Chapter 32 |
### Chapter 32: Ignorance Is Bliss
Using a kitchen knife from the kitchen, Lu Li pried open the long crate. Surrounded by packing material, he lifted the statue out.
The detective agency’s living room was relatively spacious, or perhaps it just seemed so due to its emptiness. Apart from the desk and bookshelf in the corner, and the dining table and sofa beneath the window, there were no other furnishings.
Unable to find a suitable spot for the statue, Lu Li simply stood it by the door.
Its pristine white stone surface clashed somewhat with the agency’s worn-out decor. Lu Li took off his hat and placed it on the statue’s head, which unexpectedly made it look slightly more harmonious.
Next was the painting. Lacking the tools to hang it on the wall, Lu Li simply placed it on one of the empty bookshelves.
With the addition of the two exhibits from the gallery, the detective agency finally felt less lifeless.
The empty bookshelf sparked a new thought in Lu Li’s mind: though the library had burned down, perhaps he could acquire books from other sources.
Lu Li took the only biography-type book from the drawer and pulled out the piece of paper tucked inside.
[Important: Understand where I am (Completed)—Save 1,000 shillings and trade with Hades for more information.]
[Secondary: Find a new place to live.]
Picking up his pen, Lu Li added a new entry below:
[Secondary: Purchase books to learn more about this place.]
Organizing his thoughts and confirming there was nothing else to add, Lu Li took seven 100-shilling notes and placed them with the paper, tucking them back into the book.
He had less than two hundred shillings left, which needed to cover his daily expenses and Oliver’s 30-shilling commission.
Regarding the books, perhaps he could ask Oliver to inquire about prices first. But before that, Lu Li had other matters to attend to.
There was still plenty of time before nightfall. It was time to ask some questions.
For free.
…
Ding-ling, ding-ling—
Lu Li pushed open the wooden door, and the sudden gust of wind caused the bell to ring urgently.
“Oh, look who’s here! I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. So quickly saving up the money—you really are the gold digger… I mean, rising star of exorcists.”
Exaggerated exclamations spilled from Hades’ mouth. His gold teeth gleamed as he spread his arms wide.
“You’ve said that three times now,” Lu Li said, glancing around the still-empty, dimly lit tavern. No customers—neither those looking for a drink nor clients seeking services.
“Because you’ve come asking three times,” Hades retorted, his face shifting in the flickering lamplight behind the counter. “Without paying.”
He emphasized the last two words, articulating each syllable.
“I hope this isn’t the third time.”
Lu Li walked to the counter and sat down, getting straight to the point. “I haven’t saved up 1,000 shillings yet.”
Hades’ enthusiasm visibly waned, his outstretched arms dropping to rest on the counter.
“I don’t know anything.”
Lu Li ignored Hades’ coldness. “That thousand shillings will be yours sooner or later. Besides, the further I advance as an exorcist, the more beneficial it is for you, isn’t it?”
Hades scoffed, a flash of gold from his mouth. “Why would you think the rise of a competitor benefits me?”
Lu Li’s dark eyes reflected the oil lamp’s flame. He spoke calmly, “Because that competitor has many questions, and it just so happens… you know a lot.”
“Rich people tend to be more stingy. They refuse acts of charity, things that offer no benefit.”
“Did you know I met other exorcists?”
“Oh? Were they willing to tell you things at a lower price than me?”
“No, I just asked about the normal price of a Spirit Gun.”
“…”
Hades fell silent for a moment, then suddenly broke into an exaggerated, beaming smile. “Oh, look who this handsome man is! Our rising star in the exorcism world, Mr. Lu Li! Your visit is my honor. I promise to tell you everything I know, holding nothing back.”
“Good. I hope next time we can get straight to the point and save both our time.”
Ignoring Hades’ overly dramatic attempt to cover his tracks, Lu Li asked directly, “Where do ghosts go after they die?”
Hades quickly dropped the fake enthusiasm. “I don’t know either. And I’m not lying. Most exorcists don’t know where ghosts go. Perhaps only the top-tier demon hunters would know.”
“Demon hunters?”
Lu Li noted the change in terminology.
Exorcism and demon hunting had different meanings.
“Literally. You can think of them as an upgraded version of exorcists, capable of eliminating ghosts rather than just driving them away.”
Eliminating ghosts…
A thought flickered in Lu Li’s mind. Did that mean he was already a demon hunter? But could it really be that simple?
“Of course, it’s not as simple as you think,” Hades noticed Lu Li’s expression and shrugged. “To become a demon hunter, you first need to personally eliminate a wraith-level ghost. If you manage that, your name will spread throughout the exorcism world, even without you needing to advertise.”
“Is there a special way exorcists communicate?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Can I know?”
“That question costs 200 shillings. Friendly reminder: don’t try asking other exorcists. They’re not generous enough to share secrets with newcomers. If you run into a bad-tempered one, you might even get beaten up.”
“How many demon hunters are there in Belfast?”
“Not many, not few.”
“Are there any ranks above demon hunter? Does that level require the ability to deal with evil spirits?”
Hades scoffed, unclear whether he was mocking Lu Li’s question or both questions.
“I don’t know the answer to the first question. As for the second, it’s easy to answer.”
Hades leaned forward, closer to Lu Li. His lowered brows and the nearby oil lamp cast his face in harsh shadows, giving him a somewhat menacing look.
He typically adopted this posture when conveying something important and dangerous.
His low voice echoed slowly.
“Evil spirits don’t die. What appears in our world are just their projections. No matter what you do, you can’t harm their true forms. Even if you manage to dispel their projection somehow, they will eventually return. The timing of their return depends entirely on their whim—it could be a long time, or just a moment. So, if you encounter an evil spirit, run as far away as you can. Don’t even think about trying to deal with it.”
“Is there really no solution?”
“Maybe there is, but I don’t know it.”
“What if you can’t escape?”
“Hope that the evil spirit is willing to communicate, or that its ‘ritualistic behavior’ is strong—that might buy you some time.”
“That sounds truly awful,” Lu Li replied.
Hades grinned, but his expression lacked its usual greedy quality. Instead, his smile held an indescribable bitterness and a barely perceptible fear. He sighed softly.
“Tell me about it. We exorcists might have one more option than ordinary people when facing ghosts, but that also means… we must confront that horror directly.”
“Ignorance is bliss.”