Chapter 252 - 252 Always together

Words : 1268 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

252: Always together. 252: Always together. “I have received the letters you sent.” “In your letter, you mentioned there might be a way to solve my Sanity Value issue, which is exactly what I urgently need. If you can receive this letter, I hope you are enjoying yourselves and can arrive in Belfast as soon as possible.” “I am waiting for you here.” “Lu Li.” Lu Li was, as always, direct and brief. He neatly folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and handed it to the postman along with 10 shillings for the postage. The postman affixed the stamp to the envelope, pulled out a seal, and stamped the envelope’s flap with wax before saying goodbye and leaving the Long House. Click— The wooden door closed. Anna appeared beside him, unable to contain her curiosity, “Aren’t they just fictional beings?” “That’s why I’m just trying it out, in case they actually show up for some reason,” Lu Li replied after returning to his desk and putting away the used pen. “They are my only chance at restoring my Sanity Value.” Anna stumbled over her words, “Then then then... did Tesla agree to let you stay?” Her emotions seemed unusual. “He just didn’t refuse.” Perhaps because of Lu Li’s persistence, or because Lu Li had just become an Apprentice Investigator, Tesla momentarily chose to overlook this matter. However, once Lu Li’s health showed any signs of decline, he would be the first to order Lu Li to rest. He even specifically mentioned the benefits of a retired investigator to Lu Li: the same minimum weekly salary of 350 shillings as an Apprentice Investigator, with the salary adjusting according to the cost-of-living index. Lu Li did not plan on retiring yet, not until he had gathered the information he wanted and earned enough money. The postman’s arrival and Raimy’s sibling’s interruption broke Anna’s train of thought. Unsure of where to start in order to stop Lu Li, she could only follow through with his situation, “I remember Apprentice Investigators need to handle an incident to become official, so you...” “Yes. I am preparing to become official.” “But that’s dangerous!” Anna’s mood softened somewhat, but she couldn’t control her emotions and suddenly reached out to grab the Spirit-Calling Gun at Lu Li’s waist. Lu Li lightly kicked back, and the wooden chair fell backwards, leaning against the bookcase with his legs supporting it. Dodging Anna’s sudden attack, Lu Li looked up at her, “I have limits, I won’t overuse it.” “You’ve already overused it!” “That’s why I now have limits.” Anna always found herself speechless under Lu Li’s seemingly logical paradoxes. “Just like Tesla, I don’t understand why you do this...” a trace of sorrow appeared in Anna’s eyes. The same sorrow had appeared when during her tenure in the portrait, she learned of her mother’s death. Lu Li nodded, “There are some things I can tell you. You know my goal, to understand the extent of this world’s deterioration and how long it can last, and then to prepare. The things we need won’t just appear on the porch after dawn.” “But you’re just a normal person! Saving the world should be left to those bastard politicians and whatever nonsense organizations!” Anna’s outburst was so sudden. She completely discarded her ladylike demeanor and manners, speaking crudely and shouting at Lu Li with teary eyes. “Why! Why must everyone refuse to do what they can and always think about the impossible, things they shouldn’t do themselves. You too! Mother as well! All fools!” Tears streamed down her face, but as they crossed her cheeks and fell towards the ground, they vanished without a trace. She covered her cheeks, sobbing loudly, releasing all the emotions she had pent up since her death. “I can’t stand to lose anyone else...” An uncomfortably cold aura emanated from Anna’s body, her presence beginning to feel unfamiliar. “Calm down, Anna.” Lu Li, sensing Anna’s distress, stood up and looked down at her as she covered her face, “It’s not that serious. It seems like the Sanity Value can’t be restored.” Lu Li’s attempt to reason was futile and useless. “I won’t take risks without being sure.” These words appeared to have some effect; the cold aura around Anna did not spread further. But Lu Li did not know what else to say. Perhaps if he let Anna cool down alone, she would understand? So Lu Li walked past the crying Anna, glanced out the window at the drizzling rain, picked up an umbrella beside the door, and stepped out. Click— The door closed behind him. ... The pain brought by the hurricane a few days ago seemed to have completely disappeared. Sailor Street had regained its usual bustle, and the collapsed houses had been cleared of debris to make way for new wooden homes or stronger brick and stone buildings. Some children ran through the streets in the rain, some faces familiar, others seemingly new. They greeted every adult, running up and down the cobblestone roads. This was the first time Lu Li had ventured out without a specific purpose. It left him somewhat at a loss, only able to continue along the street. Before he knew it, he had reached the bustling market, watching the throng and hearing the cries of vendors; Lu Li suddenly remembered that Anna seemed to enjoy cooking. Maybe cooking could alleviate her mood? ... Click— Lu Li placed his keys under the blanket, pushed the door, and walked into the Detective Agency. The smell of damp wood was faintly present in the Detective Agency, eerily silent without a whisper of sound. Lu Li left his rain-speckled umbrella, closed the house door, and walked into the living room. The bedroom quilt bulged as if something was hiding underneath. “Do you have a physical form now?” Lu Li asked. The bulged quilt didn’t move. “I brought food back.” Lu Li said. The quilt moved slightly but did not respond. “Are we cooking today?” Lu Li asked again. Rustle— The quilt was silent for a few seconds, then it began to wriggle, and a head emerged from under the quilt, sniffing. “Yes.” Half an hour later. A pot of hot soup was placed on the table. Anna looked a bit gloomy with reddened eyes, sitting across from Lu Li. “When are you going to handle the case...” Her muffled muttering was nasally. Lu Li filled a wooden bowl with meat soup and responded to Anna, “I’m not sure yet, we have to wait for the investigator to schedule the case, but it should be soon.” “What can I do?” “Help me.” Her fist clenched quietly under the table, Anna hummed, “I will.” Lu Li took a spoonful of meat soup and then silently put it back in the bowl: “Where did you get the salt from?” “That round container... what’s wrong...?” “Nothing.” After lunch, everything seemed to return to normal, only Anna was a bit awkward facing Lu Li. Night fell, and the oil lamp in the Detective Agency was lit; Lu Li lay on the couch preparing to rest. Before long, Anna’s voice came from the bedroom. “Lu Li?” “What.” “Are you asleep?” “I’m not talking in my sleep.” “You won’t suddenly leave me, right?” “Hmm.” “Will we always be together?” “Hmm.” “Really?” “I never lie.”

Chapter 252 - 252 Always together

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