Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 603 - 603 122

603: 122.

Manor Survivor 603: 122.

Manor Survivor The lightless dawn arrived.

The eerie fog reluctantly withdrew into the deep sea, and humanity could briefly catch its breath.

From deep inside the cliff-top cave, noises emerged as Lu Li, supported by Anna, appeared at the cave entrance.

She carried a suitcase prepared for the journey, and the children, sensing what was about to happen, gathered around Lu Li unwillingly.

The Jimmy Siblings quickly joined them, following Lu Li to the base of the Annie Tree.

Looking up at the treetop, it was the same as yesterday.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t see the birth of new buds before leaving.

In the farewell of the Jimmy Siblings, Anna lifted Lu Li and flew to the other side of Sugard Mountain.

Anna flew as high as she could to avoid the strange scrutiny from the Ruins of Belfast and unreservedly released the obscure, cold malice to cover the glaring humanity of Lu Li, like a beacon fire.

Raimy’s hopes would ultimately be unfulfilled.

With the “food” that was Lu Li becoming increasingly tempting, more powerful creatures would stir.

This was by no means a safe route.

They drew ever closer to the placid Agate Lake, a mirror-like calm on the surface.

However, its calm was deceptive, as the underlying murky aura warned Lu Li and Anna of a terrifying presence dwelling in the water.

They circled wide around Agate Lake, and Joseph Manor in their view drew nearer until Anna, carrying Lu Li, landed on the rooftop.

The manor was relatively intact, yet the building was enveloped in a layer of gloomy dust from a day-long fire in Belfast.

Lu Li’s gaze fell on the backyard, where the destructive traces left by The Shadow of Puppetry still existed.

For a moment, it seemed as though a twisted, dead tree stood there, resembling lovers in a tight embrace.

Aileen had not repaired the basement, perhaps as a keepsake, but the real reason might be that she planned to leave the manor to hide at the refugee site from that moment.

Entering the building, the corridor still decked with the red wool carpet was beautifully luxurious, but now it only felt empty and echoed.

They first visited Aileen’s bedroom and, fortunately, found an unoccupied wheelchair beside the desk on the balcony.

The wheelchair, custom-made for the Baron, was slightly small, yet its material and comfort compensated for this.

Anna lifted Lu Li into the wheelchair and familiarly opened the wardrobe, taking out a blanket scented with pine needles to cover Lu Li’s legs—the long story of The Shadow of Puppetry made her well acquainted with every part of this bedroom.

Lu Li looked around, Allen’s bedroom remained the same, as if someone still lived here.

The refuge wouldn’t let Aileen move the entire mansion over, and she wouldn’t take these useless miscellaneous items with her.

She only took her truly beloved possessions, such as a painting that once hung on the wall, now the wall was bare with only wallpaper remaining.

Lu Li remembered there was a small library in the manor, Aileen couldn’t have taken those books, they should still be there as ownerless possessions.

The refuge site needed some books to add decoration, as well as to pass the time and relieve boredom.

Anna pushed the wheelchair downstairs, and as they approached the library, voices of people talking came from behind the door.

A group of survivors had occupied the manor, or rather the library.

With faces covered in dust yet dressed in oddly pristine formal wear and tailcoats, the survivors gathered around the fireplace to warm up.

Boiling coffee steamed, and they talked and laughed softly.

Books and torn paper scraps littered around, with the remnants burning in the fireplace.

Lu Li in the wheelchair seemed an unexpected guest, shattering the previously warm and peaceful atmosphere.

They stared at Lu Li in shock, initially failing to notice that the beautiful young girl pushing the wheelchair had a translucent, ghostly body.

“I am the Exorcist, and she is my assistant,” he said.

Before fear could take hold, Lu Li mediated their emotions.

It worked effectively, and when the astonished survivors discovered Anna was merely a ghost, they just held their breaths out of fear, the children hiding in their mothers’ arms without losing control and screaming.

“Sir…

Is this, this your…

manor…” a young man stood up, stammered with fear, clashing with his oil-stained black tailcoat.

“No.

The owner of the manor has already left, she probably wouldn’t mind you staying here.” Lu Li’s gaze swept over the scattered books, and he said nothing else, “Like you, I’m here to take some things.”

“Of course.

Please thank Baron Joseph for us…” the young man said, ashamed and struggling to speak, not just because they had occupied someone else’s home but also because the tailcoat seemed to strangle him, making it hard to breathe.

“Why not flee to the other side of the mountain?”

His calm black eyes swept over them, and these survivors clearly divided into three groups—two families and that young couple.

“We don’t know the situation outside…” the young man said, his forehead even breaking into a sweat.

“And here…

here…”

He did not continue, but Lu Li understood.

Not everyone has the courage to leave a safe and comfortable haven to seek another in a perilous environment, even if safety is only temporary.

“Is there any food here?” Lu Li asked.

There were many empty cans and bottles around them, clearly having been hidden in the manor for a while.

The young man said without hesitation, “There’s plenty of food and cans in the cellar, enough to last us a few months.

If you need, I can—”

“No need, we’re only taking some books and will leave soon.” Lu Li said, turning to Anna, “Find some books on geography, culture, biographies, and some you like.”

“How many?”

If they were to take some books upon leaving later, they couldn’t carry too many.

Although Anna could certainly move the entire library.

“Bring them back to the shelter later.”

“Mm.”

Anna headed toward the bookshelves, and Lu Li continued to the survivors, “We are heading to the Main Affinity Continent, passing through Himfast.

If you want to leave, you can come with us.”

The survivors showed a troubled look, the young man seemed interested and was about to speak when his lover gently tugged at his sleeve.

As his courage faded, the young man bowed his head in shame and said, “Sorry…”

Just outside the manor’s backyard was Agate Lake, which only posed some risks in accessing drinking water, and the cellar stored enough food and even fine wines to enjoy.

If one ignored the despair brought by the dying world itself, life here was even more prosperous than before the city’s destruction—

While Anna picked books, Lu Li asked about the events of that night, but they only focused on fleeing, knowing only of spreading flames, heart-wrenching cries, and abruptly stopped screams.

Lu Li provided them with some knowledge—mainly about the rituals of evil spirits.

Compared to the oddities of other three systems, they were more likely to encounter the pervasive evil spirits.

Anna eventually picked about twenty books, which were placed in the rooftop hut and would be taken to the cliff top later.

In the survivors’ farewell, they left the manor, “A wheelchair flying in the sky will always seem strange,” Anna said, and decisively picked up Lu Li again, along with the suitcase and wheelchair, and flew towards Sugard Ridge.