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!”

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

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 Dunn Smith’s invitation as the crimson red moon emerged from behind

staff member had its apparent

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

join Dunn Smith and his team, I would certainly aim to become a Beyonder. I could then cover

freedom, like how a civilian staff has to report his leaving of Tingen. No longer would I be able to go wherever I want

can only

the risk of

…

by one, Klein turned to considering the

from the situation of the luck enhancement ritual, I’m not one of the eighty percent of lucky people. In the future, there is bound to be some bizarre event happening to me, increasing

by joining the Nighthawks can I be equipped

Gathering. The potion formula is not a major

nous of daily practice, I’m faced with serious obstacles! It is just not possible 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

unable to produce

than not leave behind the trail of my real identity. Then, “online disputes” would effectively be transformed into “offline conflicts,” bringing about immense

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 I initiate the Gathering and in turn gain the greatest benefits from Justice and The Hanged Man. In reality, the

to an organization that is suppressed by the various Churches such as the Psychology Alchemists mentioned

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

a civilian staff leaves opportunity for a

the superior, the crowd.

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

…

the first rays of the morning sun shone, the crimson disappeared. Gazing at the golden light on the horizons of the sky, Klein

Smith today and become

had pushed open the door to the

some things.” Klein smiled,

I’ll list out both the pros and cons one by one and compare them. After that,

good habit. I did that too,” Klein

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

after he finished his breakfast and his sister’s departure, Klein took a good nap. Based on

the afternoon, he smoothed the pleats of his silk hat and

of formal clothing, just like

of the Nighthawk. Therefore, he

the Loen Kingdom, public horse carriages were placed under two categories—without track

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

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

problem was that the route and stations

a distance. A double-decker horse carriage stopped in front of the station at Iron Cross

Besik Street,” Klein said

minutes to walk to Besik Street,” explained

go to Champagne Street then.”

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

was a worker responsible for money

fished out four copper coins from his pocket and handed it to the

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

I can only walk when I go back…” Klein pressed his hat down and sat

were mostly well-dressed although there were a few clothed in their work clothes, leisurely reading newspapers. Almost no one

oblivious to the

after station passed until he finally heard the few words

soon reached Besik Street, where he saw the pub with

out his right hand and gave a forceful push. The heavy door gradually opened, inundating him with a wave of uproarious noises and an impetuous heat

was still afternoon, there were already many customers in the pub. Some were temporary workers, looking for opportunities here, waiting to be hired. Others were simply idling around, numbing themselves with

lit. In the center, there were two large iron cages with a third of its

and surrounded it, sometimes discussing loudly while

and white, similar to the husky found on Earth.

a little man wearing a brown beret, as he neared Klein and pointed to the

aback at first, Klein

“Dog-fighting?”

always ask him contemptuously and curiously, if the boorish workers and unemployed hooligans enjoyed participating in boxing and

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