Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 860 - 53. Curses and Legends

Chapter 860: 53. Curses and Legends

[Description of Ghoul Population]

[Being scratched or bitten by Ghouls will infect with the Ghoul virus, which won’t disappear after cleaning the wound; the infected part must be severed before the virus spreads. If not treated, the infected person gradually loses sensation and transforms into a Ghoul.]

[They possess some intelligence to drive their instincts. The higher the rank in the population, the greater the degree of intelligence, but there is no evidence that levels below the Ghoul King possess intelligence equal to humans.]

[Ghouls lack reproductive ability; they increase their numbers by attacking humans. When there are Ghoul Sorcerers in the population, they can transform corpses or use mediums to lure humans into rational downfall. The latter is usually more dangerous, as humans in rational downfall cannot be detected by the town divinities before changing. Despite not having the ability to infect, human disguises make infected individuals more threatening.]

[As a bizarre population, Ghouls’ habits resemble humans, living in clusters. When the population reaches a certain number, the Ghoul’s Lair will be upgraded to Ghoul Town, with a few members advancing to Ghoul Warriors and a few to Ghoul Sorcerers. The power to appoint Ghoul Warriors, Ghoul Sorcerers, and Ghoul Leaders is granted.]

[Their origin is unreliable, known only to exist at the end of the Old Era on the Main Affinity Continent, spreading along with migrating humans and the Ghoul Pandemic event.]

[Ghoul Commoner]

[Born in any lair]

[Lower tier]

[Size 1.4m-1.7m]

Lu Li turns to the next page, with a new ghoul portrayed on its back.

[Ghoul Warrior]

[Born in any lair]

[Mid-tier]

[Size 1.7m-2.5m]

[Ghoul Warriors only handle combat. They possess taller and stronger bodies than Ghoul Commoners, with sharper teeth and claws, and tightly knitted muscles beneath their decaying skin.]

After pausing at the sketch gallery for a moment, Lu Li flips to the next page.

[Ghoul Sorcerer]

[Born in Ghoul Town or larger lair]

[Mid-tier]

[Size 1.5m-1.7m]

The Ghoul Sorcerer’s mouth and claws are severely decomposed, with reduced rot, the protruding bones under the skin are thin, and holding a human skull.

After studying the depiction of the Ghoul Sorcerer for a while, Lu Li turns to another page.

Familiar words suddenly distort, breaking apart and reordering into a claw seeming to exude a stench of decay, stretching out from the paper towards Lu Li.

Snap —

Lu Li closes the sketchbook.

Yet the claw doesn’t disappear, its outline protrudes gradually from the black cover of the sketchbook.

Lu Li presses the cover with his left hand, suppressing the evil force birthed from the words.

In the depths of his mind, an angry growl resounds as the claw retreats unwillingly into the pages, and calm is restored.

As if what he had just witnessed was merely his delirium.

Lu Li no longer opens the book because he has already confirmed one thing.

People have never given up on recording.

They waited for a long time in Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s office, and soon before afternoon, the damaged, half-open wooden door was knocked, bringing news of the professor awakening.

Although they waited for long, at least it’s not bad news.

Lu Li and Katerina leave the office and are led by the guards to the lounge.

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich lies on the bed, forehead bandaged same as his right hand, exuding the smell of medicine.

"Terribly sorry, Your Excellency Lulian, I got too excited... Hence let these fools offend you." Professor Nuno Alexandrovich apologizes to Lu Li with unrest.

The guards who brought them scratch their protruding bellies, obviously indifferent to being insulted by a professor.

He is more concerned about this desolate man being respected by Professor Nuno Alexandrovich.

"Damn Mis, go fetch other professors."

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich sends away the guards, sighing to Lu Li: "Luckily they are a bunch of pigs-like fools, if they were smarter it would only cause trouble..."

The professor’s attitude toward the guard seems to reveal some hidden truths, but they both have more important things to want.

"Your Excellency Lulian, may I ask what happened after the migration?" Professor Nuno Alexandrovich can’t resist asking, then gestures before Lu Li replies: "Wait a moment... Tell us only after those old folks arrive..."

"Your Excellency Lulian, when did you return to... the surface?"

"About a dozen days ago."

"Was it before the eternal night?"

"Mm."

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s brow relaxes: "You’ve returned not long ago, you might be unfamiliar with this world, feel free to ask any questions."

"What is the song origin?"

"The ballad praising you?"

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich asks, after receiving a response, he unlocks long-sealed memories: "Not sure... After the migration, we lived in Storm Corner, which although also lacked food was much better than Spinning City... Then as you attacked the third disaster, this ballad started circulating in Storm Corner."

"Do you know the Shadow of the Evil Spirit Girl?" Lu Li asks.

"Shadow of the Maiden..." Professor Nuno Alexandrovich murmurs softly, shaking his head. "Never heard of it, wait for those old folks to come, you can ask them, they might know something."

This also reveals some information: After Lu Li "died," Anna no longer rampaged everywhere.

Before asking about what happened between the Old Era and Weird Times, Katerina gently bumped Lu Li’s shoulder.

"What do you want to ask?" Lu Li queries.

Katerina gazed at Professor Nuno Alexandrovich, cautiously speaking: "Then, no matter if Lu Li is a pure human, you will ’buy’ him, right?"

"Buy?"

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s joyful and excited face wrinkles: "Your Excellency Lulian, do you need assistance?"

He suspects Lu Li is receiving some bad treatment.

"Katerina brought me from underground to Midnight City as a Hunter. She thought I was pure human, hoping for a reward."

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich relaxes and smiles: "If it’s just this, please be at ease... What do you want?"

"Civilian status... and money!"

Katerina’s breathing grows rapid, nervously clenching her fists.

Her entire future hinges on this moment: whether to continue struggling in Death Marsh as a Hunter until death or to safely pass life as a civilian.

"It’s simple." Professor Nuno Alexandrovich says.

The easily-made promise from Professor Nuno Alexandrovich unexpectedly makes Katerina doubt, questioning the elderly man.

"You don’t understand what Your Excellency Lulian means to us..."

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich shakes his head slightly, regarding Lu Li with a respect akin to a believer.

"If not for Lu Li, you and many others wouldn’t be born, wouldn’t grow up; perhaps humans would already have gone extinct, or hiding in the dark underground where disasters cannot tread."