Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 405 - 405 262

405: 262.

The Death of Lola 405: 262.

The Death of Lola The plate contained a black object that bore no resemblance to any kind of food.

Lola’s hesitation caused the plot to stall, and The Shadow of Puppetry , intent on correcting the story, descended, with black fog rolling and spreading across the ceiling, bringing down circling, entwined, twisted black claws.

The counter started ticking urgently, and a low murmuring resonated in the ears.

Trembling, pale hands reached for the pastry, picked it up, and slowly brought it to the mouth—as slowly as the descending withered claw.

Despair was written all over Lola’s face, her lips trembling as she cast pleading glances at the others.

The Baron feigned calmness, but panic and unrest lurked deep in his narrow eyes.

Vinson looked on with pity, while Petra furrowed her brows, searching for a way to save her.

His gaze finally rested on the tranquil Lu Li, seemingly unaffected by any event, this person with devil-like hair and pupils seemingly incapable of revealing any emotion.

The withered claw was imminent, and Lola had no choice but to bite into the “pastry,” cold, tasteless, devoid of any flavor food should possess.

The pursuing withered claws within the fog began to retract.

At that moment, a calm voice sounded, “You’re going to eat when you still haven’t recovered from your vertigo?”

Lola seized the rope that Lu Li threw in a split second, eagerly seizing the opportunity to say, “Not yet—bleugh—”

He bent over, rudely prodding his throat with his fingers to induce vomiting—despite not having chewed or swallowed the “pastry.”

Chunks of the black “pastry” spilled from his mouth, and amidst the sounds of retching, remnants of breakfast consumed earlier also fell onto the corridor carpet.

The paused, arcane, ancient voice slowly began to sound.

[“You’re going to eat when you still haven’t recovered from your vertigo?” Maid Lola puzzledly asked.

“Not yet.” Lola, having taken a big bite, only then remembered— the deliciousness of the pastry should have filled his mouth, but Lola had to spit out the food: he did not wish to spend the whole day vomiting again.]

[“That’s disgusting…

You can share it amongst yourselves.” Maid Aileen looked at Lola with disdain, handed the plate to Maid Lu Li, and returned to the bedroom.]

“That’s disgusting…

You can share it yourselves.”

The taste of digested food mixed with stomach acid, and the sound of retching made the Baron want to cover her nose; she finished her line quickly and ran into the bedroom.

Lola, who continued to vomit, raised his head through the courting hole, his tear-filled red eyes looking at Lu Li gratefully, trying to say something, but his spasming stomach forced him to vomit again.

The butler called the maids who were hiding and observing from a distance to come clean up the vomit and followed the Baron back into the bedroom.

[“What’s happened?” Sara, hearing the commotion outside, asked.

Maid Aileen, looking disgusted, described Lola’s vomiting to the young mistress.

“Only he has eaten it?” Sara whispered to herself, the powder was something she concocted from an alchemy recipe recorded in an ancient book, and it had taken effect.

But having just one person die wasn’t quite according to her plan…

Sara looked up and said to Maid Aileen, “Aileen, help me move some things from the treehouse.” “What are you moving, Miss?” Maid Aileen asked.

“The books, bring back the books from the bookshelf.”]

[Maid Aileen nodded, somewhat puzzled, and as she was about to leave, Sara stopped her, “Wait, Lola doesn’t need to come, he’s still sick.”]

[“You’re really good to your servants, Miss,” said Maid Aileen, showing a genuine smile as she spoke sincerely.]

“You’re really good to your servants, Miss…” the Baron said insincerely, realizing something.

Those words carried a cruel irony when spoken aloud.

On the corridor, Lola, who had just suppressed the feeling of nausea and had stood upright, froze.

The Baron stepped out of the bedroom, avoiding Lola’s gaze and recounting “Sara’s” words to Lu Li and the others.

Petra’s brows did not ease, and to avoid danger for Lola, she said, “You guys go ahead, I…

I’ll stay behind to take care of Lola.”

[“You go ahead, I’ll stay here to take care of Lola,” said Maid Petra, looking caringly at Lola.

Maid Aileen, somewhat displeased, said, “The Miss is very anxious, what’s more important, her books or a servant’s illness?

Go to work quickly.”]

[Maid Petra seemed discontent with Maid Aileen’s attitude: “Do you really feel that way?

We’ve been living in the manor with Lola for five years now.” “But we are servants, we must satisfy all our master’s demands!” shouted Maid Aileen.]

Two servants were on the verge of arguing, fearing to disturb the young mistress, Lola hurriedly stopped the two quarrelers, “Don’t worry, see, I’m fine now, Petra, go quickly and help the young mistress with the books.

It’s just the right time for me to clean the floor thoroughly.”

“Alright then,” Petra said reluctantly, casting an unhappy glance at Maid Irene, and headed towards the treehouse in the back garden.

The black fog on the ceiling rose once again, and under everyone’s gaze, Lola pronounced her own death sentence during a brief silence.

“Don’t worry, see, I’m fine now, Petra, go quickly and help the young mistress with the books.

It’s just the right time for me to clean the floor thoroughly.

After I die, go to the Roland Detective Agency and report my death,” she said.

The last sentence wasn’t part of the plot, silently indicated by the claws slowly extending out of the black fog.

But Lola ignored it, calmly making eye contact with everyone.

“Alright then,” Petra nodded gravely and turned away.

“Keep going, don’t look back,” Vinson said in a low voice, reminding them as he walked behind everyone.

Click—

The sound of the room door opening and closing.

“O God above the gray fog, Thy pu— devout…

servant—”

Crash—

The sounds of Lola’s resistance came from the bedroom behind them.

And then, abruptly, the sounds stopped.

The dead silence of the corridor was left only with the sounds of wind, thunder, and rain.

…

“We can’t change a plot that has already happened,” Petra said, now a sufficient distance from The Shadow of Puppetry, in the garden.

The umbrella she held up blocked most of the rain, but gusts of wind still drove some rain and chill under the umbrella.

Any plot narrated by that abstruse ancient voice would become reality, irreversible.

They could only alter what came after the fact, not the fact itself.

For instance, when the abstruse ancient voice commanded Petra to slash her own throat with a knife, she had to do it, no one could stop her, and even if they temporarily did, The Shadow of Puppetry would continue to arrange for that act—however, she could attempt to save herself afterwards.

This might be why David had simply died.

The David who could hear the abstruse ancient voice knew the danger he faced but was powerless to do anything.

He could only face his fleeting desperation, killed by “Sara.”

Similar helplessness was shared by all.

They arrived at the back garden, where dark shelves had long been waiting in the clearing.

After removing all the black books, Lu Li and the others returned to the mansion.

Following Sara’s instructions, the servants piled the books beside the desk.

They walked through the corridor, entering the bedroom where “Sara” was.

They didn’t see Lola, who had been transformed into a “story character.”