Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 829 - 22. Strange Currency

Chapter 829: 22. Strange Currency

The tavern fell into another kind of silence.

The creaking of a bed being turned over came from the next room, while downstairs the hall echoed with the sound of moving tables and chairs, chaotic footsteps, and the clinking of cups.

Katerina used a cloth she always carried to cover her mouth. It was just ordinary hemp, exuding a sour stench that indicated it had been used many times.

Its only use was to remind Katerina "not to speak."

When Katerina tried to hand a spare cloth to Lu Li, she was refused. Lu Li had experienced the most terrifying Silent Moments and knew what to do, and he still had the straw doll in his pocket.

However, he couldn’t be sure if the straw doll still worked after 24 years.

Silent Moments limited communication and what people could do. Katerina lay down on the squeaking single bed, taking a moment to rest.

Lu Li pulled a wooden chair and sat by the window, gazing at the distant dark wilderness and the ring of lava.

Katerina occasionally woke up, finding it hard to sleep with Lu Li nearby. Sometimes she would lie on her side, admiring Lu Li’s profile, and if the Silent Moments hadn’t enshrouded the town, she might have asked why he kept staring outside.

As time passed, Katerina, wearing leather armor, also entered light sleep. It wasn’t until the tavern hall’s clock downstairs struck ten times that morning arrived.

Katerina woke to the sound of the clock, looking at the sky, which was slightly brighter than at night—

The ring of lava still hung high on the dome but had become more vivid. The rock walls lurking in the darkness became clearer with the increased brightness, their uneven surfaces and shadows existed in the sky with a sense of three-dimensionality and reality.

As if they were real.

That’s why Katerina would say that some went mad because of the sky.

Soon after, the church bells rang throughout the town, announcing the end of Silent Moments.

Katerina removed the cloth and stuffed it back into her leather armor: "It’s over."

"Is this daytime?" Lu Li asked.

The brightness didn’t increase, maintaining only enough to see.

"This is daytime, or rather, dusk," Katerina said.

In the Weird Times, there was no morning, only two times.

Dusk and midnight.

From ten to fifteen was dusk; after that, it was all night.

Before departure, Mole approached them proactively, still coveting Lu Li’s Strange Currency. Of course, the matte stone was now with Katerina.

Mole’s coveting made Katerina believe that the value of the Strange Currency was not so simple.

"Mole, tell the truth, what’s it used for?" Katerina tossed the Strange Currency, and the coarse, short Mole across from her followed it with his dozen or so eyes, explaining distractedly: "To trade with neutral and friendly oddities. They don’t take our currency, only this. I’m an Information Hunter, this is a great opportunity to expand my business."

Katerina didn’t fully believe him—she hadn’t seen Mole so eager for something.

"Just that?" Katerina stopped tossing. "If you speak the truth, we might consider giving it to you."

Katerina thought Mole would back down, but he was more eager for the currency than she imagined: "That’s what you said, Bee Sting."

Before Katerina returned, Mole quickly said in a lowered voice: "If you encounter communicable oddities, you can use the Strange Currency to trade for your life."

"Why didn’t I know this?" Katerina had never heard of it.

Mole’s reply was simple: "Because you don’t have Strange Currency."

Katerina wasn’t thinking about embarrassing things; she regretted it, thinking about how to retract her decision to keep the Strange Currency.

"Do you know the merchants?" Lu Li then asked, briefly describing them.

"Merchants..." Mole rolled his eyes, thinking. "I only know some... I can tell you everything, but you must sell me the Strange Currency in return."

He noticed that Katerina wanted to retract her agreement.

"Alright," Lu Li nodded in agreement.

Katerina wanted to stop him, but it was Lu Li’s item, not hers.

Mole recalled, "In the city, you can inquire about the kind of merchants you mentioned."

"Is that information?" Katerina tried to stop the transaction.

Mole realized this as well, his eyes flickering for a few seconds before decisively handing Lu Li a metal piece: "This represents the friendship of the Earth Dwellers... take it to the Earth Dwellers’ Guild, they know about your inquiry."

Katerina closed her mouth.

Obviously, Mole’s need for the Strange Currency wasn’t just about its value.

Lu Li wasn’t satisfied with the answer but still picked up the metal piece, accepting the deal.

"Earth Dwellers’ Guild?"

Lu Li examined the metal piece; it wasn’t an emblem, as its shape was irregular, with a pickaxe outline hollow-carved in the center.

"One of the largest merchant organizations in the Barren Lands," Katerina explained in a low voice, eyeing the coarse, short Mole: "I didn’t expect you to be a member, congratulations, Mole."

The tone carried envy; with the backing of the Mole, one was no longer an easily ignored, bullied little Hunter.

"Just an intern peripheral member," Mole said, staring intently at the Strange Currency in Katerina’s hand.

"Give it to him," Lu Li turned his head and said.

"The transaction was pleasant, see you next time." Mole put away the Strange Currency, counted out 230 Shillings to Lu Li, and left the tavern with a backpack nearly as large as himself.

After Mole left, feeling regretful, Katerina complained, "The coin’s value is greater."

"The merchant holds a significant sum of my money," Lu Li replied.

"...How much?" Katerina paused her complaints.

"A lot," Lu Li could only say.

The Strange Currency seemed valuable, but compared to Lu Li’s wealth with the merchants, it was worthless.

Provided the merchants still existed.

And if Katerina retracted her actions, she’d lose Mole’s trust.

As Katerina had previously stated, trust was essential above ground.

"We should head out too."

Katerina secured her leather armor, gathered her route map, and checked out of the Wanderer’s Tavern.

Lu Li continued watching the pedestrians on the street; although he wouldn’t linger on any figure for too long, it still brought trouble.

It was a figure with an unusual silhouette. The man stood over two and a half meters tall, raising an arm to touch the eaves. He seemed to dislike being stared at, glaring ferociously at Lu Li as he approached.

A slender figure blocked in front of Lu Li, Katerina’s eyes flashing black as she threatened, "Don’t cause trouble, big guy."

Size wasn’t the only standard for measuring strength.

Unless necessary, Hunters wouldn’t fight each other, unless they could do so covertly and finish the battle without injury.

Injuries were equated with death for them.

The burly man stared at Katerina for a moment, leaving without a word, his exposed lizard tail angrily whipping the air side to side.

"Don’t casually look at others; this isn’t the same as back then." The relaxed Katerina reminded Lu Li. "You’re lucky you encountered me; of course, I feel lucky too."

Continuing toward the edge of town, Katerina said, "If it were other Hunters, they’d have killed you before finding out your identity. Then taken your wealth and yourself."

As she said this, she looked over Lu Li’s body, indicating that "yourself" had another meaning.

For instance, as food.