Detective Agency of the Bizarre

Lu Li did not doubt that the Tailcoat Ghost would refuse. Even if it truly wanted to, the Mother of the Marsh would bring it back to the camp.

Before continuing along the street, the power of the Crown of Knowledge briefly enveloped Lu Li's body, sacrificing the memory of "the Mother of the Marsh quietly sheltering him."

The mist dissipated, and Lu Li looked up to gaze at the Agate Lake Camp in the morning light, where the Banyan Tree Guardian and the Immortal Wall were no longer prominent, and the Tailcoat Ghost had already vanished behind the ruins of the buildings.

Although the Tailcoat Ghost might use this to escape, the real loss is to itself.

Thoughts drifted away from the ghost, and Lu Li continued along the prescribed route, moving south to north on the outer districts.

The Land of Light caused many anomalies to flee from Old Belfast—some fled terrified by the God of the Deep Sea's aura, some loathed the sunlight and yearned for darkness, and others left because they couldn't hunt in the brightness. The presence of the Agate Lake Camp also made the surrounding districts avoid the oddities, much like how creatures would steer clear of a predator's territory.

They could feel the aura of the Alien God continuously spilling from the mountain top, and not long ago, it became two Alien Gods.

Although the Agate Lake Camp temporarily failed to reclaim the Land of Light, it was similar in power to the Shipwreck District, Ashes District, Land of Vortex, and Silent Hill. Therefore, Lu Li would not encounter many anomalies on this route, and even if there were any, they would be weak anomalies forced to hide, which he could easily handle.

One of Lu Li's goals on this trip was the latter: the Haunted Hill known to locals since the Old Era, once adjacent to Seaview Cliff, and awakened in the Dark Era as Silent Hill.

Flying monsters originating from Silent Hill in the depths of the Elm Forest circled endlessly overhead in the Land of Light, as if patrolling their territory. The ground was not theirs, but the sky indeed was their airspace—after these bat monsters, with dragon-like massive bodies, cleared all airborne anomalies.

The Mother of the Marsh and the twisted figures did not fear them, but they indeed couldn't harm them before descending to low altitude. Fortunately, these bat monsters had no intention of approaching the camp; they tended to linger around Old Belfast, avoiding territories occupied by powerful anomalies, then dive into the ruins or bay, grabbing anomalies as large as steam cars on abandoned streets and flying back to Silent Hill.

But as Lu Li moved away from the Agate Lake Camp and the center of Old Belfast, nearing the northern part of the city, he had to start confronting these bat monsters patrolling their airspace.

He hid in the shadows formed by the ruins to avoid the bat monsters flying overhead, while also staying clear of the abhorrent presences lurking in houses or sewers.

But inevitably, Lu Li was still discovered by them. Bat monsters circled and hovered high above the house he was hiding in, and their wing-beating sounded like the noise of a train starting, casting large shadows sprawling on the ground.

Lu Li moved away from the shattered window frames, waiting in the depths of the room for the bat monsters to leave.

Boom—

A massive shadow suddenly slammed into the street, shattering it, kicking up dust and debris like rain pounding against the houses along the street, falling like raindrops.

The dust spread outward, the shadows deep within paused briefly, and after finding nothing, they left with a rumble.

Shortly after, the figure hiding behind the wall stepped out, covering his mouth and nose.

Circling in the sky, they could easily spot moving presences on the ground, appearing more frequently and sensitively as one approached the Elm Forest.

Time to head back.

Anyway, Silent Hill was temporarily not the camp's primary target.

Crunch—

Lu Li's shoe stepped on broken glass near the street.

Nothing happened, the bat monsters had already moved away, and Lu Li managed to leave the house unharmed, returning by the same route.

Passing an empty reptilian nest, Lu Li approached the southern Vortex Land.

Unlike other danger zones such as Shipwreck District, Ashes District, or Silent Hill, they showed no obvious tendency to expand outward. The Ashes District and Silent Hill may be spreading outward, but slowly, while the Shipwreck District always wandered around the upright ships.

Only the Land of Vortex continued to expand rapidly at every moment.

From initially occupying a small part of the Oak Forest and half of Oak Street District, a few months ago occupying half the Oak Forest and the entire Oak Street District, the Land of Vortex now swallowed nearly the entire Oak Forest and several adjacent districts.

Like a giant vortex devouring souls, it lurked in the southwest of the Land of Light, occupying nearly one-tenth of the territory.

If nothing was done, sooner or later the Land of Light would become the Land of Vortex.

Moreover, even after resolving the vortex, it is uncertain whether the vortex pollution twisting the land could be restored to its original state.

The only good news was that the Land of Vortex was less than two districts away from the Ashes District. Calculated in terms of time, it would be before the rainy season arrives—one side would help the Land of Light resolve the other, no matter what.

On the way, Lu Li ignored the weak anomalies. If they coveted Lu Li, they would meet the disturbing gunfire instead.

The Spirit-Calling Gun and Sequence Potion were sufficient for Lu Li to handle these anomalies, not like spirits, without sturdy shells or rituals.

On the way, entering Simp Park fallen with Old Belfast, the park's name was rust-covered and buried in soil, the white cobblestone road winding through charred woods, leading to a cluster of low buildings ahead.

Lu Li slowed his steps, not only because the Haunted House there, once occupied by ghosts, was now inhabited by more fearsome anomalies, but also because it held memories.

A phantom white arm reached out before him. Lu Li did not respond, so the arm shook urgently again.

Lu Li's focus returned from the distant Haunted House to his side, where Anna leaned out from the carriage, waving at him: "Come help me."

Drizzling rain fell around, wetting his hair and dyeing his trench coat darker and deeper.

After a slight pause, Lu Li reached out his hand to lift Anna's hand.

A parasol peak protruded from the carriage curtain, followed by the umbrella body, with a soft "pop" as the umbrella opened, raindrops fell, and the umbrella shook.

An anxious pedestrian hurried along the distant forest path.

Lu Li reached out to take the umbrella Anna had opened.

"I can do it myself."

"You want people to see a lonely umbrella floating in the air?"

Anna, supported, floated to the ground without splashing any rainwater from the puddle.

Lu Li held the umbrella for Anna, noticing that half of Lu Li was outside the umbrella, being soaked by the rain.

"You don't have to shield me with the umbrella…"

Anna pushed against Lu Li's hand, but the ghost had no strength. Cautiously peeking at the misty rain outside the umbrella, she surreptitiously snuggled closer to Lu Li.

Suddenly, a breeze blew under the umbrella, with cold rain strands awakening Lu Li.

The mushroom umbrella shadow covered the head, the ooze dropping down, soaking Lu Li's body and awakening him.

A slime blanket extended from behind it into the Haunted House.

At the critical moment, the Mother of the Marsh controlled it, protecting Lu Li from being swallowed.

"What are you thinking about?"

Her questioning whisper echoed in his mind.

"...Nothing."

Lu Li disengaged from the tactile reality, reaching for his pocket.

The Doomsday Apocalypse carried with him was intact.

Was the umbrella mushroom anomaly causing his delirium?