Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

"Even if Mr. Door isn't the Primordial Moon, he's definitely connected to Emperor Roselle's current corrupted state. When Miss Magician advances to higher sequences and directly confronts the Murmurs, I must remind her to be extra cautious."

With this thought in mind, Klein continued reviewing the conclusions he had jotted down:

"Emperor Roselle probably received warnings and a method to separate himself from corruption from Liu Bo, who is the Calamity Seal.

"Unfortunately, due to Liu Bo's cooperation with an entity called 'Two-Faced Dragon,' the emperor didn't fully trust him. This led to regret after Roselle did something that caused him to be corrupted. Roselle sought Liu Bo's help afterward, but by then, Liu Bo had likely long since departed.

"As a result, Roselle left certain items in the ruins or tomb of Liu Bo's past incarnations, hoping that a future version of Liu Bo would find them, appreciate his 'investment,' and help him escape corruption.

"But who is this 'Two-Faced Dragon'? Sounds like a dragon, but it could just be a title… though who would willingly use a title like 'Two-Faced'? Even my Tarot Club wouldn't openly flaunt that term."

Klein quipped, then his gaze shifted to two other terms: "Blasphemy Card" and "Three Lights."

"'Blasphemy Card' should refer to the card with the codename 'Mother.' I wonder which pathway it corresponds to...

"'Three Lights'—is that a name? To be mentioned alongside Bernadette, Roselle's eldest daughter, it must hold great significance to him. But this name doesn't sound like a woman's...

"Next Tarot meeting, I'll have The World casually inquire about it."

After tapping his finger on the table in contemplation, Klein made the manifested pen and paper disappear, left the gray fog, and returned to reality.

As he prepared breakfast, Klein remained on alert, ready to return to the gray fog to provide Justiciar with any necessary assistance.

Originally, he had planned to head out and scout for a suitable fraudster target today. After all, he had accepted Miss Hazel's commission fee on Monday, and it was already the weekend with no progress made.

But compared to his professional ethics, the safety of Tarot Club members naturally took precedence.

....

In the Daniel Labyrinth...

Guided by the mystical dagger borrowed from Vera, Xio moved swiftly between portals connecting different mirror worlds.

Suddenly, just as she leaped from the "ceiling" into a new world, a figure charged toward her at a speed rivaling a steam locomotive.

In her mind, a vivid scene played out: a man with distinctly southern continent features slammed his palm atop her head, freezing her body with frost before shattering it.

—This was the prediction provided by her Ring of Foresight.

Without hesitation, Xio relied on her petite frame to roll sideways, narrowly evading the strike.

The man's expression grew even more bloodthirsty and twisted as frost spread from his hands, chasing after Xio.

However, a solemn voice speaking in ancient Hermes rang out beside him:

"Ice-based spells are forbidden here!"

With the declaration, the frost rapidly dissipated, and the ice creeping toward Xio's feet melted into vapor.

Xio seized the opportunity. Her golden mask radiated dawn-like brilliance as she declared once more:

"Those who violate the rules must be punished!"

Before the man's expression could change, Xio closed the distance at an impossible speed and angle, thrusting the transparent dagger formed by dozens of radiant stars into his neck.

The man initially sneered, intending to endure the blow with his formidable defenses while tearing Xio apart.

But to his shock, the dagger sliced through his skin—capable of withstanding cannon blasts—as though it were paper, severing his throat and sweeping sideways, cleanly decapitating him.

His hands, which had grasped Xio's waist in preparation to crush her, went limp and dropped lifelessly.

Standing upright, Xio glanced at the headless zombie, hesitating briefly. She was reluctant to waste the Beyonder Characteristics, yet unwilling to spend time waiting for them to precipitate.

She recalled Ebner once mentioning how he had commissioned The Hanged Man to collect bounties.

"The Fool probably wouldn't mind a corpse offering… right?"

Though uncertain, Xio decided to try. Using the zombie's blood, she hastily arranged a simple sacrificial ritual and recited the Fool's honorific name, awaiting His response.

Within seconds, the corpse vanished into the Door of Summoning. Xio quickly discerned the direction of the light and stepped through the corresponding door.

...

In another Mirror World, Prince Mountbatten reunited with his retinue, including Captain Elwin and the observant young team member, Bas, who had first identified Daniel Lake as the entrance.

"Bas, you're a remarkably meticulous person with excellent analytical skills. You picked up on the labyrinth's clues so quickly—determining that the direction of the light was the key," Prince Mountbatten praised warmly.

The short-statured young man with curly black hair remained modest, emphasizing that he was weak and needed Captain Elwin's protection. Thus, he could only contribute by analyzing clues for the prince.

As he spoke, he subtly glanced toward the other side of the mirrored space before quickly withdrawing his gaze.

After the three of them passed through the door aligned with the light source, a graceful woman's figure slowly emerged in the space they had vacated.

Dressed in a white blouse and beige trousers drenched by rain, the contours of her alluring form became faintly visible beneath her clothes.

This was Vice Admiral of Ailment, Tracy.

She and her mother, the Saintess of White Katarina, had initially watched the standoff between the Demoness Sect and the military at the outskirts of Daniel Valley. Unexpectedly, they had been "pulled" into the labyrinth.

"That black-haired young man noticed me? Heh, the military really has all sorts of scheming types. The prince might be in for some trouble.

"But his discovery about the clue does seem correct."

After silently murmuring to herself, Tracy waited at her spot for a few minutes before pushing open the same door the prince's group had entered.

.....

In yet another mirror space, Colonel Lloyd of the military, who had nearly captured Tracy in the past, wasn't as fortunate this time. He encountered the hot-tempered Chief Fate of the Rose School.

Wraiths held a significant advantage in the Mirror World as they could bypass doors and directly traverse multiple segmented spaces. As a result, Colonel Lloyd struggled to land a hit and grew progressively weaker under relentless harassment.

"Poison…" Only then did Lloyd realize the hidden tactic used against him, but it was too late—he could no longer speak.

"Wraith Possession!"

Chief Fate seized control of the colonel's body, immediately making him stab himself through the heart.

Moments later, Chief Fate cackled wildly as he gathered the Beyonder Characteristics and mystical items from the corpse. His laughter grew louder and more frenzied until all his pent-up rage was released.

Then, with renewed focus, he jumped back into a space aligned with the "correct path."

.....

In the grand palace at the labyrinth's deepest point, still contemplating the purpose behind Daniel and Roselle's intricate arrangements, Ebner suddenly noticed the palace's main doors slowly opening.

"They're here."

Hiding within the ritual formation they had set up, Ebner, Jane, and Vice Admiral Iceberg all stood ready. The lion, however, remained leisurely sprawled on the ground, occasionally casting peculiar glances at Ebner's back.

.....

Sonia Island, Silent Town.

His Excellency Nyango Iziamai Panin turned toward the south and commanded the officer under his control:

"Begin."

A thick black fog instantly engulfed the entire town. The 666 pirates imprisoned within simultaneously raised eerie smiles.