LOM: Lord of Mysticism

Azik muttered to himself and glanced at Quentin Cohen, seemingly hoping for a hint.

Cohen shook his head. "I do not have any impression of it."

"Alright then. Perhaps it just shares a root word." Azik gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Klein added. "Mentor, Mr. Azik, as both of you know, I'm very interested in exploring and restoring the history of the Fourth Epoch. If you ever recall anything or obtain relevant information, could you please write to me?"

"No problem." As a result of Klein's actions today, the senior associate professor was rather pleased with him.

Azik also nodded. "Is your address still the same as before?"

"For now, but I'll be moving soon. I'll write a letter to inform you when the time comes," Klein replied.

"It's indeed about time you moved to a place with a better environment." Cohen said.

At that moment, Klein caught a glance at the newspaper in Azik's hand. "Mentor, Mr. Azik, what did the newspapers say regarding Welch and Naya? I learned little from the police who were in charge of the investigations."

Azik was just about to answer when Cohen opened his pocket watch. "The meeting is about to begin. Azik, we can't be delayed any further. Give the newspaper to Moretti."

"Alright." Azik handed the newspaper to Klein. "We will be going upstairs. Remember to write a letter. Our address has yet to change; it's still Khoy University History Department Office. Haha." He laughed as he turned around and left the room with Cohen.

Klein bowed slightly as he watched the two gentlemen leave. He bade farewell to the owner of the office, Harvin Stone, and proceeded across the corridor, exiting the gray, three-story building.

Klein unfolded the newspaper and saw the title: "Tingen Morning Post."

Tingen sure has all sorts of newspapers and magazines... Klein recalled the several names—a number of them were not local but distributed via steam locomotives.

Now that the papermaking and printing industries were getting more advanced, the cost of a newspaper has decreased to the price of a penny, while the audience it reached grew wider.

Klein did not scrutinize the details of the newspaper, quickly flipping to the News section with the report "Armed Burglary Murder."

"According to the police department, the scene at the Welch family's home was a gruesome sight—missing gold, jewelry, and money, as well as anything valuable that could be easily taken away. There is reason to believe that this was done by a merciless group of criminals and murderers. This is outright contempt for our kingdom's laws! No one wishes to have such an encounter! Of course, one piece of good news is that the police have located the murderer and captured the main culprit. We will do our best to provide news on any follow-ups."

"Reporter: John Browning."

So the matter has been handled and covered up… Klein flipped through the newspaper as he strolled down the path, reading the other news articles and serials in the process.

Suddenly, he felt danger. Someone is watching, observing, or monitoring him?

This feels like sixth sense. Was it the transmigration or the mysterious luck enhancement ritual that enhanced my perception? Klein fought back the urge to seek out the observer. He slowed his pace and put away the newspaper before looking toward Khoy River, acting as if he were admiring the scenery.

Other than the trees, grassy plains, and students passing by in the distance, there is no other person there. But someone must be watching me.

Klein's heart raced; he unfolded the papers and covered half his face. Meanwhile, he clenched his cane and readied himself to draw his gun.

Klein proceeded forward slowly; the feeling of being spied upon remained. He walked through the boulevard in a somewhat stiff manner, arriving at the waiting point for public carriages when a carriage coincidentally pulled up.

"Iron… Zoute… No, Champagne Street." Klein continually dismissed his thoughts. He originally planned on heading home immediately, but he was afraid of leading an observer of unknown motives to his apartment.

Following that, he thought of heading to Zouteland Street to seek help from the Nighthawks or his colleagues.

"Six pence," the ticketing officer replied routinely. Klein took out his coins, handing them to the ticketing officer, and found a seat after boarding the carriage.

With the closing of the carriage doors, Klein felt the unease of being watched vanish!

What should I do next? Klein looked out the carriage.

I have to notify the Nighthawks; only they could truly get rid of this threat. But I can't head there directly, or I might expose them.

Klein looked at the scenery flying past him. There were no accidents along the way to Champagne Street, but when Klein opened the door and stepped out of the car, he had the uneasy feeling of being watched again.

Klein acted normally, slowly making his way in the direction of Zouteland Street and then taking another route to the Red Moonlight Street behind.

He arrived at a white plaza before a cathedral. It was the Saint Selena Cathedral—the Tingen headquarters of the Church of Evernight!

The cathedral exhibited Gothic architecture—a tall, black, and imposing clock tower, situated between blue and red checkered windows.

As a believer, there was nothing odd about him participating in Mass or praying on his day off. Klein stepped into the cathedral and followed an aisle into the prayer hall.

The stained windows were composed of red and blue glass patterns that allowed colored light to shine into the hall, making the surroundings seem pure, holy, and grand.

The feeling of being watched vanished. Klein walked toward the open prayer hall.

There were no high windows here—the deep shadows were emphasized, but behind the arc-shaped holy altar were about twenty circular holes that allowed the radiant sunlight to enter the hall—akin to seeing shimmering stars in the starry sky.

Even though Klein had always believed that gods could be analyzed and understood, he could not help but lower his head here.

The bishop was preaching as Klein silently made his way down the aisle that split the pews into two columns, searching for an empty area close to the passageway before slowly taking a seat.

Leaning his cane onto the back of the pew in front of him, Klein clasped his hands together as he lowered his head.

The entire process was done slowly and routinely, as though he were really there to pray. He silently listened to the bishop's voice.

"Lacking clothes and food, they have no covering in the cold.

They are drenched by rain and huddle around the rocks for lack of shelter.

They are orphans snatched from the breast, hope lost on them; they are the poor that have been forced off the proper path.

The Evernight did not forsake them, but bestowed them with love."

Echoes amplified as they entered his ear. Klein saw a swath of darkness in front of him as he felt his spirit and mind cleansed.

He calmly took it in until the bishop finished his preachings and ended Mass. After which, he opened a confessional door beside him. and people began lining up.

Klein opened his eyes; he stood up and found his place in line for more than twenty minutes.

He stepped in and closed the door behind him, entering a room with only darkness.

"My child, what do you wish to say?" The bishop's voice sounded from behind the wooden damper screen.

Klein took out the 'Seventh Unit, Special Operations Department' badge from his pocket and handed it over to the bishop through an opening.

"Someone is tailing me. I wish to find Dunn Smith." As though he had been infected by the silent darkness, his tone turned softer as well.

The bishop took the badge and said, "Turn right from the confession booth and walk to the end. There will be a secret door to the side, and someone will lead the way after you enter." As he spoke, he pulled on a rope inside the room, causing a particular priest to hear a low chime.

Klein retrieved his badge and gave a slight bow before turning around and exiting.

After confirming that the feeling of being watched was gone, he held his cane and turned right, until he arrived by an arched altar, finding the secret door in the wall facing his side, and silently opened it before sneaking in quickly.

The secret door closed silently as a middle-aged, black-robed priest appeared under the illumination of gas lamps. "What is it?" he asked tersely.

Klein showed his badge and repeated what he said to the bishop.

The middle-aged priest did not ask further questions. He turned around and proceeded in silence. Klein nodded and followed silently in tow while thinking. Rozanne had once mentioned that heading left from the crossroads towards Chanis Gate would reach Saint Selena Cathedral.