Lord of the Mysteries

“Did you see a teenage boy? He’s wearing an old coat!” One of the men who dashed into the carriage asked the conductor fiercely.

Klein glanced at the man through the corner of his eyes. He was thin and hardy; his skin a dark shade from prolonged exposure to the sun. His eyes were much more recessed than the typical Loen Kingdom citizen.

A highlander? Or a mixed blood? He nodded thoughtfully.

In the middle of the Northern Continent, the point where the Hornacis mountain range began, there was a highland which was extremely hot and dry. Most of it belonged under the Feynapotter Kingdom, while the area west belonged to the Intis Republic. The area to the east belonged to the Loen Kingdom. Its natives were thin and barbarians, but they were brave and skillful in warfare. A long time ago, they posed as one of the biggest problems for the three nations. But with the advancement of gunpowder, and the changes in the way war was carried out, these highlanders eventually recognized reality and submitted.

A large number of them left the highlands and entered Backlund, Trier, Feynapotter City, and the various flourishing cities or ports in the Northern Continent. Some were workers, while others became grunts of the local triads. They dared to kill and showed no fear of thorny situations.

The conductor was a man in his twenties. He shrank back when he heard that as he pointed in the direction of the third-class carriage.

“I saw him… He went that way.”

The leader, wearing a black coat and half top hat, nodded indiscernibly. He led his men and rushed to the third-class carriage and showed no concern towards the surrounding passengers.

If I were that boy, I would’ve already alighted from the third-class carriage… As Klein read his newspaper, he began letting his thoughts stray.

About a minute later, the train whistled as the carriage doors closed.

Chug! Chug! The steam metro began speeding up as it cruised along. But at that moment, Klein suddenly sensed something as he looked up to see the door leading to the other second-class carriages.

The teenage boy walked slowly into the carriage wearing his old coat and round top hat while carrying a ragged haversack.

He looked adolescent and had refined facial features. His red eyes were staid and solemn.

… Impressive. He alighted from the third-class carriage and circled around to enter from the first-class carriage again? Was he afraid that his pursuers had partners waiting inside the metro station? Klein was slightly surprised. He felt that the boy’s handling of the situation was rather mature and careful. He was much better than most people in their twenties.

He clicked this left molar lightly and secretly activated his Spirit Vision. He scanned the boy and saw that he was in a state of fatigue. His emotions were tense and he was dispirited. However, he still maintained a blueness that represented calm thinking.

Impressive… at his age… Klein mumbled silently as he lowered his head and continued reading his papers.

The boy didn’t notice that he had been scrutinized by a Beyonder as he headed for the third-class carriage once again.

The rest of the journey happened stably and calmly. Klein arrived twenty minutes later at one of the three train stations in Cherwood Borough.

He took a rented carriage for nearly ten minutes before finding Minsk Street. According to the descriptions in the papers, he came to Unit 17 which was next to Unit 15 and pulled the doorbell.

Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

As sounds reverberated inside the house, a mechanical bird that didn’t look too fancy popped out from above the door. It was about the size of a palm and was made up of gears and other parts. It constantly nodded its head and let out the sound of a cuckoo bird.

Not a bad toy. It’s just not very well-crafted… Klein made an objective assessment.

A young maidservant dressed in white and black

his cane which was

here to find Mrs. Sammer about renting a house. I’m guessing it hasn’t been

name on the newspaper was

at all. Please wait a moment.” The maidservant bent

she came out again and ushered him in. She then helped him place his cane and luggage in the foyer and hung his coat and hat on a clothes rack in the

chill Klein had brought in. He scanned the area and first saw a uniquely designed fireplace. He

Moretti’s first floor in area.

and said to her mistress in a pale yellow dress, “Madam,

had blonde hair and blue eyes. She looked rather pretty and had preserved her youthfulness well. She held a silver-inlaid feathered royal fan in her

home, and the fireplace made for a warm environment, she didn’t wear anything around her neck, revealing

Klein pressed one palm to

Sammer smiled in

a seat. Do you wish for

on the sofa and answered

She then turned her eyes to Klein and asked, “How

Sherlock.” Klein had long thought

caught a whiff of a fragrance from the kitchen and saw complicated

machinery enthusiast. He’s also a member of the Kingdom’s Soot Reduction Association.” Mrs. Sammer noticed Klein’s gaze and explained with

into such detail. I’m not here on a blind date with your husband… Klein lampooned as he said

Sammer straightened her back as she sat elegantly. She said with a smile, “I have to remind you of certain things. Unit

the things in her house as she introduced them,

business failure, my brother-in-law had no choice but to move to the Southern Continent. They have a plantation at Balam.

sincerely and said, “Apart from

satisfied Mrs. Sammer greatly as her eyes darted

three years lease. I wish for you to pay a year’s rent at once. 18 soli a week. The use of the furniture will cost 1 soli. I can collect a deposit

shook his head

will happen to me in time. To

apartment in Backlund’s East Borough. He would use it to change his clothes, undergo disguises, and shirk off any tailing. It was necessary for

and asked, “Have

chuckled and said, “Yes, I later

identification with you?” asked Stelyn

hurry when I left home and forgot to bring it with me. Heh, heh, I forgot to

Captain Dunn Smith. The smile on

Julianne, brought a cup of black tea over. The cup was porcelain-white with classic flowery patterns. Some areas were plated in

The mix of sourness and sweetness were perfect, and it was clearly much better than

Marquis Black Tea.” He complimented with a description which couldn’t

Stelyn Sammer curled her lips and said, “Then, let’s do half a year’s rent. 25

in a few minutes of idle chatter with her until another maidservant found a

Klein counted 25 pounds while feeling the pinch and