Lord of the Mysteries

Cough!

Mike Joseph took out his handkerchief, covered his mouth, and coughed several times.

The smog in the factory district was thicker than anywhere else. The air was gray with a yellowish tint as though it was floating dust. Occasionally a pungent, suffocating odor that even Mr. Reporter, who was long used to the Backlund air, could not bear.

He turned to Klein who was also coughing softly.

“I’ve always been a huge supporter of the government’s establishment of the National Atmospheric Pollution Council and the alkaline industry inspector, but only today did I learn that the problem has become so serious.”

“If we don’t take effective measures, it may become a tragedy in the future.” Klein tried hard to clear his blocked nose.

Perhaps the whole of Backlund would be shrouded in smog that results in one’s vision not exceeding five meters, and it’s possible that an evil god would descend or be born in such a backdrop… he added silently.

Old Kohler didn’t quite understand the conversation. He cleared his throat that was filled with thick phlegm and led the reporter and the detective around the watchman and into a lead factory.

Most of the workers were women. They were working busily without any protection, and the factory floor was filled with dust.

Looking at the “tiny particles” floating in the air, Klein felt like he was looking at toxic gas. The young ladies without masks were like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

For a moment, he felt as though he was back in Tingen, back to the time when he had helped Sir Deweyville deal with the grievance haunting him.

He seemed to have already witnessed the future of each and every female worker—some of them with throbbing heads, some with blurred vision, some turning hysterical, some with gums with a blue line, and finally, they either went blind or fell dead.

It’s like a large-scale, bloody sacrificial ritual. The only difference is that the target is that flashing symbol of money… If the Aurora Order, Rose School of Thought, and other evil sects could make good use of similar situations, just like what Lanevus did, there would be a huge problem… Klein covered his mouth and nose as he quietly watched.

Mike Joseph muttered in surprise and anger, “How can this be?

“How can they be like this?

“A while ago, all sorts of newspapers and magazines were focused on the issue of lead poisoning. Why aren’t they using any precautionary measures at all?

“They can’t even bear to use a mask?

“These factory owners are murderers!”

original pure motives… But how is he so aware of lead poisoning? Right, I forgot. I had gotten Sir Deweyville to advertise the dangers of lead poisoning on the newspapers and magazines… It seems like he did it well, but for some people, what does it matter if one or two of the lower class commoners

Mike didn’t lose his reason. He quietly observed and asked a few workers who

after another, but lost their mood to discuss anything when they

discovered that there were a lot of people gathered outside a factory. They were mostly women, and

happened?” Mike asked Old

Kohler was

go over and

and blended into the crowd. It took

those new machines!” Old Kohler

charge of similar news before, and so he didn’t know much

Kohler pointed to the factory and said, “This is a textile factory. They wish to use the latest textile machines, so the number of people in charge of controlling the machines needed will decrease. It seems…

machines and get their jobs back, or else they’ll probably not survive. Perhaps, the

mouth, he looked like he was going to say “fools,”

pretty much finished my investigative interviews.” After a long time, Mike

began to walk out of the

to part, Mike glanced at Klein and

those women can still find anything else to do if the lead factories who do not provide protection are shut down, or if their bosses are

gave it some serious thought and said, “If it’s just a few factories, there won’t be much of a problem, but some female workers might suffer from the hunger

if too many factories are shut down in a short period of time, not to mention the people who lose

thousands of unemployed workers, who have no food or clothing, roaming the streets like zombies. They might lower the conditions of their pay in order to snatch the jobs of others… Who knows how many people in East Borough will lead an even more difficult life or die as a result. It would be a

paying ten pounds and six soli, he left the

looked at the carriage ride into the

was a Nighthawk, he had known and come into contact with the

observation revealed a human

one isn’t careful, it can be ignited by a cult… Klein pondered for a few seconds and said, “Kohler, I’d like to ask you to help me keep an eye on the situation in East Borough. Oh, only when you’re not bogged down

money to build a relationship with the other workers. Every week, we will set

eyes lit

“No problem!”

price, and he

and said, “Every time we meet, I’ll give you 15 soli as funds and compensation. If you provide me with information that I’m satisfied with, there will also

Old Kohler blurted out

warmest and happiest days, he was paid only twenty-one soli a week, or one