that there was no new information—which wasn’t exactly accurate because the Lennon Islands had sent out three more warships.

Following that was Himfast’s local news, which did not feature the cries for help from the alley.

Putting away the newspaper, Lu Li found himself with nothing to do.

He had slept too much in the past two days, making it hard to rest now, not even to doze off.

He pulled back the curtain of the carriage window, and saw that the light rain outside had grown a bit heavier than when they had left Himfast a few dozen minutes earlier.

The weather forecast in the newspaper predicted moderate rain for the day, with heavy rain to follow tomorrow.

And then Mutant Rain.

At this moment, Anna, who was driving the carriage ahead, suddenly let out a startled exclamation.

“Ah, it’s a crow!”

Turning his head to look, a black shadow darted in quickly through the rain mist, coming closer and landing on Anna’s shoulder.

“Hi…”

Anna, remaining still, cautiously greeted.

Was it the result of the “cries for help from the alley” incident?

Lu Li took out the note from the crow’s leg and unfolded it under the light of the oil lamp.

[Dear Investigator, you are currently staying/en route in the eastern part of the Ailen Peninsula]

[It is forecasted that from this evening to late night tomorrow, Mutant Rain will fall in this region, please prepare in advance]

[If you are willing to maintain peace and stability in this region during this time, we would be immensely grateful]

[Note: For detailed information about Mutant Rain, you can flip to the back of this note]

It wasn’t the result of the incident, but it was close enough, bringing timely intelligence about the Mutant Rain to Lu Li.

[Mutant Rain: Transforms certain special objects in the covered area into strange entities.

Special objects include, but are not limited to: items holding sentimental value, places cloaked in Inner World influence, and the surroundings of individuals with low Sanity Value]

[Response measures: Avoid getting wet by the rain]

Mutant Rain, like the Lightless Night, had a method of avoidance, and it was relatively cost-effective; anyone could manage it—as long as they didn’t get wet from the rain.

Putting away the note, Lu Li said to the crow, “Nothing else then.”

“Caw—”

The crow let out a sharp, piercing cry, then spread its wings and flew away.

“Ow, my ears…”

Anna clutched her ears in pain, whimpering as she muttered viciously, “I’m never going to like crows again!”

After complaining for a while, Anna’s attention was diverted as she asked Lu Li what was written on it.

After Lu Li told her about the Mutant Rain, she set up an umbrella above her head to prevent the rain from falling on her.

Even though it was not the Mutant Rain at the moment.

Even though she was a phantom.

Even though a thin membrane already covered her soul.

The carriage road that they were traveling on led to Magic Bird Town and Belfast, and from time to time, Lu Li and the rest encountered carriages coming from or heading towards the former two places.

The calm lasted for dozens of minutes until it was shattered by the sudden sound of hurried hoofbeats coming from behind.

Lu Li and Anna turned their heads to look toward the rear of the carriage, where a few silhouettes galloped wildly in the rain a hundred meters away, catching up with Lu Li’s carriage in a few seconds and blocking its path.

Anna vanished from sight, and inside the carriage, Lu Li grabbed the reins and looked up at the few approaching figures.

“We are from the Himfast Police Station, you—”

The figure speaking from atop the horse in a raincoat suddenly stopped as he saw the Three-Eyed Black Crow Badge that Lu Li had taken out.

He had often seen this object in the past few months, and like those wearing black uniforms, it belonged to a special agency—

His tone became polite, “Inspector, my apologies for blocking your path.

May I ask if you’ve seen any suspicious individuals?”

“Are you looking for the person who stole the painting?” Lu Li asked.

As an investigator, Lu Li naturally wouldn’t be suspected of the stolen painting.

“Yes.”

“I haven’t seen them.”

“Alright, then we’ll continue our search for the culprit.” The young officer said, pulling on the reins and chasing ahead with his companion.

The halted wheels started turning again.

Anna emerged from behind Lu Li, gazing at the figures disappearing in the rain and then turning her head to Lu Li, who appeared thoughtful, “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m wondering if we might encounter the person or people who stole the painting ahead of us,” Lu Li said.

“This plot sounds very familiar…

Let me check.” Anna withdrew back into the carriage, flipping through her romance novel.

After a few minutes, Anna cried out “Found it!” and flopped beside Lu Li, reading aloud the text on the page, “He encountered the thief who had stolen from him on the road, and the thief thought he would shout like everyone else, ‘You damn thief!’ ‘I’m going to take you to the Police Station to be punished!’ But he didn’t.

He elegantly asked the thief if he had encountered any difficulties, if he needed any help—oh, he was so kind that the thief was moved by him, removed the hood, revealing a beautiful face—”

Anna suddenly fell silent, with a thump closing the book.

The carriage resumed its quiet, with only the faint sound of rain falling all around.

It wasn’t until ten minutes later that a stalled line of carriages appeared ahead, some of the people atop them looking towards the distance and whispering, seemingly the officers had caught the thief who had stolen the painting.

Anna’s eyes gradually narrowed.

It was unclear what was happening in the distance through the rain curtain, but at some point, a shrill, exhausted scream echoed through the air above the area.

“They have arrived!

The end of the world is nigh!

We have no hope!!!

We will all die, you fools—”

The voice was abruptly cut off, as if someone had stuffed his mouth.

The onlookers drew back into their carriages, murmuring among themselves.

“He’s a madman, don’t look.”

Only one person, a ghost, didn’t think so.

A mounted officer passed by with a carriage, and the queuing line resumed its flow.

“Will everything we have done be too late?” Anna’s tone carried concern.

Lu Li remained unchanged.

“Do all that is humanly possible, and leave the rest to fate.”