Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 866 - 59. Visiting Professor Lu Li

The "Return of the Exorcist from the Old Era" is being talked about with great interest.

That morning, many people gathered outside the gates of Klein Manifested University’s manor. Some were journalists, others were writers or painters looking for inspiration, and some were elderly—most of whom had experienced the great migration of Spinning City.

The Ring City Knights were maintaining order, preventing heretics or pickpockets from mingling in.

Rustle——

Dean Lawrence pulled up the curtains, gazing at the figure by the fireplace, unable to help but sigh: "It hasn’t been this lively here for a long time."

"Why are there so few students here?" Lu Li asked.

Even though skills like botany, linguistics, and archaeology are not very useful in Weird Times, and could even be deemed useless, Klein Manifested University, backed by the giant tree, should not be so neglected.

"There are many reasons."

Dean Lawrence sighed, leaving the window, and was about to sit opposite Lu Li when there was a knock at the door.

"Dean Lawrence, someone from City Hall is here." The assistant looked at Lu Li while speaking, clearly related to him.

"Ask them to wait."

Dean Lawrence replied, regaining the demeanor of a dean—only in front of Lu Li did he seem ordinary or even... humble.

He sat in another chair: "The recruitment by the giant tree has always been by invitation. Many ambitious young people or families not chosen will come to Manifested, attempting to be selected by the giant tree through exceptional performance."

"It doesn’t help. The academy above the giant tree doesn’t care about the situation below, nor the students. At most, they occasionally respond to our calls. So, as time passed, students who didn’t achieve results gradually dropped out, leaving no one willing to come."

"Some of the remaining students are still persistent, while others just want to acquire knowledge."

Dean Lawrence hesitated: "Your Excellency Lulian..."

"What do you teach?" Lu Li knew what he wanted to say.

Dean Lawrence was somewhat disappointed, but at least it wasn’t a harsh refusal.

"Professor Nuno Alexandrovich’s archaeology, studying relics and artifacts of history. Professor Caesar’s linguistics, preserving human language. Professor Daisy Schmitz’s botany, learning to cultivate those... unable to grow crops. Professor Leon and Professor Tesmi’s Basic Knowledge, which is the most popular subject among students, teaching survival knowledge in Weird Times..."

"No mathematics or history?" Lu Li asked.

"Mathematics exists only in Vena Ice-Free Port, as for history." Dean Lawrence paused slightly. "It belongs to the knowledge on the giant tree."

"Because of the pollution?"

"Yes... much of our knowledge has been polluted." Dean Lawrence’s expression turned bitter: "And unpolluted knowledge usually represents insignificance... so Manifested University is never valued."

Or rather, it has status but no power.

"Can’t plants still grow?"

"Ordinary plants, yes... only those fused with or tainted by pollution are unrestricted." Dean Lawrence answered. "The botany on the giant tree is cultivated north of Midnight City in a blood-colored farmland fused with polluted crops."

"Can you give me some seeds?"

Thinking about how enhancing humanity would make seeds sprout, Lu Li said to Dean Lawrence: "The seeds of ordinary, unpolluted plants."

However, that’s an effect noticeable with more than ten portions of humanity, and currently, Lu Li could hardly make seeds sprout.

"Professor Daisy Schmitz has some; I’ll have him send them to you later." Dean Lawrence didn’t ask why.

"You can use me for publicity." Lu Li said.

After all, knowledge is knowledge, even if it’s useless.

"In fact, we have another request..." Dean Lawrence slowed down his speech, looking seriously at Lu Li: "We hope to appoint you as a professor at Klein Manifested University. You could teach the Study of the Weird or Exorcism Studies."

"My knowledge may not be useful." Lu Li said.

All he possessed was the "antiquated" knowledge from over twenty years ago.

"Then how about Exorcism Studies?" Dean Lawrence asked again.

Lu Li thought briefly but gently shook his head: "I won’t stay here for long."

"Are you leaving Midnight City?" Dean Lawrence exclaimed in surprise. "I thought you would leave after familiarizing yourself with this world..."

"I’m looking for someone; maybe she’s on the Main Affinity Continent."

Lu Li said to Dean Lawrence.

"Moreover, exorcism is not suitable to become a discipline."

Yet, under Dean Lawrence’s earnest invitation, Lu Li became a special professor at Klein Manifested University, willing to give a few classes to answer questions from students and some non-students.

Dean Lawrence left the room to meet with City Hall personnel. Shortly after, Lu Li knocked on Katerina’s room door.

"Put on your gear; we’re going to the old sewers to pick up Puxiu." Lu Li said to Katerina, who was wrapped in a fluffy feather robe.

It didn’t really count as clothing, but Katerina loved the fluffy feel too much.

"That little guy? No problem."

Katerina left the door, unabashedly shedding her robe to walk naked towards the pile of clothes at the foot of the bed.

Lu Li’s gaze lingered briefly on the dozen varying scars lining her back before looking out at the giant tree.

"I never knew my clothes could smell so bad..." Katerina frowned, donning her leather armor, the stench of rot and blood almost suffocating her.

Fully dressed, she finally buckled on her scabbard. Katerina and Lu Li left the top floor and headed toward the side door.

Too many people crowded the main entrance, and they were all there because of Lu Li; they might get blocked in and unable to leave.

But before reaching the Klein Manifested University manor, an urgent call came from behind.

"Your Excellency Lulian, Your Excellency Lulian—"

Professor Daisy Schmitz and a panting, chubby guard ran over, anxiously asking: "Where are you, you two... going?"

"We have a companion in the old sewers."

"Are you bringing him up? This task can be left to us; for your safety, it’s best not to wander around..." Daisy Schmitz slightly relaxed, asking: "Is he a supernatural being?"

"Alien or hybrid." Lu Li answered. "You don’t know him."

Daisy Schmitz looked at Katerina: "Miss Katerina can lead the team over."

"I’m fine with that."

Katerina answered, appearing to have a good relationship with them.

"Then it’s up to you." Lu Li said to Katerina. He understood Daisy Schmitz’s concerns.

Lu Li returned to the room to wait, and near noon, Katerina came back.

In her arms was a ball wrapped in gray cloth.

She casually tossed it to the ground, and Puxiu’s youthful face and dog-like body emerged from within.

"Mr. Luli, thank you!"

Its tail almost wagged into a blur.

"And Miss Katerina!"