Smoke curled up from the dark red tip of a cigar, transforming into a clumpy, lingering fog beneath the ceiling. The blinds on the window overlooking the main office were drawn, and a dim light emanated from a single lamp. Two figures sat at the desk. One of them rose, tossed the cigar aside, and extended a hand to Lu Li.
"Mr. Lu Li, a pleasure. I'm the deputy sheriff, Valentine," the man said. He wore a flat cap and a dark gray woolen coat, a style that made him look more like a private detective than a lawman.
"Lu Li, exorcist," he introduced himself, removing his hat and giving the outstretched hand a firm but brief shake.
Lu Li had revealed his identity at the sanatorium that night, so there was no reason to be secretive now. His gaze rested for a mont on the figure seated beside Valentine before shifting away.
"First and foremost, thank you for your contribution to the safety of Belfast," Valentine said sincerely, returning to his seat at the desk and gesturing for Lu Li to take a chair.
Lu Li found it interesting that most residents of the mountain districts considered themselves citizens of Belfast.
"Vincent has already briefed
on the situation, but we'd like to clarify a few details."
Lu Li said nothing, his gaze once again settling on the man beside Valentine.
"Allow
to introduce myself. Joel, Night's Watch," the man in civilian clothes said, declaring his affiliation as openly as Lu Li had. "I haven't heard of you. You're a new face."
The smile on Valentine's face grew a little strained. He made a subtle gesture, urging Joel to soften his tone.
"My mistake..." Joel conceded, surprisingly agreeable. "If you knew the nature of our work, you'd understand our suspicion."
Lu Li had expected people who dealt with such strangeness to be a bit more... difficult.
"I understand," Lu Li said, his own recent predicant making him sympathetic to their caution. "So, what did you want to ask?"
"Regarding Richard," Valentine continued, "do you know anything about him?"
"Everything I knew, I told Officer Vincent on the night in question. I've had no contact with Richard since. But if you want my assessnt of his character, I suppose I can offer that."
Joel put the cigar to his lips and drew on it, but the tip didn't glow. It had gone out long ago.
He couldn't be bothered to light it again. He tossed the cigar onto the desk and spread his hands. "Go on."
"A madman with a logic all his own," Lu Li stated.
Valentine waited a mont, but when Lu Li offered nothing more, he asked with a hint of bewildernt, "That's it?"
"That's enough," Joel cut in, his brow furrowed. "Does that an we can't determine Richard's motives or predict his next move?"
"Yes," Lu Li nodded, noticing a flicker of anxiety deep in Valentine's eyes.
"Has sothing happened?" Lu Li asked abruptly.
Valentine and Joel exchanged a look. Valentine gave a subtle nod. "I..."
"Baroness Joseph, you can't go in there!"
"Ma'am, you can't—"
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the office. As the three n looked toward the sound, the door was thrown open with a crash.
Baroness Joseph, who was supposed to be outside giving a statent, swept into the office. She moved with an elegant grace, her long, pale legs flashing from beneath a sumptuous dark red dress. She glided toward Lu Li, enveloping him in a cloud of rich perfu. Joseph hooked a finger under his chin, her husky voice spilling from scarlet lips. "I like your eyes."
Lu Li t her gaze, taking in the woman's vivid, breathtaking makeup. "So you want to cut them out for your collection?"
A spark ignited in the Baroness's eyes, Lu Li's strange reply clearly intriguing her. She opened her mouth to speak, but Valentine's angry shout cut her off. "You two, get Baroness Joseph out of my office!"
The officers outside stirred, pushing their way into the office to escort the baroness out, but a short butler in thick, round glasses darted in front of them, blocking their path.
Baroness Joseph narrowed her lovely eyes. She released Lu Li's chin and snapped coldly, "Get away from , you villains! Do you want a lawsuit for laying hands on a noblewoman?"
"You should deal with your own problems first, Baroness Joseph," Valentine countered with a smirk. "We're discussing important matters. If you don't leave imdiately, the Sentry Post police departnt will be happy to add assaulting an officer and trespassing to your list of charges."
"Aren't you afraid my wrath will consu you?" the Baroness sneered. But when she turned back to Lu Li, her expression beca sweet and cloying once more as she gave him a heart-stopping look. She loved toying with n, but she wasn't a fool. With her current troubles, it was unwise to invite more.
"Wait for , darling." Baroness Joseph blew Lu Li a kiss, but the mont she turned, the smile vanished from her face. She swept out of the office with an icy expression, and the officers crowded at the door hastily parted to let her pass.
"Lulu," the Baroness said without turning back, pausing in the doorway.
"My lady," the short butler replied, closing the door and taking his place respectfully at her side.
"I want a complete file on that man within the hour. Oh, and once you have his address, send a truckload of tulips to his ho imdiately..."
"Mr. Lu Li, allow
to offer a word of warning..." The baroness's departure allowed Valentine to breathe a sigh of relief; clearly, he'd been less confident than he'd let on. He gave Lu Li a weary smile. "...it seems you've caught her eye."
"What is she doing here?" Lu Li asked.
As soone who read several newspapers a day, Lu Li was already familiar with Baroness Joseph.
Valentine spread his hands in a gesture of frustration. "If you've been following the news lately, you'd know that soone has filed a lawsuit against the baroness. Unfortunately for us, that person is from Sentry Post."
"Is she very wealthy?" Lu Li asked thoughtfully.
"She has enough money to buy half of Sentry Post, maybe even the whole town," Valentine said, clicking his tongue. Even as the deputy sheriff, he couldn't imagine that kind of wealth.
"Alright, enough about the scandalous aristocrat," Joel interjected.
Lu Li nodded. "So, what happened?"
The mont the words left his mouth, Lu Li felt the lighter atmosphere brought on by the baroness's intrusion begin to dissolve.
"You rember Vincent and the other officers from that night?"
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere settled over the lamplit office. A flicker of pain crossed Valentine's face as he spoke, his voice low. "They've all gone mad."
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