The Bizarre Detective Agency Chapter 33

Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of a few houses on either side of the street. Lu Li emerged from Mrs. Filin's bakery, holding a steaming paper bag. As always, he handed one loaf to the children who had gathered around him.

It wasn't the same group of children—some Lu Li recognized, others were new faces—but they were all just as polite and enthusiastic. They had yet to be stained by the somber colors of this world.

In his other hand, Lu Li held another paper bag, this one filled with oranges. This world was different from his old one; ordinary food here didn't provide all the necessary nutrients. The staple diet for most residents consisted of black bread with small amounts of fish and meat. Lu Li had to supplement his vitamin intake regularly.

After distributing the bread, he took out two oranges and gave them to the delighted children. Amid the friendly gazes and greetings of the residents, Lu Li returned to the detective agency.

Creak...

Motes of dust floated in the cold, empty air of the detective agency, starkly visible against the pale window. A profound silence permeated the space until the opening door shattered it.

The dust by the entrance scattered, and the silence vanished. A set of keys traced an arc through the air and landed on the sofa with a soft jingle. Lu Li surveyed the detective agency, which was gradually becoming a familiar sight. The portrait on the bookshelf was in its place, as was the sculpture by the door.

Placing the two paper bags on the table, Lu Li turned and headed for the kitchen. One of the bags, which had been set upright, tipped over, and a fist-sized orange rolled out. It hit the floor with a dull thud and rolled a few times.

Lu Li glanced back but didn't bother picking it up, heading straight to the kitchen to wash his hands. He soon emerged, his hands still wet, walked to the table, bent down, picked up the orange, and placed it back in the bag.

With his other hand, he picked up the kettle. Its lightness made Lu Li frown slightly. He poured the remaining water into a cup. The water was almost gone; he needed to go to the water room. A jug of water cost one shilling.

Lu Li chewed the bread in silence, taking sips of water whenever his mouth felt dry. He ate calmly, without opening his mouth or making a sound, almost merging with the silence of the detective agency.

The one-pound loaf of soft white bread was large, much larger than the bran bread they called black bread here. It was about the size of two palms. However, if you squeezed it in your fist, it would probably shrink to a lump of dough smaller than that fist.

In less than three minutes, Lu Li had finished the white bread, washing it down with the last sip of water. He rose quickly, crumpled the paper bag, and, taking the kettle, left the detective agency.

The detective agency wasn't a standalone building, but a single, large room in a long row of dwellings. The building was mostly inhabited by fishermen and sailors, but the dark corridor hardly smelled of fish. There were a few residents in the water room. Seeing Lu Li, they politely made way for him.

Lu Li nodded in thanks.

"The usual, Mr. Lu Li? Boiling water?" the attendant asked with a polite smile, taking the kettle from him.

"Yes."

The attendant turned a tap, and steaming hot water poured into the kettle. Soon, it was full. Lu Li took it and handed the attendant a shilling.

He had just left the rather cramped water room and hadn't gone far when shouts erupted from the corridor behind him.

"A jug of boiling water for me too! The great detective only drinks boiled water, so there must be something to it!"

"Me too! A whole bucket for me!"

"Get lost, sailor! What do you need so much water for?!"

"What, can't a man take a bath?!"

Thump.

Closing the door, Lu Li shut out the noise from the corridor. He set the kettle on the table, poured himself a cup of water, and took off his black cloak. He hesitated for a moment, choosing between the coat rack and the sculpture, finally settling on the former. Dressing and undressing the sculpture was too much trouble; it was far easier just to use the rack.

Outside, people hurried along the street. Occasionally, a passerby would glance curiously into the window, but a light curtain concealed the room's interior. Lu Li sat down in his armchair, pushed the cup of hot water aside, and picked up the telephone receiver to call Oliver.

Some time passed before someone answered on the other end. But it wasn't Mrs. Slav who picked up; it was Oliver.

"Hey, boss. Did you sort things out at the gallery?"

Lu Li didn't ask why he had answered the phone and replied calmly, "Yes. Are there any bookshops in Belfast?"

Oliver fell silent for a moment before realizing the "yes" was the answer to his question. He cleared his throat and said:

"Of course there are, boss. What do you want to buy?"

"Books on general history or geography. When you come over, I'll give you the money for the books and your thirty shillings for the last case."

"Thanks, boss! You're the most generous!" Oliver exclaimed. Thirty shillings was no small amount. A typical family of three spent only seven to eight shillings a day.

After hanging up, Oliver was still smiling when he heard heavy breathing behind him. As if struck by lightning, Oliver froze. He turned slowly and, forcing a smile, began, "Mrs. Slav, your..."

"Hmm?"

A thunderous, questioning tone rumbled, and Oliver trembled from head to toe. "I... I meant to say, Mrs. Slav, is your... love letter ready?"

"It's in my room. You can pick it up from the door later."

"Alright, alright..." Oliver lowered his head obediently.

This display of weakness didn't soften Mrs. Slav. She continued to stand before Oliver, staring at him intently and asking with suspicion, "How do I know you won't peek at my letter?"

"I assure you, I would never!" Oliver snapped his head up and declared loudly, "Your passionate love can only be withstood by my boss! How could we mere mortals even presume to gaze upon it?!"

...

Meanwhile, Lu Li hung up the phone and closed his eyes, settling in to wait for Oliver.

However, as the sky gradually darkened, as night fell, as the pedestrians on the street began to hurry home and the shops closed their doors, Oliver still hadn't appeared.

Waking from a light sleep, Lu Li opened his eyes and gazed at the darkened detective agency. Finally remembering something, he picked up a box of matches, struck one, and lit the kerosene lamp on the table.

Pfft...

After blowing out the match, he tossed it into the wastebasket and placed the glass chimney over the lamp. The noise outside gradually subsided. Occasionally, late passersby with lanterns in hand would walk past, their lights illuminating the twilight street.

And at that moment, a chill washed over him from behind, enveloping his entire body. A translucent figure in a white dress drifted out of the portrait on the bookshelf. Anna glanced around before lowering her head to look at Lu Li.

"Hm. And you said you wouldn't visit."