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 the door to her

night’s dinner 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

Nighthawk civilian staff member

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

aim to become a Beyonder. I could then cover up

becoming 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

Once a mission is given, I can only wait

the risk of losing

…

one, Klein

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

or by joining the Nighthawks can

Beyonder cannot be solely reliant on the Gathering. The potion formula is not a major problem,

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

unable to produce anything

not leave behind the trail of my real

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 gains

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

However, more importantly, I have no idea where to look for them. Even if I manage to gain the

civilian staff leaves opportunity for a buffer and

the wild; the superior, the crowd. Perhaps the identity as a Nighthawk can be a better

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

…

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

and become part of the Nighthawk’s civilian

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

some

moment and said, “Whenever I encounter problems, I’ll list out both the pros and cons one by one and compare them.

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 headed

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

silk hat and handkerchief

clothing, just

little far, and Klein was afraid that he would miss the “working hours” of the Nighthawk. Therefore, he did not walk

horse carriages were placed under two categories—without

while taking into account the top of the carriage. Only a general

operated by the Orbital Carriage Company. First, a rail-like service device 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 more labor-saving. This could

that the route and stations

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

Street,” Klein said to

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

go to Champagne Street then.” Klein

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

worker responsible for money

out four copper coins from his

there were not many passengers. Even on the first floor, there were

only have three pence on me now, so I can only walk when I go back…” Klein pressed his hat down and sat

the men and women were mostly well-dressed although there were a few clothed in their work clothes, leisurely reading newspapers.

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

finally heard

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

push. The heavy door gradually

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

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

wooden wine cups and surrounded it, sometimes discussing loudly while

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

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

at first, Klein regained his senses

“Dog-fighting?”

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

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