Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 824 - 17. Tang Ge Town

Chapter 824: 17. Tang Ge Town

"Do you remember what I said? Don’t trust the sky."

Katerina’s whisper came from beside him.

"Can you see it?"

Lu Li gazed at the dark red ring of fire formed by the magma and the dome’s rocky ceiling.

"It looks as if it’s underground," Katerina answered Lu Li’s question. "Maybe this is the sky of your subconscious?"

"Does the scene relate to imagination?"

"Yeah, it’s much like a dream," Katerina admired the sky.

"Is the sky everyone sees the same?"

"Yes, everyone can see it, so maybe the current view is your subconscious," Katerina said. The sky changes at intervals, never revealing its true appearance. The scene seems to stem from people’s subconscious imagination or fear of the deep sky.

This underground cavern, with projections of fluorite mixed with magma, indeed seems to originate from Lu Li’s subconscious.

"Is it a weird phenomenon?" Lu Li asked.

"Who knows... apart from slowly lowering people’s sanity value, it can’t harm us," Katerina gestured for Lu Li, staring at the sky, to continue on their way.

Lu Li withdrew his gaze and headed toward the distant town, illuminated by the magma’s ring of fire in the wilderness.

Every town has a rule based on its church, with great variations in rules between different towns. For example, extreme rules: No eating vegetables; No knowing the time. For example, peculiar rules: Step into the town with the left leg, step out with the right; No wearing hats. And rules that can be ignored: Attend a service once a week; Address divinity with specific terms.

The consequences of breaking the rules also vary, with lenient churches only imposing punishment, neutral churches banishing someone permanently from the town, and radical churches might drag someone away for sacrifice.

"The rule of Tang Ge Town is not to self-harm, not to actively do anything that harms oneself."

"What if you have to self-harm to save yourself?" Lu Li calmly inquired.

"What?"

"For example, performing surgery on oneself."

"I don’t know..." Katerina recalled incidents in the town, but nothing came to mind. "Are all exorcists as tricky as you?"

"Understanding something is necessary," Lu Li responded.

It’s not an exorcist’s rule, but an investigator’s rule.

Katerina didn’t think so because knowledge had long become a curse. But out of respect for the legendary exorcist, she didn’t refute this point.

Tang Ge Town was right in front of them. Before entering, Katerina reminded Lu Li: "Don’t trust others casually, and don’t tell the truth. Lies are necessary. If you don’t want your corpse thrown into the sewers the next day, hide your true self."

The town has only loose legal restrictions. Hunters walking on the edge of darkness and death don’t care whether they kill aliens or humans, especially when the latter yields more benefits and is easier.

Infighting among peers happens every day.

However, Katerina harbors personal intentions—she’s scaring Lu Li.

Anyone who knows Lu Li’s identity could never kill him. Lu Li’s value lies in being alive—a deceased pure human is no different from lowly aliens.

Katerina was merely telling Lu Li the dark laws of this age and didn’t want Lu Li’s identity exposed.

Guards stationed at the town’s entrance symbolize more than serve practical significance, primarily to establish the town’s authority.

Katerina had Lu Li stay there, approached the guards, and said, "I am the hunter, Bee Sting Katerina, with new discoveries to report to the mayor."

The two guards exchanged glances, showing undisguised disdain and mockery: "Don’t you know the rules, rookie hunter? Go find someone from the church."

Katerina seemed used to their belittlement, muttered a curse under her breath, "Idiots, you’ll regret rejecting me," and returned to Lu Li’s side, leading him into the town.

The ground was a compacted dirt road, where many figures moved, but the pervasive atmosphere was colder and more silent. The few conversations breaking the silence came from residents in linen clothes—they were entirely different from those in leather armor, lone and aloof hunters.

But invariably, whether hunter or resident, many bore organs born of pollution—the proportion was higher among hunters.

"Is it the same?" Katerina whispered.

Lu Li knew what she meant and shook his head slightly: "It’s quite different."

Even the worst towns at the time weren’t this indifferent.

"But it can at least provide safety," Katerina said. "I visited Midnight City; it must be exactly the same as before."

Lu Li said nothing.

Katerina led Lu Li to the town’s west, to a fenced-off, gardenless, religious building.

The church’s arched door was tightly shut, seemingly sealed.

Katerina walked up to the front gate along a path and gently knocked on a small door in the gate.

After a few seconds, the observation window on the small door opened, and a heavy breathing sound echoed from the dim space behind, indicating someone was there.

Lu Li faintly sensed a certain obscure aura existing behind the door.

Katerina’s face showed a reticence not even seen when facing the guards: "Believer, I am the hunter Bee Sting Katerina, and I have found a pure human."

"A pure human?" the believer whispered.

Katerina stepped aside, allowing the believer to see Lu Li: "He comes from before the Weird Times, and I found him in the sanctuary."

A rhetoric suggesting Lu Li was a sanctuary resident.

After a brief silence, the believer closed the observation window: "Tang Ge Town doesn’t need it; a pure human is of no use."

"Please wait..."

Katerina hurriedly called to the believer, puzzled: "Weren’t those sanctuary people brought here years ago? Why... why don’t you want him this time?"

"They were taken by Midnight City," the believer replied.

"Midnight City? But..."

Katerina wished to say more but was denied by the closed observation window.

Lu Li watched silently; the indifferent believer was novel.

The disappointed Katerina returned, and Lu Li asked her, "Should we find the mayor?"

"The mayor? No..." Katerina shook her head, saying, "Let’s head to the tavern first; we can gather some information there."

Although rejected by the believer, she wasn’t worried.

Gold never worries about not being sold.

Wanderer’s Tavern.

The tavern’s name was written on the wooden sign.

As they approached, the smell of alcohol mixed with the scent of waste from the dark alley rushed at them.

Katerina and Lu Li pushed open the tavern door, entering the lively tavern with noise starkly contrasting the deserted street.

"Wanderer’s Tavern, our hunters’ tavern," Katerina introduced to Lu Li as they moved toward an empty table in the corner.

Lu Li observed most patrons wearing leather armor and followed Katerina to sit down.

As soon as he sat down, the aroma of alcohol and cooked food made Lu Li’s stomach audibly growl, loud enough for Katerina to hear clearly.

He hadn’t eaten in roughly twenty-four years.