Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 852 - 45. Withered Tree

Chapter 852: 45. Withered Tree

A few meters from the shore, the wooden boat traced an arc as it returned along its previous path, leaving a trail that dissipated into the mire.

Gala Gala Gala—

The model’s urgent grinding sounds filled the surroundings as it agitatedly approached the edge, then retreated due to the abruptly boiling mire.

Rustle—

The model sprang onto its limbs, jumping toward the edge, scattering mire fragments, quickly following the wooden boat from the marsh cavern’s edge.

Passing three islands. The elderly woman clutching a wooden bowl no longer gestured, the girl in a white dress watched them with curiosity for the third time passing by, and the disguised diminutive creatures slowed their movements.

Across the marsh, the model slowed this time, not overtaking the wooden boat, but jumping along, following.

When the wooden boat was only a few meters from the exit, the model was still hundreds of meters away at the edge, seemingly unable to catch up.

"Return to where we came from."

Lu Li spoke to the wooden boat.

Just as the wooden boat hugged the shore arc, returning the way it came, the deliberately slow model increased its speed, moving its thin limbs like afterimages, leaping across the shattered mire.

It was still a step behind. By the time it reached the exit, the wooden boat floated away once more, distancing from the shore.

The model raised its head in a shrill scream, emanating a terrifying aura, leaping onto the rock wall, seemingly trying to climb to approach the boat from above.

It only climbed seven or eight meters high before falling due to the steep wall, crashing to the ground.

Flipping around with limbs, the odd species waiting to board at the exit suffered an unwarranted disaster. The angry model attacked it, turning its barbed mouth inside out, swallowing its arm.

The creature abandoned that arm before its body was swallowed, melting into a pool of slime to escape.

"It must be really angry..."

Crouching in the cabin, only revealing eyes and beast ears, Puxiu quivered and whispered.

"Hope it will give up on us."

Katerina watched the frenzied model wrecking the entrance, speaking.

This was clearly wishful thinking. The model bore resentment towards them. After the rampage, the model once again chased the wooden boat.

The ones wearing human heads showed discord this time. Some still disguised as humans, others slumped on the islands, ignoring the fourth passage of the wooden boat.

The girl in the white dress no longer pretended to be a girl seeking help; she glanced at the model chasing from the edge, then told Lu Li and the others, "You can come up to avoid it."

The elderly woman’s figure disappeared, only leaving the reachable wooden bowl placed by the shore.

The wooden boat was about to dock.

A few dozen meters away at the marsh’s side entrance, the agitated model lingered there, waiting for them.

"Continue returning," Lu Li said.

The wooden boat traced an arc, but did not return the way it came, instead veering towards a nearby solitary island.

"Go back! Go back!"

Puxiu quickly shouted, to no effect. The wooden boat docked by the shore, gently vibrating.

"It’s angry at us!" Puxiu exclaimed.

Lu Li gazed down at the wooden boat, attempting to converse with it: "We are fleeing pursuit; crossing the marsh back and forth is not mocking you."

Waiting for a dozen seconds, the wooden boat still stayed by the shore, with nothing happening. Meanwhile, something was brewing beneath the marsh.

They could only disembark and step onto the solitary island.

Setting foot on land, the wooden boat slowly sailed away.

The only lucky thing was that the wooden boat hadn’t sent them to the entrance where the model waited.

At this moment, they faced two good news and one bad news.

The good news was, the model couldn’t come directly to this solitary island, and a wooden boat sailing the marsh was approaching the island under their feet.

The bad news was, the model was on that boat.

Looking around, this island stretched only dozens of meters. Besides the withered tree at the island heart, there was nothing else.

Lu Li looked at the model on the wooden boat, seeking other assistance: "Big Sister Head, can you help us?"

"Why should I help you!" Big Sister Head appeared on Lu Li’s back, climbed up his shoulder, shouting sharply.

"Because we want to take you to Midnight City, and also find clay."

"Fraud! Don’t even think about it!"

Big Sister Head slid down from his back, about to disappear.

"Miss Big Sister Head, I beg you to help us, the model will eat us!"

Puxiu then crawled in the mud, loudly pleading.

After a brief silence, Big Sister Head threw down a phrase and vanished.

"...That tree might help you!"

Lu Li looked at the island’s sole withered tree.

Katerina reminded, "Whatever you’re going to do... you better hurry, it’s coming fast!"

The wooden boat carrying the model was less than a hundred meters away.

Lu Li nodded, coming under the tree crown, a wisp of consciousness formed an aura subtly wrapping around Lu Li, communicating in a peculiar language unlike vibrations of air, more akin to direct soul exchange.

It required fuel; if Lu Li would share fuel with it, it would help him resolve the predicament.

And the fuel... was humanity.

"How do I give you?" Lu Li asked.

"Touch, share."

The consciousness of the withered tree transmitted a reply.

Lu Li raised his right hand, touching the coarse tree trunk, thinking "I want to share humanity."

A touch of warmth spread from the chest, along the arm, everywhere it passed felt immersed in warm water, that was Lu Li’s humanity.

Humanity flowed into the withered tree through his palm; the surrounding consciousness suddenly emitted delight.

When humanity decreased to two whole portions, Lu Li withdrew his hand.

The consciousness wasn’t satisfied, yet still conveyed gratitude, instructing Lu Li to wait briefly.

Rustle—

A seed fell beside Lu Li’s foot.

The consciousness communicated eagerness for Lu Li to take it, plant it in a safe place.

Lu Li picked up the seed, promised it would be done.

"Sharing fuel... Why... How can you do this?"

Big Sister Head appeared on Lu Li’s shoulder, murmuring incredulously, even forgetting to shout sharply.

"Talk later."

Lu Li left the tree crown, heading towards Katerina on the shore.

The model was about to dock.

Katerina prepared to pull out the Homogeneous Item, muttering in self-mockery: "I thought I found a treasure chest, but it turned out to be a big trouble."

She just wanted to sell Lu Li for a high price, yet ended up nearly dying multiple times.

"We don’t need this anymore, just retreat."

Lu Li’s voice suddenly sounded beside her.

"You handled it?"

"Yes."

They retreated to the island heart, witnessing the wooden boat docking and the model extending its limbs curled inside the cabin, stepping onto the island.

At the moment it left the boat, the ground underneath collapsed, plunging its hind legs into the mire. The tangled limbs under the marsh boiled, pulling its hind legs into the murky water.

The model’s forelimbs grasped the ground; it could have climbed up, yet several tree roots burst forth, destroying the soil around its front limbs.

With a low hiss that trembled the air, the model sank into the mire. The entire body of water boiled noisily, increasingly twining limbs wrapped around the struggling model body, dragging it into the marsh.

Clumps of filthy bubbles emerged, boiling persisted for a dozen seconds, finally calming.

"What on earth is in this mire..." Katerina couldn’t help but say.

A piece of ash gently descended.

Lu Li turned back, the island’s withered tree dissipating in the Gloomy Marsh’s faint breeze.