Detective Agency of the Bizarre

There are still dozens of minutes of sailing time to reach the bay shrouded in light beams, but no one is willing to return to the cramped and cold cabin, just to gaze at the sun-drenched city and digest the immense joy of becoming a resident there.

"The real fools are us..."

Valendo heard Wilan beside him murmuring, no longer having a false smile and feigned indifference, the eyes reflecting the distant light were full of tranquility and yearning.

Many things can make humans abandon their barriers: imminent crises; treasures that can't be obtained alone; and things so shocking that they make maintaining rational thought difficult.

For instance, the Land of Light.

The painting they saw was dog shit, unrelated to skill, simply because even the most talented painter couldn't capture a fraction of its beauty.

Is this truly something we can possess?

After immense joy and shock, self-doubt surged in their hearts.

The previous batches of residents would typically harm themselves at this moment, just to prove this was a false and wonderful dream.

This sense of gain and loss continued until they entered the Land of Light from the dark sea, bathed in warm, bright light, the dreamlike feeling didn't fade, but grew thicker due to the warm-induced drowsiness.

At some point, the slight tremor of the boat brought them back to reality, Andrea had officially arrived at Old Rodest Port.

People on the deck saw the hateful shapes of heretics standing on the dock, figures in linen clothes among them, holding up clearly visible banners: Welcome to the Land of Light.

Squeak——

Andrea's bow gradually sank, the deck approaching the dock.

Valendo was the first to disembark onto the land of the Land of Light. The brightness and earth brought unprecedented solidity.

The other sixth batch of residents disembarked successively onto the dock, escorted by the heretics they were skeptical of through the tunnel, behind them, the Banyan Tree Guardians on the deck were slowly stepping off the big ship.

Before entering the tunnel, Valendo saw a seagull-like shadow swirling in the sky.

"What is that?" someone asked.

"The monster of Silent Hill, like a bat unafraid of sunlight." Porter explained while storing the banner.

When new residents learned that only the Agate Lake Camp belonged to humans, and the Old Belfast District and even the bay they saw were still occupied by strange entities, disappointment and disparity arose.

The Land of Light does not belong to humans...

But after dragging their exhausted bodies through the dark, deep tunnel for two hours, the disappointment vanished when they emerged from the Agate Lake Camp.

There was nothing worth noting about the wooden walls surrounding the camp and the continuous sheds, while distant residents looking this way made them feel uncomfortable being watched, the far away run-down individual houses and barren manor house spoke of the past glory of Old Belfast.

The sixth batch of residents truly marveled at the tender green crops growing on fertile soil that made farmers tremble; the two-story school building that excited scholars; and the beautiful Agate Lake that immersed everyone, and the wooden hut on the Lake Heart Island surrounded by the lake, hidden by lush trees, and circled by lawns.

"The lord will arrive shortly, I'll first lead you to arrange accommodations."

Mitra led them to the side of the empty sheds already built, letting them choose their houses, then head to the plaza to receive bedding.

New residents subconsciously tended to be next to familiar people or far from outsiders, stepping into their new home filled with warmth.

The sun shining on the wooden planks emitted an indescribable scent, more comfortable and intoxicating than perfume.

Valendo chose a house on the edge of the new sheds, its bedroom window could overlook the Lake Heart Island, while its living room could overlook Old Belfast and the bay unobstructedly.

From the bedroom back to the living room, he saw sunlight pouring into the house from the window, dust drifting in the air. At this moment, Valendo suddenly realized: This is sunlight solely belonging to him.

When the residents who already fell in love with their new home after briefly staying in the sheds returned to the outside world, and once again gazed far at the Old Belfast District beyond the wooden walls, they finally understood why the wooden walls surrounding the Agate Lake Camp were called the "Immortal Wall," and the incomparable sense of security brought by the Immortal Wall.

Without it, they would never dare to sleep peacefully in their homes, to live open-heartedly at the camp.

Even though it was just a thin wooden wall with no real use.

They temporarily left the sheds, followed Mitra to the plaza to receive bedding and clothing, since they knew the rules in advance, they didn't bring any luggage, only the clothes on them.

Just disappointing the new residents, until they finished receiving supplies, they still hadn't seen the Exorcists. Gael accompanying Porter and Mitra explained the rules to the new residents: The merciful lord allowed them to rest all day to alleviate seasickness, during which they could move freely as long as they didn't leave the camp. Dining at the plaza in the morning, noon, and evening, if low sanity value syndrome occurs, immediately inform nearby people. Those with low sanity value will not be expelled from the Agate Lake Camp, but those who know and conceal it will.

Informing them that professions will be distributed according to each person's specialties next, Gael and the others led them back to the sheds to rest.

Following tradition, Gael did not tell them about the astronomical phenomenon "Night and Stars" that terrified each batch of new residents to shiver with fright.

Although this tradition was purely because previous batches of residents forgot to remind them of this point.

At Lake Heart Island, Mother of the Marsh and Lu Li stood by the lakeside, gazing at the sixth batch of residents returning to the sheds.

"Will thou, as lord, not give a speech to the new citizens?"

"No need."

The identity and specialties of new residents were written on the parchment prepared by Matthias.

"I need a long skirt."

Mother of the Marsh requested, she was still wearing the camp's linen shirt. Although this did not affect her beautiful sanctity, even the maids had changed into maid uniforms, she should have a skirt fitting her status—although she could have had it long ago, she refused using the reason "not wanting old items."

Indeed, a tailor was among the new residents list, but he didn't come to the camp as a tailor, but as a scholar.

Lu Li didn't intend to turn the valuable quantity of residents into a tailor. If clothing is needed, the Land of Light can always obtain it from the Vena Refuge.

His arrival's significance is not to teach knowledge but to record all the textile technology humanity has had so far.

The Land of Light need not create, but must not lack.

"Let the maid measure your size, get a set made at the Vena Refuge with Merchant Anthony." Lu Li gazed at the branches rising from the deep pit southwest of the camp. The Vena Refuge, with its palace tailor, can create a magnificent dress that meets Mother of the Marsh's needs.

The five arrived Banyan Tree Guardians followed Mother of the Marsh's orders, slowly leaning towards the eastern part of the camp, rooting before the Immortal Wall, together with five other Banyan Tree Guardians guarding two-thirds of the eastern defense line of the camp.

With five more Banyan Tree Guardians, the front of Agate Lake Camp will be completely protected.

Then, the patrolling Twisted Cultists will retreat, and the camp with free power will no longer need to hesitate.