Lord of the Mysteries

Klein repeatedly bent and extended his arm as he watched Dunn push open the Keeper’s room with his body sideways.

The captain’s carefulness and high alertness, as well as the ridiculous and laughable “protective actions,” left him feeling abnormally tensed. The feeling was identical to what he felt when taking tests of courage that required him to walk through spooky cemeteries at night in his youth.

A Grade 2 Sealed Artifact. Dangerous. To be used with care and moderation… It is something even a formal Nighthawk member does not know the details to… It is unknown how dangerous it is… Amid his tense nerves, Klein found it impossible to curb himself from overthinking.

At that moment, his brain suddenly turned numb as though a power switch had been flicked off.

Everything in Klein’s vision turned slow. Even his arm actions shared the same fate.

He saw Captain Dunn stop in his tracks. He came close to him as though in slow motion, extending his palm out slowly before pushing him in the shoulder.

Suddenly, Klein’s thought processes and vision were restored to normal at the same time. It was as though everything from before was just an illusion.

“What happened?” he whispered amid his fright and confusion.

Dunn shook his head and said in a deep voice, “Observe carefully.”

The moment he finished his sentence, he turned around and walked into the Keeper’s room. Klein followed closely behind and saw four other people in the room; they were either seated or standing.

One of them was the Midnight Poet, Leonard. The other three were people Klein had never met before. However, all of them shared a common trait. They were all doing the extending and bending arm “exercise” with utmost seriousness.

“Klein Moretti has a miraculous connection with the Antigonus family’s notebook.” Dunn gave a brief introduction.

Then, he pointed to the other three strangers and said, “These lady and gentlemen are colleagues from the Backlund diocese. They escorted Sealed Artifact 2-049 here. This is Madam Lorotta, Sequence 8 Gravedigger. She is a master sharpshooter.”

At that moment, the black-haired woman who looked about thirty nodded at Klein in a friendly manner.

She looked pretty good. She did not wear a hat and was dressed in what appeared like male attire—a black coat with a white shirt, tight black trousers and black leather boots. The corners of her mouth were slightly curved up.

After Klein exchanged greetings, Dunn pointed to a man seated behind the desk.

“Aiur Harson, someone just like me.”

Before he finished his sentence, Klein saw Mr. Aiur Harson in his gray windbreaker turn sluggish with his arm motion. It was as though a gear had lost its lubricant or a joint covered in rust.

What’s wrong… Amid Klein’s daze, he saw Lorotta push Aiur Harson. Only then did the gentleman’s actions return to normal.

Was I like that previously? Klein was first taken aback before he came to the realization.

that Sealed

would happen if one

become

with questions, Klein greeted the

Dunn said as he pointed to the

a knife scar on the side of his face. His

The faster we end this, the faster we can seal 2-049,” the handsome Aiur Harson said as

surroundings curiously but did not notice any traces of the Sealed Artifact. Of course,

Leonard Mitchell. “You’ll be in charge of

in as

stopped acting

Klein saw Aiur Harson bending over. He picked up a black metal chest which had been obscured by the

carved with resplendent stars and the crimson full moon. It was as

Artifact should be inside there? I wonder what 2-049 looks like… Klein observed

Thump!

Thump! Thump!

from the black chest. Even the

Thump! Thump! Thump!

and was pounding wildly. The sound of the knocking

alive? Just as Klein had a thought, he saw Captain Dunn’s arm exercises

from Backlund, pushed Dunn’s shoulder,

are under its influence, wouldn’t we be some awkward dance squad… Luckily, 2-049 seems capable of only influencing one person at a time… Klein lampooned to relax his tense nerves. He did not

the five Nighthawks through

buildings, so Rozanne and the rest had all made their way to the third level. These

he reached the carriage. He looked suspiciously out the window and said, “Won’t

to the carriage, Sealed Artifact 2-049 had already caused six sluggish incidents, two of which were targeted at him. He had been jolted awake by Captain Dunn

worries, 2-049 will target humanoid creatures within five meters of it first. The closer you are to it, the easier it is for you to be chosen. As long as there are

a weird Sealed Artifact… Klein thought as

not speak on the journey to Ray Bieber’s house. They were paying close attention to each other’s condition. Only Lorotta wore a

line of sight. The group of six made their way to the third level while observing each

the Tingen

his stretching exercises, he took out a key. He opened the newly changed lock, then turned around, allowing Aiur Harson who was carrying the black chest to enter

Thump!

Thump! Thump! Thump!

This made Aiur Harson’s arm waver from side to side uncontrollably. It even made Klein suspect that the chest would be pounded

Thump! Thump! Thump!

that Captain Dunn’s movements were becoming sluggish. He was about to wake him up when a buzz sounded in his brain. His brain became numb, the scenes before his eyes played as though