Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Bansy—this island carried unsettling legends. Over three centuries ago, when Loen's military first occupied the island, more than 500 soldiers vanished without a trace after a dense fog descended.

Later, their skeletal remains were discovered scattered along the coastlines and mountain slopes. Similar incidents occurred repeatedly until the Church of the Storm built a chapel here and stationed a bishop, finally suppressing the phenomenon.

At this moment, the White Agate was docked in Bansy's port, a place known as the "Weather Museum."

Mindful of Bansy's connection in the original storyline to the Red Angel and the City of Calamity, Ebner had chosen not to disembark.

Although the terrifying events tied to Bansy likely wouldn't unfold until Klein's eventual visit, Ebner—keenly aware of his questionable luck—didn't dare tempt fate.

Besides, he thought, I've speculated that Bansy's anomalies might also be linked to the Elf King and certain sources tied to the Western Continent. I recently explored the elves' Trial Temple in the dream... Barging in recklessly now could be courting real danger.

After this reflection, Ebner decided to freshen up and catch up on much-needed sleep. The previous days had been taxing—grinding for points, experimenting with the Reverse Dream Technique, and engaging in intense discussions on space and spirit world traversal with Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina Edwards. He was physically and spiritually drained.

However, just as he nestled into bed and hugged his pillow, he suddenly felt a peculiar sensation and activated his spiritual vision.

To his surprise, a towering skeletal messenger materialized before him, holding out two letters.

Jane's messenger? What could she want?

He accepted the letters, noting that one was thin while the other was noticeably bulky, as though it contained more than just a letter.

Under the silent gaze of the skeletal messenger, Ebner opened the thinner envelope first. Using his Night Vision ability, he read the letter in the dim light:

Ebner, I did it! I avenged my parents!

Steve, Jason, and that vile Tyrell are all dead! While Jason wasn't killed by my hand, Miss Sharon brought me his severed head... and that's enough!

The excited, slightly erratic handwriting conveyed Jane's elation and joy. While happy for her, Ebner also felt a twinge of pity.

This girl had been suppressing her emotions for far too long… Even her smiles in my presence might have been a façade because she knew I enjoyed seeing her happy.

Sighing softly, Ebner continued reading.

The letter detailed Jane's battle with Steve and Tyrell, meticulously recounting her strategies, the risks she took, and her post-battle reflections. This section felt more like a tactical analysis than personal correspondence.

Ebner could sense the peril she faced through her words. Despite wielding several powerful mystical items, Jane was only a Sequence 7 Spirit Medium. Facing a Sequence 5 Wraith was undoubtedly dangerous.

Fortunately, luck was on her side. Steve had fallen into a trap from the beginning and never had the chance to fully showcase his strength before being turned into a marionette.

At the letter's conclusion, Jane asked if Ebner knew of any reliable Artificers. She had a trove of materials and Beyonder characteristics she wanted to forge into mystical items.

An Artificer, huh... If I were still in Damir, I could've directly approached Gaston for help, Ebner mused. Now… if Jane doesn't mind, I could try my hand. Though so far, my only accomplishment has been fixing a hat.

Smiling wryly at the thought, Ebner resolved to use part of his new estate in Balam to construct a steam workshop, ensuring a proper space for such endeavors.

After folding Jane's letter, he turned to the bulkier envelope. Upon opening it, he found it wasn't filled with critical news or secrets but instead contained a detailed guide to chess rules and a hefty stack of chess game records.

At the very end of the letter, Jane had included three chess puzzles, asking Ebner to help her solve them.

Looking at the familiar chessboard and pieces, along with the high-level moves of Jane's opponent, Ebner couldn't help but chuckle.

This must be Queen Mystic teaching Jane to play chess... And those puzzles? They're probably Bernadette's assignments for her. Jane's trying to cheat her way out of them!

But she trusts me enough to think I can solve them... Why is she so confident in my chess skills?

Still chuckling, Ebner quickly penned a reply. At the end of his letter, he included the solutions to the three puzzles.

Ebner's ability to solve the chess problems wasn't due to exceptional skill—he was a merely passable amateur at best. However, the puzzles happened to be classic scenarios he had seen in his previous life, widely shared online.

These were probably puzzles Huang Tao used to stump his daughter back then, he thought. Smiling at the memory, Ebner handed the sealed letter and puzzles to the waiting skeletal messenger.

In a way, this counts as playing the Polymatg role... Hopefully, Jane's feedback will be positive.

With that thought, Ebner hugged his pillow and drifted into a normal, natural sleep.

---

Dream Labyrinth Tower

Klein and Sharon had successfully cleared the ninth-floor scenario and now stood within a dimly decorated Reward Chamber.

Surrounded by mirrors of varying sizes and conditions, Klein couldn't help but comment, "Is this eerie decor part of the tower's original style, or did Linstor set this up himself? Can climbers customize their surroundings after a certain level?"

This feels so much like a certain penguin's game design… Roselle's handiwork, no doubt.

Sharon, unfazed by the sinister ambiance, scanned the area with her sapphire gaze before succinctly replying, "The latter."

So, this was likely Linstor's design? Do all Wraiths share such tastes? Klein glanced at Sharon, whose refined gothic attire suited the surroundings too well.

At that moment, Sharon met his gaze and asked, "How did you know the museum curator was the culprit?"

I didn't mean to point him out so quickly. Seeing that "familiar" child rattled me... Klein chastised himself for his impulsive behavior during the ninth-floor scenario. Next time, I should fake a divination to avoid suspicion.

"I'm a detective. Observing details is my specialty," Klein explained, carefully crafting his words to sound convincing.

"Perhaps," Sharon replied noncommittally, dropping the subject. She then added, "Floors 9, 8, and 7 pose no real danger. Linstor's traps won't be here."

Before entering each scenario, they had been briefed with basic information, including the assurance that failure on these floors would only result in temporary fatigue in reality, without lasting harm.

"Agreed. I suspect the sixth floor will be the turning point. If Linstor left any deadly tricks, they'll likely be on the sixth or fifth floors… The earlier floors are probably meant to lull us into complacency," Klein said.

The fourth floor? Even if Linstor reached it, he wouldn't expect us to make it that far... So the most likely traps lie in the middle levels.

"Shall we continue?" Sharon asked, her ethereal voice calm as her gaze swept over Klein.

"Let's first verify whether these rewards truly cater to each climber's desires. If they do, risking a bit more might be worthwhile."

Klein's cautious tone reflected his willingness to take calculated risks, especially since the Dream Labyrinth Tower couldn't sever his connection to the Gray Fog. He always had a guaranteed escape route.

Sharon nodded slightly and approached one of the mirrors, prepared to claim her reward.

Klein selected another mirror. Soon, a notebook materialized before him.

As he reached out and retrieved it, the familiar handwriting on the pages made his eyes sting and his nose ache.

Melissa's Diary.

The entries detailed the recent lives of his loved ones, answering the questions that lingered in his heart:

September 15th. Today is the day we buried Klein... I've decided to start keeping a diary, reading it aloud at his grave every anniversary… so he can rest in peace.

Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!

Klein, why did it have to be you who became a hero?

I'd rather you stayed the clueless fool who couldn't even operate a watch's winder!

Please, come back and tell me this was all a joke, okay?"

(End of Chapter)