Detective Agency of the Bizarre-Chapter 1492 - 36: Approaching Horror

Lu Li’s luck was quite good.

The Kodasselson, which carried the hopes for reform and revival of the Hodgkin Royal Sailing Company, had its captain and crew picked from the elite on various company passenger ships.

They were young and energetic, holding on to unrealistic dreams.

The sharp-eyed sailor in the lookout tower noticed a figure floating on the sea. He picked up the microphone to inform the bridge.

The chairman of Hodgkin Royal Sailing Company and the captain happened to be on the bridge. Upon hearing the news, Chairman Flavichman decisively ordered the ship to halt. This was because he saw an opportunity in this unexpected event: a forced stop might incur losses of several thousand Shillings, but it could create value far surpassing this.

Chairman Flavichman held onto the ship’s railing and headed to the dining room.

Passengers from first and second class were suppressing gasps due to the wobble beneath their feet. "Flavichman, what’s happening?" a lady with heavy makeup asked.

"Do not worry. Ladies and gentlemen, our sailors have discovered a person overboard... Oh Earl Lewis, you’re here as well." Chairman Flavichman acknowledged the Queen’s tutor, "We’ve decided to stop the ship and rescue this unfortunate soul, so there might be some shaking. Do not worry."

"That’s a good deed, and it should be done," Earl Lewis said with a smile.

"You’ll definitely be able to rescue that poor person, won’t you?" The lady with heavy makeup echoed back worriedly.

"Of course, we at Hodgkin Royal Sailing Company are dedicated to helping all those in need."

With those words, the captain, holding his captain’s hat, walked into the dining room, saluting Chairman Flavichman with the Lennon Islands naval greeting: "The person overboard has been rescued... He’s alive!"

Applause gradually filled the dining room, and Chairman Flavichman humbly said, "Please continue to enjoy your afternoon tea, I will go to visit the lucky individual."

The captain followed the chairman out, leaning in to speak softly: "Are you going to see the person overboard?"

"Where are the reporters?"

"They’ve already returned."

"No need." Flavichman smiled, "I’ve already imagined the headline in the Lennon Islands newspaper after docking: ’The Immortal Giant saves a person overboard on its last day at sea.’"

"According to maritime rules, you should say ’Immortal Giant rescues a person before reaching its destination the day prior’

Chairman Flavichman and the captain both laughed.

"Arrange second class... no, third class for the person overboard." His steps suddenly halted, "Who is he?"

...

"How scary, you almost drowned..."

A sailor, still shaken, spoke to Lu Li, who was coughing on the ground, surrounded by sailors removing their life vests, while a group of passengers gathered on the outer deck.

What he said was true.

The Cursed Title lost its power, falling into the vast deep sea with no buoyant objects, only Evil Spirit Chess remained steadfast. Lu Li was quickly battered by the waves until utterly exhausted. Without the Immortal Giant passing by, he likely would’ve perished in the sea.

"You... are you from... the local Tillage Garden?"

The sailor reached out to Lu Li, who raised his head, revealing wet black hair and dark eyes.

"I’m from the Barren Lands."

Lu Li grabbed the sailor’s hand and stood up.

"Wow, you’re really strong."

The sailor’s hand was marked white from the firm grasp and wanted to say something but suddenly stood straight and tall: "Captain."

The surrounding sailors stepped back as a middle-aged man in uniform approached Lu Li: "I am Komodo, captain of Hodgkin Royal Sailing Company’s Kodasselson."

"I know, the Immortal Giant," Lu Li remarked as he looked around at the gathered passengers on deck, "The unsinkable iron beast..."

This ship carried the aura of the Industrial Revolution as it approached Lu Li initially, leaving a lasting impression.

The captain smiled even more, as being praised is always pleasant: "We will soon arrive at Tillage Garden, would you like us to take you there?"

"Thank you."

Amid cheers, applause, and whistles from passengers on deck, the captain led Lu Li to second-class cabins—no suite but separate cabins.

A tidy bed had a set of pajamas for Lu Li to change into.

"Please rest well, there will be a banquet you need to attend this evening."

The captain maintained polite distance—not even asking Lu Li’s background or name.

Lu Li placed the unwavering Evil Spirit Chess that followed him on the bedside table, exchanged the water-soaked clothes for dry ones from the waiter outside, and stared out the porthole at the ominous sea. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He fell into Tillage Garden’s past, but what about Andrea?

His gaze fell to Doomsday Apocalypse and the Angel Envoy on the bedside table, even Tillage Garden couldn’t take them away.

Soon, the waiter brought back the dried clothes. Lu Li changed into his shirt and coat, placed Evil Spirit Chess in a specially made pocket, and pushed open the door.

The sailor outside glanced back, Lu Li spoke to him: "I’d like to take a walk on the deck."

The sailor hesitated, neither the sailor nor the leader had instructed him to go out, but he answered, "Please come with me."

Following the sailor through the red-carpeted corridor to the deck, the cold sea breeze brushed against him.

The Immortal Giant resumed its voyage, and the earlier incident was swiftly forgotten by the passengers.

Ignoring the distant yet closer presence behind him, Lu Li walked towards the front deck, listening to talks carried by the sea wind.

"We’ll reach Tillage Garden tomorrow, and start anew there..."

"I’m buying a farm! With cows, sheep... no pigs... I’ve had enough of raising pigs!"

"Mary, I love you..."

"My cousin is at Seaview Cliff, a member of the secret society there, we’ll be crucially chosen."

"Damn it, slow down, the deck is slippery, I don’t want anything to happen to you and the baby..."

"Earlier, the sailors rescued someone from the sea... Far from the coast, that person would’ve been doomed without us..."

Lu Li passed through the conversations, nearing the bow.

He calmly accepted the peculiar circumstances, akin to the dreamlike Lennon Islands.

As the place where the stars descended, this land should experience even stranger occurrences.

The important question was: Can Tillage Garden, like the Lennon Islands, save the lost people from their predetermined fate?

He watched passengers laughing and talking as they faced the sea breeze. Unexpectedly, historical calamities will befall this unsinkable passenger ship filled with hope and laughter—near Tillage Garden’s disappearance.

True urgency isn’t the past but how long the King of Ghouls can persist.

All allied forces in Midnight City have retreated, forming an unknown void.

Lu Li stood at the bow, the sea breeze tousling his hair, gazing at the expansive lead-colored sea.

Except for Lu Li, no one could enter the black tide to approach the King of Ghouls.

He must seize the time—

Compared to those long dead in the past, Lu Li has a tangible reality and people in need of saving.