Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 356 - 356 213

356: 213.

Take Annie away 356: 213.

Take Annie away Three figures left Aunt Mary’s residence, boarding a carriage and driving away.

On the carriage, Mary told Anna and Lu Li about what happened after they left.

The situation occurred this morning, or perhaps last night.

In any case, when Mary, as usual, arrived at the estate one hour after dawn, the gatekeeper hurriedly informed her that there was a problem with the elm tree.

As Mary rushed to the elm tree, she saw that its base was already covered with a layer of fallen branches.

Anna’s branches were shedding.

Mary then tried to contact Lu Li and Anna, but they were in Elm Forest with the limping Barton, so Mary went to seek Old Henry’s help.

The man, who had suddenly received the shocking news of his son’s death yesterday, had fallen ill, but he was still willing to lend a hand.

After arriving at the estate and examining it, Old Henry’s verdict was: This tree is withering.

Old Henry told her that such a condition has become common recently, almost inevitable, and that he was incapable of stopping its death.

After understanding the complete cause and consequences, the carriage had already approached the estate, stopping outside in the dark where no light was visible.

The gatekeeper came out of his hut, carrying an oil lamp, to open the gate for Lu Li and the others.

They approached Annie, whose damp trunk reflected the light from the oil lamp.

Just as Mary had said, the ground was covered with a layer of softened branches, and the branches on the trunk were sparse, like trees in winter.

Standing in front of the tree, Lu Li looked toward Anna.

She floated off the ground, her forehead resting against the cold trunk in the faint light of the oil lamp on a rainy night.

After a brief silence, her weak murmur emerged amid the sounds of rain, “I can feel her… very faint… like a frail flame flickering in the wind… She’s responding to me…”

Anna’s tone was becoming despondent, and in the watchful gaze of Lu Li and Mary, she gently touched Annie’s rough bark, whispering softly, “I’m sorry, I’m powerless.”

“Take her away.”

Lu Li suddenly spoke up.

Two astounded gazes turned to him, and Lu Li continued, “Take her back to Elm Forest.”

Anna suddenly realized Lu Li’s intention

“You mean to…”

Lu Li nodded slightly and said to Mary, “Aunt Mary, please go call Old Henry.”

“He doesn’t have a phone at home.” Mary didn’t know what they were talking about, but it was clear they had a plan.

She hurriedly replied, “I’ll go find him.”

Anna hesitated for a moment before still softly saying, “Be careful…”

Mary revealed a tender smile reserved for the younger generation and turned to walk toward the gate.

Watching that faint light recede, Anna turned her gaze back, anxiously asking Lu Li, “Will this work… They are all desperately waiting for death.”

“It’s better than staying here.”

“Hmm…”

After nearly half an hour of waiting, there was some movement at the gate, and the glow of fireflies gathered from afar.

Mary, accompanied by Old Henry and several young gardeners, rushed over.

“They will dig out Annie,” Mary said to Lu Li, noticing that Anna had already made herself invisible at the sight of strangers.

Lu Li nodded, then looked at Old Henry, who had a complex expression on his face.

Henry seemed to have many questions to ask, and Lu Li knew what he wanted to inquire about.

He told him, “I’ll tell you later.

For now, let’s move this elm tree and make sure she can survive the journey back to Himfast.”

“…I can’t guarantee that,” Old Henry set aside his queries for the moment and responded to Lu Li, “It’s already wilting, it could die at any moment.”

“Then let’s ensure that she doesn’t die because of the travel,” Lu Li said.

“That I can do.”

Old Henry summoned the young gardeners and directed them where to start digging, careful not to harm the roots.

He also sent two gardeners to bring the stretched horse-drawn carriage from outside the gate into the estate and carry down the wooden crates.

The dim light from a few oil lamps barely illuminated the surroundings as the gardeners started to work with their spades.

Watching them, Old Henry stood beside Lu Li and said, “Can you tell me…

just what was it that…”

“He was probably killed by a vengeful spirit.”

At those words, Old Henry fell silent, his frame looking frail and lonely in the pouring rain, and he slowly said, “The police told me he was killed while helping someone…”

In a sense, the police weren’t wrong.

It would seem an appropriate time to console the grieving old man, but Lu Li didn’t.

He kept quiet without saying a word.

Fortunately, Aunt Mary was there, gently comforting the man who had lost his son.

A large amount of soil from the outskirts of Elm Forest was dug out, but the surroundings remained otherwise untouched.

A large wooden crate, big enough for a dozen people to stand in with ease, was carried down from the carriage.

The young gardeners cautiously lifted the elm roots wrapped in clumps of earth and placed them into the crate, then covered it with a lid featuring circular holes.

As they were about to lift the tree planted in the crate onto the carriage, Old Henry stopped them, instructing to fill the crate with soil to prevent damage to the tree’s roots during transport.

With that done, the gardeners lifted the crate and surprisingly found it to be somewhat lighter than before.

They didn’t understand why, but still hastened to place it flat on the stretched carriage and secure it with braces.

Only a small portion of the tree’s crown stuck out from the carriage.

Annie’s frailty made her easier to transport, as a lush, large tree would have required some branches to be trimmed.

After the hustle, Old Henry and the gardeners left straightaway.

When Lu Li inquired about the price, Mary replied with a smile, “I’ll cover the cost.

Consider it a little something I can do for Anna.”

Time was of the essence, and Mary said nothing to delay their departure.

The carriage Lu Li had ridden in was kept by Mary; Himfast had rental contracts with the same company, and she could return it for them the next day.

Driving the extended carriage back to the gate, ready to leave, Lu Li noticed Anna’s hesitation and after thinking for a moment, asked, “Do you have a friend who’s an Exorcist?”

Mary nodded, “Yes, she’s the one who told me about the investigators and night watchmen.”

“Can she be trusted?”

“She’s a good friend of mine.” Not understanding why Lu Li was asking, Mary still answered.

Lu Li nodded, “Stay in contact with her over the next few days, and if possible, it’s best you stay at her place so she can quickly get you out if anything happens.”

Mary realized something, “Is something going to happen?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Not at the moment…

what does that mean?”

“The literal meaning.”

Anna explained for Lu Li, “Strange things are proliferating.

Zenst has already seen hundreds of thousands of deaths; terrifying events are taking place.”

Mary froze, her mouth slightly agape.

She couldn’t believe it but felt that Anna and Lu Li had no reason to lie to her.

“Then you…”

“We’ve already found a safe haven, you needn’t worry,” Anna said, forcing a smile to hide the sadness in her eyes.

Sadness for this world

Mary hesitated, “Can I tell my relatives and friends?”

“Yes,” Lu Li replied.

Such matters couldn’t be kept secret for long.

Everyone would find out sooner or later, and it was better for Mary and her family and friends to know early and prepare.

“I understand,” Mary nodded, speaking to Anna and Lu Li in the carriage.

“Safe travels, until we meet again.”