Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Since the "coffin" carriage had stopped in a slightly secluded area but not a truly suitable spot for private conversation, Ebner kept things brief during the initial greetings. He took Xio's hand and used his "Psychology Invisibility" mimicry to ensure that neither of them could be seen by anyone else.

—Ebner's mimicked "Psychology Invisibility" only worked when he was in direct contact with another person or object, bringing them into the "invisible" state along with him.

As for the original owner of the "coffin" carriage, he returned to his horned goat-drawn cart after a while, remembering only that his stomach had acted up and he'd rushed off to relieve himself. To his surprise, he also found a shiny 1-soule coin that he'd "accidentally picked up."

Ebner and Xio walked along the spiraling road that led upward and soon arrived at a house marked 22 Tooth Street, Upper Lip District.

Xio read the name on the plaque aloud in surprise: "Wall Family?"

Ah, great. Your habit of reading everything you see hasn't changed at all… Ebner muttered inwardly. Outwardly, he replied, "Just as you guessed, this is Fors's father's new home."

Xio instinctively clenched her fists, but then, remembering that her good friend had long since let go of her resentment toward her father, she relaxed again. Still, she couldn't help but ask, "Why choose his house?"

"Because it's convenient…" Ebner offered no further explanation. He led Xio straight through the door and skillfully navigated his way to the underground wine cellar, specifically to the area he had cleared and prepared for his teleportation ritual.

He then retrieved a "Teleportation" charm he'd exchanged from the "Dream Labyrinth Tower" and activated the ritual, pulling Xio along as they stepped through a flaming, shimmering portal that appeared mid-air.

"Where is this?" Xio, already familiar with teleportation, wasn't too surprised. She surveyed the steam workshop in front of her, her curiosity piqued.

Ebner, now on his home turf, let go of Xio's hand, canceling the "Psychology Invisibility." Smiling, he replied, "This is my estate in Bayam… Welcome, Miss Derecha."

Hearing her friend's playful formal tone, Xio rolled her eyes but quickly became engrossed in exploring the workshop. Before long, her eyes landed on the steam engine she had helped Ebner purchase. A small, involuntary smile crept onto her face.

While Xio toured the facility, Ebner seized the opportunity to leave the basement and head to the kitchen. He gathered some snacks and drinks, making a point to show his presence to the estate's butler and servants to maintain appearances.

It wasn't that he didn't want to catch up with Xio in the dining room, but emerging from the basement with an unfamiliar woman would undoubtedly raise eyebrows. It could harm his reputation, not to mention the potential risk of exposing the secret of his teleportation.

Worse still, if some overly righteous servant jumped to conclusions and reported him to the church for allegedly "imprisoning a young woman in the basement"… things could escalate disastrously.

Shaking his head to dispel his wild imaginings, Ebner returned to the basement with a food tray in hand.

By this time, Xio had lost interest in the machinery and was instead setting up a "ritual altar." She began praying to "The Fool."

She was conducting a "sacrifice ritual" to transfer a Wind-blessed Beyonder characteristic—purchased at an internal discount—to Mr. Hanged Man.

—The infamous pirate captured by the military hadn't survived long enough to reach Gulain with the navy.

Soon, a "Summoning Door" appeared. The Wind-blessed characteristic placed on the altar automatically floated through the portal and disappeared.

With the ritual complete, Xio tidied up the remaining materials and pulled out a bundle of cash worth 1,000 gold pounds along with bank certificates totaling 3,000 pounds. She handed them to Ebner, explaining:

"That Wind-blessed characteristic only cost me 2,500 pounds at the internal price due to the merits I've accumulated during battles at sea. So I made a net profit of 1,500 pounds in this transaction with Mr. Hanged Man…

"Additionally, I sold the 'Golden Feather of Gondola' I previously bought from Mr. World to a colleague aboard the ship. There was a bidding war for it, and it ended up fetching a high price of 2,500 pounds.

"All of this together should roughly equal the value of that 'Judge' characteristic…"

Ebner, knowing Xio's insistence on fairness in such matters, didn't refuse. He accepted the money and the banknotes before casually asking, "Have you finished digesting the 'Interrogator' potion yet?"

"I completed the digestion after interrogating that infamous pirate. However, it wasn't convenient to consume the potion while on the ship, so I haven't advanced to 'Judge' yet," Xio replied.

As she spoke, her stomach suddenly growled audibly. She froze for a moment, then instinctively turned her gaze toward the food box in Ebner's hands.

The warship had docked shortly after noon, and Xio hadn't had the chance to eat lunch. The enticing aroma of the food naturally made her feel hungry.

As for feelings like embarrassment or awkwardness? Those didn't exist for her anymore. After spending so much time with Ebner, she'd embarrassed herself in front of him far too many times to count. A small thing like this was nothing.

Seeing his friend staring at the food box with such longing, Ebner chuckled and shook his head. He opened the box and took out roasted chicken, fried fish, sausages, creamy soup, and other kitchen staples. He also poured her a glass of Bayam's signature fruit juice, "Tayana"—the same drink that, in the future, would be endorsed by the "Angel of Time."

The two of them ate and drank while chatting about their respective experiences. Although they had exchanged some updates above the gray fog before, it wasn't as convenient or casual as a face-to-face conversation.

"So, your mission this time might just be a decoy to draw the attention of the 'Rose School of Thought'?" Ebner asked thoughtfully, sipping on his juice.

At the same time, he furrowed his brows slightly. From the information Xio had inadvertently revealed, it seemed highly likely that the military's destination was also the Pasu Valley—a fact that the Rose School could probably guess as well. The only thing they might not know was the military's specific objective.

He also felt fortunate. Fortunate that he hadn't recklessly rushed to the Pasu Valley to find the "Finks Lion" as soon as he arrived on the Southern Continent. Doing so might have resulted in him stumbling into an ambush set by the Rose School to target the Loen military's forces.

"Her Highness Vera said that our route might actually be the real one… But regardless of whether it's genuine or a decoy, we'll definitely be attacked. The other side seems determined to stop the military," Xio said, popping a piece of roasted chicken into her mouth and speaking around her chewing.

Determined… Could it be that they've received a "divine oracle"?

What exactly is the Loen military's goal?

Ebner's frown deepened. If Xio weren't already committed to the mission and unable to withdraw—and if the "Finks Lion" weren't a key material for his next potion—he would've preferred to avoid this murky situation altogether.

Still, based on the intensity of the previous attack on Xio's warship, it seemed that the high-ranking combatants on both sides—likely including demigods and even angels—were busy countering each other. The actual fighting was likely to be carried out by mid- and low-sequence Beyonders.

From this perspective, while the Rose School was resolute in its opposition, it didn't seem to be treating the matter with the utmost seriousness. If they were, there wouldn't be this game of mutual containment among the top-tier powerhouses—they'd have escalated to a true high-level confrontation instead!