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!”

grabbed her tortoise-like “puppet”, trotted to the interior of the

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 the

civilian staff member had its apparent

mysterious Gathering—and the multiple secrets I have, it will be risky to be under the noses of the Church of

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

leaving of Tingen. No longer would I be able to go wherever

strict organization. Once a mission is given, I can only wait for the arrangements and accept orders. There is no

risk

…

by one,

luck enhancement ritual, I’m not one of the eighty percent of lucky people. In the future, there

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

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

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

unable to produce anything that can pique their

trail of my real

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 can feedback into reality, allowing me to obtain more resources and form a

an organization that is suppressed by the various Churches such as

constant state of fear and anxiety. 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

leaves opportunity for a

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

tribunal, who would imagine that

…

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

find Dunn Smith today and become part of the Nighthawk’s civilian

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

thinking through some things.” Klein smiled, feeling

problems, I’ll list out both the pros and cons one by one

did that too,” Klein smiled and

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

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

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

of formal clothing, just like he

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

the Loen Kingdom, public horse carriages were

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

The horses would move on the inner lane while the wheels ran on the tracks, making it easier and

problem was that the route and stations were fixed, making many

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

Klein said to the

get there, it takes about ten minutes to

to Champagne Street then.”

than four kilometers, four pence”, said a young man with a fair and clean

worker responsible for money

copper coins from his pocket and

many passengers. Even on the first floor, there were a few

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

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

strength, oblivious to the coming

he finally heard the few words

the way and soon reached Besik Street, where

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

many customers in the pub. Some were temporary workers, looking for opportunities

there were two large iron cages with a third of its bottom

and surrounded it, sometimes discussing loudly while laughing, sometimes cursing

two dogs caged inside. One was black and white, similar to the husky found on Earth. The other was wholly black,

said a little man wearing a

first, Klein

“Dog-fighting?”

and wealthy students would always ask him contemptuously and curiously, if the boorish workers and unemployed hooligans enjoyed participating in boxing and gambling at

games, didn’t it also include cruel and bloody activities like cock-fighting, dog-fighting,