Lord of the Mysteries

A unique wide jaw, his hair is in a bun like an ancient knight’s, eyes that look at you with the intent of an icy smile… Xio Derecha was half slumped on the sofa as she scrutinized the portrait that Audrey had handed to her.

In her eyes, the man might as well have been a living, walking pile of money.

After committing the looks of the great pirate Qilangos to her memory, she proceeded to read the description written at the bottom of the page:

“Brown hair, dark green eyes.

“The portrait can only be used as a general reference as the target possesses the ability to transform into another person. It is unknown how long he can maintain the transformation.”

The portrait can only be used as a reference… The target possesses the ability to transform into another person… Only as a reference, transform into another person… Then why did I spend so much time memorizing his facial features? Xio wore a dazed look, as if it was the first time she had witnessed the evil intentions the world had for her.

She looked up and saw Fors Wall slumped languidly in a sofa across from her. She seemed to be muttering to herself, “There’s no way to look for this person. We don’t know what he looks like. All we know is that he’s not from Backlund. There are far too many foreigners who come into Backlund every day.”

Fors attempted to sit up, but failed even after three tries.

“I’m only an Apprentice, not an Arbiter…” She pouted as she placed her hand on the armrest of the sofa, successfully pulling herself up into a sitting position.

“Does that lady think that we are prophets?” Fors jested.

Xio was about to answer when she realized that there were still footnotes she hadn’t gone through yet.

She recited them out softly, “The suggested ways of searching are as follows:

“1. Qilangos has an evil object with him. It needs to devour the flesh, blood, and soul of a living person every other day. You can consider looking for missing vagrants.

“2. Search for Qilangos’s information thoroughly and build a profile of his unique hobbies and behaviors.

“3. A person’s facial features might change, but as long as he hasn’t received any special training, he will often act like himself, such as the things he prefers to eat, his gait, actions he’s used to performing, and many other details.”

Fors nodded as she listened.

“Miss Audrey isn’t the innocent, naive teen that the rumors about her suggest. She has a meticulous heart and a calm sense of observation.”

“Is that so?” Xio asked, doubtful. She didn’t expect an answer as she changed the topic by suggesting, “I’ll be in charge of gathering the information. Can you consolidate that pile of gold pound’s, no—that admiral’s hobbies and unique traits?”

Fors opened her eyes wide open and shook the steel box containing her cigarettes.

you bear to make a dainty,

friend a glance as she exuded an air of

deduction in your Stormwind

at the coffee table as she said, “Do you know how much of my

again and grumbled, “Life is short. There are too many things that we need to do, why

reasonable… Xio nearly nodded in agreement. She fought hard to keep

have any other ways to solve this problem?”

nearly twenty seconds before looking

hire a professional! After you finish collecting information on Rear Admiral Hurricane, we shall erase the name and hand it over to an excellent detective, then ask him to do the consolidation and

didn’t I think of that… Xio’s mind went blank.

the atmosphere became awkward, she cleared her

it according to

this, she quickly added,

…

Howes Street, Divination Club.

afternoon, Mr. Moretti.” The pretty receptionist Angelica looked

the house with the red chimney, Klein smiled

It

time had expired on the carriage he rented; thus,

foundations. With the new “experience” at the Divination Club,

words are always so philosophical,” Angelica

saying with deliberation, “I might not come to the Divination Club too often in

so he had to advance towards

the club. Most people know that your divinations are very accurate and miraculous. In fact, we were considering getting you to come in on Sundays

would keep doing this regardless of how tired I was… Besides, I still have to investigate the houses with red chimneys and find the culprit as soon

stay; this is the

entirely, it’s just that my visits will become less frequent. I’ll still pay the membership fees

can get reimbursed for it anyway… I will come down occasionally to monitor

you will be at the club

this wasn’t as surprising as

could be held back by a club in

“Sibe black tea?”

returned a

spent about twenty minutes in the club, spending the time resting, finishing his black tea before leaving the club. He took

he entered, he opened the mailbox out of habit and saw