Lord of Mysteries: The New Black Emperor

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Klein lied, claiming that he had recently noticed Old Neil's absent-mindedness. That afternoon, he suddenly recalled the vision he had during his first activation of Spirit Vision and conducted a divination. The result confirmed that something was indeed wrong with Old Neil, though it didn't seem too serious yet.

Dunn was silent for a second or two before saying, "Old Neil is on duty at the armory. In a moment, I'll pull him into a dream and examine his condition.

"If it's not urgent, we'll send a telegraph immediately and request help from the experts at the Cathedral.

"If it's critical, I'll control Old Neil, and you'll perform ritual magic to pray for the Goddess's power to resolve the issue."

Klein, feeling a bit nervous, responded, "Captain, I've never performed such a complex ritual before."

"It's just like the ritual for communing with spirits or praying for power. You only need to modify the incantation accordingly," Dunn smiled. "You're now a member of the Nighthawks. Your teammates need your power to get through this."

Klein smiled bitterly: Captain, saying it like that just makes me feel more pressure!

However, Dunn's warm smile gave Klein great encouragement. "I'll do my best to complete the ritual."

Dunn nodded. "Go prepare."

Just as Klein reached the door, feeling slightly anxious, Dunn called out, "Oh, I almost forgot. For this type of ritual, you'll need materials with rich spirituality. Ordinary deep sleep flowers and nightshade won't suffice. Go write a requisition form and head to the back of Chanis Gate to get some Summer Leaf Grass and Sleepless Flower powder."

"Understood," Klein replied, his nerves easing.

Dunn added, "Wait, one more thing. Bring Leonard from the lounge to join us on this mission."

Klein nodded. "Captain, I'll also have Mrs. Rozanne and Mrs. Orianna leave early, ask Frye to close the lounge ahead of time, and station him at the hall to answer the door if the police come. Is that correct, Captain?"

Dunn seemed surprised for a second or two before replying, "Yes, exactly what I was about to say."

After leaving the office, Klein first dismissed the clerical staff, informed Leonard and Frye, and then wrote the requisition form. With Dunn's signature, he obtained the materials from Lorotta, who was on duty at Chanis Gate.

After all this, Klein nervously held the spiritual materials in his hand and waited in the underground passage.

Seven or eight minutes later, the Captain and Leonard came down together.

The three of them silently made their way to the armory. Dunn signaled to his teammates and opened the door.

Inside, Old Neil was resting his chin on his hands, seemingly dozing off. When the door opened, he woke up suddenly and said, "Is there an operation today? You all came together—here for weapons?"

While speaking, Old Neil yawned, his eyelids heavy. He immediately realized something was wrong. "Dunn, you—you…"

Before he could finish, Old Neil slumped back in his chair, fast asleep.

Dunn, too, leaned against the door, eyes closed and head bowed.

Leonard calmly said to Klein, "I suggest you begin setting up the ritual, just in case."

"Alright." Klein finally understood why the Captain brought Leonard—it was to ensure he wouldn't miss the critical moment due to his lack of experience.

The Captain is as reliable as ever!

With Leonard's help, Klein moved a table in front of Old Neil and began drawing symbols and lighting candles.

The symbol he drew was, of course, the symbol of the Evernight Goddess. Although the "Creator" had Roselle's endorsement, unless absolutely necessary, Klein wasn't going to pray to an unknown entity.

Klein was lighting the second candle when the Captain suddenly spoke, "Prepare the ritual quickly. Old Neil's condition has worsened."

Klein was briefly stunned. The scene before him shattered like a broken mirror, revealing that he was only just lighting the first candle, with the second still unlit.

He immediately realized that the Captain had pulled him into a dream earlier.

Klein quickly lit the remaining candles, realizing that Old Neil's loss of control was far more severe than expected.

At that moment, Old Neil, who was supposedly fast asleep, lifted his head. His eyes were still closed, but on his forehead, a cold, emotionless, and indifferent eye slowly opened.

The sight of that eye sent a shiver down Klein's spine. He quickly averted his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact.

Although Dunn was controlling Old Neil, the latter moved stiffly like a sleepwalker, rising from his chair. His target was the makeshift altar on the table. Clearly, the out-of-control part of Old Neil's consciousness had sensed the danger and was trying to destroy the altar.

Leonard began chanting, "Once upon a time, if I recall correctly, my life was a banquet.

"At that banquet, all hearts were open, and all wines overflowed."

Klein immediately felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue, losing the will to take the next step. He shook his head to dispel the tranquility and laziness invading his mind, then quickly burned the Summer Leaf Grass and Sleepless Flower powder.

With Leonard's assistance, Dunn regained control, and Old Neil slowly sat back down. The eye on his forehead gradually closed.

But almost instantly, another cold, emotionless eye appeared on Old Neil's cheek, slowly opening.

Before it could fully open, Klein quickly recited in Hermes, "I pray for the power of the Night;

"I pray for the power of the Crimson;

"I pray for the Evernight Goddess's favor;

"I pray for you to eliminate the uncontrolled elements within this Nighthawk member, restoring the stability of his Beyonder powers."

The eye on Old Neil's cheek fully opened, gazing indifferently at everything as if the actions of the three Nighthawks had nothing to do with it.

Once Klein finished the incantation, a tremendous, terrifying, and mysterious power descended within the "spiritual wall."

Woooo~

A violent wind suddenly howled around the altar, but strangely, an unprecedented sense of calm pervaded the armory.

The emotionless eye on Old Neil's face showed fear for the first time. It was forced out of Old Neil's body by the immense invisible power, but before it could escape into the shadows, the overwhelming force captured and crushed it.

Both Klein and Leonard seemed to hear a piercing shriek filled with unwillingness.

The fierce winds subsided, and peace returned to the armory.

"Cough, cough, cough." Old Neil woke up, coughing. "Are you trying to break my old bones?"

Using Spirit Vision, Klein examined Old Neil again. He looked weak, but the eye hiding behind him was gone.

He exhaled in relief, offering praise to the Goddess and silently thanking Mr. Emperor.

After completing everything, Klein looked toward the Captain. He remembered there was something important he needed to remind Dunn about, but at that moment, his head throbbed. The ritual had drained too much of his spirituality, and now, he needed rest.

…

In the outskirts of Tingen, in a house with dark red chimneys and lush green lawns.

A pale hand held a quill, writing in an ordinary notebook:

"Klein actually detected that Old Neil was on the verge of losing control. The story has been rewritten again."