Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 493 - 493 Twelve

493: Twelve.

A lone boat in a storm cannot protect anyone 493: Twelve.

A lone boat in a storm cannot protect anyone “This is really a good place, although those trees outside can make one feel sad, my brother finally doesn’t have to hide in the cramped, shaking carriage anymore,”

Raimy’s voice echoed through the cave.

It was a bit damp and cold here, but much better than the Long House in the city, at least the bedding was somewhat dry.

Lu Li cleared out the ashes from the fireplace and put the dried firewood from last time into it to light.

The faint light of the fire ascended, burned, gradually giving off an undeniable brightness and warmth.

He placed the matchbox next to the oil lamp on the wooden table and sat down in the wooden chair.

Maybe he should bring in a couch.

Lu Li thought, then quickly remembered that he would be leaving this place and that acquiring items to fill the refuge seemed pointless.

“This is Anna,” Lu Li introduced.

“Hello, Miss Anna,” Raimy greeted politely, receiving a slightly stiff nod in return.

Poor Jimmy couldn’t squeeze into the refuge, his monstrous body was too huge, almost touching the nearly four-meter-high cave walls when he stood up; he could only curl up outside the refuge, blocking all the light outside the cave, sending his actual body in through his tail.

Usually, this would be the time to reminisce and bond before moving on to the main topic.

However, Lu Li never did that; he directly asked, “Are there any others of you?”

This untraditionally direct questioning made Raimy, who still considered herself human, somewhat uncomfortable as she thought carefully before answering, “There were…

but not after my brother and I came out.”

All the participants of the “Investigator’s Rookie Trial” with the original story “Evil Spirit Anthology” stood a chance to receive letters from the male and female protagonists in the story over the next period.

Of course, there were certain prerequisites: for instance, at least one of the protagonists must survive and have a good relationship with the role played by the participant.

Such as Raimy and Jimmy in the story Lu Li experienced.

Usually, it was just receiving letters, no matter what the participants replied or even if they did nothing at all, no new developments would occur.

But the aura eroding this world seemed to bring something, incomprehensible changes began to occur.

For instance, in the “Evil Spirit Anthology,” one of the stories had the male protagonist Jimmy and female protagonist Raimy trying to step out of the pages.

They were lucky to encounter Lu Li, a peculiar fellow who treated all beings with “humanity” equally.

And then, they were no longer merely thin characters in a story.

As they appeared in reality, other participants no longer received letters from other “Raimies” or “Jimmys.”

Only one Raimy and Jimmy could exist in reality.

Anna once had a simple guess: the Evil Spirit that was originally the story collection could release its characters into the real world, but the first prerequisite for release was “perfection of the ending,” such as the main characters surviving.

Lu Li had accomplished this, although Raimy had died in the ruins long ago and Jimmy had turned into a monster, but this was all backstory before the start of their tale, not the main story.

Thereafter, there was continuous correspondence, aiding Raimy and Jimmy to leave their mark in reality, deepening it.

Most Exorcists, upon receiving the letters, did not reply and might not even read them.

Lu Li remained neutral on this matter.

Before the truth is revealed, all theories are just theories, but they could also be the truth.

“What kind of beings are you now, independent entities or appendages of the Evil Spirit?” Lu Li asked.

Raimy had never thought about deceiving Lu Li: “According to the Four Major Systems set by Exorcists, my brother is a servant of the Evil God, and I am an Evil Spirit.”

The Four Major Systems are namely, the Evil Spirits, the Evil Spirits, the Oddities, and the Evil God.

“But…”

Raimy’s tone was slightly puzzled as she spoke, “The Evil God in my brother’s story only existed in the narrative.

Since we left the story and came to reality, he has never been influenced by that Evil God again.”

“This may be the reason for Jimmy’s weakness.”

The incident in Shadow Town had propelled Lu Li’s understanding of the Evil God from unfamiliarity to expertise.

Perhaps not all Evil Gods are the same, but the overall context is similar.

Raimy recalled, “Jimmy’s condition indeed worsened after leaving the story…”

Lu Li replied, “It is very likely related to that Evil God.

Jimmy, having left the Evil God, also finds it difficult to draw strength from it.”

“What should we do?”

“If the problem arises from a depletion of power, then we must find a way to replenish that power.”

Lu Li thought of something and added, “Does he still eat?”

Raimy looked back at her brother, who leaned on his thick tail, and shook her head, “Since having a monster’s body, my brother hasn’t felt hunger or eaten anything…”

“Try eating something; food is also a form of strength.”

Lu Li thought, if Jimmy’s weakness and emaciation merely resulted from a long time without eating…

However, that would be the best-case scenario, as it would not require too much effort to satisfy.

Lu Li was not an easy person to get along with.

It wasn’t that he was difficult to approach; Lu Li never refused the kindness others offered.

But his rationality and calmness made him feel as cold as a block of iron.

Yet no one would blame him, as Lu Li typically did not interact unnecessarily with people, which naturally spared him from gossip and added a mysterious veil to his persona.

A day after the incident in Shadow Town, despite the looming shadow of the Tillage Garden, the fight against the two Evil Gods was still a significant event.

Especially since Lu Li, who had dealt with the situation and the Evil God on his own, was involved.

They knew nothing about this mysterious investigator with the strange name.

However, when Raimy realized Lu Li’s aloofness wasn’t directed at them, she completely relaxed and actively talked a lot with Lu Li—such as their experiences in the ruins from their perspective, and how after arriving in reality, they had once returned to the location of the ruins, but there was only a mountain range there, completely different from the plains in their memories.

Clearly, their little village was no longer there.

As time passed, at a certain moment, Lu Li, who was looking at the clock on the table, suddenly said, “We plan to leave Belfast and go to the Lennon Islands.”

Before the stunned Raimy and Jimmy could say anything, Lu Li continued, “The refuge is now up to you.

You can maintain a safe distance from human settlements while seeking shelter from disasters.”

Lu Li remembered what Raimy had once said; she hoped to build a small wooden house by the sea with her brother.

Although the refuge was not a small wooden house, it wasn’t too different.

Raimy was somewhat shocked, feeling that their departure came too quickly.

Comforting Jimmy, who was coughing urgently, she anxiously said, “Is it because of danger?

My brother and I plan to stay here; we can protect you.”

“In a world where hopeful ashes barely linger, even a terrifying, undefeatable, revered being can only shiver and choose between becoming a servant or facing death.”

Lu Li’s calm answer slowly resounded.

“And I am merely human.”