Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

However, while covering his face, Ebner still noticed that the lion had directly mentioned Roselle's name, signaling that some of the restrictions placed upon it were gradually lifting.

The Finks Lion, Leon, glanced at the three people before him, each with different expressions. A cunning smile spread across his face as he thought to himself: What a pity Princess Bernadette isn't here… otherwise… well, actually, if she were, I wouldn't dare speak up.

Just like how that seal never dared plot the Emperor's "social death" in front of the Princess… Heh, that strange term the Emperor came up with is actually spot on.

At this point, Ebner fully composed himself and politely declined, "I don't need that kind of mystic art… but thanks for your 'generous' offer."

"That's truly unfortunate." Leon shook his massive head in mock disappointment, then looked toward Edwina and Jane with a grin.

"This young man has claimed his reward…

"Now, do either of you wish to answer my 'hidden' question?"

Jane, who had recognized Ebner's identity through the copper whistle, stepped into the expanded water screen area created by the lion.

Removing her hood, she revealed her true face and glanced at Edwina, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "Do you want to go first, or should I?"

Edwina had initially been interested in using the "question" as an opportunity to exchange knowledge with the Finks Lion, but her enthusiasm had completely waned after hearing about that "improper" mystic art. She simply made a gesture of invitation.

"I'll go first, then." Jane stepped forward, subtly winking at Ebner as she passed him, signaling that she had received his message.

Ebner gave a nearly imperceptible nod but didn't move far away. He remained a few steps behind Jane, ready to offer support at any time.

He still didn't know why Jane had come to the Daniel Valley, but since Roselle's arrangements were involved, it was likely that the "Mystic Queen" had assigned her a new mission.

The lion Leon watched Jane approach, its eyes gleaming as it said:

"As long as you answer my 'hidden' question, you'll receive a reward...

"Even if you want a certain card, I can lead you to it."

It emphasized the word "card," clearly trying to entice her in the same way it had earlier when talking about the extra brain.

A card? Could it be a "Blasphemy card"? Did Roselle leave one with this lion?

No… the lion didn't say "give," only that it could lead Jane to it, which means the card isn't in its possession.

So… is it part of the Daniel treasure Edwina mentioned? Does that treasure really exist? Did the Emperor place a card with the treasure?

And judging by how eager this lion seems, could it be part of a rule set by Roselle?

But why would Old Huang go to such lengths? If he wanted to leave something for his daughter, there was no need to make it so complicated…

What exactly was he planning? This doesn't seem like a simple pre-arranged benefit for a possible transmigrator compatriot...

As his thoughts raced, Ebner heard Jane's surprised voice: "How did you know I came here for a card?"

The lion scratched its face with a paw, seemingly pondering something.

Instead of answering directly, it asked, "Do you know the origin of the name Daniel Valley?"

"Is that your 'hidden' question?" Jane cautiously countered.

"Of course not. I'm just answering your earlier question in a roundabout way." The lion rolled its eyes, then gestured toward Ebner with its snout, saying helplessly, "They know—there are some things I still can't say."

True to its Finks nature, this lion really loves leaking secrets... even when it can't speak directly, it finds a way to drop hints. Ebner thought to himself. No wonder Roselle imposed so many restrictions on it…

It must assess its audience carefully. Otherwise, this place would be famous by now, even if it's remote.

It seems it really has been stifled for over a century, which is why it's so excited to meet people it considers "fated" and "trustworthy."

This could be exploited to extract more information.

With that in mind, Ebner nodded toward Jane, signaling his understanding, and subtly added, "It does have a lot of rules imposed by its master, preventing it from speaking freely without meeting certain conditions."

This was something Ebner had already gleaned during the "hidden" question segment using his Pure White Eye.

"He stopped being my master the moment he abandoned me here!" Before Jane could respond, Leon grumbled indignantly, though there was a lingering trace of grievance in its tone.

Seeing Ebner's hint, Jane quickly understood his meaning. Instead of rushing to ask her "hidden" question, she struck up a conversation with the lion.

"Before I came here, an elder told me some stories about Daniel Lake… It's said that the name comes from the master Daniel from centuries ago."

She then briefly recounted Daniel's life story, which was similar to what Edwina had previously told Ebner. However, Jane added one crucial detail: Daniel's origin.

He had been born into the Temperance Faction of the Rose School of Thought and was even a secret student of the Chained God before the deity issued the decree of indulgence!

Moreover, he was a genuine demigod.

Jane smiled and looked at Leon, the lion. "I wasn't wrong, was I?"

Her words made Ebner and Edwina silently nod in agreement, while Ebner was nearly certain now: the item the military had painstakingly transported to the Southern Continent was indeed the sealed artifact "1-025." It was likely Daniel's legacy and the key to unlocking his treasure.

"Mostly correct, but there's one thing you didn't clarify... Do you know what Daniel discovered that forced him to return to the Southern Continent, only to be killed in the end?" Leon nodded and raised his head to ask.

"What was it?" Jane asked curiously.

"Daniel discovered the 'ticket' to the Ghost Empire, which had vanished in the Fourth Epoch!" the lion revealed dramatically without further suspense.

"The Ghost Empire?!" Ebner, Jane, and Edwina exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening.

Especially Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina, whose clear blue eyes sparkled with intense curiosity.

As a treasure-seeking pirate admiral with diverse interests, she naturally knew about the Ghost Empire.

According to legend, before the destruction of the Trunsoest Empire in the Fourth Epoch, a massive ship, equivalent to an entire city, was built to carry away all the empire's treasures. However, the designated passengers and crew never made it to the port, and none survived.

Yet, the ship mysteriously vanished on its own, and to this day, there were claims of sightings — a massive vessel silently sailing through misty nights. That was the Ghost Empire, said to appear in various locations across the Sonia Sea, though no one had ever truly boarded it.

Both Ebner and Jane were also familiar with this legacy vessel from Trunsoest. Ebner knew of it from the original work, while Jane had heard about it during her time aboard the Future.

"Yes, the ticket to that treasure ship," Leon confirmed. "As long as you possess it, you can board the lost 'empire' at the right time."

He paused before continuing, "Before Emperor Roselle confined me here, he bypassed Daniel's arrangements and ventured into the depths of his labyrinth.

"However, instead of taking the 'ticket,' he left a card beside it.

"He told me that someone would come with a 'key' to unlock this labyrinth a hundred years later.

"If you answer my 'hidden' question, I can guide you through my lair along the Emperor's path, allowing you to enter the labyrinth ahead of those key-wielders who came only to fight and shout at me.

"As for how I knew you wanted a card... that's simple. I can 'simulate' mind reading."

So all that talk was just your pent-up rambling because you couldn't hold it in, huh?

The three of them were speechless. After a long moment, Jane finally asked, "Emperor Roselle entered Daniel's labyrinth without a key?"

"Of course. Do you even know who the Emperor is? A mere saint's arrangement might baffle those illiterates in the Southern Continent, but the Emperor could definitely handle it."

Leon first raised his head proudly but then slumped as he recalled being abandoned. "However, that Daniel was indeed impressive. The Emperor only managed it so easily thanks to the Plague Seal's previous guidance..."

The Plague Seal? The Sauron family's '0' level sealed artifact? So it really ended up in Roselle's possession!

But wasn't that seal said to have suddenly 'come to life'? How could it guide Roselle?

Roselle was the Knowledge Emperor, an expert at deciphering complex puzzles. How could a seal be helpful to him in that regard?

Ebner furrowed his brow in confusion.

Jane pondered for a moment before asking, "Earlier, I saw many Beyonders searching for something in the central valley. I overheard fragments suggesting that location was your lair. Did they discover anything?"

"My lair? No, that's just my wives' graveyard... I was visiting their graves when those fools spotted me."

"Wives... plural?" Jane instinctively repeated.

"When I was first trapped here, I refused to accept it and tried to expel the extra brain — or rather, the characteristic — by breeding offspring. So I seduced several nearby lionesses... but it didn't work. And since they were just ordinary lions, they didn't live long."

Leon sighed and changed the subject before Jane could probe further. "Do you know what 'Wraith' prisoners specialize in after advancing?"

"Possession? Soul Screams? Mirror Jumping?" Jane listed a few abilities until Leon nodded at "Mirror Jumping."

"Exactly, mirror jumping! And as a demigod 'Prisoner,' Daniel naturally excelled at manipulating the mirror world...

"His labyrinth and treasure are hidden within that mirror world... and the entrance is actually the surface of Daniel Lake!

"Unless this rain continues long enough for Daniel Lake to reappear, those fools won't find the entrance no matter how deep they dig!

"My lair is also located in a mirror world and connects to Daniel's mirrored labyrinth... Heh, it's also the same 'tunnel' the Emperor used back then!"