Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 777 - 10. First single commission

Chapter 777: 10. First single commission

"So... um... are we leaving?"

Marcus hung up the phone, a voice lacking confidence coming from behind.

Marcus had a big head and thin limbs, looking like a bobblehead doll—not in a good way.

"I’m begging you, we can collaborate! Work together! I promise we’ll make a name for ourselves in Lingling City—three by seven! I’ll provide the task information and take thirty percent, you handle the tasks and take seventy percent."

"I don’t need money..."

"My hacking skills are very strong, whatever happens in Lingling City, as long as someone posts it online, I know. I can provide you with all the information you want!" He urgently interrupted Lu Li.

After a slight pause, Lu Li continued, "...But maintaining the peace of one’s own city is the duty of every citizen."

"So you’re saying..." The eyes behind the glasses sparkled.

"It’s worth a try."

The two reached an agreement. Marcus needed money to improve his living environment, while Lu Li needed eyes to keep watch on the happenings in Lingling City. This job should have been done by Shen Qian and Shen Yuqiao cousins, but after interacting with the sect, his vicinity became unsuitable for living people.

Marcus’s appearance undoubtedly filled the gap.

Marcus rushed back to his room, fingers tapping the keyboard fluidly, excitedly shouting, "I promise you won’t regret it! I’ll learn everything in the shadows, you handle everything in the open, we’re the best partners! We’re like brothers! We’re a perfect duo!"

"How did you know about me," Lu Li asked, cutting short Marcus’s chatter.

"I have a database with information on suspected exorcists in Lingling City. Remember yesterday’s metaphysics exchange meeting? Someone posted your ghost-catching video on the Taoist Sect’s forum. After I pulled it, I decided to contact you. The Luli Detective Agency’s contact number isn’t hard to find, haha..."

The printer buzzed and a sheet of paper was printed out.

"Now fill out this test sheet and you can join ’Healthy and Happy Every Day’!"

Lu Li frowned.

Grabbing the test paper, Marcus noticed Lu Li’s expression and pleaded, "Please, for the healthy development of ’Healthy and Happy Every Day’—"

"If any new members join in the future, they have to fill out the test too. I’ll also show them your answers!"

Feeling Lu Li’s resistance had lessened, Marcus tentatively asked, "So... should I write it?"

"Sure."

Marcus let out a long breath, picked up the paper, and read, "First question, multiple choice: If the client’s request is to capture a ghost, would you choose: A. Capture the ghost and give it to the client. B. Kill the ghost and ignore the client. C. Not my problem."

"A or B."

"It’s single-choice... uh, okay, moving on to the second question." Marcus wanted to say something but caught Lu Li’s calm gaze and swallowed his words. "Second question, multiple choice: If you discover the client’s target is a ghost you’re on good terms with, would you choose: A. Steadfastly complete the commission. B. Let the ghost go. C. Join with the ghost to take down the client."

"B or C."

"Hehe... okay. Third question, multiple choice: If the client commissions you something beyond your abilities, but offers a lot of money, what do you choose: A. Trick the client into thinking it’s done and ignore organizational reputation. B. Steadfastly complete the commission. C. Next one."

"Next one." Lu Li remained composed, his thoughts unreadable. "Do we have to answer these meaningless things?"

"Uh... alright, okay... haha... we’ll jump to the last question then."

"One day in the near future, monsters run rampant, cities turn to scorched ruins. Because you’re a member of ’Healthy and Happy Every Day’, you escape unharmed, hiding in a refuge. When you go out to scavenge supplies, you see a pitiful little girl with a backpack in danger as there’s a terrifying monster in front of her. What do you do then?"

"Kill her."

"Huh?" Yang Chunxue and Marcus exclaimed in unison.

"Wh-why..." Marcus stammered, not having this in his answer database. Saving her would be considered kind, ignoring her would be cold-blooded or selfish, but what was with killing the little girl?

"Why would you hurt an innocent-looking little girl?"

"Because there won’t be stray little girls on streets where monsters run rampant." Lu Li replied.

"Ehh... hehe... haha..." Marcus dryly laughed it off, deciding not to bother with the troublesome test paper. He printed out another sheet which wasn’t a test. This was our first commission, a reward of twenty thousand, with half the deposit given, and the client’s information and description are written on it.

Lu Li took it, glancing down.

The basic content was that a group of men were being stalked by a female ghost. Luckily, it was weak and could only scare them without causing fatalities. They first sought an exorcist Taoist with little success. Then they spent a big sum at Jinhua Temple for an amulet, which provided temporary relief by repelling the ghost. But the problem was... there was only one amulet, and they were three guys.

To save money and solve the issue, they posted for help online at night and were noticed by Marcus, who roamed the web like a ghost and actively made contact, somehow landing the commission and even securing a ten-thousand deposit.

The client’s location was in Xihua Community, not far from where Chen Rong lived. Lu Li could resolve it on his way there.

"The contact info of the client is on it, with a deadline of two days. You can either meet with them or deal with the female ghost as you see fit, with the split just as we agreed, thirty-seventy. Since it’s our first commission, it has to be done clean and proper... healthy and beautiful."

"Fine. Inform the client I’ll go over tomorrow morning," Lu Li agreed. "We split it fifty-fifty, but you’ll have to provide me with some information periodically and help me find someone."

"No problem, as long as someone mentions her online, I’ll surely know!"

"Her name is Liu Wenwei, she disappeared five years ago."

"This Wei, right? Leave it to me." Marcus wrote on a sticky note, and after Lu Li confirmed it, he stuck it under his monitor.

"Oh right, remind the client not to call the customer service hotline to complain. Although there’s no penalty nor deduction, it doesn’t sound good... hehe... haha..."

"There’s even a customer service?" Yang Chunxue curiously asked.

"As an organization aiming for growth and strength, customer service is of course essential," Marcus boasted, handing Yang Chunxue a business card. "After the commission is completed, you can give the card to the client for after-sales service."

Yang Chunxue, full of curiosity, took the card, following Lu Li out of Marcus’s home.

As she held the card with both hands, hesitating, a cell phone was handed to her.

"I know what you’re thinking," Lu Li said.

"Eh-heh..." Yang Chunxue looked bashful, her mind romantically aligned.

She couldn’t wait and dialed the customer service hotline. After a brief busy tone, a voice rang.

"Hello, this is the customer service hotline of ’Healthy and Happy Every Day.’"

Marcus’s voice came through the phone.