A face as calm as a deep pool revealed the faintest trace of disgust. The sight of a face flowing out of the faucet was far more nauseating than if blood had been pouring out instead.
Lu Li frowned and stepped back half a step, watching as the pale, sticky, and twisted face slid out from the faucet and washed down the drain.
Splash—
In the stillness of the night, only the sound of running water echoed endlessly.
The clear, transparent stream of water continued for some time before Lu Li stepped closer to shut off the faucet.
Drip, drip, drip—
The water stopped, and silence returned to the room like before.
Lu Li backed out to the kitchen doorway. The closed door blocked the light, plunging the kitchen into darkness.
Returning to the living room, Lu Li ignored the single bed in the bedroom and chose to spend the night resting in the chair behind the desk.
Perhaps it was his calm demeanor or the firm grip he had on the kitchen knife, but nothing unusual happened that night.
The night passed without incident.
...
The next morning, a little earlier than usual.
A thin morning mist blanketed every corner of Rodster Port. The sky remained overcast, the gloom lingering without lifting.
Contrary to what one might expect, the morning here wasn’t quiet or cold. Instead, it was lively and bustling.
After a night of silence, the residents seemed eager to make up for the stillness of the past several hours. Smoke rose from the chimneys of rows of houses, dried fish hung from windows, workers preparing for their day exchanged farewells with their families, the distant sound of ship horns echoed from the harbor, and the smell of breakfast filled every cobblestone-paved street.
“Good morning, Mr. Lu Li.”
“Hello, great detective!”
“Why are your eyes black?”
As a new face on Sailors’ Street, Lu Li was warmly welcomed by the residents, especially the children.
Even though no one had ever seen Lu Li show any emotion.
Lu Li nodded in response to the greetings and continued walking until he arrived at a carriage parked at the end of the street. He stepped aboard.
The carriage wasn’t an enclosed one but an open-top vehicle, more like a rickshaw.
“To the nearest church or an exorcist’s agency.”
“Three shillings, sir,” the coachman, who had been squatting by the roadside eating a piece of black bread, quickly stuffed the rest into his mouth and mumbled. R
“Alright.”
Lu Li leaned back in his seat, placing a black bowler hat over his head and letting its shadow conceal his dark eyes.
The spacious first floor was scattered with round tables, and behind the counter at the far end, a figure was polishing an oil lamp.
Faint rays of light streamed through the windows, falling onto the wooden floor.
If not for the sign outside labeling it as a detective agency, the interior looked more like a tavern that wasn’t yet open for business.
Tap—tap—tap—
The sound of leather boots against the floor echoed as Lu Li approached the counter.
“Do you have something you’d like to entrust to me?” The slightly plump figure behind the counter put down the oil lamp and cloth, flashing a smile.
“It’s about a ghost.”
Over the next few minutes, Lu Li briefly recounted the events of the previous night, omitting the part about his supposed identity as an exorcist.
“You handled it well. Fear feeds ghosts, making them stronger. This one is still weak and can’t harm anyone yet. But if it absorbs more emotions, that might change.”
The plump man, who resembled a waiter, grinned. In the dim light, something seemed to glimmer between his teeth as he extended his hand toward Lu Li. “I’m Hades, the exorcist you’re looking for.”
Lu Li extended his hand, brushing it briefly against Hades’. “Before I hire you, I have a question. Is there any way to get rid of a ghost without an exorcist?”
Hades’ intrigued gaze fell on Lu Li. “You want to deal with it yourself?”
“If possible, yes.” Removing his hat to clear his vision, Lu Li didn’t deny it.
“You’ve come to the right person. Most exorcists would yell at you not to even think about it. But I happen to be one of the few who’ll entertain the idea.” Hades crouched down and retrieved an object from beneath the counter, slapping it onto the desk and sliding it toward Lu Li.
It was a short flintlock pistol.
Lu Li reached out to take it, but before his fingers could touch it, another hand slammed down on the pistol.
Thud!
Hades’ hand covered the flintlock pistol, causing the counter to shake slightly. Grinning with a razor-sharp smile, he said, “It’s not free.”
“How much?”
“2,300 shillings.”
“2,000.”
“Deal. Consider it a welcome gift for a newcomer.”
The transaction was settled in just a few sentences. Lu Li pulled out four 500-shilling notes and handed them to Hades. The latter accepted them with the same hand covering the pistol and began counting the money, over and over again.
Lu Li picked up the flintlock pistol lying on the counter. A faint glow suddenly appeared in front of him.
Lu Li glanced briefly at Hades, who had lit the oil lamp, then turned his attention back to the pistol.
The flintlock’s barrel was intricately engraved. Under the light, the carved roses seemed to come alive, slowly blooming. The streamlined design of the pistol was so elegant, it looked more like a work of art than a weapon.