Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 499 - 499 Eighteen

499: Eighteen.

Farewell to Aileen 499: Eighteen.

Farewell to Aileen Lu Li silently listened, never expressing his opinion on matters he was unfamiliar with, nor did he need to.

However, his highly conspicuous position captured the frequent gazes of the other ten people, all laden with various implications.

The negotiation did not last long; it ended after just a couple of minutes, and Aileen’s lazy, beautiful face displayed a smile indicating that she was the final winner.

As for the others, some wore gloomy expressions, some smiled, while Aunt Mary’s panic was almost too intense to be concealed by heavy makeup.

Regardless, the nobles present still maintained their “noble” composure, not allowing the negotiation to provoke any behavior that would dishonor their status.

Next, it was time for a lavish luncheon.

A dish, served on the largest platter, was placed in the middle of the long table.

The chef lifted the cover, releasing steam and a delicious aroma, revealing a fully roasted lamb.

The chef then slit open the lamb’s belly with a chef’s knife, and from within, a more intense aroma escaped as he carved out a swan.

The chef tore open the swan’s flesh, and as the fat dripped onto the platter, he pulled a cooked fish out of the swan’s belly.

Carefully slicing open the fish’s belly, the chef extracted twelve chicken eggs soaked in the food’s aroma, presenting them on the platter to the figure at the head of the long table.

In front of this dish, the originally luxurious caviar, roasted lamb chops, and crystal wine seemed superfluous.

No one paid attention to the three “containers” in the middle of the long table.

The nobles elegantly tapped open the eggshells with silver spoons and indulged in the eggs on their plates—as if they were genuinely delicious, rather than just a “delicacy” wrapped in elaborate steps.

“You don’t like it?”

Noticing that Lu Li had not picked up his spoon, Aileen leaned forward and whispered low to Lu Li.

“Do you think it’s tasty?” Lu Li asked in response.

Several pairs of eyes turned their way, but Aileen, unabashed, whispered to Lu Li, “Let me tell you a secret, not at all.

But this crowd of so-called nobles, to distinguish their class from the commoners, deliberately engage in a bunch of tedious so-called etiquette, so-called postures, so-called accents, as if this can elevate them above others.

Look, a swan in a lamb’s belly, a fish in a swan’s belly, eggs in a fish’s belly—how exquisitely elaborate this cuisine is—they relish it.”

Lu Li was unfamiliar with Baron Joseph’s past, but she indeed differed from the other nobles.

“It won’t go to waste; the containers for this food at other noble banquets are usually given to the servants or thrown away, but I will distribute them to the poor,” she added.

Lu Li nodded, but still did not eat the fragrant egg in front of him.

“Better not to eat; it gives them something to speculate about for a while,” Baron Joseph withdrew to his seat, resuming his languid, noble demeanor in the presence of others.

Indeed, Lu Li was again subjected to frequent scrutiny; they conjectured who this stranger was, a man who received not a hint of pretense from Baron Joseph.

“You sure this won’t make them investigate me after they leave?”

Aileen, unfazed, lifted her wine glass and took a sip, replying in a voice only Lu Li could hear, “They wouldn’t dare do anything, and anyway, you’re leaving Ailen Peninsula, aren’t you?”

Lu Li gave no response.

The luncheon continued for a while.

Claiming he had matters to discuss with distinguished guests, the butler pushed his wheelchair, and together with Lu Li, they left the drawing room.

The closed doors isolated the divergent emotions inside and out.

Baron Joseph, with a smile and a nod to the greeting guests, left the banquet hall and went up to the rooftop terrace.

Lu Li stood gazing at the tranquil Agate Lake and the mist-enshrouded Belfast, while Joseph turned back to the butler and winked, “Lulu, I recall you were busy with something, right?”

“It seems your memory is failing, and you’ve been winking a lot—is there something wrong with your eyes?” the cold voice of the butler responded.

“Uh…

no,” Baron Joseph ceased winking and instead said, “The banquet hall needs managing; you should go.”

“The Head Maid is there; she’ll handle everything well.”

“…

Those guys in the drawing room, you had better keep a close eye on them!” Baron Joseph’s eyes flashed with danger, whether towards the people in the drawing room or…

It seemed the butler finally grasped a hint, or perhaps she simply saw the necessity to keep a close watch on those people; she turned to Lu Li and said, “Mr.

Luli, could I ask you to take care of the young lady for a while?”

“Mm.”

With a nod, the butler left the terrace.

Aileen leaned on her wheelchair, squinting slightly as she gazed at Lu Li, “Can you help push me to the front?”

Lu Li nodded and was about to walk over when Anna appeared at the wheelchair and started pushing it, while replying, “You’re welcome.”

“…”

Aileen was silent for a long time.

“How did you think of going to the refuge?”

On the terrace, the silence, accompanied only by the soft sound of the wind and rain, was broken by Lu Li’s calm voice.

“It suits me better there.

The Lennon Islands are too far, so far that the moment I show any preference, the nobles sitting in the living room would devour me without hesitation,” Aileen slowly replied.

“Do you still think the situation will get better?” Anna asked, looking down.

“That’s not important,” Aileen gently shook her head.

“Nobles are all about the continuation of themselves and their families.

Even if they knew the world was ending tomorrow, they would still find a way to keep the fire of continuation burning, not just give up.”

Lu Li listened quietly to their conversation.

The sound of boat horns from Crescent Bay could not reach here, the tranquility of the Shore of Agate Lake dissipating the noise and bustle downstairs.

“Will we have a chance to meet again?”

Feeling that Lu Li was about to leave, Aileen looked at him and asked.

“As long as we’re alive, there’s always a chance,” Lu Li replied.

“Don’t die.”

“I won’t.”

Lu Li and Anna left.

Aileen sat on the edge of the terrace, her figure looking somewhat lonely as she watched Lu Li enter the carriage parked in front of the fountain, which slowly began to move.

A figure appeared on the terrace, walking towards Aileen.

“Is it still possible to plan a trip to Ailen Peninsula now?” she asked the footsteps approaching behind her.

“It’s too late.”

“Tell me the truth.”

“It’s too late.” The Head Maid Lulu’s tone was consistently unemotional, “Your physical condition won’t support you to the Lennon Islands.”

Aileen sighed softly, “That’s truly regrettable.”

She continued watching below as the maid opened the gate letting the carriage drive out of the estate.

“I think there was something very normal in what Mr.

Luli said.”

“What?”

“As long as we’re alive, there’s always a chance.”

“Hmm… Huh?

Wait, how do you know he said that?”

“You know those guys wouldn’t be discussing anything worthwhile in the living room.”

“Cough…”

A breeze blew, lifting tresses of hair, and the voices gradually dispersed with the wind, vanishing into the air.