Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 404 - 404 Two hundred sixty-one

404: Two hundred sixty-one.

A storm is coming 404: Two hundred sixty-one.

A storm is coming “The Terrifying Faceless Giant incident” has been declared closed by the Exorcist Association, halting all proactive investigations—unless it resurfaces.

This incident from beginning to end was permeated with a profound sense of despair and helplessness.

During the few days that the Terrifying Faceless Giant existed, humanity’s most elite group of exorcists knew nothing about it, completely powerless.

His gaze briefly lingered before Lu Li turned his attention to the second news item.

[Construction Has Begun on the Doomsday Shelters]

[In light of the current serious situation and the potential worsening, the Exorcist Association, Watchers, Investigators, and the Alliance have officially initiated the construction of refuges, to preserve humanity’s spark.

This is no exaggeration; the Exorcist Association has made rough predictions for the future: anomalies will appear more frequently over time.

Nightmare events that are difficult to combat will spread across the land like spores on the wind.]

[Family members of exorcists will be given priority for placement into the doomsday shelters, with all four organizations making every effort to ensure the safety of exorcists and their families.]

If the first piece of news allowed one to breathe a slight sigh of relief in silence, this news carried an oppressive sense of an impending storm.

Outside the corridor window, deep in the clouds, thunder roared as the wind whipped up a torrential downpour, restlessly striking the windows.

Lu Li glanced outside the window before looking at the third item of news.

The bad news didn’t stop there; the first two items only took up half of the page.

[Tillage Garden Investigation Team Missing]

[Senior Investigators Charles and Valentine, along with agents such as Fenson, and three naval ships dispatched by the Lennon Archipelago Duchy, have all gone missing while investigating the disappearance at Tillage Garden.]

[At present, the Lennon Archipelago Duchy has temporarily suspended the exploration of the waters surrounding Tillage Garden, but we cannot—we must find out what happened there.

A team of Senior Investigators is set to sail from Rodest Port on Wednesday.]

The entire continent’s disappearance blanketed everyone—both psychologically and physically—in a fog.

Everyone knew something terribly strange had occurred there, but as the “Investigator Weekly” claimed, finding out what happened at Tillage Garden was their duty.

Noting the departure time of the investigation team, Lu Li looked at the last piece of news on the front page.

[Mists Rising from the Deep Sea Far from Land]

[We are not completely ignorant about the situation in Tillage Garden.

Or rather, we have discovered new activities from the perpetrator that caused the disconnection of Tillage Garden.]

[The investigation team stationed outside Tillage Garden observed the mist enveloping Tillage Garden beginning to spread, covering the sea surface.

The less upsetting fact is that the mist only seems to spread during the descent of night.

For the time being, its range of influence is limited—unless it accelerates.]

Lu Li turned to the second page.

Amid the bad news, the good news was that no more sensational news appeared on another page, including Belfast’s apocalyptic forecast.

There was no Mutant Rain nor Mist of Strangeness, only the Lightless Night that continued to shroud the world.

“The situation’s quite dire, isn’t it?” Petra’s voice came from beside him, his hand waving away the newspaper that Lu Li offered, “I’ve already seen it…

the content is so depressing I couldn’t even eat my breakfast.”

“Let me see that.” Vinson, surrounded by a haze of smoke, approached Lu Li from not too far away, the smoke dispersing around him like disturbed mist.

Lu Li passed the newspaper to Vinson.

The nearly fifty-year-old retired Watcher, his back no longer straight, quickly scanned the content of the newspaper, and after a long pause, he let out a cold snort, “It seems the day has indeed nearly arrived.”

“What do you mean ‘it’s almost time’?” Petra asked before Lu Li could speak.

“The food has been served on the table, and the guests should dine now,” Vinson said as he handed the newspaper back to Lu Li.

His words were ambiguous, seemingly carrying a deeper meaning, but no matter what Petra and Lola asked, he did not speak again.

“May I have a look?” asked Lola, curious.

Taking the newspaper from Lu Li, he nodded politely, “Thank you.”

Lola was just an ordinary Exorcist.

He had come into contact with investigators and watchmen, and he knew some information, but he did not understand the details.

Such as these internal newspapers and the Alliance’s odd radio broadcasts.

He read slowly, and his expression became solemn as the content unfolded.

After a dozen minutes, he handed the newspaper back to Lu Li.

“It really is…”

Lola took a deep breath, unsure of how to evaluate what he saw in the newspaper.

Petra hinted to him, “You can buy such newspapers from merchants.

But since you’re not an investigator, you will have to pay a few more shillings.”

Lola nodded, “I know, after resolving this…

commission, I’ll catch up on the missed information.”

The four of them continued their wait in the corridor, occasionally hearing the sound of the Baron moving within the room and the rhythmic knocking — that was the signal they had agreed upon, representing that the Baron was safe at that moment.

[The brilliant sunlight fell upon the desk, emanating a holy light.

It was just that the window without birdsong made the clear weather seem less lively.]

White light tore through the darkness, and the electrified corridor was somewhat cold.

The maids, who had changed into thick long-sleeved uniforms after the rainy season arrived, brought in stoves for everyone to warm up by.

[Whether it was because of unveiling the veil that shrouded the world or the absence of birds’ noise, Sara felt unusually calm, just like an ordinary noble girl.]

The obscure, ancient voice transitioned the plot at a slow interval.

Approaching noon, the Head Maid went to prepare lunch for the Baron and the guests, and the paused story resumed again.

[When Sara finished reading the book, the inquiry from Maid Irene came from next to her, “It’s noon, Miss.

Would you like me to get your lunch?” “Then please do.” Sara smiled softly, as usual.]

[Maid Irene was delighted to see Sara’s returning vigor and cheerfully left the bedroom.

Behind her, as the door closed, not a hint of a smile remained on Sara’s cheeks.]

The Baron, accompanied by the butler, came to the dining room, where the black plates and the black food had already been waiting for her.

She picked up the plate and returned to the bedroom, and the obscure, ancient voice began to sound slowly.

[Sara didn’t eat the food; while Maid Irene wasn’t paying attention, she sprinkled some brown powder on the pastries.

“I am not very hungry,” Sara said to Maid Irene.

“Please give the pastries to the servants outside to share.”]

[“You are really kind, Miss,” said Maid Irene with a smile.

She came out to the corridor with the pastries, lifted her chin proudly, and said, “This is from the Miss, eat it up.”]

“I am full now,” Lu Li said.

That was the truth.

Vinson was the second to refuse, followed by Petra.

The slightly slower-reacting Lola was the last to speak, “I am not very hungry…”

[The servants had just finished their breakfast not long before, “I am not very hungry…” Servant Lola also said, but his grumbling stomach betrayed him, and he scratched his head somewhat sheepishly, “Well… if none of you want it, then I won’t be polite.” Saying this, he picked up a piece of pastry and stuffed it into his mouth.]