Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 590 - 590 One hundred and nine

590: One hundred and nine.

Hades’ Hideout 590: One hundred and nine.

Hades’ Hideout “He’s back…”

Anna, who appeared as peaceful as if she were asleep, suddenly lifted her head and gazed at Lu Li’s face.

“He woke up?”

Raimy, who had been guarding outside the cave that served as a refuge, quietly appeared at the door and saw that Lu Li on the cot had not opened his eyes.

He had not come back.

Wanting to offer words of comfort, Anna shook her head and spoke softly, “No, it’s his soul that has returned…”

Anna’s gaze seemed to penetrate the thick cave walls and the withered Elm Forest, landing on the town at the foot of the ridge on the back of Sugard Mountain.

“I can feel it.”

Raimy didn’t ask for details, instead asking, “What do you plan to do?”

Anna’s indifferent eyes fixed on Raimy, “Leave his body in your care, I’m going to find his soul.”

“Okay.”

Raimy agreed.

Even if Anna hadn’t said it, she and her brother would have done so regardless.

“…Thank you.”

Anna’s form vanished into the void, and in Raimy’s perception, the chilly presence associated with her quickly left, dissipating around the top of the cliff.

…

The current sensations were very different from when she stayed in hell.

In hell, the soul’s perceptions were no different from having a body, capable of touching, possessing a sense of smell.

After returning, all that seemed stripped away, left in her body far away in Belfast.

A profound and obscure aura entwined her soul, existing even under the glow of an oil lamp.

Lu Li gained some insight, this was perhaps the Inner World aura that lingered around Anna, tainting her soul.

Because of his uniqueness, Lu Li couldn’t feel its corrupting influence on his mind, but the intense ominousness and chill were enough for Lu Li to glimpse its terrifying aspect.

“So…

you died, then your soul found my secret treasury, and from my secret treasury, it returned to my treasury?”

Hades noticed the approaching Lu Li, whose body was translucent and lacked physical substance, then guessed the general sequence of events.

“I didn’t die, I was just communing through hell, then couldn’t return normally.”

“So…

you didn’t die, then your soul found my secret treasury, and from my secret treasury, it returned to my treasury?”

“You could say that.”

After all, the stone doors lay within Hades’ two treasuries.

Hades looked at Lu Li skeptically, reluctantly believing this explanation—what had occurred on the other side of the mountain was witnessed by everyone.

“Quite the unlucky fellow,” Hades said, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp, “and the items hidden within my treasury and secret treasury—”

“I didn’t touch them.”

“I don’t trust you, you guarantee it!”

Lu Li remained silent, silently watching Hades.

“In light of our old acquaintance…

come out with me, how much longer do you intend to linger in my treasury!” Hades grunted displeasedly, indicating for Lu Li to hurry out.

After Lu Li walked past him, Hades took out a bunch of keys, sequentially locking the seven locks of the treasury, leading him out of the basement, bypassing the crowd in the main hall from the backyard to the second floor bedroom.

“Damn bastard, why do I run into you wherever I go…”

Hades complained in a low voice, closing the bedroom door.

Lu Li walked to the window, Hades came over to help draw the curtains, then settled into an armchair, folding his arms across his chest and staring at him unfavorably.

Outside the window, a thin mist hung, bearing a light red hue that deepened further up the mountain, culminating in a terrifyingly deep red at the summit, much like fiery clouds.

As if Lu Li had never returned, he was gazing at Black Calamity Volcano.

In the deep unknown, a warm call, like that of home, beckoned Lu Li from beyond the mountain—his body must be there.

It seemed the tragedy of the soul failing to return to the body was unlikely to happen.

Remembering something, Lu Li touched his chest, and the hard object in his pocket reminded him that he had brought back the chess piece.

“What happened in Belfast?” Lu Li asked without turning back.

“‘When the stars realign, the outer gods extend their claws to this world, and the ancient deities awaken from their slumber, the space of Inner World nearing the Surface World indefinitely.

The apocalypse is upon us, and we will soon perish, along with this world.'” Richard picked up a book from the table, read out its contents, and flung it back nonchalantly.

“Though it was just the bizarre ramblings of a deranged Exorcist, reality is often stranger than the story.”

Lu Li knew all this would happen eventually.

Yet, when everything truly arrived, a sense of helplessness still overwhelmed his spirit.

Eyes downcast, Lu Li looked at the people who had escaped from Belfast, resting against the wall on the street, along with the patrolling officers and Exorcists.

They had not yet realized that the disaster was imminent.

Although the calamity made them collapse and fear, it wasn’t enough to drive them to despair.

Perhaps by dawn, they would head to Himfast or other cities on Main Affinity Continent to live.

They still thought this misfortune was a coincidence, like Zenst.

Possibly because Hades was beside him, Lu Li remembered a phrase Hades said to him a few months ago when he first arrived in this world.

Ignorance is bliss.

Withdrawing his gaze, Lu Li looked at the man who likely knew long ago that all this was going to happen.

“Watch Town won’t be safe for long.”

“I know, so I’ve prepared a way out.”

Lu Li thought of what his way out was; he had seen it not long ago.

This greedy Exorcist was unexpectedly daring—ordinary people would absolutely not consider taking refuge in hell.

Lu Li looked again at the deep red mists enveloping Sugard Mountain, as if penetrating them to see everything happening in the burning city.

“You wouldn’t want to go back, would you?” Hades initiated conversation.

“My body is in the city.”

“As a senior, I have a suggestion,” Hades said, legs crossed, with a schadenfreude expression.

“Get used to being a ghost.

Frankly, ghosts have a much easier time surviving now than humans.”

“The body is still there, I can feel it.”

“But how can you return?

Belfast is now engulfed in flames everywhere, the streets are full of monsters, countless bizarre creatures are eager to try, it’s basically a giant can of meat now!”

“So you’re considering taking a commission?” Lu Li withdrew his gaze, looking at Hades on the lounge chair, his eyes calm.

“Send me back to Belfast, you name the reward.”

Hades seemed tempted, but he gritted his teeth and shook his head, rejecting the beckoning banknotes.

“But you reminded me.” Hades suddenly sat up straight, his expression becoming serious as if about to discuss important matters.

“You used my hell passage to come back, now it’s time we talked about the reward—”

Lu Li didn’t hear what he said next.

His gaze was fixed on the window, a chilling aura that made his soul tremble, yet felt eerily familiar, approached rapidly without disguise.

Whoosh—

The window suddenly exploded open, shards flying, the curtains torn to shreds.

Amidst the startled cries from the people on the street below, a figure crashed into Lu Li’s arms.

Lu Li’s soul nearly scattered from the intense chill emitted by the figure, if he had not obtained Evil Spirit Chess.

“You’re back.”

A murmuring whisper rose beside his ear, as the torn curtain slowly drifted down.

“Hmm.”