Chapter 238 - 238 95

Words : 1253 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

238: 95. Investigator Branch 238: 95. Investigator Branch Belfast City, Rhodest Port, Snowflake District, Anres Brothers Loving Pipeline Maintenance Station. This somewhat tongue-twisting and overly long name belonged to the modest building on the coast. “Belfast City, Rhodest Port, Snowflake District” specifies the location, “Anres Brothers Loving” the name of the shop, and “Pipeline Maintenance Station” the type. Like Old Pick Laundry, the outermost layer was merely a facade. Unlike Old Pick Laundry, there were no ordinary people here. Most of the building, located underground, served as the secret department for investigators in Belfast. Hiding in the ordinary world was far more mysterious than lurking in scarcely visited, heavily guarded outskirts. The three organizations each had their characteristics; the Night Watch was relatively ostentatious, for example, their department was right next to the city hall. Investigators had a laid-back personality and didn’t particularly choose, usually just randomly picking a civilian area and then disguising their identity. Demon Slayers were secretive and low-key, rarely appearing before outsiders. The places people most often saw them were in dangerous and peculiar areas. “Interesting, isn’t it? The facade is a small company for sewer cleaning, but in fact, it’s a branch of investigators in Belfast.” Tesla took the lead, entering under a long row of door plaques, removed his top hat, nodded to the man in overalls behind the counter, then put on his hat again and walked while talking to Lu Li beside him. “However, you generally don’t see many investigators here. Instead of staying in the branch all day drinking tea and chatting, they prefer to run around for months without returning to the branch even once.” Lu Li’s gaze shifted from the man in overalls and surveyed the surroundings. The walls on both sides of the shop were hung with various models of metal pipes and tools such as wrenches, making it look like a tool store. The store had no customers as it was just shortly after dawn. “Usually, there would be one person in charge and several investigators on rotation here. Initially, it was by drawing lots, but after a particularly unlucky guy stayed in the department for three consecutive weeks, it was changed to shifts. The rest are handled by people from the Alliance, like the clerk you just saw dozing off. They take care of maintenance, purchasing supplies, and home visits for local residents to fix their damaged pipelines.” At the back of the shop, there was a dark curtain hanging. Tesla lifted his cane, parted the curtain, revealing a large painting that occupied the entire wall behind it. A figure in a cloak stood with outstretched arms, the wrists of which supported a black hawk with wings spread, its head thrown back in a scream. This was a hidden door. Tesla flicked the cane behind him, tucked it under his arm, walked up to the painting, and inserted a stamp into the hawk’s mouth. A strange sound of mechanisms at work followed, and the stamp fell from the face of the cloaked figure, caught by Tesla. The mechanical sound did not stop. Amidst the noise of turning gears, the painting, divided at the cloaked figure’s arms, slid open to both sides, splitting the figure and the hawk in two and revealing an elevator hidden behind the painting. Tesla pocketed the stamp, picked up his cane, opened the grate door, and stood in the elevator, continuing his previous topic. “Yes, this place really can fix pipelines. Just like Old Pick Laundry can actually wash clothes.” As Lu Li entered the elevator, Tesla pulled the gate shut and operated a lever under his feet. Hum— The sound of machinery filled the area, the elevator vibrated, and began to move slowly downward. “Have I passed the Investigator’s assessment?” Lu Li watched as the painting outside the gate slowly closed and, with the descent of the elevator, was replaced by the rough surface of the underground walls. Tesla bringing him to the investigator’s branch only meant two things: he had passed the assessment, or the investigators wanted to capture him. “Yes, your situation is quite special. The Ailen Peninsula Regional Council discussed and unanimously agreed to your joining the investigators, if you don’t mind the danger,” Tesla said, staring forward and puffing up his chest. “You should know that although you are not affected by the aura, your Sanity Value will still decrease. No one knows what you might become in the next stage. For your own safety, we feel it necessary to remind you.” At this point, Tesla shrugged, “But I think you don’t need a reminder, you are more cautious than many Senior Investigators.” Lu Li said, “So, you brought me to the division this time for this inquiry?” “Pretty much. Apart from one person who is out handling an event, including me, three Belfast managers and one Ailen Peninsula regional manager have arrived, and we’re also assessing a few rookies. These rookies are really benefiting from your presence.” “Do I have to participate?” Lu Li frowned slightly, not keen on continuing to answer those psychological test questions. It seemed meaningless. “Don’t worry, you’re just going through the motions,” Tesla reassured. Tesla lowered his head as the underground section of the investigator’s division appeared below the fence gate. His gaze passed through the fence gate, looking at a corridor behind it with a faint smile. “After all, you are the rookie we internally selected.” The elevator trembled as it descended, the mechanical noises fading away. Tesla opened the fence gate, turning his head to Lu Li. “Welcome to the Belfast City Division of Investigators.” Overhead lights hung down, casting a faint glow. The underground corridor stretched into the distance, flanked by a complex network of metal pipes that occupied much space, squeezing the corridor and making the flickering lights oppressive. It looked like a secret interrogation facility for enemy spies. Tesla stepped out of the elevator and, walking beside Lu Li, said, “Exorcists often like an equivalent exchange, and we investigators are no exception. As an exchange for asking you some questions, headquarters will provide corresponding contributions. You can use them to exchange for some items you want. But before using the contribution, you have to remove ‘apprentice’ from your title.” “A real trial?” Lu Li thought of the Apprentice Investigator, the Seeker. “Yes, I will tell you the specifics when I assign the task,” Tesla said. The corridor, cluttered with pipes, continued straight ahead, but Lu Li noticed something different up front. “There is something I want to ask,” Lu Li said, looking ahead, and told Tesla about the letters from Raimy and Jimmy. “I thought it would take a few more days for you to receive them,” Tesla said with the same significant tone as before; he clearly knew something. “So?” “The ‘Investigator’s Rookie Trial’ is a malevolent spirit, yes, just like you thought, made by the first generation of Demon Slayers. Its main body is an adventure game book containing many story chapters. People who play using its stories usually receive letters from characters in the story chapters a few days after the game ends. Don’t worry, it will only send you a few letters; otherwise, we wouldn’t use it for assessment.” “Besides, your ending was so perfect.” Lu Li didn’t respond to Tesla; his gaze fell on the end of the corridor ahead.

Chapter 238 - 238 95

Comments (0)