Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 484 - 484 The one who truly deserves the reputation

484: The one who truly deserves the reputation 484: The one who truly deserves the reputation Tesla had the waiter bring pen and paper, and took a seat on the side, gesturing for the merchant to sit down, “Lu Li’s story is quite long, we can’t keep looking up at you.”

The merchant silently took his seat.

After receiving the fountain pen, ink, and notebook, Tesla indicated that Lu Li could start telling his story.

Tesla would organize the events and hand them over to headquarters, and the merchant would provide contribution points based on the value of the information.

Jojo consciously pulled Fran away from their seats and sat at the furthest position from them.

“The two evil gods in the Shadow Town incident are the New Swamp Mother and the Old Swamp Mother,” Lu Li stated bluntly.

Just as Tesla’s pen was about to touch the paper, it paused slightly.

Although Lu Li had previously shared some information with him, he had not anticipated this outcome.

“Before the hurricane ‘Arthur’ that swept over the Ailen Peninsula disappeared, the Old Mother controlled the Southern Shadow Swamp.

After that, the Mother of the Marsh sealed the Old Mother.

The cause of the Shadow Town incident was the Old Mother’s followers infiltrating Shadow Town, using the townspeople for a sacrifice to transform them into servants of the Old Mother, or, in other words, followers, to help the Old Mother break the seal.”

From beginning to end, there was no invasion by foreign enemies, merely a struggle that erupted between the new and old evil gods within the same shell.

Shadow Town was just an ant nest caught in the crossfire.

“Night Devils, Human Head Balloons, monkeys, Faceless Figures are servants of the Old Mother.

They represent the chaos of the Old Mother.

Six-legged Monsters, Shadow Figures, Banyan Trees, they represent the humanity of the New Swamp Mother.

The Human-faced Worm is a source of power for the Old Mother’s shell, akin to human blood.”

“Night Devils possess a large and strong body, their shape like a bat magnified dozens of times.

Upon spotting an enemy, they will dive down, employing their strength to destroy everything they see.

Physical, can be dealt with through physical means.”

“Human Head Balloons, the spinal cord-like string hanging down will entangle the human’s neck, and then pull out the spine along with the neck.

Humans killed by it will be assimilated into Human Head Balloons.

When encountering someone they knew in life, the face will change.

Very fragile, just like a real balloon.

However, the screams emitted upon being popped will attract other servants.”

“Monkeys, short in stature, without skin.

People whose skin they peel off will be turned into monkeys.

They can wear the skin and mimic the voices of humans they hear.

Similarly, only sound attracts them.

Can be physically dealt with.”

“Faceless Figures, when more than three people gather and their voices are heard by the other two, she will appear, gouging out the faces of those around her.

Women will be assimilated into Faceless Figures.

Immaterial, but very weak, simple exorcism methods can resolve it.”

Tesla and the merchant played the role of the audience well, maintaining silence, with only the occasional scratch of the pen tip on paper.

As the steam train clattered over the rails, having completed the background, Lu Li began recounting everything he had encountered after entering Shadow Town.

…

“Guess what they’re talking about?”

Jojo stopped her eavesdropping and resettled into her seat.

“I don’t know…” Fran had been deep in thought since Jojo told him about the Evil Spirit Swamp.

“Is it true?

Seeing my parents in the swamp…”

Jojo nodded seriously, “I can’t think of any other reason for them to do it.”

“I want to see them…” Fran said softly.

“You should know, they have long been dead.”

Jojo answered, a sad expression on her face; she remembered Oliver, remembered the familiar figure walking up the jungle path.

But Jojo knew well that her brother had died on the great ship.

That familiar figure was just a disgusting monster that had taken over her brother’s body.

Thus, the gunfire that followed signified that Jojo had let go.

Fran had not yet let go.

The shared grief made Jojo empathize with Fran, she continued, “Also, the bracelet was returned by Lu Li, they won|t recognize you.”

Fran remained silent, offering no response.

“If you insist…then go back.

The marsh is no longer dangerous, and the new Evil God is still a friend of Lu Li.”

The words of Jojo ringing in his ears, Fran slowly lifted his head.

Jojo smiled, “Lu Li told me, ‘Don’t make choices you’ll regret.'”

Fran nodded earnestly, “Thank you…thank you, Mr.

Lu Li…I will make the right choice.”

…

The steam train, billowing thick smoke, traveled desolately across the barren plains.

Outside the window, the outline of Shadow Town was no longer visible.

“The human-faced worms are the souls of all those who died because of the Old Mother.

They were imprisoned in the carcass of the Old Mother, their hearts filled with resentment and hatred.

They were doomed to never find peace, serving only as accomplices to the Old Mother.

My arrival changed that; they were redeemed and liberated, their powers converging, beginning to resist, igniting the long-accumulated keg of gunpowder,”

In the end, Lu Li said, “The Old Mother came into existence due to human belief, and perished due to human hatred.”

Clang—Clang—

The carriage gently swayed, heading toward the distant plains.

“At the moment of the Old Mother’s death, Sequence 1 pulled me into her death fragment.”

The story wasn’t over yet, and Lu Li began to recount the final scene.

Withholding information was pointless, it only led to misjudgments by the United Organization of Exorcists.

As he spoke, Lu Li took a red agate bracelet out of his pocket.

The ravages of time had made its surface no longer smooth, and its color had become dark and dull, like jewelry worth a few shillings at a jewelry stall.

After a brief silence, Tesla exhaled slowly and said, “Duke Adela, the de facto ruler of the Old Duchy of Saint Mark in the eastern part of the Main Affinity Continent 530 years ago.

He once arranged for his younger daughter to marry the fourteenth successor of the Arlen Kingdom, but he disappeared in the Shadow Swamp while enroute to his fief on the Ailen Peninsula.”

He shifted his gaze from the bracelet to Lu Li, “The Mother of the Marsh was once a human, and of notable status.”

“Is there a portrait of her?” Lu Li asked.

Tesla thought for a moment and then replied, “The Duchy of Saint Mark was long ago absorbed into the Arlen Kingdom, but the royal family should still have her portrait.

When I return to Belfast, I’ll contact the headquarters to retrieve her portrait.”

“Hmm.”

Lu Li nodded, picked up his coffee that had long since cooled and drank it down in one gulp, then slightly pursed his lips as he turned to the businessman, “How much are these pieces of information worth?”

Lu Li’s words sounded somewhat pragmatic.

But aside from the Shadow Town incident, all of Lu Li’s actions revolved around the shilling.

“7,600 investigation points,” the businessman stated the price.

Multiply by ten, and it was part of the compensation Lu Li had earned this time.

Lu Li’s gaze fell on Tesla.

“We don’t spend lavishly like businessmen, we just have the usual investigation points rewards, special medals for outstanding investigators, and an upcoming promotion.”

Tesla, knowing why Lu Li was looking at him, stood up smiling, bowed slightly, and spoke.

“Advance congratulations, a man truly deserving, His Excellency Lulian, Senior Investigator.”