Lord of the Mysteries

Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound of footsteps echoed through the dark, narrow corridor, which was otherwise silent.

Klein kept his back straight as he kept up with the priest’s pace. He did not pose questions or chat idly with him, remaining silent like a windless body of water.

After passing through the heavily guarded passageway, the priest opened a secret door with a key and pointed down a stairwell made of stone. “Turn left at the intersection to reach Chanis Gate.”

“May Goddess bless you.” Klein gestured the sign of the crimson moon on his chest.

Commoners practiced etiquette, while the religious partook in ritual blessings.

“Praise the Lady.” The priest returned with the same gesture.

Klein did not speak further as he walked down the dark stone stairwell with the aid of the refined inlaid gas lamps on both sides of the wall.

Midway, he subconsciously turned back and saw the priest standing at the entrance. He was in the shadows and appeared like an immobile wax statue.

Klein looked away and continued to proceed down. It did not take long before he hit ground laid with ice-cold stone slabs. This led him to the intersection.

He did not turn towards Chanis Gate because Dunn Smith, who had recently finished his shift, was definitely not there.

He turned right and saw the familiar path. Klein went back up another flight of stairs and appeared inside Blackthorn Security Company.

Seeing doors that were tightly shut or half-closed, he did not rush into them. Instead, he went to the reception and saw a brown-haired girl focused on a magazine with a sweet smile.

“Hi, Rozanne.” Klein came to her side and deliberately rapped the table.

Knock! Rozanne stood up suddenly and knocked over a chair and said in a fluster, “Hi, nice weather today. Y-you, Klein, why are you here?”

She patted her chest and heaved a few sighs of relief. She was like a young lady afraid that her father had caught her skiving.

“I need to find Captain,” answered Klein simply.

“…You gave me a fright. I thought Captain came out.” Rozanne glared at Klein. “Don’t you know how to knock!? Hmph, you should be thankful that I’m a tolerant and kind woman. Well, I do prefer the term lady… Is there a reason why you are looking for Captain? He’s in the room opposite Mrs. Orianna.”

Even though he felt uptight, Klein was so amused by Rozanne he smiled. He pondered for a moment before saying, “A secret.”

“…” Rozanne’s eyes widened and while she reeled in her disbelief, Klein did a slight bow before bidding her farewell.

He went through the reception’s partition and knocked on the door of the first office on the right.

“Come in.” Dunn Smith’s deep and gentle voice sounded.

before closing the door behind him. He took

morning, how can I help you?” Dunn’s black windbreaker and hat were hanging on a clothes stand to his side. He was dressed in a white shirt

me.” Klein honestly answered without any

eyes silently looked at Klein’s eyes. He did not

“Yes.” Klein answered.

subject back. “It might be that Welch’s father doesn’t believe the cause of death that we reported and had hired a private investigator from

was also known as Wind City. It was a region with extremely advanced coal and steel industries. It was

to give his opinion, Dunn continued, “It might also be a result of that notebook. Heh, we happened to be investigating where Welch received the Antigonus family’s notebook. Of course, we can’t eliminate other people or organizations that might be seeking

should I do?” Klein

a question, he hoped that it was the first

answer him. He raised his coffee mug and took a mouthful, his eyes not showing the sliver of a ripple. “Return the way

Klein returned with a

course, do not scare them off or violate the

and bade him farewell. He left the room and went

bathed in the light from the gas lamps on the

making him sound

forward and saw a shadow

word when they met. The priest turned around in

were still as pure and bright, while the darkness and silence of the building’s interior remained. There were still men and

moment, Klein slowly left the prayer hall with his cane

familiar feeling of being

a question surfaced in his

cathedral? Although I could have still used the dark environment and the priest to conceal my temporary disappearance, would it be hard for him to continue monitoring me by pretending to pray? If he had not done something wrong, there would be no problem walking in with an open and aboveboard

it being a private investigator is very slim… Klein exhaled and no longer acted as nervous as he was previously. He took a casual stroll before going

at an ancient-styled building with mottled walls. The address on the

shooting range was opened to

and the feeling of being watched vanished instantly. He took this opportunity to hand over his Special Operations

he was led underground to

revolver from his armpit holster and the box of brass

feeling of being suddenly targeted made his desire to protect himself win over his procrastination. Therefore, he could not wait to come over to practice his

After the attendant left, he flicked open the cylinder and removed the silver demon hunting bullets. Following that, he filled the cylinder with normal

he take off his formal attire and halved top hat. He planned on practicing in his usual getup. After all, it was impossible for him to shout “wait a minute, let me change into something more comfortable”

cylinder and rolled it with

gun in both hands, raised it up straight, and aimed at the target

Instead, he recalled his experience at military training 1 , how to form a line with the iron-sights, and knowledge about

While his clothes rustled, Klein repeated his aiming and his holding stance. He was as serious as a student taking a high-school

retreated to the wall and sat down on a long, soft bench. He

minutes recalling his practice before he picked up the revolver with the wooden handle and bronze cylinder. He got into

his body moved back from the