Lord of the Mysteries

On the outskirts of Empress Borough, in a wide, empty horse track.

Audrey Hall deliberately led a chestnut mare to a corner and pretended to discuss something with Viscount Glaint.

She was wearing white pants and knee-high black boots, adorned with a simple blouse and a black jacket that reached her waist. In addition, she donned a helmet of the same color. She looked especially valiant and beautiful, and Susie, her golden retriever, was obediently sitting by her feet. What seemed like a tiny leather satchel hung from her back.

Disguised as Viscount Glaint’s servant, Xio glanced enviously at Audrey’s long, straight legs, and unconsciously tiptoed.

“Just horse-riding is so blasé. Only when it is combined with hunting does it become imbued with life. Of course, I mean the equestrian skills for men. No matter what a beautiful lady does, it would still be a sight to behold,” Glaint sized up Audrey and said half-jokingly.

Audrey replied with a slight smile, “The next hunt is still months away.”

Every year, from June to the New Year, the aristocrats of the Loen Kingdom would come to Backlund to attend various banquets, dances, and salons, as per tradition. This was a very important event for them, and many things would be decided within a few months.

After the new year, the nobles would return to their fiefdom—their castles, country estates, and large plantations—and spend their leisure time there. In such times, the most popular sport was hunting.

The nobles would invite guests of similar status to enjoy the pleasure of horse-riding and chasing prey. As long as their financial situation allowed it, they weren’t stingy with buying hounds.

The most famous of the hounds was the foxhound.

“I already miss that life. Backlund is a place where people feel constrained, and its air is indescribably terrible. Of course, I still enjoy its extravagance.” Viscount Glaint wore his gloves and stepped back to make it easier for Audrey to talk to Xio and Fors.

“Honorable Miss Audrey, why have you called us here this time?” Xio initiated the question as she retracted her gaze.

Audrey took a large portion of most of her recent income. She was honest and generous, a rarely encountered good employer.

I seem to smell the ink of money again… Hopefully, the mission wouldn’t be too difficult… Miss Audrey is perfect in every way, except for one thing. Every mission is unexpected and very dangerous… Xio thought, feeling both anticipation and apprehension. She couldn’t help but glance sideways at Fors. She noticed that her companion, disguised as a maid, was looking right at her.

The expressions reflected in their eyes looked very similar.

Audrey held her gloves, smiled reservedly and elegantly before saying, “It’s a simple request this time.”

As she spoke, she motioned with her eyes for Xio and Fors to open the leather satchel on Susie.

Xio, who had always been known for her proactiveness, immediately took two steps forward and bent down to reach out with her hand.

period of time, she had originally wanted to pat Susie’s head to show that she meant no harm. But just as she extended her right palm, Susie had already turned her head, turning her body half around, placing the small

she unzipped the satchel and took out a stack of papers from

a young man with

must’ve seen him somewhere! Xio looked down

name:

where I’ve seen him before! Xio was suddenly enlightened

sources of her income was flipping through newspapers, researching wanted posters,

Besides, he swept away more than 10,000 pounds in cash! However, I’ve recently been too busy with Miss Audrey’s requests

request worth? Audrey was

from her point of

were examinees ever given

pounds?” Audrey deliberated and

Fors answered

catch him, not only would we receive a hundred pounds from Miss Audrey, but we can also obtain an equal amount from the bounty… What a

for this swindler? Did he swindle you of

was enough to complete the deal… There’s no need to tell Mr. Fool about this. It’s only a hundred pounds… Audrey, with a polite smile, ignored Xio’s question and instead mentioned,

here, different portraits. I took into account that Lanevus must have disguised himself, so

drawing

question and said in pleasant surprise,

felt as though she could already see the

mysterious person she had met at Mr. A’s gathering had yet to establish contact with her. Therefore, all she could do was

nodded indiscernibly. She muttered, “Do you have any leads on the matter regarding the

Viscount Glaint who was listening to the side, and said, “I recently joined a new Beyonder gathering. Rumor has

you

Audrey deliberately didn’t

from the colors, body language, and the subtle expressions of Xio and Fors, to judge their enthusiasm for the mission. They didn’t

to be on the brink of success. Where’s my

really no clues as of yet. The Apothecary pathway is mostly in the south, where the Feynapotter Kingdom is.” Fors gestured with

I

thank you for your help. See you again next time.” Audrey bowed gracefully, wore her gloves, and mounted her horse

happily followed, as if

…

the night “experimenting,” it was already 9:34 of a Tuesday morning