One hundred and seventy-five. The most precious treasure of Mrs. Anlei
An ordinary carriage without any patterns stopped in front of the gate.
The light rain has stopped temporarily, or perhaps the weather in Belfast does not affect Himfast, which is one hundred and fifty miles away.
Behind the hollow fence gate, a dilapidated manor with no greenery is revealed. The road extends from behind the gate to the main entrance of the building, bypassing the fountain.
The road was swept clean, and occasionally two, two, three or three figures could be seen walking in and out of the manors and buildings.
This place has not been abandoned.
"It has become an academy...it has not changed since the last time I came here." Anna looked at the young boys and girls, her tone mixed with indescribable emotions.
If she hadn't died, she would be about the same age as them now.
"Where did you go last time?" Lu Li asked.
"Go home, and go to mother's place..."
At that time, after Anna went to the cemetery to see her mother's tombstone, she returned to the gallery in a daze, hid in the paintings and remained silent for several months, until she later opened her heart again and met Lu Li.
The carriage parked outside the gate of the manor attracted the attention of the gatekeeper of the manor, which was once Anna's home and is now an art college. The old man walking with a limp appeared behind the gate.
"Who are you?"
Lu Li's attire and temperament made the old man's tone become more polite.
Lu Li got off the carriage, stood in front of the gate and said, "I'm looking for the person in charge here."
A breeze blew behind him, and Anna, who was hiding her figure, followed.
"You mean Ms. Mary, the dean?"
"If she's in charge."
The old man looked hesitant and asked uncertainly: "But are you..."
His memory was not very good, but he was very sure that he had never seen the man with black hair and eyes before him.
"Investigator." Lu Li took out his three-eyed black crow badge.
There was a flash of confusion in the old man's eyes. He had never heard of the investigator. It sounded like he was from a government department?
"Please wait a moment, I'll go ask Ms. Mary for instructions." The old man said, limping and turning towards the three-story building.
Lu Li did not put away his badge and stood straight outside the gate waiting. The old man had never heard of the investigator, but the principal should know the identity and badge.
Without waiting for too long, a figure in a black dress appeared at the door of the building. She walked around the fountain, held up her skirt and walked quickly towards the door. Her pretty face was full of anxiety.
She couldn't wait to ask: "Hello, Mr. Investigator, did you find anything abnormal in the college?"
She really knew something.
"No, it's a bit complicated to explain." Lu Li's eyes jumped over Ms. Mary's shoulder and fell on the old gatekeeper who came over. "Let's go to a quiet place to talk."
The old man opened the door and Lu Li walked into the manor, followed by Anna, who could not be seen by anyone, and Ms. Mary towards the building.
The forty-year-old woman was much more relaxed, but still a little nervous: "You can go to my office and talk."
"No, it's fine here."
After walking a distance of more than 20 meters, Lu Li looked back and saw that the old gatekeeper had returned to the hut: "Anna, tell her."
Ms. Mary was stunned subconsciously, and when she wanted to ask something in confusion, a silhouette appeared next to Lu Li.
"Aunt Mary..."
"Oh my god, Anna, you actually...wait a minute..." Surprise, surprise, shock, joy, and mixed emotions all surfaced in this no longer young lady. She covered her mouth and was unable to speak for a moment.
Lu Li suddenly turned around and walked away. He had no intention of watching this sentimental reminiscence.
"Don't leave me too far." Anna's voice came from behind.
"Um."
After watching Lu Li walk more than ten meters away, Ms. Mary couldn't wait to ask Anna.
"What the hell is going on?"
…
Two figures were thirty meters away, and Lu Li walked to the path outside the road.
Like everywhere, the plants in the manor have long since withered, shrubs and grass are mixed with the barren ground, and the bare dead trees have no trace of green.
There is not a trace of life in this manor.
The same goes for this world.
There were many trees in the manor, and it was difficult for Lu Li to tell which one was Anna's "sister". After observing silently for a while, the tips of his hair on his forehead were suddenly blown in the windless environment.
Lu Li withdrew his gaze and returned to Anna and Ms. Mary.
"Anna said you came back to retrieve the Lotta family's treasure." Ms. Mary looked at Lu Li with a hint of intimacy in her eyes.
Anna told her about the treasure, which showed that it was feasible for her.
At least Anna thinks so.
So Lu Li nodded.
"Please go look for it, but please try not to disturb the students."
"It's placed in the manor." Lu Li said, turning his head to look at Anna. "Can you find it?"
"I won't forget..." Anna murmured, her clear eyes falling on a dead tree in the distance.
She walked down the road, stepping barefoot on the withered grass.
Lu Li followed behind, while Ms. Mary stayed on the roadside, not following, looking at them from a short distance away.
Anna walked to a withered elm tree planted in the garden. The branches of this elm tree were lush and intertwined, but there was no leaf.
Anna stretched out her hand to touch the rough surface of the tree trunk, circled it around, and suddenly her toes dropped and floated up. She saw a light scratch one meter above the ground.
"You have grown so tall..."
Anna stroked the scratch and murmured softly. She pressed her forehead against the scratch. Anna continued for a few seconds. She floated down and said to Lu Li, "The treasure is right here."
Before Lu Li said anything, Anna recalled the location in her memory and dug up soil less than half a meter away from the elm tree.
Invisible shovels waved in the air, withered lawns were overturned, and pieces of soil were scattered aside. The ground was lowering at a speed visible to the naked eye.
When digging to a depth of 4.50 centimeters, the soil suddenly became as soft as freshly baked bread.
Anna stopped her ability and picked up the strange soft "stone".
The dirt falls from the "stone", and when it is completely picked up, its shape is fully revealed: a dirty doll covered in broken soil.
Anna pursed her lips, put her former best friend aside, and continued digging. After a few seconds, a large wooden box appeared at the bottom of the pit.
Anna squatted down, took the wooden box out of the bottom of the pit, brushed off the sand and soil on it, and unfolded it gently.
There was only a yellowed piece of paper in the wooden box.
Forgotten memories resurfaced, and Anna recalled that they contained words that her mother had asked her to bury that she wanted to say to herself twenty years later.
She unfolded the paper, and a line of childish handwriting emerged.
【I hope everyone likes me and my paintings.】
On the drawing paper, two little people, one big and one small, stand together, holding the big hand.
Anna looked at the painting quietly and the memory behind it.
The clouds on the horizon were dark red like blood. Behind her, Lu Li's figure was as straight as a javelin.
