Detective Agency of the Bizarre

"What is the meaning."

Lu Li's gaze returned to Claire.

"I didn't get it. Asking me will only get you a pile of irresponsible speculations." Claire stepped forward, casually threw a punch, and a fierce aura burst along with the punch's shadow, shattering the broken scarecrow in the air.

The robe of the Conspiracy Web Deity Sect hanging in the air slowly floated down.

Claire picked up the scarecrow loot, which could exchange for contribution, although barely worthwhile.

"Let's keep going."

The scarecrows standing in the distance didn't waste time approaching; Lu Li and Claire continued forward towards the manor deep inside the Bloody Farm.

The barns they passed by were all inevitably destroyed, leaving them with nothing but the ruins.

The blood-colored wheat still seemed to be plants; mutation and irrigation had not changed their essence, and they possessed some biological traits.

Thus, as Lu Li walked through the wheat field, these thigh-high stems, ignored by participants and offering no contribution, all laid down, forming a red carpet that paved the way for Lu Li's advance.

It was as if Lu Li were the true master of this field.

Through the eerily tranquil Bloody Farm, where foul plants grew, the manor's silhouette emerged ahead, sitting amidst the sea-like blood-colored wheat fields.

Lu Li and Claire began to encounter other participants. Lone Rangers were rare; most chose to team up with others from the same faction.

They kept their distance, feigned lack of injuries, and typically avoided confrontation from afar—even though killing other participants no longer provided points, the loot and supplies were theirs to keep.

But such direct conflict was usually limited to situations with only two to three teams nearby; leaking news of attacking other participants would clearly bring trouble.

The garden surrounded by charred fences was full of ashes and footprints; a major fire had recently ravaged the area, burning everything except the mansion to ashes.

Stepping onto the ash-grey remnants seemingly still warm, they left black footprints as they entered the mansion.

The hideous twisted corpses of Lower Parasites were visible everywhere, with their gonads—also weapons—cut away as trophies.

"Let's try our luck at the wine cellar."

Claire seemed familiar with this place; she wasted no time exploring the perhaps repeatedly scavenged house nor showed interest in the noises coming from some part of the mansion, heading directly to the cellar entrance leading to the wine cellar.

Without a doubt, the participants who had recently taken over the manor wouldn't spare the wine cellar. When they arrived, the cellar's iron door was open, revealing the long, cold passageway. There was also a female Lower Parasite's corpse in the corridor.

Lu Li followed Claire down the stairs.

The wine cellar, a word that would make any drunk's eyes light up. But here, they wouldn't like it at all.

Not because of the scarecrows and Lower Parasites guarding the manor, nor because of the farm owner and his servants occupying the mansion, but because this wine cellar was unrelated to "fragrant" or "rich" as one might imagine.

The nauseating scent of fermenting blood permeated the cold cellar, with semi-congealed thick blood covering the stone tiles, pulling up sticky strands when stepped on. It originated from leaking barrels and from some intruder who opened the flowing liquid.

Deep in the wine cellar, they encountered a four-person team—they were alert upon running into other faction members while in a secluded area, yet relaxed soon after. Not only because their opponents were two, but also because they recognized Lu Li.

A conflict seemed to end here but suddenly differed as one of the old sewer line team members whispered.

"That's the Exorcist... If we capture him..."

The unexpected came suddenly: his three companions surrounded him without hesitation.

One of them cautiously apologized to the calm Lu Li and amused Claire: "Forgive our offense, Your Excellency Lulian."

Watching the infighting team control that person and leave, Claire chuckled and said, "Your reputation is quite good. Even players from the old sewer line who have a grudge against you don't want to hurt you."

"Maybe they recognized you too."

The interlude ended, and they continued deeper into the wine cellar.

This area was relatively well preserved, the "wine" had not spread here, only chaotic bloody footprints marred the stone slabs.

The red brick wall at the wine cellar's end blocked the path, Claire approached it and twisted the wall sconce counter-clockwise.

Click—

The sound of gears operating echoed, and the tightly-sealed red brick wall cracked open, revealing a deep passage to the Unknown Lands.

For a mechanism, it was clearly rudimentary, though considering long overdue maintenance could lead to failure, the simpler the secret passage, the better.

"You've been here before?" Lu Li asked Claire, who went straight to the target.

"My mother told me." Claire explained the source of the secret passage.

Before the Dark Era, the blood-colored farmlands were managed by the Lorenzo family, whose true owner was Willie Hunter, a significant figure in the Midnight City Noble Council.

The Lorenzo family, along with three other families, were under Count Willie Hunter.

"Mother's parchment records this secret path, leading directly to the Earl's Manor, coincidentally occupied by a Viscount. We can go directly solve him and reclaim the Alchemical Tower."

Compared to Claire's confidence, the parchment made Lu Li think of something unrelated to Will Ken.

Preparing to inform Claire, his mind suddenly surfaced with a weak whisper.

"Lu Li... don't tell others about my existence yet."

"Why." Lu Li responded.

"I sense... something unusual. Here, these people..."

Will Ken's old voice resonated in his heart.

"Maintain investigator's caution, scrutinizing everything nearby, including myself..."

Lu Li fell into silence.

"...Lu Li, there's something in the upper wine barrel."

Lu Li's gaze fell on the wine racks at the sides, locking on the target in Will Ken's increasingly weak voice.

"Give me a moment."

Lu Li said to Claire, approaching the tapped wine barrel and prying the decayed spigot with a dagger.

Whoosh—

The foul "wine" burst out, which Lu Li skillfully avoided, creating a thin slippery puddle.

A few minutes later, as the wine dispersed, Lu Li found a bundle of flower copper coins in the sticky wine barrel muck, indicating its original placement.

Lu Li wiped the flower copper coins dry, listening to Will Ken's fragile words.

"It connects to some room above..."

Claire temporarily switched the lamp back, closing the passage, and followed Lu Li from the wine cellar to the farm owner's bedroom.

Thanks to Will Ken's guidance, this time the mansion appeared familiar to Lu Li.

Entering the manor's study, Lu Li saw a large oil painting among scattered books and papers in disorder. It hung between two bay windows, portraying a lady in a voluminous gown, holding flowers—the bouquet now missing a piece.

Lu Li embedded the copper coin into the painting and stepped back beside Claire.

"Just like that?"

Simultaneously with Claire's query, an anxious, faint scream suddenly sounded from the painting.

"Who... Who's out there?"