Detective Agency of the Bizarre
Chapter 867 - 60. Oil painting, the 2nd one

Chapter 867: 60. Oil painting, the 2nd one

Puxiu’s appearance makes it impossible for it to appear outside.

Although it can’t return to the human streets, Puxiu is already satisfied with everything now. It sits almost greedily on the windowsill, gazing at the sprawling streets of Klein Manifested University.

But what he sees is not the same scenery as Lu Li.

In the afternoon, Dean Lawrence arrived with a painter.

"This is Mr. Camila Barwe, a former court painter of the Lennon Islands, here to paint your portrait."

Dean Lawrence introduced to the window where the gray cloth was covering Lu Li.

"Hello, Your Excellency Lulian, your reputation is known to everyone in my hometown." The unkempt old man with a long bushy beard placed his left hand on his chest, bowing with respect in the royal etiquette of the Lennon Islands towards Lu Li.

Due to the Lennon Islands’ involvement in the second expedition of the Third Calamity, they paid special attention there and also knew about the Third Expedition initiated by Lu Li alone.

"It’s an honor to personally paint your portrait."

"Will it take long?" Lu Li frowned.

He didn’t want to sit there motionless for several hours.

"It won’t take too long. The court painting style of the Lennon Islands is very suitable for quick painting. First sketch the outline, then fill in the colors." Mira Barwe, the painter, responded.

He let Lu Li sit in the chair by the fireplace, added some smokeless processed firewood to the fireplace, allowing light and shadow to appear on Lu Li’s side profile, and stepped back to place the easel by the doorway.

Dean Lawrence did not leave, watching the outline appearing on the canvas while reporting the upcoming arrangements to Lu Li.

He placed a list on the small table next to the chair, with names written of those who wished to meet Lu Li, which Dean Lawrence had already prioritized in order of importance.

"It’s okay, you can take a look." Mira Barwe, the painter, said.

Lu Li picked up the list, which had a long list of names and identities, such as the Hunter’s Guild, lords, and the Spirits and Monsters Pavilion.

"Reject them for me." Lu Li put down the list and leaned back in the chair.

"Um... you don’t plan on meeting them?" Dean Lawrence probed.

Lu Li nodded in response.

"Alright, I’ll decline these unnecessary personal meetings for you..." Dean Lawrence had almost understood Lu Li’s style. "City Hall has decided to hold a reception party for you tomorrow night, and it would be best if you could attend."

Lu Li was the main attraction of the party, and if he didn’t go, there would be no point in holding it.

"I’ll go." Lu Li no longer refused.

At least one task was completed, Dean Lawrence thought, and before leaving, he remembered something: "Oh, the Hunter’s Guild wishes to contact Miss Katerina. I think they want to promote Miss Katerina’s escorting you affair..."

"Let her decide."

"Alright."

Dean Lawrence left the room and went to the next room to notify Katerina.

The room was left with only the sound of the brush gently swiping on the canvas.

A few minutes passed, and the tranquility was broken.

Bang, bang, bang, bang—

Mira Barwe, focused on painting, ignored it.

Bang, bang, bang, bang—

The knocking soon sounded again, a bit more urgent this time.

Mira Barwe frowned but still didn’t pay attention to the person outside.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The wooden door trembled, making it difficult for Mira Barwe to maintain a calm mood.

"You better open it, or she might break down the door." Lu Li spoke at this time.

"Of course..." Mira Barwe sighed in resignation, put down the brush, and opened the door.

In the corridor, Katerina had already taken a few steps back, just as Lu Li had said, preparing to break down the door.

If it came to that, Mira Barwe would be the first to suffer, and the painting might have to be redone.

Katerina entered the room, and with a hefty door closing sound, Mira Barwe expressed his dissatisfaction with her disturbance, returning to the easel to continue painting.

"Should I not have disturbed you?" Katerina, who wanted to sit by the fireplace, stopped in her tracks and belatedly asked.

"What’s the matter?" Lu Li inquired.

"That dean just came to me and talked about the Hunter’s Guild wanting to use the publicity of the affair. I wanted to ask you."

Lu Li is the person she is most familiar with, and the only person she knows. The unfamiliar surroundings made her uneasy, but staying by the fireplace eased it somewhat.

And also the hyena on the windowsill.

"It’s your affair," Lu Li said.

"So?" Katerina expressed she didn’t understand.

Lu Li said straightforwardly: "I don’t mind you talking about it, just make sure it’s truthful."

Katerina wanted to say something, looking to the third person in the room, her wariness towards strangers taking the upper hand.

Mira Barwe suddenly tore off a few strips of paper, rolled them into balls, and stuffed them into his ears.

"You can speak now."

Lu Li shifted his gaze from Mira Barwe.

"...Actually, I don’t want to be a Hunter anymore." Katerina, no longer wearing a fluffy bathrobe, and having changed into a men’s shirt and trousers because skirts made her feel like she wasn’t wearing anything, said. "These past two days have made me feel... Water isn’t bitter, the meat can be cooked so deliciously, and carrots and green leafy vegetables are actually used as food and not as precious medicine..."

"It’s like a rat living in a sewer suddenly running into a house, warmth, food, safety... The rat has only stayed for two days and doesn’t want to return to the sewer anymore... Do you understand what I mean?"

"Then stay," Lu Li said calmly. "You will soon gain resident status and enough money to be free from worry about food and clothing."

"...I’m afraid all this is fake, just an illusion I’m having in the Emerald Dream."

Katerina fell into self-doubt.

But before Lu Li could say anything, Katerina, who had been struggling for survival all her life, convinced herself — a beautiful illusory dream is always better than a cruel, harsh reality.

Katerina had no "I must return to reality" obsession; even if everything happening now wasn’t real, she could accept it, she just wanted to know the truth.

The entanglement of whether this place was the Emerald Dream would linger with her for a while.

Mira Barwe painted for nearly two hours, finishing as dusk approached.

The canvas was covered with a white cloth, ready to be taken back for processing with court craftsmanship. To make it a perfect oil painting.

Both Lu Li and the remaining Katerina saw the painting; it was realistic and artistically rich but had yet to exhibit the unique weight and historical feel of an oil painting.

Mira Barwe left with the canvas not long after, when suddenly, a burst of noise erupted outside the door, transmitted into the room.

People gathered outside the door, discussing something excitedly, and some turned to leave.

Dean Lawrence soon arrived at Lu Li’s room. Unlike the excited people outside, he displayed an unprecedented sense of unease.

"What’s wrong?"

Dean Lawrence did not answer, handing Lu Li a crumpled newspaper.

The headline of the front-page news read prominently:

"The Only One Becomes Two, Another Exorcist from the Old Era Returns!"

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