Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

"Blood Clan Duke?" Leonard repeated, slightly puzzled. He had heard of the Blood Clan from his training at the "Cathedral," but his knowledge was basic and limited. He wasn't entirely sure what being a "Blood Clan Duke" entailed.

"'Duke' is the title Blood Clan uses to address their members who have reached Sequence 2," explained Pales Zoroast, his voice echoing faintly in Leonard's mind. "However, my acquaintance didn't particularly enjoy being addressed as 'He,' so I used 'he' instead."

"Sequence 2… an Angel?" Leonard's green eyes widened in surprise. "Old man, you were acquaintances with an Angel? Then what level of existence are you? Could you also be an Angel? Why are you parasitizing me? Are you really hiding from that Amon family powerhouse? And what level of power does that Amon even have?"

Pales didn't need his "stealing" ability to guess Leonard's thoughts—they were practically written across his face. He chose not to address Leonard's suspicions directly, instead remarking:

"The maid you passed by earlier isn't ordinary either. She gives me the feeling of a 'Pyromaniac.' And that striking red hair… such distinct features. If she isn't a descendant of the Sauron family, then she must be from the Einhorn family."

"A maid?" Leonard furrowed his brows, trying to recall the details. "When did I encounter a red-haired maid?"

"Heh, the one with the black hair who caught your eye for a few extra seconds. You were tempted to recite a few lines of poetry but couldn't think of anything appropriate. She's wearing a mystical item that changes her hair color and hairstyle to conceal her family traits," Pales replied with an amused chuckle.

Leonard's expression stiffened. Embarrassed, he snapped, "Old man, were you peeking into my thoughts again?"

"Your thoughts don't need peeking; they're practically displayed on your face…" Pales retorted, his tone playful.

Leonard took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration. He decided to divert the topic instead of continuing the argument, knowing he would ultimately lose. "Actually, it's not surprising for Detective Bryan to have a Beyonder maid. From the intel I gathered before visiting, this detective seems to have a certain charm among women. He's got plenty of female friends, and many of those relationships seem ambiguous. Having a Sauron or Einhorn girl willing to disguise herself and serve as his mistress doesn't seem all that unusual."

Pales remained silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh:

"This just makes him even more like my old acquaintance…"

....

Evening at the Amyris Leaf Bar

As the evening fell, Ebner used his "Faceless" ability to disguise himself, taking on the appearance of a renowned physicist from his past life—Planck. Alongside Helene, he departed from a small inn in the city and took a hired carriage to the Amyris Leaf Bar.

Ebner wore a black overcoat, a silk top hat, and a badge adorned with motifs clearly indicative of the Sun pathway. Perched on his nose was the "Irresistible Fear" eyewear he had crafted just the previous day. Meanwhile, Helene was clad in a black hooded robe, her features concealed. Only her "black" hair flowed out from under the hood, cascading down her chest.

The moment they arrived, they were warmly received by subordinates of "Sea Serpent" Welf. They were guided through the bustling, odor-mixed bar into a private card room. After exchanging predetermined code phrases under the watchful eyes of several guards, they descended a concealed staircase to a spacious underground area.

This underground zone resembled the typical black market trade hubs found across the Northern Continent. It featured vendors selling herbs, essential oils, ancient texts, charms, and a variety of common occult materials. What set it apart was the inclusion of firearms and ammunition—from standard revolvers to antique muskets.

"Welf's organizational skills are impressive. He's set this up to look quite professional in such a short amount of time," Ebner thought, glancing around with satisfaction.

After all, this could be considered one of his investments.

Just then, Welf approached with a welcoming smile. Under the curious, probing, and speculative gazes of the crowd, he enthusiastically escorted Ebner and Helene to the far end of the underground marketplace. They entered a dimly lit room where the faint light was just enough to discern the surroundings.

The room was spacious and resembled a small theater. Ebner was seated at a spot near the "stage" area.

Inside, more than twenty people had already gathered. There were men and women, some cloaked in hooded robes to conceal their faces, while others openly displayed their true appearances. When they noticed Ebner sitting in such a prominent position, they all cast inquisitive glances in his direction.

Ebner remained calm, activating his "Pure White Eye" inconspicuously to assess the attendees' details.

Before long, something caught his attention. He discreetly glanced at a hooded figure seated toward the back.

"Spreading seeds subtly across the floor, encircling Welf's position... a 'Harvest Priest' or a 'Biologist'? This must be one of the avengers Welf mentioned."

As this thought crossed his mind, faint "black flames" silently emerged beneath Ebner's feet. They slid across the floor, burning away the seeds' latent spirituality.

As more attendees trickled in, the atmosphere remained orderly despite a minor scuffle at the entrance. Whatever the disturbance, it was quickly resolved without disrupting the overall proceedings.

Seven or eight minutes later, Welf, seated on the opposite side of the small "stage," stood up, walked to the center, and smiled:

"Let's begin.

"If you have any needs or items to sell, you can raise your hand and speak directly, or write them on a piece of paper and hand it to a servant. I will facilitate the transaction on your behalf."

As soon as he finished speaking, a man raised his hand and stood up, scanning the crowd before announcing, "I want to sell the Sequence 8 'Swindler' potion formula for 450 pounds."

Another man sitting in the corner replied in a low voice, "I happen to need this formula… but how can you prove it's genuine?"

The man selling the formula chuckled, his tone laced with insinuation. "I can't prove it… but I assume a gathering of this scale wouldn't lack a 'notary,' would it?"

Good heavens, what a cliché line, and such terrible acting skills!

Ebner couldn't help but complain inwardly. He then nodded toward Welf, who visibly relaxed and smiled. "Our gathering does offer 'notary' services, but we charge a fee of 10% of the transaction value. Do you require this service? You can negotiate who pays the fee between yourselves."

The two men exchanged glances, uncertain if Welf was bluffing. After a moment, the man selling the formula nodded. "Alright, I'll cover the fee."

He pulled out a wad of crumpled banknotes, counted out 45 pounds, and handed them, along with the written formula, to a nearby servant.

The servant, following Welf's instructions, approached Ebner respectfully and handed over the items.

The attendees finally understood why Ebner had been seated in a special position—it turned out he was the "notary"!

Ebner did not "mimic" any abilities, as doing so might expose his pathway. Instead, he used the "Ring of Light" on his finger as the core to perform a simplified ritual to notarize the transaction.

During the ritual, the attendees witnessed the sacred emblem of the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom," ensuring the results had the backing of a deity. This left no room for doubt.

The two men—buyer and seller—stood frozen for a moment before reluctantly accepting the results and completing the transaction.

Following this, someone brought out a dangerous-looking mystical item for sale and requested the gathering to appraise its effects. This time, Ebner showcased his "Appraiser" abilities, resolving the issue with ease.

From this point onward, no one attempted to cause trouble. The Beyonder gathering finally settled into a proper rhythm.

However, Ebner remained vigilant. As he handed the "notary fee" and "appraisal fee" to Helene for safekeeping, his attention stayed focused on the man who appeared to be either a "Biologist" or a "Harvest Priest."

.....

Dream Labyrinth Tower

At the same time, within the Dream Labyrinth Tower, Sharon and Klein once again stepped into the "Reward Room" full of mirrors, ready to challenge the likely formidable fifth level.

"The next step is the trap that Linster has carefully prepared for us… Are you ready?" Klein asked, looking at the doll-like Sharon beside him with a smile.

"You seem nervous," Sharon replied, tilting her head slightly before nodding gently. "Ready."

I am nervous… but I also have confidence. After all, I can leave the 'dream' at any time… Klein thought to himself. He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Sharon seriously and said, "If—just if—we find ourselves in a desperate situation, can you trust me unconditionally, just once?"

Sharon stared at him intently, as if weighing her options. After a long pause, she finally replied in her ethereal, dream-like voice: "Alright."

Let's hope we won't need to rely on that promise… Klein took a deep breath and stepped through the door to the fifth level alongside Sharon.

After a brief moment of dizziness, Klein's vision cleared, and he immediately recognized a building not far away—it was all too familiar.

"Blackthorn Security Company?!"

Standing next to him, Sharon—unable to maintain her "Wraith" form—gracefully caught a newspaper that had floated over in the wind. The headline on the front page spelled out their mission:

"Stop Ince Zangwill's plot and protect Dunn Smith from dying."

(End of Chapter)