Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 861 - 54. The Living Legend

Chapter 861: 54. The Living Legend

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich was angry that Katerina failed to understand the importance of Lu Li. He recounted the legendary story of Lu Li going alone to the Old River Channel Plains—also known as the Dark Wilderness—to resolve the Third Calamity and almost succeeding.

More importantly, Lu Li did not fade into the river of time.

He was still young and had time to do many things.

Katerina still couldn’t see Lu Li, with whom she spent much time, as the hero found only in legends. But she quickly recalled that Lu Li had successfully left the Emerald Dream and possessed the Cursed Title.

Indeed, ordinary people would find it difficult to achieve.

"Cursed Title? That’s just an insignificant part of His Excellency Lulian’s experiences." Professor Nuno Alexandrovich seemed like a worshipper of Lu Li, unconditionally believing in his abilities.

"His Excellency Lulian is the Exorcist who bears the title of the one who sounded the Evil God’s Death Knell."

"The one who sounded the Evil God’s Death Knell? Cursed Title?" Katerina asked, confused, as her mind hadn’t gained any revelation about the Cursed Title.

"It’s an honorary title from the Old Era, and its significance is..."

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s eyes shone with a youthful gleam: "His Excellency Lulian once personally killed a... Divinity."

"Divinity..." Katerina whispered, repeating it, feeling the weight of the word. "Like the kind... in the towns?"

"Yes."

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement: "So do you understand what it means that His Excellency Lulian is still alive and young?"

Before Katerina could answer, Professor Nuno Alexandrovich answered his own question, shouting excitedly like a young man: "Perhaps this is the prelude to our counterattack against the Weird Times, the grand epic of humanity returning to the stage!"

"Your emotions are not quite right." Lu Li looked calmly at Professor Nuno Alexandrovich.

While one could understand the excitement of an old man finally seeing clear skies after a prolonged storm, it was uncharacteristic of an elderly professor.

He was breathing fast, drooling from the corners of his mouth in a frenzy without realizing it.

Lu Li’s reminder pulled the elder back from the brink of madness. He closed his eyes, taking time to calm his emotions before speaking hoarsely to Lu Li: "I’m sorry, Your Excellency Lulian, I got too excited... almost fell into delirium."

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich looked down, stroking his bandaged right hand: "It’s been affecting me... amplifying my emotions."

They didn’t dwell long on Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s condition, as Lu Li inquired about what had happened after his disappearance.

Katerina was born in the Weird Times and had only lived around Tang Ge Town, so her knowledge was limited.

"The Time of Silence became Silent Moments, and your deeds spread to every corner of the land, and then..."

Then the Fourth Calamity, "Light Thief," was born. The Lennon Islands were shattered, and the world was engulfed in darkness, entering the Weird Times.

Storm Corner didn’t remain safe for long. Its adjacent sea region turned into the Sinking Sea. While people were self-rescuing, they began searching for the next safe haven.

After struggling for a few years, Midnight Town’s flames lit up the Barren Lands shrouded in darkness. People gathered there, made the flames brighter, and then spread the fire—

Remembering the "Strange Community Atlas," Lu Li asked how to eliminate the apparitions in the book. Professor Nuno Alexandrovich nervously inquired whether Lu Li had opened it.

Lu Li truthfully recounted the delirium he witnessed. Hearing that the apparitions were suppressed back into the book, Professor Nuno Alexandrovich breathed a sigh of relief: "This book came from inside, representing danger and contamination for many outside. Special methods are needed to look at it..."

"Inside?"

"The real Kleinse University."

"Isn’t this it?"

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s old face showed a hint of loss and conflicting pride: "This is just the Manifested Kleinse University."

He didn’t explain further and took out a wooden box, opening it to reveal a few pea-sized, oval gold pellets.

"Eat them, and then walk to the window."

"What is this?" Katerina pinched the resistible, shimmering pellets, doubtful as she once again found herself in a superior position.

"Distributed by the Midnight Church, it allows you to see what’s hidden by the Alchemical Towers... it’s a prerequisite to becoming a resident." Professor Nuno Alexandrovich explained, specifically directing the last sentence to Katerina.

Katerina looked towards Lu Li. Seeing him already consume the gold pellets, she reluctantly followed suit.

Lu Li walked to the window and looked out.

This side faced the back of the "Manifested" Kleinse University. After a brief tranquility, Lu Li’s gaze was unconsciously drawn to the distant towering black Alchemical Tower. An indescribable force made him resonate with the tower, feeling a comforting sense of acceptance.

The expansive buildings suddenly rippled like a calm lake disturbed by a gentle breeze, erasing reflections and revealing the truth beneath the lake—

A towering World Tree stood on the land, its lush canopy nearly blocking the sky. Wooden houses were built on branches wider than streets.

Katerina’s mouth hung agape, unable to speak from shock.

"Did you ever find it strange upon arriving at Kleinse University, why there were almost no students, why the surroundings were so desolate?"

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s voice came from behind.

"Because that is the real Kleinse University."

The Alchemical Towers standing at various places in Midnight City surround this World Tree, existing solely to conceal it.

Lu Li gazed at the canopy obscuring the sky and the ant-sized human figures on the branches: "What is the difference between the Manifested and the real?"

"Knowledge."

On the sickbed, Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s voice answered.

"We at the Manifested Kleinse University only teach basic ’useless’ knowledge."

He emphasized "useless": "Botany, archaeology, linguistics, basic knowledge..."

"And above?" Katerina stared blankly at the giant tree, suddenly feeling an uncontrollable urge to climb it and live up there.

"Truly useful, yet cursed knowledge."

A jumble of footsteps suddenly sounded from the corridor outside, drawing nearer.

"Old man, you’re not making us visit just because you had a little fall, are you?"

The door was pushed open, and a rough voice rang out as several elders entered.

"Just wanted you to meet someone." Professor Nuno Alexandrovich showed a mysterious smile, as if expecting something: "Leon, Tesmi, do you recognize this... gentleman?"

The professors looked towards Lu Li.

"Is he your nephew?" Leon, who had made the rough call when entering, asked.

Professor Nuno Alexandrovich mysteriously hinted: "Black hair, black eyes, Spinning City’s great migration, what does it remind you of?"