Detective Agency of the Bizarre

The low, shabby shacks resemble the slums, but lack the congestion and filth typical of such areas.

Everywhere are wandering Earth Dweller miners, followed by humans drawn by the tournament, and a few odd creatures resting here.

"Whatever he said, you shouldn't trust him..."

On the way back, Ida didn't hide her wariness of the cultist.

"But we are indeed stranded here." Lu Li's gaze fell on the migrating group looking over here.

This is a problem they have to face eventually. Unless the exit is in the mining area, or the Giant Tree Academy or Knights Order takes over here.

Lu Li handed the Midnight City Main Station tickets and Midnight City tickets he purchased to the migrating group, even including Shillings, enough for them to enter the outer city and settle until starting a new life.

"Please tell us your name..."

The grateful migrating group pleaded with Lu Li.

"You will know it."

The cultist then whispered slowly: "Remember this moment, for it will be the only real memory of your dwindling remaining days..."

"What are you talking about?"

The survivors were stunned, Ida's forelegs bowed, showing clear intent to attack.

"It's a fact..." the shadow under the cultist's cloak sighed: "Even in Midnight City, citizens rarely live past forty. These people are already deeply polluted..."

"We will leave Midnight City by then."

The man whispered.

Though the atmosphere shifted from joy to sorrow, the man finally bid farewell to Lu Li and Ida, leading the migrating group into the spiral pit.

"I suddenly understand your actions, this joy after redemption..." Ida said, watching their disappearing backs.

Fortunately, the cultist didn't say anything unpleasant further.

Withdrawing his gaze, Lu Li and Ida followed the cultist to their hideout, the second floor of a grocery store they rented.

One of the perks of Earth Dwellers: you can trade anything with them for money. Usually, they won't betray you before a greater benefit lures them.

The chaotic footsteps ascending the stairs made the cultist encounter three tense silhouettes upon arrival.

"You brought others? Didn't we agree—"

The young noble with dark golden permed hair wearing a gray suit vest stood up indignantly.

Lu Li, who followed Nunes, especially Ida, made him uneasy. Alien contestants usually stick to the old sewer lines or the Giant Tree Academy downtown. The former wouldn't be brought by Nunes, while the latter would further empower the already allied Knights Order and Giant Tree Academy—

"This is the person who can lead us to escape." The cultist mysteriously chuckled, tilting his head to ask Lu Li: "Can you?"

Lu Li nodded slightly, lowering his hood to reveal black hair and a pair of black eyes.

In the midst of astonished stares, the cultist's voice continued: "No one opposes the alliance and is pessimistic about the outcome, right?"

"Let me formally introduce you." Facing Lu Li, the cultist removed his hood to reveal a pale, ordinary face, introducing the loose alliance members: "I'm Nunes, the Spirit Town Union; Pasha Rivas, the Five Great Knight Orders; Tovani, from the same place as you."

Tovani was a freckled youth, one of many faces Lu Li observed before entering the fog.

Upholding knightly spirit, Pasha Rivas stood upright, head bowed.

"Heinz Ellis of the Noble Council sends his regards."

The young noble with dark golden permed hair rejected Nunes' introduction, proactively placing his hand on his chest in the noble manner.

"Lu Li, Ida, from the Giant Tree Academy, they'll join the Breakout Alliance." Nunes introduced to excited allies.

Lu Li's arrival made the alliance exceptionally unified—even Heinz Ellis discarded all doubts.

Though rumors claimed a tense relationship between exorcists and nobles, no one believed any exorcist would target Heinz Ellis over it.

"His Excellency Lulian."

Nunes gestured to Lu Li, leading him temporarily out of the room.

"I don't hold the Swamp Cursed Title clues... Rather, it originally wasn't mine."

Descending the stairs back to the first floor, Nunes slowly shared his encounter.

"It was a piece of parchment. I wasn't sure whether to call it a pollutant or Homogeneous Item or neither... Initially, I assumed it was a pollutant or Homogeneous Item but soon realized the issue: the parchment bore no pollution aura, felt like nothing, as if it were just ordinary parchment."

Clearly, lacking problems is itself a problem.

Pausing near the grocery store counter as an Earth Dweller passed by, Nunes temporarily halted, resuming on the street: "I found it in a worn-out backpack by the marsh that appeared. Time and environment corrode everything, yet the parchment remained intact. It introduced itself as Will Ken, a Legendary Exorcist."

"Will Ken..." Lu Li seemed thoughtful upon hearing the name.

Due to certain concerns, Nunes hid the parchment in a deserted hut. Equally worried, the parchment offered information about the cursed title to avoid destruction.

Slipping into a deserted dark alley, Nunes pushed a low wooden door suitable for Earth Dwellers, entering a forsaken shack.

The low, cramped house felt like a prison, requiring stooping not to let hair brush against the ceiling. The shack, layered in thick dust, had one spot untouched: the parchment placed on a wooden box.

"You kept your promise, Nunes... Who is that person?"

A hoarse, aged whisper echoed in the shack.

Just as Nunes described, Lu Li sensed no pollution or malice.

"Someone genuinely interested in the cursed title." Nunes scrutinized it: "And an exorcist."

What better to ascertain its words than a genuine exorcist?

"Not everyone is named an exorcist, child. It's an inheritance, a faith, a power we cannot see or touch yet truly exists."

The aged, nostalgic whisper manifested a force named honor.

"He's indeed an exorcist, an exorcist from the Old Era until now." Nunes turned to gaze at Lu Li.

Lu Li retrieved an eyeball box, summoning Merchant Anthony.

"The merchant's recognition can prove my identity." Lu Li stared at the silent parchment. "Now it's your turn."

"Is it an exorcist?"

"Yes." Merchant Anthony's response was consistently indifferent, even if the parchment might be the era's only other exorcist.

"Was it once, or is it now?"

"Always has been."

Lu Li already had an answer, as Nunes completely let go of his caution toward the parchment.

Will Ken, resembling an elderly figure, slowly narrated: "Thank you, young exorcist, after twenty years acknowledgment still pleases me... And merchant, I'm happy to see you both continue walking the earth, partners of exorcists."

"My name is Will Ken, once an investigator. And you? Young exorcist."

"I'm Lu Li."