Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 827 - 20. Roadmap and Shadow of the Maiden’s Tracks

Chapter 827: 20. Roadmap and Shadow of the Maiden’s Tracks

Residents of the sanctuary were sent to Vena Ice-Free Port.

This news was terrible for Katerina.

The wilderness is filled with dangers, even the most outstanding Hunters rarely voyage between "isolated islands." Heading to Midnight City within the Dark Wilderness is barely feasible for Katerina.

But to another continent?

Traveling through the wilderness occupied by Ghouls, leaving the Dark Wilderness, crossing the Abyss of Fragments and world ravines, then sailing through the Sinking Sea to reach Vena Ice-Free Port—

Everyone has some dreams, whether to become a resident, live without worries, or travel to places of yearning.

Vena Ice-Free Port is clearly a place Katerina longs for; she hopes one day to see the port city famed in Weird Times with her own eyes—but these are only imaginations.

Crossing continents to reach Vena Ice-Free Port is beyond Katerina’s ability, even reaching a nearby town from Tang Ge Town in the Dark Wilderness requires considerable determination.

Prepare to vanish in the endless wilderness.

Katerina seemed to be entangled in her thoughts, and said no more.

Lu Li, who was listening, spoke up at this time: "Do you have maps?"

He still didn’t know where he was.

"Of course." Mole squeezed out a smile, knowing that the trade of maps comes at a hefty price: "Which map do you want? Tang Ge Town, Midnight City, nearby towns, or the Dark Wilderness?"

"Maps marked with danger zones are expensive," Katerina reminded Lu Li.

"Then trade it for information."

What Lu Li required was different from what Katerina and Mole imagined.

"This is the outline of the Barren Lands." Lu Li dipped some water from a barrel and sketched a rough map outline on the dining table, looking up at Mole: "Where is Tang Ge Town?"

"2 Shillings..." Mole quoted, knowing that a generous Information Hunter might give this information for free. Sighing, he tiptoed, and with fingers like thick short carrots, pointed to the west side of the map: "We’re here."

Old River Channel Plains, the region where Lu Li fell into the abyss.

"Where is this?"

Lu Li pointed to a place about a hand’s width from Tang Ge Town.

Mole’s emotions were slightly invigorated: "4 Shillings... that is the edge of silence, the disaster site of Silent Moments."

It was still there.

Lu Li wanted to know why no one went to resolve Silent Moments, but would expose his identity, so he returned to silence.

"Get me a route map to Midnight City, not a map."

Katerina spoke.

Although maps are more detailed, they are also more costly.

She planned to try her luck first at Midnight City, perhaps the church or the nobility would be interested in Lu Li.

Tang Ge Town isn’t big enough, and too many people know her, making it hard to conceal information.

"25 Shillings, but I need to see the money first." The large transaction made Mole abandon his preference for delivering goods before receiving payment.

"Of course..." Katerina replied with a pained expression, pulling out 25 Shillings from her Leather Armor.

If she bought the route map from the black market alley, the price might be compressed to ten shillings. But much of the information in black markets is unreliable, requiring great risk. Compared to that, Information Hunters, though more expensive, are more trustworthy.

After all, no one sells out those who bring them benefit.

Lu Li watched—if the few hundred Shillings he had weren’t torn apart by water, he could have indulged easily now.

Mole took the money, satisfied, and began drawing a route map for Katerina.

"Do you have any specific requests? The shortest route, or the safest route?"

"Both safe and short."

"Certainly... certainly..."

Only the sound of breathing and rustling from sketching remained in the room.

And the high-pitched shouting in the corridor outside rang once more.

"All done, I guarantee this is the safest route to Midnight City."

Mole handed the route map to Katerina, then muttered: "This route will help you avoid Ghoul’s Lair and Screaming Hallway, and once you reach Ghost Town, head into the old sewers; at the end of it is Midnight City."

"Old sewers?" Katerina’s eyes filled with distrust towards Mole. "There are Aliens and Mutants everywhere there, do you think it’s safe?"

"Safer than the surface." Mole replied, looking at Katerina with a skeptical gaze. "You don’t know there’s a group of Flying Yaga in the east of Midnight City?"

"Of course I know." Katerina promptly replied, dispelling Mole’s idea of charging for this information again.

"Damn, you really don’t know." Mole grumbled in frustration.

The deformities on Mole’s body clearly did not affect his intelligence, this Dwarf Information Hunter used what might be worthless information and a few tricks to make Katerina not so pained over the route map.

"I wish to ask a question." Lu Li spoke at this time.

"What?" The pain of spending resurfaced in Katerina’s heart. "I don’t have much money left..."

Hunters find it hard to save money and usually don’t save money.

"It’s important." Lu Li simply said.

"How important?"

After a brief silence, Lu Li said: "My family."

"If the price isn’t too high." Katerina had to say.

"No need, perhaps I can pay for it." Lu Li replied, taking out a polygonal matte stone to show Mole: "Is this Strange Currency?"

The dozens of eyeballs in Mole’s left eye cavity twitched intensely, rearranging rapidly, reaching out a rough short hand ready to take it, but it was suddenly snatched by Katerina.

"180 Shillings! No... I’ll give you 200 Shillings!" Mole said excitedly. "Just sell it to me!"

"I have Shillings to buy information." Mole’s words made Katerina more reluctant to spend this precious currency.

"230 Shillings!"

"You wouldn’t sell me information if you asked again." Katerina replied.

Mole had to suppress his yearning for the Strange Currency and unwillingly asked: "What do you want?"

Just as he finished speaking, the church bells outside suddenly rang.

The shouting in the corridor vanished instantly.

The church bells stopped after a few seconds.

"It’s Silent Moments, really bad." Katerina murmured, urging Lu Li: "Quick, ask, there’s not much time."

Lu Li looked at Mole and asked: "Do you know about the Shadow of the Evil Spirit Girl?"

"Shadow of the Maiden?"

After carefully pondering for a while, all the dozens of eyeballs in Mole’s eye sockets suddenly looked towards Lu Li: "I remember... 15 Shillings."

With a pained look, Katerina nodded, agreeing to the price.

"There’s a proverb circulating in the Main Affinity Continent." Mole recalled the proverb, saying sharply: "In the Hillevig Mountain Range, no one can kill a cat."

"Why?"

At the same time, the faint church bells echoed above the church once more.

Mole glanced out the window, shaking his head to refuse: "Silent Moments arrived, let’s save it for next time."

Silent Moments allow sound, yet do not allow sound.

When the bells disappeared, the whole town suddenly fell into an uncanny silence.

Everything sounded as usual, except the sound of speech which vanished into silence.

Lu Li dipped some water with his finger, writing on the table.

"Write it down."