Lord of the Mysteries

Klein backed up from the fork in the path, without touching Zreal’s corpse.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Suddenly, a sound echoed in the distance through the empty sewers.

Klein listened for a few seconds before decisively retreating towards the exit, down the dirty concrete road that ran along both sides of the sewage channel.

There was no need to take risks in matters that didn’t involve him.

Klein closed the iron manhole cover after he climbed out of the sewers. After ensuring that the surrounding area looked normal, he returned to his rented room in the East Borough and changed out of his disguise.

Then, he put on his gold-rimmed glasses, walked to another street, took a rented carriage, and returned to Cherwood Borough in the silence and cold of three in the morning. However, he didn’t return to Minsk Street.

Then, Klein made another huge detour, and only after confirming that no one was following him, did he enter his house. He slept till dawn and was woken up by the doorbell.

He sat up immediately, put on his shirt, buttoned his vest, and hurried down to the first floor to open the door.

And even before that, his premonition ability as a Clown was already capable of naturally forming the image of the visitor in his mind.

The visitor was wearing an old coat, a brown round hat, and a tattered satchel. He had bright red eyes, a delicate face, and a quiet temperament. It was none other than Ian, the teenage boy who had come to entrust him with a job yesterday.

“Good morning, Detective Moriarty,” Ian greeted him and looked around. “Any progress? Yeah… I’m only asking because I happened to pass by.”

Klein nodded seriously and said, “Yes.”

“…” Ian seemed shocked as he didn’t say a word for quite a while.

After a while, he stammered in surprise, “Have you determined Mr. Zreal’s condition?”

“Yes.” Klein paused for a moment, then said seriously, “I found Zreal’s corpse.”

“Corpse…” Ian’s pupils shrank as he repeated it in a low tone.

He wasn’t too surprised, as if he had already expected the worst possible outcome.

Klein watched silently without interjecting.

“Sigh…” Ian exhaled and warily surveyed his surroundings. “Your efficiency is amazing. Can you take me to see Mr. Zreal’s body?”

“No problem. In fact, that’s what I was planning to do.” Klein then thought for a moment before saying, “I hope you won’t mention me when you call the police. Just say that you found the corpse yourself. I believe you know how to make up a reason.”

Ian wasn’t surprised; he knew that not every detective liked to deal with the police. In fact, except for the very famous detectives, who often gave advice to the police with mutual cooperation, the rest were discriminated against, ostracized, and even extorted from.

This was the current situation of the Loen Kingdom.

“Alright,” Ian readily agreed.

Considering that they were entering the sewers, Klein changed into a set of clothes worn by the common working class, put on a deer-hunting cap, and took a lantern with him.

Both of them took the public carriage to the East Borough. They walked for half an hour to reach the remote sewer entrance under the watchful gazes filled with numbness and malicious intent.

half-surprised and half-curious, as he watched Klein lift the

him and answered casually, “Skillful training which includes many

into the sewers. He nodded

to have received very professional

lantern and led Ian to the fork in the path where they arrived at the gloomy

Zreal’s body was missing now when compared to the previous night. He was missing an arm and half of

not something a rat can do… Klein muttered to himself and

the help of the lantern’s light, Ian was able to clearly see

Quelaag’s Oil he prepared, unscrewed the cap, and

eyes lit up, and he calmed

twenty seconds later, he weakly whispered,

stood up slowly and examined the mutilated corpse a few

confirm that this is Detective

out of politeness.

Ian nodded indiscernibly as he followed Klein back to the

moment, Klein

what should be done after this, that is

for

owe you three matters. You can

one at the moment,” Klein answered frankly. “I want to know where

without thinking, “Go to Bravehearts Bar at Iron Gate Street in

other two matters in the future. I have a feeling that we’ll meet again.” Klein

a look but didn’t say

split up and headed down different streets in the East Borough.

his steps. He then hid himself in a secluded corner, peeking at the entrance to

three minutes, he saw Ian return silently as he looked

in a timely manner, leaned

manhole

Klein discovered that Ian had re-entered

or something on Zreal’s body? Indeed, this matter goes deeper than it seems…

curiosity, Klein decided to leave for real and planned to seek out Kaspars, two days

…

was in his home situated in Empress

the four people inside from the participating guests in the

Fors, this is the reward the two of you deserve.” Dressed in a pale yellow lace dress, Audrey pushed a bulging envelope across the desk to the two ladies sitting

mouth. Feeling the weight of the money, she could only say sincerely, “Miss Audrey, thank you for your generosity. Your honesty

untied the thin string around the envelope and saw the bills

thick and exuded a special smell of

face value. Beside her, Fors, who

Observing the thickness, Xio tried to

couldn’t help but exchange looks with Fors and

obviously a lot more than

smiled faintly and said, “A total of eight hundred pounds. Decide how you will split the money between the two

sorry that this matter had placed you

of the possible consequences, I would still accept the request… Even if it’s divided evenly, with my savings, it’s enough to buy the potion formula for Sheriff… Xio, who was slightly taller than 150cm, stared blankly at the notes in the envelope, wishing she could pull them all out and

Miss Audrey wouldn’t pay them