Lord of the Mysteries

Phew, I finally got through the round with the medium…

Klein let out a foul breath. He slowly turned around and enjoyed the cool breeze and tranquility of the night while walking closer and closer to the apartment building’s door.

He took out his keys, inserted the correct one in and turned it gently, allowing the crimson-mixed darkness to expand with the creaking sound of the opened door.

Walking on the staircase without a single person in sight and taking in the cold air, Klein had an inexplicable and amazing feeling. It felt like he had a few more hours than others. This caused him to hasten his pace.

In a similar state of mind, he opened the door to his room and before he even stepped inside, he saw a silhouette sitting silently in front of his desk. It had reddish black hair, bright brown eyes, and a delicate, pretty face. Undoubtedly, she was Melissa Moretti!

“Klein, where did you go?” Melissa asked curiously as she relaxed her eyebrows.

Without waiting for Klein’s reply, she added, “Just now, I got up to go to the bathroom and realized you weren’t home.” It was as if she wanted to know everything clearly, from the causes and effects of the matter to the underlying logic.

With great experience at lying to his parents, Klein’s brain took a spin before he gave a bitter smile and calmly replied, “I couldn’t fall asleep again after I woke up. Instead of wasting time, I decided that I should train my body. So I went out to run a few rounds. Look at my sweat!”

He took off his jacket and half-turned his body, pointing to his back.

Melissa stood up, took a glance half-heartedly and deliberated for a few moments before saying, “Honestly speaking, Klein, you don’t have to stress yourself out. I’m sure you can pass the interview to Tingen University. Even if you can’t, er—I mean if —you can still find better ones.”

I haven’t even thought about the interview… Klein nodded his head and said, “I understand.”

He did not mention the “offer” that he had gotten because he had not decided whether he wanted to join them or not.

Staring at Klein intensely, Melissa suddenly turned around and trotted into the interior of the house. She took out an object that resembled a tortoise. It was comprised of items like gears, rusted iron, torsion springs and ordinary springs.

After quickly tightening the torsion spring, Melissa placed the object on the desk.

Ka! Ka! Ka!

Dum! Dum! Dum!

The “tortoise” moved and jumped with a rhythm that could pull anyone’s attention.

“Whenever I feel irritated, I feel much better seeing this tortoise move. I’ve been doing this very often recently and it’s very effective! Klein, give it a try!” invited Melissa as her eyes brightened.

Klein did not turn down his sister’s goodwill. He approached the “tortoise” and waited for it to stop before laughing. He said, “Simplicity and regularity can indeed help relaxation.”

Without waiting for Melissa’s reply, Klein pointed to the “tortoise” and casually asked, “Did you make this yourself? When did you make this? Why wasn’t I aware of it?”

“I made use of unwanted materials from school and things picked up from the streets to make this. It was only finished two days ago,” Melissa said in her usual tone, the side of her lips upturned a few more degrees.

“That’s impressive,” Klein praised sincerely.

As a boy with poor skills in machine assembly, he encountered great difficulties even assembling a four-wheel toy car as a child.

With her chin slightly raised and her eyes slightly bent, Melissa calmly replied, “It was okay.”

“Being overly humble is a bad trait,” Klein smiled slightly and continued, “This is a tortoise, right?”

Instantly, the atmosphere in the room took a great plunge, leaving behind an air of graveness for a while. Then, Melissa faintly replied with a voice that seemed enigmatic like the crimson veil, “It’s a puppet.”

Puppet…

Klein gave an awkward smile, and tried to forcefully explain, “The problem lies in the materials, they’re too rudimentary.”

Following that, he tried to change the topic and said, “Why would you go to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Isn’t there a toilet here? Don’t you always sleep till dawn?”

Melissa was taken aback momentarily.

It was only after a few seconds, before she opened her mouth, prepared to explain.

At that moment, an intense sound of digestion sounded from herthoracoabdominal 1 area.

“I-I’ll go get some more sleep!”

to the interior of the house, and closed the door to her

was too good, she ate too much and now her stomach is having trouble digesting it… Klein shook his head as he smiled, slowly walking towards his desk. He sat down soundlessly, silently pondering

staff

the mysterious Gathering—and the multiple secrets I have, it will be risky to be

join Dunn Smith and his team, I would certainly aim to become

formal member would entail many restrictions on my freedom, like how a civilian staff has to report his leaving of Tingen.

I can only wait for the arrangements and

the risk of

…

disadvantages listed out one by one, Klein turned to considering the necessities and

people. In the future, there is bound to be some bizarre event happening

by becoming one of the Beyonders or by joining the

be solely reliant on the Gathering. The potion formula is not a major problem, but where can I

on every matter and exchange every object with them. This would not only hurt the image of The Fool and arouse their suspicions, but there will also be inadequate time

I am unable to produce anything

my real identity. Then, “online disputes” would effectively

leverage. Only then can I initiate the Gathering and in turn gain the greatest benefits from Justice and The Hanged Man. In reality, the gains can feedback into reality, allowing me to obtain

also go to an organization that is suppressed by the various Churches such as the Psychology Alchemists mentioned by Dunn and join

my freedom, and be in a constant state of fear and anxiety. However, more importantly, I have no idea where to look for them. Even if I

a civilian staff leaves opportunity for a

inferior recluse hides away in the wild; the superior, the crowd. Perhaps the identity as a

I become one of the top authorities of the tribunal, who would imagine that I am a heretic, the head of the secret organization who is working behind the

…

crimson disappeared. Gazing at the

would find Dunn Smith today and become part of the

bed again, had pushed open the door to the room. She was surprised to

through some things.”

thought for a moment and said, “Whenever I encounter problems, I’ll list out both the pros and cons one by one

did that

did not add more. Holding a yellowish sheet of paper and her toiletries,

leave after he finished his breakfast and his sister’s departure, Klein took a good nap. Based on what he knew, nearly all the pubs were closed in

afternoon, he smoothed the pleats of his silk hat and handkerchief using a small brush. He

he wore a suit of formal clothing,

afraid that he would miss the “working hours” of the Nighthawk.

public horse carriages were placed under two categories—without track and

a carriage drawn by two horses and could sit approximately 20 people while taking into account the top of the carriage. Only a general route existed, without specific stations. It had flexible operations and could be hailed

move on the inner lane while the wheels ran on the tracks, making it

problem was that the route and stations were

hitting the tracks approached from a distance. A double-decker horse carriage stopped in front of the

said to the carriage

you get there, it takes about ten minutes to walk to Besik Street,” explained the carriage driver

Street

young man with a fair and clean face, as he

a worker

four copper coins from his pocket and handed it to the other

the carriage and found that there were not many passengers. Even on the

on me now, so I can only walk when I

although there were a few clothed in their work clothes, leisurely reading newspapers. Almost no one spoke, and it

his eyes and recharged his strength, oblivious to

finally heard the

and soon reached Besik Street, where he saw the pub with the brownish-yellow hound

door gradually opened, inundating him with a wave of

many customers in the pub. Some were temporary workers, looking for opportunities here, waiting to be hired. Others were simply idling around, numbing

the center, there were two large iron cages with a third

cups and surrounded it, sometimes discussing loudly

glance, Klein found two dogs caged inside. One was black and white, similar to the

eight games in a row!” said a little man wearing a brown beret, as he neared Klein and pointed to the black

at first, Klein regained

“Dog-fighting?”

contemptuously and curiously,

games, didn’t it also include cruel