The Bizarre Detective Agency

Scratch, scratch, hiss—

A match was struck, producing a faint flame. It wavered slightly as it was brought closer to a kerosene lamp. The wick caught fire, and dim light began to spread outward, gradually pushing back the surrounding darkness.

The figure in front of the lamp shook the match to extinguish it and placed the glass cover over the flame.

The burning wick steadied, and the figure briefly stepped out of the lamp’s glow. Shortly after, the sound of the door closing echoed.

Clatter—

A set of keys traced an arc in the air before landing on the sofa. Lu Li glanced around at the now-familiar detective agency. He adjusted the kerosene lamp to ensure its light could reach every corner of the room.

The darkness receded, leaving nowhere to hide, lurking only in the corners, waiting for a chance to strike.

Lu Li sank into the padded chair behind the desk. Half of his face rested in the shadows where the lamp’s light didn’t reach, as he sat in quiet contemplation.

The last embers of daylight were fading in the sky. In Rodster Port, every inhabited home had already lit their kerosene lamps. The rarer electric lamps illuminated only the areas around government buildings and the estates of nobles.

After confirming that this place was not Earth and realizing that its technology was at the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, Lu Li dismantled his phone and sold its parts to collectors or artists interested in unique artifacts. With the money, he purchased this property, acquired some shillings, and secured a legal identity that allowed him to move freely.

To gather information about this world, he initially visited a tavern, listening to the patrons’ conversations. That’s where he picked up a crucial piece of advice: “After nightfall, stay where there’s light.”

Every resident knew this. Even the most devoted drunkards would take an oil lamp with them when staggering home from the tavern.

People made every effort to ensure they remained in the light after sundown. Even homeless vagrants would move toward government buildings at night, resting under the glow of electric lamps.

As for why—no one could explain.

The whole situation carried an unsettling aura from beginning to end.

Lu Li had initially suspected this saying was a marketing ploy by kerosene companies to boost profits. However, after the ghost incident earlier in the day, he realized it wasn’t so simple.

Having gathered some useful tidbits at the tavern, Lu Li’s next destination had been the local library. However, he soon learned that Belfast’s library had been destroyed in a fire months ago, leaving nothing but ruins that no one had bothered to clear.

Forced to adjust his plans, he tried asking the locals for information about the world. Strangely, everyone was deeply reluctant to talk about it, as if afraid that discussing it might bring some kind of misfortune upon themselves.

Thus, the Bizarre Detective Agency was born. After all, what better identity could there be for someone who needed an excuse to wander everywhere and ask questions?

So far, his investigations had led him to resolve several supposed hauntings that turned out to be nothing more than misunderstandings. Only today had he caught a glimpse of this world’s true nature—though it remained unclear whether it was real or an illusion.

Perhaps Lu Li should take a risk, stepping into the darkness at night to uncover the deeper secrets of this world. But the potential danger was too high.

Even if it turned out to be nothing more than a rumor spread by Belfast’s municipal authorities to keep citizens indoors at night, it wasn’t worth the gamble.

The quartz clock on the desk showed 6:25. Due to the persistent fog in the sky, night had fallen earlier than usual.

Lu Li’s gaze shifted to the window. The lights shining from each household resembled a sky full of stars scattered across Rodster Port.

He recalled the last thing the psychologist had said before he left.

“If you hadn’t told me that second story, I would’ve thought it highly likely that a ghost had latched onto you. Even now, the odds aren’t small. Just in case, I’d suggest spending more time with friends or staying in crowds. Ghosts rarely attack when there are a lot of people around. Or, better still, find a real exorcist. And one more thing: always remember—stay where there’s light.”

The phrase “stay where there’s light” here is like Earth’s “drink more hot water”—a cure-all for everything.

His focus returned, and he picked up the telephone. He thought about inviting a friend over to add some life to the place.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the rotary dial, he stopped and slowly withdrew his hand.

He remembered he didn’t have any friends.

Leaning back into the chair, Lu Li closed his eyes, intending to rest for a moment.

Tick-tock—tick-tock—

The quartz clock on the desk continued its steady rhythm, the ticking marking the passage of time.

Gradually, Lu Li’s body relaxed, and he drifted into sleep…

“You thought it was someone else, but it was me, Mu Susu da!”

A thunderous voice suddenly boomed in his mind.

Lu Li jolted awake. His dark eyes shrank to pinpoints. After a long moment, he exhaled softly, releasing a held breath.

The time on the desk clock read 8:00.

Outside, the glow of lights had increased rather than diminished.

In the distance, the faint sound of a ship’s horn could be heard, echoing across the night sky.

Lu Li’s gaze fell onto the desk. A case file sat there, waiting to be addressed—a report about a lumberjack named John, who claimed to be haunted by a ghost.

Raising his hand, Lu Li reached for the file.

Clack-clack-clack—

The sound of marbles rolling suddenly echoed through the eerily quiet detective agency.

His arm froze mid-reach before retreating slightly. Raising his head, Lu Li stared at the yellowed, aged white ceiling, his eyes following the direction of the rolling sound.

Was it a ghost? Or just a coincidence?

After a few seconds, the rolling stopped, and Lu Li waited, listening intently.

Rattle-rattle—

Lu Li suddenly shifted his gaze toward the corner of the living room. His eyes locked onto the sofa.

A single clear glass marble rolled out from beneath the sofa, as if it were an eyeball. Like a mischievous prank by a child, the marble rolled all the way to Lu Li’s feet.

There was no time for Lu Li to bend down to examine or pick up the marble. In the next moment, a sharp, piercing sound of a baby crying echoed from outside the window.

Waaah—waaah—waaah—

The shrill cry of the baby cut through the quiet night, unsettling the nerves with its intensity.

Lu Li frowned, debating whether to approach the window, but before he could decide, the crying stopped abruptly.

Were these events simply repeating what he had been told earlier in the day?

As this thought crossed his mind, the curtain by the window fluttered gently, as if stirred by the wind—though the window was firmly shut.

Lu Li remained silent and still, observing everything carefully.

After about thirty seconds, the curtains settled back down.

First the glass marble, then the baby’s crying, and now the curtains… What would come next?

Clatter—

A strange rustling sound came from the kitchen.

Lu Li didn’t react, and the sound showed no sign of stopping. The eerie stalemate continued for a few minutes until Lu Li finally stood up and headed toward the kitchen.

This old house, which he had traded for, might simply have a rodent problem. That wouldn’t be surprising.

Lu Li removed his black coat and hung it on the rack by the door. He rolled up his shirt sleeves as he walked toward the kitchen.

Passing the dining table, Lu Li grabbed the kitchen knife from the fruit tray, holding it in a reverse grip.

But as he approached the kitchen, the noise stopped abruptly.

His expression unchanged, Lu Li paused at the doorway. His gaze swept across the kitchen before he turned his attention to the sink. He placed the knife beside it and turned on the faucet.

Clatter.

The sound of running water echoed, the flowing stream bringing a cool and refreshing sensation.

Yet Lu Li remained completely still, staring at the sink.

A pale, ghastly face, twisted and distorted like the swirling patterns on the surface of coffee, oozed thickly out from the flowing water.

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