Chapter 221 - 221 Seventy-eight

Words : 1308 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

221: Seventy-eight. Head of Investigators in the Belfast Region 221: Seventy-eight. Head of Investigators in the Belfast Region Saving Lu Li from the abyss wasn’t the wisdom of Lu Li, but the ringing of the phone. Old Pique from the laundry called, telling Lu Li he could come over to start the new Sanity Value test. The location was still the laundry. This time there might be an investigator present, the Exorcist Realm was not friendly to spirits, so Lu Li left Anna behind and went alone. Anna asked Lu Li to either buy or rent some books on his way back, and Lu Li agreed. Books can comfort the soul, if one day the world becomes difficult to live in, when barely surviving in some cave or island, books can be of great use. Lu Li didn’t have paranoid delusions, but being prepared for anything was always good. At the beginning of Sailor Street stood a bookstore, owned by an elderly man. Like most people thought, the bookstore business was quiet. Reading? That was something for the rich and nobility, who only needed to ensure their offspring could have a stable job on a big ship just like them. When people asked the owner why he kept the bookstore open despite the poor business, he didn’t answer with “for the dream” or “for the art,” but simply said, “The house is mine, besides me, it can hold many things, why wouldn’t I fill it with books? If someone buys, I have extra income; if no one buys, I can keep them to read myself.” Lu Li pushed open the wooden door and entered the bookstore, greeted by the old man as he walked towards the shelves, choosing three popular novels within a minute, which cost him 83 Shillings. The expensive price of books was likely the reason for the store’s unpopularity. Like the previous times he had visited, Lu Li took the three books wrapped in leather paper and inquired whether there were any books related to history or geography. Then, just like the previous times, there were none of those books left. The Elders’ Council was extremely strict about these knowledge-bearing books, no one dared to store or sell them privately. It was as if the books contained not knowledge, but spells to summon Demons. The investigator might have unrestricted access. Lu Li thought as he picked up the leather paper and left, heading towards the coastal street down the hill. Half an hour later, Lu Li arrived in front of Old Pick Laundry, still without a front door. There seemed to be more people waiting inside than last time, making it look like a pub — and indeed, they were actually selling liquor. Lu Li stepped into the bustling laundry and approached the counter. Old Pique behind the counter was busy with his accounting until he noticed the dimming light around him and saw Lu Li standing in front of him. “Why have you come so late?” Old Pique complained, packed away his ledger, went around the counter, and weaved through the crowded tables to lead Lu Li. It was still the same corner as last time. “You didn’t arrange a time with me.” Lu Li followed behind, his gaze passing over Old Pique’s shoulder to the corner. A middle-aged man with a top hat and goatee beard on his lips nodded and smiled towards them. Apart from the personnel change, this test seemed no different from the last. Lu Li walked to the seat in the corner and sat down, Old Pique sitting beside the middle-aged man, and introduced, “This is the person in charge of the Belfast area for the investigator organization.” “I’m just stationed here,” the middle-aged man gave off an old-fashioned, vintage gentleman feel. Like most men who carry the title of gentleman, he behaved in a gentle, scholarly manner with a calm expression. “I am Michael Tesla, you can call me Michael or Tesla. Old Pique has told us about you and that token. May I have a look at it?” Lu Li wrapped the three books, each the thickness of a palm, in leather paper and placed them beside the table before handing a flashlight to Tesla. Tesla took it, and with slender, skilled fingers, he opened the bottom casing of the flashlight, took out a single-lensed monocle, and hung it over his left eye. He observed quietly for a few seconds, stored the monocle back, and handed the restored flashlight to Lu Li. “What was the name of the person who gave you this?” “We didn’t talk much, I only know they wore a Bird Beak Mask.” Out of caution, Lu Li didn’t reveal too much information about the figure in the Bird Beak Mask, including their gender. Running his thumb over a silver ring on his index finger, Tesla muttered to himself, “Could it be her... I heard she was recently assessing Apprentice Investigators in Shadow Swamp, did you meet her there?” “Yes.” Lu Li set aside the caution and suspicion brewing in his mind. “Can you tell me about it?” Tesla looked genuinely interested. “Investigators usually hide their identity during assessments. What did you do to make her give you the flashlight?” This already demonstrated a style distinctly different from the Watchers’. Investigators are typically filled with a thirst and curiosity for knowledge and information, while the latter might get a solid punch from a superior for the same curiosity and then stand on the parade ground loudly reciting the confidentiality rules. Just like liberals and conservatives. Interestingly, the conservative faction within the Elders’ Council funded the Investigators, while the liberals funded the Watchers. “I can.” Lu Li nodded and looked at Old Pique. Ordinary Old Pique was not supposed to hear these things. “Hearing a few things occasionally shouldn’t hurt, right old chap?” Tesla, smiling, turned to Old Pique. Old Pique, who had already leaned forward intending to leave his seat, resumed his position upon hearing this and said helplessly, “It’s always like this when I meet you.” With a mild smile, Tesla replied, “Isaac once said, knowledge might bring temporary problems, but its benefits are eternal. You’ll find these things useful sooner or later.” Conversely, this statement might get a Watcher hauled up on a pyre by a superior. “So, Mr. Luli, please briefly narrate how you met her.” Tesla’s gentle voice and smile made the request sound as innocent as asking about a young couple’s encounter. Over the next few minutes, Lu Li roughly explained about the invitation on the cabin door, how he met the figure in the Bird Beak Mask, handed over the invitation to her, and how she, along with the Seeker, came back and handed him the flashlight. Tesla patted Old Pique’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, my counter hasn’t beeped, this content won’t lower your Sanity Value... though it might if you keep obsessing over it unnecessarily.” He then looked at Lu Li, “You are decisive, lucky, and bold. It’s rare for someone to dare enter the Evil God’s Territory and come back almost unscathed.” The word “almost” bothered Lu Li, but another term caught his attention more, “Evil God’s Territory?” “Exactly as it sounds. The Evil God can sense all presences within its territory. Let me think, there’s a saying about Shadow Swamp... oh yes, it’s ‘the swamp hears things that don’t belong to it’.” Lu Li liked Tesla’s responsive nature. Tesla, feeling the same, apologized, “Sorry, I can’t help but talk a lot when I meet promising young people. We can talk about these things later. Let’s test your Sanity Value first. If it’s really bad, you might not be suitable to join us.”

Chapter 221 - 221 Seventy-eight

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