Bizarre Detective Agency

   Chapter 1042 One hundred and nine. The fifth time

  Lu Li's black eyes fell to the dining table, two pieces of paper that did not belong here were covered with dust.

  The oil lamp was placed on the side of the table, and he picked up a note, one of which did not belong to any known text, was indecipherable and incomprehensible. Another reads:

  【I am Lu Li, this is the third time. The first two are reversed, and the answer can be found in the footprints on the ceiling. The previous memory is forgotten, here is the filthy sewer, the house has no clue. The upstairs guest room window is broken, the floor has five stones, next I will]

  【There are other figures on the street, they walked into the house with the wooden sign, I will approach there next. 】

   This is his tone, his handwriting.

   After a short pause, Lu Li raised his eyes and fell to the ceiling. In the dim yellow light of the oil lamp, he found two pairs of footprints recorded in his notes, extending the doors, windows and stairs.

   And the dust on the floor allows Lu Li to clearly see the cluttered footprints, which also extend to the doors, windows and stairs.

   As he was about to move the dining table to observe the footprints on the ceiling, Lu Li saw a pair of footprints where the paper was covering.

  Lu Li stretched out his palm to compare the outline, tilted his head slightly, and his eyes fell on the place where the oil lamp was placed—there was a circle of nearly overlapping oil lamp indentations.

   Then while grabbing the edge of the dining table and pulling, he saw brand new scratches on the floor again.

   Moved the dining table to the end of the scratches, and Lu Li raised his head and looked at the ceiling—the position exactly corresponds to the footprints on the ceiling.

   Moving the wooden chair, Lu Li stepped on the rocking wooden chair with footprints, stood on the dining table, and observed the traces on the ceiling.

   The "third" self of these things has already done it once.

   stepped off the dining table and pushed the table and chairs back to their original positions. Lu Li walked to the window and found a house with a wooden sign 100 meters away.

   At the end of the corridor, the window of the guest room was broken, and the five stones of the culprit were lying on the floor.

   Subsequent utility room, bedroom, that "Martin and the Dog" with no hidden clues.

   The investigation Lu Li returned to the living room, summoned the businessman Anthony, and got the answer from the businessman who appeared: Before this, Lu Li had summoned the businessman three times.

   corresponds to the content of the note.

   Before leaving, Lu Li, like himself last time, prepared to leave a message.

  【This is the fourth time, the authenticity of the previous note cannot be confirmed, but the information is correct, and the businessman Anthony also said the same. 】

  Lu Li didn't record more details to convince himself next time, because it doesn't make sense - then he would repeat confirmation like now.

  【I don’t know the reason for the number of times and what it represents, but every time the living room of this house appears in the same position. Considering that the time is continuous, I will go to the third wooden house to look for clues. If I have time to leave a clue, I will put it in my pocket]

   After writing the message, Lu Li copied the obscure note, put it in his pocket, and touched another note.

   A note that was also copied.

   This thing is still done by the previous self.

  Memory is like a shoal under the tide, any trace left will be erased by the waves.

   Lu Li thought about whether he could make the businessman Anthony keep a record, but the inertia of the first three times made Lu Li not do that. Asking about the information about the filthy sewers, Lu Li told the businessman Anthony to leave.

   Added "Look at the pocket" in the still ink message, Lu Li picked up the oil lamp and walked to the door.

  Squeak-

   Stepping into the empty and quiet outside world, crossing the street, Lu Li arrived at the house with the wooden sign without encountering any strangeness.

  The door was open, and contrary to the message, the house was silent.

  Lu Li entered the house that seemed to be surging with cold and darkness, and the old floor was mixed with footprints. Many people did stay here, but for some reason they seem to have left.

   Are you including yourself?

  dong——

  The dust rustled down, and the sound came from upstairs on the other side of the ceiling.

   Holding the oil lamp, Lu Li stepped up the stairs to the second floor.

   Upstairs, the presence of the uninvited guests has long been aware of the arrival of the uninvited guests from the sound of footsteps. When the Luli stairs appeared, two figures that existed on the ceiling and the floor like reflections cast indifferent gazes.

  Lu Li didn't feel any malice from the two doll-like silhouettes, and his eyes fell behind them.

  A contour is wrapped around the wooden post by layers of hemp rope, from head to toe, like a rope man.

   "He didn't know the reason, he forgot it was a tournament and attacked us, so we got him under control," said the doll boy on the floor.

   Lu Li was noncommittal. His attention was not here: "You don't know me?"

The    twins shook their heads at the same time. They did not know Lu Li, nor did they meet him.

   "This person is handed over to you, we are leaving." The boy on the floor said, and the brother on the ceiling walked to the window and reached out to open the window.

  Lu Li watched the boy's outstretched hand hold each other, stepped through the window, and rose into the sky like a balloon——

   The sound of "uuuuu" struggling made Lu Li return to his senses and approached the bound outline.

  The knot was tied by some unknown method. When Lu Li reached out and touched it, it was instantly released.

   The unkempt figure that was released slammed away from Lu Li, rolled down the stairs with hands and feet, and the movement quickly disappeared.

   Lu Li did not follow the fleeing figure, but walked to the window and looked up.

   The silhouette of the twin boys is no longer visible in the dark void, but in the dark depths of the street, something is emerging——

  !

  The figure that appeared without warning knocked down Lu Li, covered his mouth and suppressed his voice: "Shh...don't...be discovered by them...they are...hunting us."

   "Who are they?"

  Lu Li stagnated in his counterattack, recognizing the figure who had gone and returned.

   "The residents here...the players who have died too many times..." He dragged Lu Li away from the window.

   "Time" made Lu Li think of something, he seemed to be close to the truth: "What do you mean by dying too many times."

   "Every death...we lose our memories and deepen our connection...don't die! Death will leave us here forever! Don't die...don't die!"

The    figure's mental state was extremely poor, and he whispered madly.

   But far enough to tie the clues all together.

  Why do my own footprints appear on the ceiling, why is this the fourth time.

  Lu Li took out the paper in his pocket and briefly recorded the truth told by the figure.

   "Don't die...don't die..."

   The murmur continued behind him, then stopped abruptly.

  Plop—

  Lu Li stopped writing and clenched the note.

   And before he turned around, a biting chill that froze his soul quietly emerged.

  …

   The depths of the mist are shrouded in darkness.

   The dim oil lamp gradually lights up, dispelling the darkness, and a figure with an oil lamp emerges.

   The dim yellow diffuses outward, revealing more things hidden in the darkness.

  Lu Li raised the oil lamp and saw an old living room that had been neglected for a long time. Ceiling fans hang from the ceiling, unpacked dishes and spoons are left on the dining table, and the windows are covered in veil-like dust.

   lowered his head, Lu Li looked at the ball of paper in his left hand.

   (end of this chapter)