Thirty-six. Old Rum Tavern

The more urgent Richard became, the greater Lu Li's advantage grew.

Sensitive, clever, irritable, and neurotic—these were the tags Lu Li once briefly attached to Richard. The former were strengths, while the latter were weaknesses.

It was also a point Lu Li could exploit.

As Anna said, he would not sit back and watch as the Blood-Colored Tentacles were eradicated one by one without taking action. It was the best time Lu Li had forced him out.

After staying a while at the Detective Agency, Lu Li, with an invisible Anna, went to the market, where they bought only one more fish than last time, but at nearly twice the price.

Back at the Detective Agency, Anna darted into the kitchen to prepare food for Lu Li and the black cat. Lu Li walked around to his desk, picked up the telephone, and contacted the investigator base, learning that Tesla had entered the shelter.