Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 369 - 369 226

369: 226.

Expansion and Radio 369: 226.

Expansion and Radio Unversed in the ways of the world, Lu Li naturally did not understand politeness.

Since the Bird Beak Mask had said everything belonged to Lu Li, it meant he could empty the place.

And that’s exactly what Lu Li did.

He did not do it himself, three to four hundred shillings were not worth wasting time on.

He made a phone call to Jojo, asking her to take charge of selling these furnishings.

Just in case, Lu Li reminded Jojo not to enter the basement, even though the evil being there had already been taken away.

He left everything else to Jojo to handle—preferably to sell the house as well.

Except for a cumbersome radio and a photograph that seemed to be of the Bird Beak Mask himself.

The former was moved to the Detective Agency, where they could listen to information in real time.

The latter was prepared for the Bird Beak Mask.

If she hadn’t died and suddenly appeared in front of Lu Li, he would still have something to cherish her memory by.

While Jojo was on her way, Lu Li and Anna checked every room of the building to make sure there were no other oddities, then handed the place over to Jojo, who had arrived, and they went to the workers’ residence.

“Jones Brothers,” that’s what people called them.

They weren’t real brothers, not even related by blood.

They were just four young men who had banded together for survival a decade ago and the name had stuck.

After years of mutual support and living together, their relationship was no different than that of real brothers.

This was one of the workers Jojo had introduced to Lu Li.

They were surprised by Lu Li’s visit, since Jojo had contacted them and they had asked to start working after the rain had lessened—they presumed the client behind Jojo would not agree.

But it wouldn’t be long, today’s newspaper’s weather column said light rain for the next two days; they could start working tomorrow.

Lu Li told them about the situation on the cliff and the job requirements, as well as a “construction plan” he had drawn up yesterday evening.

It outlined Lu Li’s demands for cave expansion: excavate a space two meters deep, three meters high, and six meters wide into the interior of the cave, with neatly chiseled rock walls, and meanwhile excavate a cellar, two meters deep and ten cubic meters in space, with completion as soon as possible.

The excavated space was very flat, like a long corridor that stretched across the deepest part of the cave.

Lu Li had done this because he had less than three cubic meters of Deep Sea Stone and could barely cover the walls and ceiling of this size.

However, with subsequent acquisitions, Lu Li could expand the cave at any time.

Six meters in width had already been reserved by Lu Li, enough to lay one meter thick Deep Sea Stone, so Lu Li only needed to dig deeper into the cave.

The premise was that Lu Li could still afford Deep Sea Stone.

The eldest of the Jones Brothers hesitated before finally suppressing his curiosity about his employer’s request, considering before quoting his price, “The completion date is around 2 to 4 days, with a total salary of 160 shillings per day for five people.”

Perhaps feeling the price a bit high and Lu Li might disagree, the eldest added, “You should know the horrors of the forest…

We’re taking a great risk going there, many workers are unwilling to enter.”

“A bit slow,” Lu Li said.

There were only these two days of good weather, and the rainy season was coming, when storms would engulf the entire city, no longer just the normal scene of rain.

Thunderstorms, gales, and lurking presences would all appear one after another.

The eldest reluctantly told Lu Li, “Digging the cave won’t take much time, we’re not short of strength.

It’s just the space for digging the cellar is too small, only one person can work on it.”

“I need it finished within two days, the cellar can be incomplete,” Lu Li said.

“Then there’s no problem,” the eldest breathed a sigh of relief.

“However, to save time, you’d better rent a horse-drawn cart to transport us and our tools.”

“Okay,” Lu Li agreed.

He did not refuse.

Renting a horse-drawn cart could save at least two to three hours of travel time each day.

The cliff was actually only two to three miles away from the city in a straight line, but if one were to follow the winding and difficult mountain roads, it would be at least five or six miles away.

Having agreed to come with the carriage at dawn the next day, Lu Lili left the residence of the Jones Brothers and returned to the Detective Agency.

It was still early, with the hour hand nearing the number 9, soon to touch it.

The sculpture had made a new gesture, its intact arm pointing towards the telephone, indicating that during their absence, a call had come in.

Lately, there often had been phone calls after his departure.

At the same time, it’s worth noting that the sculpture, which had been lifeless for a long time, had recently shown signs of activity, seemingly after the strange rain.

Perhaps the strange rain had affected it, or perhaps it was just a coincidence.

Lu Li picked up the phone to inquire about the incoming calls at the telephone exchange, and to his surprise, it wasn’t Jojo who called, but Tesla.

While Anna was figuring out how to make the radio emit sound, Lu Li dialed the number for Tesla.

Click-click—

The sounds of Anna slapping the radio came over, and Lu Li’s dark eyes fell upon her: “There’s a spring at the back, just wind it to the end.”

This was the reason why Lu Li brought the radio back—if it needed to be connected to electrical wires, it would have been sold along with the other furniture.

“Oh!”

Anna responded with a sudden realization, tilting her head to look behind the radio for the spring.

The call connected at this moment.

After Lu Li inquired about the purpose of the call, Tesla told him that Thomas’s funeral would be held at 10 a.m.

tomorrow in the cemetery of the Holy Father District and asked if he would be attending.

Just as Lu Li was about to speak, a strange whispering sound echoed throughout the Detective Agency.

“Are you dealing with something strange?” Tesla’s voice held a hint of surprise through the handset.

“Chants from the radio.” Lu Li glanced towards Anna, who was making the noise, and said, “Should I prepare formal clothing?”

“No need, your everyday attire is formal enough,” Tesla commented on Lu Li’s usual clothing, then concluded the matters and hung up.

Anna, who was by the dining table, had nearly figured out how to use the radio and was adjusting the frequency in search of other signals.

The “shh-shh” static noise was overshadowing the “whoosh-whoosh” of the rain outside.

Among the snowy static noise, fleeting human voices occasionally intermingled; Anna continued to tweak the frequency, but no clear voices came through, her actions gradually becoming more frantic—

“Let me do it.”

Lu Li spoke, extinguishing the inexplicable restlessness in Anna’s heart.

She obediently voiced an “Oh” and moved aside to let him adjust, asking, “Aren’t we going to the cliff tomorrow?”

“The funeral is at 10 a.m., there’s time,” Lu Li said calmly, slowly turning the tuner.

“You stay at the cliff to watch the workers with Annie.”

“I want to come with you!” Anna protested.

[*Static*…

The grocery store owner has already been taken away for investigation by the Police Station, the authorities have…

whoosh-whoosh…

the victim’s family *distorted* Daily News…

whoosh-whoosh…

follow-up…]

This was a broadcast from the Daily News radio station.

Lu Li adjusted it a bit more to make the voice as clear as possible, then removed his hand.

He said to Anna, “Most of those attending the funeral are Exorcists, it’s not appropriate for you to show your face there.”

Anna was aware of this as well and reluctantly agreed to Lu Li’s arrangement.