Lord of the Mysteries

“Okay.” Klein bowed slightly as he wore his short top hat again. However, his mind was preoccupied with how Sealed Artifact 0-08 looked.

It appears to be just your everyday quill?

It writes without ink?

Then, what is its actual use? What makes it classified at the highest level of confidentiality that it’s deemed Extremely Dangerous?

Can it be a pen that kills anyone whose name is written?

No, that would be way too heaven-defying. Ince Zangwill wouldn’t need to escape and hide away if that were the case…

Just as Klein turned around to leave, Dunn suddenly shouted out to him.

“Hold on. I forgot something.”

“What?” Klein turned his head; his eyes puzzled.

Dunn put back his pocket watch and said with a smile, “Later, remember to visit the accountant, Mrs. Orianna, and get an advance payment of four weeks—a total of twelve pounds. After that, you’ll earn half your salary every week until the difference is covered.”

“That’s too much. There’s no need for this, the amount should be reduced,” said Klein subconsciously.

He had no objection towards an advanced payment. After all, he didn’t even have the money needed to pay for the public horse carriage trip home. However, to receive twelve pounds at once left him a little afraid.

“No, it’s necessary,” said Dun as he shook his head and smiled. “Think about it. Do you still wish to continue living in your present apartment? One that needs you to share a bathroom with so many other tenants? Even if you aren’t taking yourself into consideration, think about the lady. Besides…”

He paused when he saw Klein nod in agreement. He smiled and sized up Klein’s garbs and said with a meaningful intent, “Besides, you need a cane, and you should buy a new suit.”

Klein was taken aback for a second before snapping back to reality. His face immediately burned with embarrassment since the suit he was wearing was cheap and of inferior quality.

Typically, a top hat was made of silk, costing five to six soli. A bow tie was three soli, a walking cane inlaid with silver was seven to eight soli, a shirt was three soli, while pants, a vest, and tuxedo were around seven pounds in total. Leather boots were nine to ten soli. As such, an entire suit cost more than eight pounds and seven soli. Of course, to be a presentable gentleman, one needed a watch chain, a pocket watch, and a wallet.

Back then, the original Klein and Benson scrimped and saved before managing to save up a pool of money. When they went to a clothing store to check the price, they ended up running off without even bothering to try haggling. They each bought a set at a bargain shop near Iron Cross Street for a total of less than two pounds.

It was also because of that incident that original Klein had a deep impression of the prices of clothes.

“O-Okay,” Klein stammered a reply.

He was like the original Klein. He was someone who cared about his appearance.

Dunn took out the pocket watch again and clicked it open to take a glance at it.

“Perhaps you should find Mrs. Orianna first? I know you’ll spend quite some time at Old Neil’s while Mrs. Orianna will likely be returning home soon.”

“Alright.” Klein was acutely aware of his state of poverty and did not object to it.

Dunn returned to the table’s side and pulled at a few hanging ropes as he said, “I’ll get Rozanne to bring you there.”

The ropes began their operation as the gears ground, producing a chime from a bell at the reception area of Blackthorn Security Company. When Rozanne heard it, she hurriedly stood up and carefully made her way down.

It did not take long before she appeared in front of Klein again.

Dunn said humorously, “I did not disturb your rest, right? Oh, bring Moretti to Mrs. Orianna.”

Rozanne secretly curled her lips as she answered ‘happily—’

“Alright, Captain.”

moment, Klein blurted out in

his advance payment from finance, isn’t there a need to get an approval letter from the Captain? Shouldn’t

returned with

claim an advance payment from

There’s no need. Rozanne is enough proof.” Dunn pointed at the brown-haired girl and gave a

finances… Klein resisted his urge to deliver a sarcastic comment before turning to leave

moment, he heard Dunn

There’s

at once? Klein turned back with

“Yes?”

his temple and said, “When you meet Old Neil, remember to collect ten demon hunting

bullets?” Klein returned in

is still with you, right? There’s no need for you to turn it in.” Dunn inserted a single hand into his pocket and said, “With the demon hunting bullets, if you were to face with an paranormal danger,

the final sentence… Just as Klein was

a moment.” Dunn sat down and picked up the dark red fountain pen. He scribbled a ‘note,’ signed

Captain.” Klein

back

“Hold on.”

one

symptoms of dementia? Klein squeezed out a smile and turned around to

demon hunting bullets would be useless. Let’s do this; collect thirty normal bullets every day. Take the opportunity when you are out to go to the street corner—the underground shooting range at No. 3 Zouteland Street. Most of it belongs to the police department, but there is one that is specially for us Nighthawks. Oh, right, you also need

produced by expending bullets. Do not think lightly of it.” Dunn

Klein, who was fearful of danger, yearned to visit the shooting range that

around halfways. He deliberated before asking,

“No.” Dunn nodded firmly.

he had the strong urge to turn around

and finally

memory than him. Of course, he only forgets the trivial stuff. Yea,

stairwell and returned to the upper floor. He found

She appeared in her thirties and had fashionable curly hair. Her pair of green eyes were clear and smiling,

Smith’s instructions, she took out a note and wrote

here. Do you have a seal? If not,

with the procedures, Klein completed the

she counted the pounds, she said with a smile, “You are lucky. We have enough cash today. By the

intuition.” Klein was not stingy

with deep black patterns printed on them. After locking the safe, she turned around

had

Klein showed an

sent Tingen City into a frenzy sixteen years ago?” Orianna handed over the four gold pounds to

killed consecutively. Some had their hearts and stomachs removed by that Bloody Butcher? My mother often used that matter to scare my sister when we were young,” said Klein as he thought about

were in one pound denominations. All of them had a gray background and were inked in black. The

wore a white hair band above his rotund face. His eyes were slender

was a

four weeks of Benson’s

former king, William Augustus VI. This mighty figure had a thick mustache and a firm gaze. While he was in power, he freed the Loen Kingdom from the shackles of the old

kings…’ Klein could faintly smell the notes’

Nighthawks had not come in time, I would have been the sixth victim.” Mrs. Orianna’s tone still hinted at a sense of lingering fear despite the

heard that the serial killer, no— The Butcher was a Beyonder?” Klein carefully folded the paper notes and placed it in an inner pocket of his suit. Then, he patted the area a few times to confirm it

killed even more before that. The reason

wonder he wanted different organs… Sorry, Mrs. Orianna for making you recall

no longer afraid… I was studying accountancy in business school back then. After that incident, I’ve been here ever since. Alright, I’ll stop keeping you from what you should do. You still need to head

off his hat and bowed before leaving the office. Before he went downstairs, he could not help but pat his inner pocket to

headed right. It did

Knock! Knock! Knock!