The Bizarre Detective Agency

A fountain pen, stained with ink, was held in a hand and paused on the paper.

“Mr. Lu Li, you can start now.”

The psychologist looked up, signaling to the black-haired man sitting across from him.

Outside the window was a view of the harbor, its outline barely visible under the gray and gloomy weather shrouding Rodster Port.

The chimneys in the industrial district had been silent for days, yet the eerie mist still lingered over Belfast.

“It’s a long story,” the black-haired man, called Lu Li, said.

The psychologist didn’t mind. “Take your time. There’s still plenty of time before nightfall.”

The man nodded and, after a brief silence, spoke slowly.

“I am an exorcist.”

“I heard there’s a ghost in your house?”

The two elderly people examined Lu Li from head to toe, their cloudy eyes filled with a sense of wariness.

The man standing across from them was dressed very formally. What most commoners would wear only for festivals or evening events—white shirt, black tie, and a black coat—was his everyday attire. However, he lacked a walking cane or a top hat.

His black hair and eyes were rare in Rodster Port, even more so across all of Belfast. His calm, deep black eyes seemed like an abyss, as if one might fall into them without realizing it.

“Who are you?”

The couple’s wariness began to fade slightly. They didn’t believe that someone so neatly dressed and strikingly handsome could be a troublemaker.

“The Bizarre Detective Agency, Exorcist Lu Li.”

Lu Li took out a crisp, new business card and handed it to the elderly couple.

Wrinkled, weathered hands accepted the card. A hint of confusion flickered in their eyes until they noticed the words “Detective Agency” and the address printed on it. Only then did they begin to understand its purpose.

“You’re here to drive the ghost away? Oh, please, come in…”

Hastily, they moved aside to make way for him.

Lu Li stepped through the doorway, his figure swallowed by the dimness of the house.

The outside sky was overcast, and the room itself was dark.

A damp, musty smell hung in the air.

Taking a quick glance around the modest and simple home, Lu Li shifted his gaze to meet the expectant eyes of the couple. “Can you tell me the details? What happened exactly?”

The elderly man spoke mysteriously. “Did you see it?”

Lu Li shook his head lightly. “I didn’t sense anything, which is why I’m asking you.”

Disappointment was clear on their faces, but they still began recounting their experiences.

They spoke of marbles rolling across the floor at night, the cries of a baby in the middle of the night, a fleeting white shadow outside the window, and strange noises from the kitchen. �

Lu Li listened quietly until they finished. “These might not necessarily be caused by a ghost. There are scientific explanations for such things… Do you know about science?”

The elderly couple exchanged glances. “We’ve heard of it… Steam cars and iron ships are made with science, right?”

Lu Li didn’t bother correcting their misconceptions. Most people here only had a limited understanding of science. “Close enough. Let me explain. The sound of marbles rolling is caused by the building materials expanding and contracting with temperature changes. As for the baby crying, well, it’s summer now. On my way here, I saw a stray cat, and cats make cries during mating season that sound very similar to a baby. The white shadow outside your window is likely just someone walking by on the street.”

“And the noises from the kitchen…” Lu Li didn’t even glance in its direction. He didn’t need to. “You should probably set up a mousetrap.”

“We… we’re not lying! We really saw a ghost! If you don’t believe me, ask my wife!”

“Yes, yes! That night…”

The elderly couple eagerly defended themselves, trying to convince Lu Li of what they had witnessed.

“Alright, I understand.”

Lu Li’s calm expression interrupted the couple’s explanation. He had heard plenty of similar claims over the past few days.

“I can’t find the ghost for now, so I’ll set up an exorcism ritual in the house. Would you mind waiting outside for a while?”

“This…” The pair hesitated, exchanging uneasy looks.

Ghosts were terrifying, but leaving their home in the hands of a stranger…

Understanding their hesitation, Lu Li added, “You can stand outside the door. I have nowhere to run.”

Reluctantly, the couple allowed themselves to be ushered out of the house. Standing on the street, they watched as Lu Li closed the door behind them.

Clang—

The bolt slid into place.

Hearing the sound, the elderly couple tensed. Then came the low, obscure chants from behind the door—a language they couldn’t understand, with strange, complicated pronunciations.

After a while, the chanting stopped, and the house fell into silence.

Suddenly, there was a muffled bang from inside. The door shuddered, and patches of peeling paint fell from the wall.

The couple jumped in fright, nearly backing into the middle of the street.

Inside, the sounds of violent struggle and furious growling erupted, creating a vivid image of a battle between an exorcist and a ghost.

But in reality, just on the other side of the wall, the scene couldn’t be more different.

Lu Li sat peacefully at the dining table. Every now and then, he kicked a wooden chair or tapped the table, letting out the occasional muffled grunt.

After a few dozen seconds, Lu Li decided enough time had passed. He stood up, kicked over the chair, and slammed his shoulder into the wall.

Thud.

The wall shuddered.

Then, silence.

The elderly couple held their breath, as seconds dragged into minutes…

Finally, the door opened, and a figure appeared in the doorway.

Lu Li’s dark eyes were calm. Dampness clung to his forehead, resembling sweat, and his breathing was steady. “It’s done. Now, let’s talk about my fee.”

…

“Wait a moment. You said you’re an ‘exorcist’?” The psychologist interrupted Lu Li’s account, emphasizing the word “exorcist.”

Lu Li asked back, “Did you think I’m the kind of exorcist who grabs a ghost by the neck and shouts, ‘In the name of God, I banish you’?”

The psychologist remained silent, gesturing for him to continue.

…

“The ghost is already…” The elderly couple poked their heads inside, trying to spot any traces left behind.

“Taken care of.” Lu Li stepped aside, signaling them it was safe to enter.

The couple wasn’t wealthy, so Lu Li, almost like doing charity work, charged only 10 shillings as his fee before leaving.

“I’ll come back for you.”

The moment he stepped onto the street, a whisper suddenly sounded by his ear, unnervingly close.

Lu Li turned sharply, only to see the elderly couple casually closing their door.

A breeze stirred, ruffling his hair. Despite it being daytime, the chill was sharp and piercing.

…

“So your concern is… you encountered a ghost, and you suspect it’s a psychological problem?”

“Yes.”

The psychologist’s expression turned strange as he studied Lu Li from head to toe. “Are you from out of town? Or maybe a noble who rarely leaves their estate?”

“Is that a problem?” Lu Li neither confirmed nor denied.

The psychologist spread his hands. “Everyone knows ghosts are real. Instead of worrying about mental illness, you should be more concerned about the trouble of being haunted—especially since you’re not a real exorcist.”

“Is that so.” Lu Li gave a noncommittal reply. “Let me change the story, then. What if I told you I came from another world?”

“Care to elaborate?” The psychologist shifted in his seat, intrigued.

Lu Li briefly described Earth.

“Wow… Metal machines weighing dozens of tons that can fly? Buildings hundreds of floors tall? Talking face-to-face across thousands of kilometers?” The psychologist chuckled involuntarily but quickly regained his composure, suppressing the unprofessional reaction. He cleared his throat and said seriously, “Mr. Lu Li, this is a severe case of hysteria. Your condition is worse than I thought.”

“I’m not looking for treatment, just asking.” Lu Li replied calmly.

What was false had become real, and what was real had turned false. In this world, ghosts were more believable than machines flying in the sky.

“Well… suit yourself. You’ve already paid the consultation fee, after all.” The psychologist shrugged and placed the paper and fountain pen back on the table. He glanced out the window. “It’s getting dark. If your place is far from here, you should hurry.”

The sky outside had grown dimmer since their conversation began.

“Thanks for the reminder.”

Lu Li stood, shook hands with the psychologist, and left the clinic.

In Belfast, there was a saying:

After nightfall, stay where there’s light.

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