Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 434 - 434 291

434: 291.

Return to Himfast 434: 291.

Return to Himfast “`

Thump.

Jojo closed the carriage door, blocking out the wind and rain.

She sat down and said to Lu Li, “The wind isn’t as strong anymore, but are you sure we don’t need to drive the carriage?”

“No need, Anna will take care of these things.”

Next to the oil lamp fastened on a wooden board, a map was spread out.

Answering Jojo while looking at the map, Lu Li said, “It’s two o’clock in the afternoon now.

We should be able to reach Himfast before it’s completely dark.

We could stay there for the night or drive directly to Rose Town, which is twenty miles away from Shadow Town.”

Her slender finger tapped the location of Rose Town, a thumb’s width away from Shadow Swamp.

“If we don’t stop, we’ll reach Rose Town tomorrow morning.

If we do, it will be in the evening.

The choice is yours.”

Jojo hesitated and said, “I’ve heard that the wilderness is very dangerous at night.”

“Many strange creatures lurk in the dark, and we are very likely to encounter them on the road,” Lu Li explained calmly.

No place was safe.

Cities could be attacked by terrifying creatures, and the countryside far from towns was roamed by oddities.

The unceasing strange phenomena could not stay hidden, and more and more residents were becoming aware of them.

If it wasn’t for the storm making it difficult to go outside, the towns would already be in turmoil.

Jojo was torn.

She didn’t want to put Lu Li, the only one willing to help her, into danger because of her brother, but she also feared that if they delayed, they wouldn’t be able to save Oliver in time, and she would regret it for the rest of her life.

Lu Li watched Jojo’s face quietly for a moment, then lowered his dark eyes and began to roll up the map.

“Understood.”

Jojo didn’t know what Lu Li had understood, but he had clearly made a decision, and she was finally free from the torment of choice.

Regardless, the guilt and unease in her heart lessened.

The rolled-up sheepskin map was placed back into the carrying case by Lu Li.

Jojo caught a quick glimpse inside, noting three artistically crafted silver flintlock pistols.

Lu Li took out a newspaper, closed the carrying case, and placed it beside the carriage.

Rustle—

Unfolding the newspaper, Lu Li settled down in the gently swaying carriage.

With nothing to do, Jojo’s gaze wandered and rested on the back of the newspaper for a while, but unable to make out the words clearly, she looked away.

Then, Lu Li’s voice came from behind the newspaper, “Anna’s book is in the bag.

You can read it, but you must ask Anna’s permission first.”

Just as Jojo was about to nod, Anna’s voice echoed in the carriage, “I already consent.”

“Thank you.” Jojo was familiar with Anna and had interacted with her for some time, so she wasn’t afraid.

She thanked the direction the voice came from, crawled over to her backpack, opened it, and took out a book with a pink cover.

Perhaps love stories weren’t to Jojo’s taste, or the worry for her missing brother Oliver made it difficult for her to immerse herself in the story; after a while, she put the book back into her backpack, curled up with her legs, and stared blankly.

[Contact with Shadow Town on the Arlen Peninsula has been lost]

This news came from “Arlen Peninsula Real News.” Contrary to what the name implied, its contents were mostly fabricated or circulated stories, regardless of truth.

For example, it had previously debunked rumors that Shadow Town had Shadow Figures and Six-legged Monsters, but in reality, they did exist.

The “Arlen Principality Gazette,” “Walson Post,” and “Daily News” were three daily newspapers that were more professional and official.

However, this time “Arlen Peninsula Real News” stumbled upon a genuine piece of information.

The story was that they had received “definite” information that Shadow Town had suddenly lost contact with the outside world.

The rest of the article was not necessary to read, because they had transferred the “Terrifying Faceless Giant” that had once ravaged Zainster Port to Shadow Town, claiming it was the “Terrifying Faceless Giant” that attacked the place.

This kind of newspaper actually sold for three shillings more than the others.

“`

Lu Li silently finished reading the entire newspaper without finding any useful information, then picked up another copy of the “Arlen Principality Gazette.”

The three major mainstream newspapers also mentioned the loss of contact with Shadow Town, but there was no additional information, simply telling the public, “This time is different from the last.”

Perhaps some people believed it, but most would not.

The fear among the populace was likely to intensify further.

The second page reported unrest in Acoleria County of the Ail Kingdom, where angry citizens lacking food stormed the City Hall and noble residences, resulting in thirteen casualties.

The third page covered greenhouse cultivation, with Botany Professor Leon Reyn from the Imperial Academy of the Main Affinity Continent declaring initial success in plant cultivation.

The fourth page’s news was intriguing.

“The safest place in the world!

To date, the Lennon Archipelago Duchy has almost zero strange occurrences.

People from all countries are welcome to immigrate!”

The news listed the terrifying strange events that occurred up to that point; the Main Affinity Continent, the Barren Lands, the Lennon Islands, and Tillage Garden, where the remote Tillage Garden suffered the worst, whereas the Main Affinity Continent had frequent strange occurrences, the Barren Lands a few, and the Lennon Islands…

basically none.

Maybe strange things also existed there, but at least there had been no malignant incidents of towns losing contact and mass deaths of populations.

The intriguing aspect of this piece of news was whether it was an advertisement to attract people to the Lennon Islands or if there were Exorcists behind it pushing it.

If it was the latter…

did that mean the Exorcists had discovered something?

Was it really safer there than on other continents?

Rustle—

The sound of newspaper pages turning filled the carriage as Lu Li set down the newspaper.

Jojo was looking through the “Arlen Peninsula Real News” that he had set aside.

“A lot of it is fake,” Lu Li said as he handed the newspaper he had finished reading to Jojo.

“Of course, their news is even less trustworthy than the stories from the Bards’ mouths.” Jojo was well aware of this.

Lu Li pushed open the carriage window, letting the surging storm enter, and Jojo had to hold on to the newspaper to prevent it from being blown away.

The carriage was approaching the summit of Belfast.

The numerous estates and the rows of high-end residences along Agate Lake were faintly visible through the veil of rain.

The blood-colored tentacles emerging from the deep clouds were unaffected by the rain.

Their number had not increased nor decreased.

They seemed to have shifted positions somewhat.

Ten minutes later, the carriage left the Belfast area, the solid bluestone pavement replaced by a gravel road, making the inside of the carriage bumpy.

The storm raged, and along the way, only caravans hauling goods were seen moving between the roads.

Anna released the aura of her spiteful spirit after leaving the town, driving away any strange phenomena that might approach.

Jojo leaned against the carriage and fell asleep with her head tilted, soft snoring noises barely audible.

She had not rested since Oliver went missing.

One peaceful afternoon passed, and as seven o’clock in the evening neared, Lu Li awoke Jojo, who had been sleeping soundly despite the bumpy ride.

Outside the window, the pitch-black surging darkness was gone; the bumpy carriage ride smoothed out, and the streetlights and the lit windows of houses no longer made them feel the loneliness and fear of being in the wilderness.

A large sign bore beautifully sprawling letters.

“Welcome to the Art City of Himfast.”