Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 836 - 29. Emerald Dream

Chapter 836: 29. Emerald Dream

Lu Li has yet to master the power of the lighthouse.

The only power he can use is the "Redemption" embedded in the back of his left hand, but that requires close combat, and the damage is unknown.

The chaos in the convoy continues. No enemy has appeared, only people lost in hallucinations.

Venomous gazes light up in the Dark Wilderness, something in the darkness is coveting.

The presence on the wilderness has discovered the chaotic convoy.

"We have to find a way to distance ourselves from the convoy," Katerina said, watching the chaos closely. "It won’t take long for the wilderness anomalies to be drawn to us, and we’ll be in trouble."

"You said even you can’t be trusted," Lu Li’s voice remained calm:

Katerina paused for a moment, her face hidden in the gloom, only her voice was heard: "But you can still tell what’s good for you and what’s not."

"Yes," Lu Li replied, raising his left hand to hold her arm in Katerina’s confusion.

Katerina suddenly fell silent, stared for a few seconds, and then scattered like mist, enveloping Lu Li.

Lu Li held his breath as the mist enveloped him, waiting for it to disperse and reveal the true scene before him.

The chaos in the convoy remained unchanged, the real Katerina was talking to an empty space, an illusion.

"No, entering the wilderness we’ll just run into anomalies... Come back! It’s more dangerous outside!" Katerina exclaimed, rushing out, seemingly trying to catch Lu Li in the illusion.

Lu Li suddenly extended his hand, grasping Katerina’s ankle, still using his left hand.

Katerina was pulled down by Lu Li and fell to the ground, but it also freed her from the Emerald Dream, raising her arms to block the dispersing mist only she could see.

"You’ve saved me once again."

Lu Li released Katerina, who, realizing what had happened, returned to his side, and pulled his left hand onto her wrist. "Your power seems able to stop the Emerald Dream... So don’t separate, now we have two options."

"The first is to wait for rescue. Leviathan Town might send search parties, we’ll hold on for a while."

"Tell me the second."

The first option is disregarded. The time for rescue is uncertain, but the wilderness anomalies are approaching quickly.

Katerina also leans towards the second option: "Dustfall Cloth, a rare Homogeneous Item only the convoy leader has. It can mask our scent. But we have to go to the front of the convoy."

Following Katerina’s directions, the chaos gradually quieted ahead.

"Then let’s move."

Lu Li stood, glanced back as he left, always holding Katerina with his left hand, heading towards the front of the convoy.

They were in the middle of the convoy. Numa swayed its huge body on the caravan, its abnormal aura almost compelling escape, but it couldn’t break from the iron cage.

They ran past the struggling Numa, the front wagon came into view.

Swish—

A cold gleam suddenly shot from the tarp-covered vehicle, aimed at Lu Li’s neck.

"Watch out!"

Before Katerina’s warning, Lu Li already ducked to avoid the sharp blade poised to slice his neck.

Rip—

The tarp tore open, a convoy worker rushed out with a roar, the Emerald Dream made him see Lu Li as an enemy.

Lu Li evaded the beast-like worker, released Katerina, and grabbed his knife-wielding wrist with his left hand.

But for some reason, the Redemption power failed, the worker did not regain consciousness, and fell struggling.

"Hurry, I can hear the sounds in the darkness—"

Katerina urged from the side.

Lu Li took the short blade, paused briefly, then thrust it down to pin him to the ground.

"Let’s move quickly."

Katerina took Lu Li’s left hand, and they ran towards the front of the convoy.

The still-alive worker continued to howl, but abruptly stopped as they ran more than ten meters.

"Here!"

Reaching the front of the convoy, Katerina hissed, climbing into the car’s opened door.

Lu Li followed closely, glancing back in the direction they came.

Sporadic screams echoed above the convoy.

Bright flames appeared at the rear, as if an overturned oil lamp ignited the cargo, visible from miles away.

The convoy seemed like a banquet laid out on a grand table.

Bang—

Lu Li climbed into the car and slammed the door shut, shutting out the wilderness clamors.

The leader’s carriage was arranged like a room. Fur blankets covered the floor, fluorite piled in the fireplace like logs, several oil lamps hanging, illuminating the carriage.

The leader’s carriage was spacious enough that stacked boxes didn’t make it cramped.

Katerina rifled through drawers and wardrobes like a bandit, even slashing the sofa with a knife to search inside for the Dustfall Cloth.

She found nothing, then focused her gaze on the pile of cargo and began to move them.

The wooden crates were heavier than expected, Katerina moved the topmost crate to the edge but couldn’t remove it—she couldn’t lift it, and it almost fell down, threatening to break through the carriage floor.

"Help me move these crates," Katerina called to Lu Li behind her. "I can’t move it alone."

Lu Li approached Katerina, asking, "Why does the convoy leader’s carriage have so much cargo?"

"Remember the convoy was meant to deliver to the Count from Ghost Town? Maybe it’s his goods, too valuable, so the convoy leader watched over it," Katerina pondered.

Lu Li examined the crates, noticing they were indistinguishable from the ones in his carriage...

Lu Li suddenly lowered his gaze, calmly said, "I remember you said no one can escape the Emerald Dream."

"What’s wrong?" Katerina asked in confusion.

"When I touched the worker, he didn’t escape the Emerald Dream."

"Maybe he was scared mad," Katerina speculated.

"Dustfall Cloth, such an important Homogeneous Item, should be hidden enough and within reach, not among cargo."

Katerina stopped talking.

"I remember when the carriage overturned, the cargo pinned my lower body."

Lu Li looked at the stacked crates.

"They look similar."

Katerina maintained her posture, holding the crate with both hands, back to Lu Li, her face turned towards him. The oil lamp light did not reach the shadowed half of her face.

"When I was attacked, I briefly let go of you."

Lu Li said finally, watching Katerina: "You patiently explained my doubts."

The carriage fell silent. In an instant, Katerina’s lips curled upward and stretched to her ears, eyebrows arched to the scalp, eyes melting like hot wax—

Katerina turned into dispersing mist, covered Lu Li in a blink.

Lu Li closed his eyes and held his breath, waiting for it to disperse.

Senses suddenly became vivid as if surfacing, ears heard the wilderness wind’s moaning over the edges, the crackle of burning fire, the choking smoke and lingering blood scent carried on the wind.

Lu Li opened his eyes.

He lay beside the carriage, a collapsed heap of cargo trapped his lower body, fluorite dimly illuminating nearby.