Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 856 - 49. Midnight City Main Station

Chapter 856: 49. Midnight City Main Station

Three silhouettes were expelled by the Insect Path.

Katerina stumbled upon landing, nearly tumbling away like Puxiu.

The big sister crawled out of Lu Li’s arms, screamed in disgust as she climbed into the hood, "Don’t tunnel through those disgusting worms anymore!"

Passing through wormholes repeatedly made them feel like snot people, drenched in the mucus-covered black robes hanging wetly on their bodies. The big sister’s shabby doll exterior was also smeared with discomforting slime.

The benefits were obvious: they could travel faster and more easily, and leave the giant model far behind.

Lu Li was already numb to the malice that surrounded them. Perhaps the giant model had given up, or maybe it was due to their great distance apart.

Katerina and Puxiu dashed toward a nearby water vendor to buy water and replenish their missing fluids.

The pollution levels of subterranean water sources were far worse than those on the surface, but Katerina had no choice.

Luckily, Lu Li didn’t show any signs of severe dehydration, so she need not worry about Lu Li being polluted by the water source.

Scooping polluted water from a wooden barrel and drinking until she couldn’t anymore, Katerina returned to Lu Li’s side, water dribbling down her cheek: "Are you holding up alright?"

Puxiu couldn’t climb onto the barrel, so the water vendor placed a stone bowl of water on the ground for it to drink.

"I’m okay."

Lu Li’s lips had become chapped, but he could still endure.

"How much further!"

Katerina shouted angrily at Puxiu.

If it weren’t for the pursuit of the giant model, she would never want to tunnel through water-draining worms again.

Standing upright, front paws cradling the stone bowl, Puxiu drained the last drop of water, licked around its lips to answer, "Very close, maybe just up ahead!"

Replenishing their fluids, Katerina paid the water vendor.

"2 shillings? Why so expensive!"

Katerina frowned at the water vendor; the water from the Insect Path earlier only cost 1 shilling, and the pollution level of the water here hadn’t changed much compared to earlier.

"Because up ahead is the Main Station," replied the Alien with a face full of hair. "Renting here is more costly."

"Rental", a word indicative of order.

Puxiu perked up its drooping ears, raised its head: "Mr. Lu Li, Miss Katerina, did you hear? We’re almost at Midnight City Main Station!"

"Heard it."

Katerina sighed, yet her action of pulling out money became less hesitant.

But as 2 shillings disappeared into the Alien’s pocket, Katerina suddenly realized.

Could it be that others, like herself, felt relieved upon reaching Midnight City Main Station, causing the water price to rise to 2 shillings?

Leaving the branch line that is the Insect Path, a wide branch line extends straight into the distance. At the end of the vision, the unique neat bricks of the main line subtly appear.

They were about to reach Midnight City.

Finally...

Katerina gently exhaled a breath, and walked with Lu Li to the end of this long journey.

The smooth stone bricks paved the road with arched walls, and wide streets lined with shops; most of the passersby were humans, with only a few Aliens mixed in.

The main line of Midnight City Main Station resembled the streets of a surface town, even more prosperous than some small towns.

[Nightwalker Alchemy Materials]

Passing by a shop, the window displayed an array of bizarre and peculiar items.

A clump of writhing sludge, a clockwork figure lying silently in front of the display, gazing vacantly at the street, a crawling finger joint, a grass growing on a flower, dust swirling inside a glass jar.

They were displayed as merchandise.

"Alchemy?" Lu Li tilted his head to ask Katerina.

"Seems so... Those who can create unbelievable objects are called Alchemists," Katerina said, knowing nothing more.

She had never encountered an Alchemist.

Lu Li had already taken off the hood. Disguising themselves as Heretics seemed even more conspicuous on the main line of Midnight City. No need to worry about attracting too much attention, the fleeing for their lives and mucus from the Insect Path left them so disheveled that their appearance was unrecognizable.

Puxiu liked it here, looking around constantly, observing shops, watching passersby, then revealing inferiority and loss.

But this is the old sewer. Even with Midnight City’s care, darkness still breeds here.

Two Aliens rushed out of an alley, not having enough time to wipe the blood stains from their mouths.

Lu Li glanced toward the dark alley they emerged from, where a girl leaned against the damp and cold wall, which flowed with sewage, her battered body covered in bite marks, her caved-in chest cavity slashed open, with the tenderest organs picked out and eaten.

Lu Li paused briefly, then walked to the edge of the alley.

A rich bloody smell was masked by the vile stench, and the girl leaning against the wall had already lost the sparkle in her eyes.

"Is she dead?" Katerina frowned and asked.

As soon as she spoke, Lu Li saw the girl’s eyelashes tremble slightly.

"Almost."

It wouldn’t take long.

Or rather, the girl’s willpower proved strong enough.

Lu Li lowered his black eyes; he couldn’t help her.

"Can Alchemy save her?"

"No... even Alchemy can’t bring the dead back to life."

Katerina understood his thoughts, and persuaded helplessly, "Change your mindset, it’s not the Old Era anymore."

Lu Li remained silent.

Puxiu raised its head in surprise: "Old Era? What does that mean... Mr. Lu Li is from that time?"

"It knows your identity." Katerina narrowed her eyes, but it wasn’t very cold.

Because they were already near Midnight City.

"I didn’t hear anything," Puxiu quickly drooped its ears.

Neither Katerina nor Puxiu had much emotion toward the body lying cold against the wall.

The silent Lu Li took off his robe at this moment and draped it over the girl’s ravaged body.

"Let’s go."

He said, turning to leave the alley.

Returning to the bustling main line, the gloom in the dark alley seemed to be dispelled by the passing pedestrians.

Shouting Aliens, Hunters, three peculiarly dressed Nuns, and a professor leading a group of young boys and girls on a tour.

Along the main line, they arrived at the edge of Midnight City Main Station half an hour later; from here, they could go up to outside Midnight City.

Going further ahead would enter Midnight City territory, from where it would be troublesome to reach the surface.

Some Alien type that resembled hunched rats were wandering around, and the whispers were faintly audible; they could help smuggle others across Midnight City.

But Lu Li and Katerina did not need to seek them out. As they were humans, they could enter Midnight City openly.

Puxiu had completed its mission.

Before the old sewer main line leading to the surface, it stood upright like a human, pressed its forelimbs against its chest, and made a comical yet earnest salute: "Scout Captain Puxiu accomplished the mission!"

"Thank you." Lu Li nodded slightly.

Puxiu’s tail wagged rapidly. It obtained what it desired.

But soon, its tail drooped, ears hung down, and its face showed disappointment.

"What’s wrong?"

Katerina asked, the fleeing journey had changed her perspective of Puxiu.

"Daidai and Maimai are dead... now I’m the only one left..." Homeless Puxiu lowered its head, speaking in confusion. "I can’t go back, I have nowhere to go, and don’t know where should I go..."

Lu Li gazed toward the old sewer leading to the surface.

"You can continue to follow us."