Detective Agency of the Bizarre

Chaos disrupts the night's tranquility.

The Lizard Maid then knocked on the bedroom door, bringing news of the sudden human invasion.

"They infiltrated the master's castle through the gardener's domain," the Lizard Maid rasped.

"...Is the Viscount involved?"

Oppressive air currents swirled in whispers within the bedroom.

"The intruders merely disturbed the master's banquet, but the master is very angry."

"Foolish meat chunks... Keep a close watch, I don't allow such incidents in the territory, and be ready, I'm going to the castle."

Worried about the Viscount, the Head Maid prepared to visit.

Gently touching Lu Li, who sat on the bed, the Head Maid instructed, "Remember the secret passage, and… don't run around."

Differing from the past hope that Lu Li would come find her, the Head Maid was concerned about Raimy encountering danger and locked the room upon leaving.

When the breeze, symbolizing emotions, brought news, Lu Li's dark eyes fell on the birdcage, "Did you do this?"

"No. It's someone wanting to attack the Viscount, just like us," Claire admitted with undisguised frustration, "We've been beaten to it."

Their actions could hardly achieve the intended strike effect anymore.

"We can't wait any longer, we have to follow the Head Maid to the castle now."

Claire urged Lu Li to open the cage door.

A tail brushed past the birdcage, releasing Claire, who leaped onto the table.

"Running out is useless, she won't let us follow," Lu Li calmly responded, "Seize the moment while the contestants haven't arrived to execute the second plan."

"Perhaps both plans could go ahead," Claire suggested from the windowsill.

"Can we involve the gardener?"

"No," Claire decisively refused. "It's too disgusting."

No longer solitary in hiding identity, Claire hit the window with her beak.

Crash—

The sound of breaking glass alerted the Lizard Maids guarding the manor. All they saw was a flowing shadow darting into darkness.

"Faster… faster!"

At the edge of the Fluorescent Withered Forest, Claire urged the silhouette in the darkness.

A flourishing young tree suddenly unfolded in the darkness, resonating subtly with the forest's agitation, low tentacle-like branches as if welcoming their sovereign.

Lu Li dashed into the glowing dark forest, malice hidden unwillingly in the shadows.

"The Head Maid has already left the forest," Lu Li passed on the information provided by the forest.

They were still too late.

"Give me some cat fur…"

Claire leaped onto Lu Li's back, pulling off tufts of fur with her beak and claws, muttering, "I'll draw Claire and the gardener over, you count to a hundred, then make the forest create a commotion, as loud as possible."

Watching Claire depart, Lu Li mentally counted numbers, branches cradling the cat ascending the treetop.

The Fluorescent Forest encircled the shadowy gardens, beneath the Alchemical Tower, the castle was brightly lit.

Sitting quietly at the treetop, Lu Li counted to a hundred, as instructed by Claire, and had the forest create noise—

Hundreds of trees simultaneously swung their branches, tearing the air, a deafening explosion resonating through the night sky.

After a few seconds, confident that even the castle would hear the commotion, Lu Li had the forest stop.

A minute later, they told Lu Li: Claire had entered the forest, with the gardener in pursuit.

Waiting in Claire's direction, the sound of something cutting through the air soon arose, Claire burst from the forest.

"Did the Head Maid arrive?"

"Yes."

Claire led the gardener into the forest shortly afterward.

"Run that way!"

Lu Li transformed into a shadow, leading Claire toward the Head Maid, while increasingly closer roars echoed behind them.

"Catch them… damn thieves!"

The forest ignored the gardener's commands, even itching to attack, but was stopped by Lu Li.

The silhouette of the Head Maid floated low, accompanied by an angry scream.

"Get away from my Raimy!"

A storm engulfed in wind blades violently assaulted the gardener behind Lu Li.

Numerous wounds several centimeters deep appeared on the gardener's surface, splattering foul blood.

Lu Li ran to the Head Maid's feet, hearing the shriek from the slender body, seeing the gardener's silhouette.

There were no words to describe the gardener's silhouette, a spherical monstrosity composed of bizarre bodies stitched together, an abhorrent creature of seams.

Lu Li understood why Claire refused the suggestion with "too disgusting"—the hideous creature before them would cause anyone to recoil.

"Give… it back!"

The green-gray head sewn on its belly growled vaguely, lunging toward the Head Maid… or perhaps Lu Li behind her.

"Meat chunk, I gave you a chance."

Bandages wound around her arms unraveled layer by layer, the Head Maid lifted her hollow, decayed-wood arm.

The wind howled through the gaps, dirt and branches whirled, forming a terrifying vortex around the gardener.

"Return… my… possession!"

The gardener's roar prompted the Head Maid to pause: "Your what?"

The response was suddenly ensnaring branches.

Wind blades cut through, branches shattered, the Head Maid clenched her fist coldly.

"You… betrayed me!"

The raging vortex devoured the gardener's words, swirling dirt obscured the view, only the altered howls of the gardener occasionally reached them.

"You still have a chance to beg Raimy for mercy, to atone before the Viscount."

The Head Maid, having completely restrained the gardener, whispered finally.

A branch slowly extended towards Lu Li and Claire sheltered by the wind.

"Then die…"

The terrifying whirlwind accelerated, penetrated with an eerie breath of kerosene. Within seconds, the cyclone dissipated invisibly, leaving behind a nauseating mound of flesh pulp.

"Ma… Ma…"

The gardener's weak breath vanished entirely.

A gentle breeze reemerged in the ravaged clearing of the woods.

The Head Maid landed beside Lu Li, ready to speak when she glanced into the shadows.

A bat silently hung from a treetop, murky and rasping, "The Viscount wants to see you."

"I'll return right away…"

The Head Maid crouched before Lu Li, gently stroking his fur, "Raimy, don't follow me, being with me is dangerous, like this time… I don't want anything to happen to you…"

"Wait at home for me, promise me, okay."

"Meow~"

"Raimy" seemed to truly listen, standing to walk towards the manor.

The Head Maid watched Lu Li's figure until it disappeared behind the trees, then followed the bat back to the castle.

"The Head Maid trusts you too much… even if she had a shred of doubt, she'd take you to the castle to prove it to the Viscount."

On the way back, Claire lamented the plan not proceeding as anticipated—though they destroyed the gardener, both plans failed.

The Head Maid didn't take them to the castle, nor was the Viscount drawn out.

"I guess even if you spoke now, she'd still believe you."

Lu Li then halted, reoriented, and headed west.

"You don't intend to listen to the Head Maid?"

"The manor is no longer safe."

Lu Li leaped over the gnarled tree roots ahead.

"The Head Maid trusts me, the Viscount won't."