Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 855 - 48. Shake Off

Chapter 855: 48. Shake Off

Blurred shadows sway.

The robe, like a veil, covers the outline.

The fluorite chunk emits a faint glow, unable to reach the boundaries, only dispelling the darkness surging around,

A hyena with a human face crawls at his feet, trembling.

In the darkness, there seems to be outlines more solid than black, not human in shape, massive, silhouettes that remind Lu Li of Inner World projections seen with low Sanity Value.

This place is filled with anomalies as powerful as the giant mannequin.

Lu Li holds the fluorite in his palm, lowers his head, hiding his face in the shadows, and walks slowly.

His hood bulges abnormally, the big sister hides inside, clutching Lu Li’s hair, not daring to make a sound.

It seems that the beings deep in the old sewer didn’t approach because they disguised as heretics.

But after walking some distance, the surrounding gloom suddenly flickers mottled, like photographs being developed, new contours replacing old scenes.

They appear atop a mountain. The sound of waves echoes in their ears, a raging storm and surging waves viciously crash.

An expanse of shattered isles vaguely appears in the surrounding seas.

Lennon Islands.

The name of this place surfaces in Lu Li’s mind.

A mass of shape-shifting, mist-like shadow spreads before them.

"...ghlg...vo..."

An obscure and peculiar language composed of vowels echoes from the shadow.

"It says this isn’t a place for your cultists to come... asking your purpose here." The big sister whispers in his ear.

"Just passing through." Lu Li responds.

"...ghlg...ghl..."

"It says the exit is straight ahead, urging us to leave quickly."

Before Lu Li can respond, the shadow fades away.

The surrounding scene rapidly recedes, and they return to the depths of the old sewer.

Knowing the exit and having communicated with the potential controller of this dark line, they feel slightly at ease, but trouble arrives silently.

A black silhouette like a wall approaches, and if not avoided, Katerina will collide with it.

Katerina pauses slightly but doesn’t step aside.

The black silhouette draws nearer, and Katerina lowers her head indifferently.

As they are about to collide, the black silhouette steps aside, brushing past Katerina.

The black silhouette gradually moves away, and Katerina suddenly lets out a suppressed groan.

Lu Li turns his head as Katerina whispers, "Ignore it, I can endure... let’s talk after we leave here."

Moving some distance forward, the alien language suddenly sounds around them, accompanied by the roar of raging waves.

"Someone’s following you." The big sister says softly.

Lu Li stops and turns around. The wall-like black silhouette, which should have been far away, stands silently behind, the obscure alien language lingering around it with frustration.

Thunder rumbles accompanied by the sound of pouring rain, the shadow seems to be scolding.

The black silhouette mutters a response, slowly distancing from them, disappearing into the darkness.

A thunderstruck stone seal floats before Lu Li.

The matte stone material resembles the strange currency.

The obscure alien language sounds.

"It says to carry it, and no anomalies will bother you, but you can’t take it out." The big sister translates.

Lu Li reaches to catch it, maintaining the silence of the heretic, and continues forward with Katerina.

They encounter no further trouble.

A dozen minutes later, they reach the edge of the deep dark line, presenting a winding upward cave before them.

Lu Li leaves the thunderstruck stone chunk given by the shadow on the edge rock and walks into the cave with Katerina.

Through the narrow winding passage, they return to the surface branch lit by fluorite.

The oppressive gloom is left behind at the entrance; stepping onto the branch is like reaching the ground.

Though they are still underground.

The existing beings instinctively avoid the cave leading to the depths, so they needn’t worry about being disturbed.

Katerina suddenly removes her robe, draws a dagger across her shoulder, the fabric tearing, revealing a cut line and a human face with closed eyes.

Sheathing the dagger, Katerina covers her eye socket, wanting to pull out the Homogeneous Item.

"Let me do it."

Lu Li lowers his hood, places his left hand on the human face.

The intense pain causes cold sweat, trembling, low growls from Katerina.

The human face on her shoulder doesn’t awaken, seems hard to rouse from its slumber.

Two seconds later, the face detaches from Katerina’s shoulder, tendrils withdrawing from the flesh, falling to the ground, wilting like a flower.

An almost negligible humanity slips into Lu Li’s body.

Crack.

Katerina stomps on the withered face with frustration; when she moves away, only ash blending with dust remains.

Picking up the torn-off clothes, wrapping them simply around the ghastly wound a few times, donning the robe, Katerina inhales sharply and whispers, "I’d rather be eaten by that monster than go to the depths again..."

"The depths aren’t all that terrifying..." Puxiu, saved from a disaster, sprawls on the ground inelegantly.

"Luckily, Mr. Luli and Miss Katerina were well disguised."

"Not discovered wasn’t due to the disguise; it was because of the big sister." Lu Li turns his head to the big sister, "Thank you."

Perhaps the shadow had long sensed their identities. Allowing them to pass might relate to the big sister — she has a complex connection with the deities of Ghost Town.

Sitting in the hood, the big sister snorts, lifts her chin, crossing her arms, but doesn’t actively hide again.

"Mr... Mr. Luli, could you say it to me once, too?"

Puxiu stands at Lu Li’s feet, looking up at him with expectation and restrained fear.

"Say what."

"Thank you..." Puxiu stammeringly explains, "The old sewer is full of rude guys, I want to experience life on the surface, it’s been so long since I’ve felt it."

An odd request, but Lu Li nods gently, saying to Puxiu, "Thank you."

"You’re welcome, Mr. Luli!" Pris immediately stands straight and replies, then awkwardly mutters, "Why doesn’t it feel like in the novels... being thanked should make one happy?"

"Maybe it’s because you haven’t done anything worth us saying thank you for." Katerina interjects, looking at Lu Li, "Is it still chasing you?"

"Yes."

The malicious intent of the giant mannequin has not disappeared, only weakened a bit.

"Damn..." Katerina curses, urging the crestfallen Puxiu, "Hyena, how far are we from Midnight City."

"I don’t know... I need to see where we are."

Puxiu says, scouting for information before leaving the cave.

Lu Li and Katerina follow behind.

They haven’t strayed far from the cave. If the giant mannequin suddenly appears, they can retreat back into the cave in time.

Not far away, in conversation with the aliens, Puxiu suddenly raises its tail, wagging like a dog.

"Hopefully, there’s good news."

Katerina leans weakly against the cold rock wall, speaking. After hours of long travel and injury, she desperately wants a good sleep.

A hot bath would be best—that feeling is truly comforting.

Puxiu returns to Lu Li, wagging its tail, its young face filled with joy, "There’s an insect path on the branch ahead, we can lose it!"