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!”

“puppet”, trotted to the interior of the

as he smiled, slowly walking towards his desk. He sat down soundlessly, silently pondering Dunn Smith’s invitation as the crimson red moon emerged from behind the dark

Nighthawk civilian staff member had its

the multiple secrets I have, it will be risky to be under the noses of the

his team, I would certainly aim to become

a formal member would entail many restrictions on my freedom, like how a civilian staff has to report his leaving of Tingen. No longer would I be able to go wherever I want or do whatever I want. I would miss

given, I can only wait for the arrangements and

have the risk

…

the disadvantages listed out one by one, Klein turned to

one of the eighty percent of lucky people. In the future, there is bound to be

becoming one of the Beyonders or by joining the Nighthawks can I be equipped with the

not a major problem, but where can I find the corresponding materials? How am I to obtain

for me to consult Justice and The Hanged Man 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 to communicate on such trivial

am unable to produce

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

channels. This can sufficiently accumulate into a corresponding social circle and can be used as leverage. Only then can I initiate the Gathering and in turn gain the greatest benefits from Justice and The Hanged

suppressed by the various Churches such as the Psychology Alchemists mentioned by Dunn and join

However, more importantly, I have no idea where to look for them. Even if I manage to gain the corresponding information from The Hanged Man, such rash contact with them could endanger my

a civilian staff leaves opportunity for

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

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

…

morning sun shone, the crimson disappeared. Gazing at the golden light on

and

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

was thinking through some things.”

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

habit. I did that

was relaxed, and she did not add more. Holding a yellowish sheet of

he finished his breakfast and his sister’s departure, Klein took a

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

suit of formal clothing, just like he was going

hours” of the Nighthawk. Therefore, he did not walk there, but instead waited for public horse

public horse carriages were placed under

of the carriage. Only a general route existed, without specific stations. It had flexible operations and could be hailed anywhere

the main street. The horses would move on the inner lane while the wheels ran on

the route and

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

Besik Street,” Klein said

to transfer at Champagne Street but when you get there, it takes about ten minutes to walk to Besik Street,” explained the

to Champagne Street then.” Klein nodded

kilometers, four pence”, said a young man with a

worker responsible for money

copper coins from his pocket and handed it to the other

to the carriage and found that there were not many passengers. Even on the first floor,

on me now, so I can only walk when I

there were a few clothed in their work

recharged his strength, oblivious to the coming and going of passengers

until he finally heard the few words

reached Besik Street, where he saw

forceful push. The heavy door gradually opened, inundating him

Some were temporary workers, looking for

dimly lit. In the center, there were two large iron cages with

and surrounded it,

similar to the husky found on Earth. The other was wholly

in a row!” said a little man

aback at first, Klein regained

“Dog-fighting?”

contemptuously and curiously, if the boorish workers and unemployed

boxing and card games, didn’t it also include cruel and