Duanmu Huai had finally realized why the detectives in movies, TV shows, games, and anime all looked like salted fish.
The reason was simple…
They were really, really bored!!!
Right now, Duanmu Huai was leaning back in his chair, watching horse racing on the television while drinking cola.
—Yeah, he felt like he was gradually evolving into a certain muddle-headed detective who liked to randomly pin accusations on people.
Why had things turned out like this?
Duanmu Huai couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried. When he converted the first floor into an antique shop, the whole point had been to attract customers together with the detective agency. After all, if someone came to buy exorcism items, they obviously had some kind of trouble. Then Lorena could casually recommend the detective agency, and the customer would naturally come upstairs.
One fish, two meals. Killing two birds with one stone.
Perfect, right?
But…
According to Lorena's report, the antique shop downstairs wasn't exactly booming, but business was still decent. Most customers who came here would buy some [Exorcism] or [Home Protection] items, and a small number even purchased [Demon Slaying] weapons.
But why was no one coming to see him?
He had spent a huge amount of money placing advertisements on television and in newspapers. Could it be that all that money had gone to waste?
"…So that's the situation. Do you have anything over there that could help me pass the time?"
With no other options, Duanmu Huai finally called Anthony to see whether the authorities had any cases available.
After listening to Duanmu Huai's complaints, Anthony looked completely speechless.
"So you mean you feel too idle and want something to do?"
"That's right. I thought opening a detective agency would bring plenty of cases, but instead I've ended up this free… it's unbelievably boring. If you've got anything you can't deal with, why not pass it to me?"
While stroking the black cat and the white rabbit in his arms, Duanmu Huai continued grumbling.
"Well… that's easy for you to say, but there aren't that many cases on my side either…"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's request, Anthony rolled his eyes helplessly.
If it were ordinary police work, there would always be crimes happening every day. But [U-level cases] weren't that frequent. If one happened every single day, that would mean someone was trying to destroy the world every day on average.
At that point, they shouldn't call the police.
They should call Ultraman.
However…
"There is a troublesome case, but it's in another country… Have you heard of Jack the Ripper?"
"Oh? I've heard of him."
Hearing that name, Duanmu Huai immediately perked up.
"Right now in Fog City, there's a series of serial murders. The preliminary classification is a [U-level case], but it's extremely difficult to solve. I heard several investigators over there have already died… Since you're so eager to find something to do, how about I write you a referral letter and you go take a look?"
In this world, [U-level cases] were basically globally shared intelligence, similar to the international police organizations seen in movies. After all, these cases weren't like ordinary gun trafficking or drug smuggling, which only harmed one country. If cultists or cosmic horrors succeeded, the entire world would suffer.
So in this situation, international cooperation was actually easier.
Because saving the world always came first.
Of course, ordinary players didn't have that kind of financial ability. After all, traveling abroad was expensive. If your starting dice rolls were bad, you might still be worrying about where to beg for food, let alone traveling overseas to investigate cases.
"No problem. Leave it to me."
Back in the game, Duanmu Huai's dice rolls had been neither good nor bad, roughly middle-class level. So he mainly operated within his own country.
But things were different now.
He was a rich second-generation heir.
He had money, and he could be willful.
Going abroad? Why not?
And overseas missions gave more experience.
Maybe after completing this mission I could reach [C-rank]…
…Yeah, that's probably impossible.
Forget it. He'd deal with it when the time came.
Duanmu Huai was a decisive person. After receiving the referral letter and the case file copy from Anthony, he immediately started making preparations.
Traveling to Fog City wasn't easy. First he had to go to the East Coast, then cross the Atlantic Ocean. For ordinary people this wasn't much of a problem, but for Duanmu Huai it was a big one.
The reason was simple.
With his body size, what kind of transportation could he even use?
Fortunately, in this era any problem that could be solved with money wasn't really a problem. Soon Duanmu Huai arranged the trip through his own channels.
First, he would take the Pacific Railroad train from Arkham City to the West Coast. Then from there he would board the Full Moon Stars airship to Fog City.
The reason for choosing these two means of transportation was purely practical. Train space was cramped, but fortunately there were VIP compartments. As long as Duanmu Huai paid enough money, he could monopolize an entire carriage. Although trains were slow, the scenery during the three days and four nights of travel was still worth seeing.
As for choosing an airship instead of an airplane or ocean liner, the reason was even simpler.
Airplanes couldn't fit him at all. If he rode one, he'd have to sit in the cargo hold.
As for an ocean liner—
In a world where Cthulhu existed, sailing across the ocean?
Brave. Very brave.
That made the airship a perfect choice.
It was slower than a plane but faster than a ship. The interior space was large enough that Duanmu Huai could comfortably roll around inside. More importantly, airships were toys for the rich, meaning fewer passengers and a much quieter, more comfortable environment.
And most importantly, airplanes didn't allow pets.
Airships did.
So after arranging everything, Duanmu Huai boarded the train heading to the West Coast together with Lorena, Tokai Teio, and Tutu the rabbit. The maid stayed behind to guard the house and manage the antique shop.
After all—
What they sold were money.
What they bought back were souls.
Neither could be missed.
Soon, the train departed.
Duanmu Huai lay on the soft bed, opened the case file Anthony had faxed over, and carefully read through it.
Fog City.
The history of this world was similar to Duanmu Huai's original world in some ways, but different in others. For example, although the science here was relatively advanced, it carried a strange steampunk flavor.
Fog City was exactly like that.
He had once read descriptions from players on the forum. According to them, because of massive industrial development, the entire island nation was covered in smoke. People could hardly see the true color of the sky.
Whenever they looked up, all they saw were gloomy gray clouds. Only occasionally could people glimpse a sliver of sunlight and blue sky through the gaps.
From a quality-of-life perspective, it was obviously unhealthy.
But in terms of atmosphere, there was nowhere more suitable.
After all, the classic detective scene was a trench-coat-wearing detective walking down a fog-covered street under heavy clouds, experiencing the charm of Sherlock Holmes.
Alright, back to the topic.
Anthony's so-called Jack the Ripper obviously wasn't the real historical Jack the Ripper. It was simply a name given to the case.
But the name wasn't random.
According to the case files, starting a few months ago Fog City had experienced a series of murders. The crimes mostly happened late at night. The victims were all young women. According to the coroner's report, they had been killed on the spot after their chests and abdomens were violently torn open by some kind of steel weapon.
At first the police deployed a large number of officers to investigate, but no clues were found. Later several investigators volunteered to look into it, but most of them ended up disappearing without a trace.
Clearly the case had exceeded the Fog City police's ability to handle it. So they contacted other countries' partner organizations for help.
After all, this wasn't an ordinary criminal case.
If they failed, it wasn't embarrassing.
Because if things really went wrong—
Everyone might die together.
"Hmm…"
Duanmu Huai flipped through the file, studying the photos and information. Indeed, no wonder it was called Jack the Ripper, since all the victims were women and they were all disemboweled.
However, unlike the historical Jack the Ripper, the victims this time were almost all ordinary girls rather than prostitutes. According to forensic examination, none of them had been assaulted before death.
But…
Why?
Looking at the crime scene photos, Duanmu Huai frowned. If cultists were responsible, there should have been evil ritual circles or spells nearby. But there was nothing like that.
It didn't look like cultist activity at all.
Unless these people were killing girls to obtain some kind of magical material from their bodies?
Heh. Could they be demonic cultivators stealing yin essence from maidens?
That art style doesn't match this setting…
Forget it.
He would know once he arrived.
Thinking this, Duanmu Huai yawned, put away the documents, and lay on the soft bed. Listening to the rhythmic clack-clack of the train tracks, he slowly drifted into sleep.
Soon, the night passed.
Knock knock knock.
Knock knock knock.
After an unknown amount of time, knocking sounds interrupted Duanmu Huai's sweet dream. He frowned and turned on the bedside lamp.
"Come in."
"Sorry to disturb you, Sir Knight."
Hearing his voice, Lorena walked in.
"What's wrong? What happened? It's only… three o'clock."
Duanmu Huai glanced at the clock.
Still early.
"It's like this. The train police just came and wanted to ask us some questions."
"Questions? About what? What happened?"
"Apparently… someone on the train has been murdered."
"…???"
Hearing that, Duanmu Huai was completely dumbfounded.
This isn't the Orient Express, is it?
So why did someone suddenly die?
(End of Chapter)