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!”

She grabbed her tortoise-like “puppet”, trotted to the interior of the house, and closed the door to

head as he smiled, slowly walking towards his desk. He sat down soundlessly, silently pondering Dunn Smith’s invitation as

a Nighthawk civilian staff member had its

“The Fool”—initiator of the mysterious Gathering—and the multiple secrets I have, it will be risky to be under the noses of the

team, I would certainly aim to become a Beyonder. I could then cover up the benefits gained from the

staff has to report his leaving of Tingen.

is given, I can only wait for the arrangements and

have the risk of losing

…

one, Klein

one of the eighty percent of lucky people. In

of the Beyonders or by joining the Nighthawks

is not a major problem, but where can I

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 to communicate on such trivial

to produce anything that

would more often than not leave behind the trail of my real identity. Then, “online disputes” would effectively be transformed

the Nighthawks, there would definitely be contact with the common knowledge of the world of mystery and relevant channels. This can sufficiently accumulate into a corresponding social circle and can be used as leverage. Only then can

also go to an organization that is suppressed by the various Churches such

more importantly, I have no idea where to look for them. Even if I manage to gain the corresponding information from The Hanged Man,

civilian staff leaves opportunity

wild; the superior, the crowd. Perhaps the

top authorities of the tribunal, who would imagine that I am a heretic,

…

sun shone, the crimson disappeared. Gazing at the golden light on the horizons of the sky, Klein made up

Smith today and become part of the Nighthawk’s

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

thinking through some things.” Klein smiled,

by

a good habit. I did that too,” Klein smiled and

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

his sister’s departure, Klein took a good nap. Based on what he knew, nearly all the pubs

o’clock in the afternoon, he smoothed the pleats of his silk hat and handkerchief using a small brush. He also

formal clothing, just like

was afraid that he would miss the “working hours” of the Nighthawk. Therefore, he did not walk there, but instead waited for public horse carriage at Iron

carriages were placed

20 people while taking into account the top of the carriage. Only a general route existed, without specific stations. It had

was laid on the main street. The horses would move on the inner lane while the wheels ran on the tracks, making it easier and

was that the route and stations were fixed, making

wheels hitting the tracks approached from a distance. A double-decker

Klein said to

ten minutes to walk to Besik Street,” explained the carriage driver to Klein, with regards to the

to Champagne Street

a young man with a fair and clean face, as he extended

worker responsible for

his pocket

many passengers.

only walk when I go back…” Klein pressed

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

strength, oblivious to the

he finally heard the few words “Champagne

the horse carriage, he inquired along the way and soon reached Besik Street, where he saw the

The heavy door gradually opened, inundating him with a

were temporary workers, looking for opportunities here, waiting to be hired. Others were

were two large iron cages with a third

surrounded it, sometimes discussing

black and white, similar to the husky found on Earth. The other was wholly black, with shiny fur, making it look healthy and

bet? Doug has won eight games in a row!” said a little

first, Klein regained his senses

“Dog-fighting?”

was at Khoy University, those aristocratic and wealthy students would always ask him contemptuously and

being able to gamble on boxing and card games, didn’t it also