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.

the door behind him. He took off his hat and bowed. “Good

side. He was dressed in a white shirt and black vest. Even though his hairline was rather high, his gray eyes were deep,

me.” Klein

eyes. He did not follow

“Yes.” Klein answered.

subject back. “It might be that Welch’s father doesn’t believe the cause of death that we reported and

City was also known as Wind City. It was a region with extremely advanced coal and steel industries. It was one of the top three cities of Loen

Dunn continued, “It might also be a result of that notebook. Heh, we happened to be

should I do?” Klein asked in

he hoped that it was the first

him. He raised his coffee mug and took a mouthful, his eyes not showing the sliver of a ripple. “Return the way you came, then do anything

Klein returned with a

with certainty. “Of course, do not scare them

and bade him farewell. He left

and bathed in the light from the gas lamps on the two

of his footsteps echoed, making him sound more alone

stairwell. He went forward

word when they met. The priest turned

and bright, while the darkness and silence of the building’s interior remained. There were still men and women lining outside the confessional, but much fewer

left the prayer hall with his cane and newspaper as though nothing had ever happened, successfully leaving Saint

sun. He immediately regained the familiar feeling of being observed. He felt like he was prey being eyed by a

question surfaced

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 manner, right? Unless the person has

slim… Klein exhaled and no longer acted as nervous as he was previously. He took a casual stroll before going around and to the

stopped at an ancient-styled building with mottled walls. The address on the door was ‘3.’ Its name was the Zouteland

police department’s underground shooting range was opened to the public as a way to earn some additional

being watched vanished instantly. He took this opportunity to hand over his

led underground to a small,

target.” Klein informed the attendant simply. Next, he retrieved the revolver from his armpit holster and the box of brass bullets from

himself win over his procrastination. Therefore, he could not wait to come over to

the attendant left, he flicked open the cylinder and removed the silver demon hunting bullets. Following

prevent misfiring, nor did he take off his formal attire and halved top hat. He planned on practicing in his usual getup.

Klein closed the cylinder and rolled it

hands, raised it up straight, and aimed at the target more

shoot. Instead, he recalled his experience at military training 1 ,

repeated his aiming and his holding stance. He

a long, soft bench. He placed the revolver to the

revolver with the wooden handle and bronze cylinder. He got into standard firing position

trembled as his body moved back from the recoil. The bullet missed the