Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

A Paper?

Ebner's thoughts raced. I've heard my teacher mention that Lenburg is steeped in academic fervor… but can mysticism knowledge really be published in papers? Aren't people afraid ordinary folks might stumble upon it? What if someone tampered with the knowledge? In this world of the arcane, some information itself is inherently dangerous.

With growing curiosity, Ebner asked Edwina, "A paper? Do you mean publishing in a journal?"

Edwina shook her head lightly. "The majority of Lenburg's journals are aimed at the general public and do not involve mysticism knowledge.

"There are a few journals for Beyonders, but those merely provide titles and conclusions without divulging detailed content. They serve as indexes at best."

"Then where do you plan to submit your paper?" Ebner's interest was piqued. This was his first time learning about Lenburg's system.

"To the Tower of Wisdom. It is an extraordinary venue for the exchange of knowledge. Any paper submitted and approved by it will be cataloged within its collection. However, anyone wishing to read or learn from your submission must pay a price.

"Of course, the same applies when you wish to study others' works." Edwina explained at a measured pace after pausing briefly.

So it's essentially a "knowledge-sharing platform," with the tower itself handling the risks of reviewing submissions. But in exchange, it gains free access to all knowledge.

Wait, she used the pronoun "it" with reverence… Could this platform actually be run by an angel?

"'It'?" Ebner hesitated briefly before voicing his question. As a favored of Knowledge, he felt this query shouldn't cross any lines.

"Yes… The Tower of Wisdom stands near the temple of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, but it is a living entity."

"There are two ways to access it," she continued while sketching diagrams on a blackboard Ebner had redeemed from the Dream Labyrinth Tower. "The first is through its physical entrance in the real world.

"The second involves something similar to our 'Scholarly Exchange'—projecting your spirit and submitting papers to its 'Study Hall,' which takes the form of a towering library filled with boundless knowledge."

I see… So this "Tower of Wisdom" might actually be a Sequence 2 Angel of the Visionary pathway? But why does it manifest as a building? Could it be a sealed artifact? Unlikely… Is it part of a ritual or a unique form of role-playing?

Considering the Sequence 2 title is "Wisdom Angel," it aligns with the idea of serving the deity. Becoming a "tower" to manage information might indeed be its role-playing method.

After indulging in these thoughts for a while, Ebner didn't dwell further. Instead, he deliberated briefly before suggesting, "Would it be possible to delay the submission for a few months? Perhaps wait until the spell is more refined? Or consider changing the title?"

He didn't have strong objections to the name "Edwards-Bryan Teleportation Spell" or the idea of publishing. However, the initial purpose of developing this spell was to help the "Hero Detective" and "Doctor Strange" maintain distinct identities, avoiding any association between the two.

Publishing the paper in the Tower of Wisdom might expose this link, albeit to a limited audience.

Edwina's azure eyes flickered with thought before she nodded. "I was too hasty… This spell indeed has many aspects needing refinement."

Ebner exhaled in relief, smiling as he pointed at the diagrams Edwina had drawn to explain the spell's mechanics. He emphasized, "The first issue to tackle is finding more reasonable substitute materials. At present, the cost per teleportation exceeds 3,000 pounds—this is outrageous!"

That's as much as Danitz's bounty! A single teleportation costs a whole Danitz. Who could afford this? If I had this kind of money, why wouldn't I just hire a Traveler as a chauffeur?

…

Backlund, 6 a.m.

The faint light of dawn illuminated the city as Klein woke to the sound of the church bells. Turning over, he glanced at his watch and muttered helplessly,

"I planned to spend the morning reading The Book of Secrets and the Roselle diaries Sharon found for me…

"But after last night's escapades in the Dream Labyrinth Tower, I'm utterly drained. And I have a meeting with Reporter Mike at eight…"

Never mind. There will be plenty of time to read later. For now, I need more sleep.

Having decided, Klein shifted into a comfortable position and, with the aid of meditation, entered a deep sleep.

Time in deep sleep passed swiftly. Klein felt as though he had just closed his eyes when the eight o'clock chimes rang out.

Still torn between getting up and dozing off, the doorbell rang.

Resigned, Klein got out of bed, skipped his morning routine, and headed downstairs to open the door. As expected, it was Mike Joseph, a reporter for the Daily Observer.

The blue-eyed man with a neatly trimmed mustache but rather coarse skin greeted Klein politely, then got straight to the point.

"Detective Moriarty, are you available to take on a commission?"

Still drowsy, Klein smiled faintly. Normal commissions like this wouldn't arouse suspicion, especially after his recent heist.

"Of course," he replied while scrutinizing Mike's attire. "But first, you need to change. That outfit isn't suitable for the East Borough."

Mike glanced down at his woolen overcoat and, catching on, remarked, "Too conspicuous?"

"In the East Borough, yes." Klein gestured toward the interior of his home. "I have some clothes prepared specifically for such occasions. Fortunately, we're about the same size."

With that, he invited Mike inside and rushed to freshen up in the washroom.

By the time Klein was ready, Mike had changed into worker's attire and couldn't help but exclaim, "You're truly a professional detective… This aspect is quite different from Detective Brain, whose expertise lies elsewhere."

Of course. He's great at intelligence gathering, while I'm better at crime—whether it's apprehending criminals or committing crimes myself. Klein suppressed a smirk, about to make a modest remark when he suddenly heard a faint prayer.

"Excuse me for a moment," Klein said to Mike, feigning discomfort. "I need to use the washroom."

Mike didn't mind and settled on the sofa with a newspaper.

Klein quickly entered the washroom, secured the surroundings, and ascended to the ancient hall above the gray fog.

Seated in The Fool's high-backed chair, he extended his spirituality toward the crimson star that represented "The Sun."

What does The Sun need? Did something go wrong with the methods The Hanged Man taught him?

As he connected to the prayer, Klein discovered that The Sun wanted to transfer materials he had gathered to The Tower, including the "Eater of Spirits' Stomach" that The Magician needed.

After opening the Summoning Door and receiving the sacrifice, Klein decided not to immediately notify The Tower or The Magician. Instead, he exited the fog to avoid keeping Mike waiting.

Upon returning to the living room, Mike stood up, ready to head out, and joked,

"To be honest, when I saw the dark circles under your eyes earlier, I thought you'd been up all night with a lady. But sadly, I see no sign of a hostess here…"

Actually, you're right. I was up all night with a lady… just not in the way you're imagining. Klein locked his door, silently ridiculing the reporter's assumption as they boarded Mike's rented carriage to the edge of the East Borough.

As for investigating Emlyn, that will have to wait until after tonight's trade with Sharon.

…

Silver City

After sacrificing the materials to "The Fool," Derrick Berg, who was already experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations, reported his condition to the patrol team.

Following a thorough examination, he was taken to the base of the round tower—where residents showing signs of losing control were confined in an effort to save them.

Soon, with a resounding clang, Derrick was locked in his designated cell.

As he tried to rest, an elderly man in the adjacent cell struck up a conversation.

Through their exchange, Derrick learned the man had been confined for encountering an "outsider" during an expedition to a ruined city 42 years ago.

That "person" had called himself "Amon."

End of Chapter