Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Outside a private port on Graggs Island, south of the Rorsted Archipelago, Ebner watched the clean, neat "Golden Dream," dozens of meters long and reflecting golden light under the sun, gradually recede. Only then did he simulate a short-range "teleportation," traveling along various islands back to Bayam.

He wasn't in a hurry to return to Tosk. Instead, he planned to first use the underground workshop of the "Fragrant Manor" to craft an item.

—He had long wanted to use the "Resentful Soul" characteristic he possessed to create a magical item that could transform him into a special spiritual entity. Combined with the effect of the "Door" card, this would bypass the restrictions of "teleportation altars" and allow him to freely perform long-distance "Spirit World Traveling."

Now, the prototype of the secret art had already been researched, but the item for transforming into a special spiritual entity had not yet been made.

Without disturbing any servants, Ebner quietly entered the workshop and casually set up a spiritual barrier.

Although Irene, his "fire-stoking maid," was no longer there, Chessia, controlled by the "Magic Mirror," could barely handle the job—she had also followed Ebner to Bayam but had remained in the workshop guarding the house.

Several hours later, as the steam engine ceased operation, a bronze ring, stamped into shape, appeared in Ebner's hand.

"Name: Azure Shadow

Appearance: A rusty bronze ring.

Abilities: Allows the wearer to transform into a powerful, special 'Wrathful Spirit,' possessing most of the 'Resentful Soul' abilities, lasting for one minute.

Negative Effects: After wearing for more than one minute, the body will suffer severe curses, undergoing irreversible changes, gradually transforming into a pure Spirit World creature.

Sealing Method: When not worn, place it in a dark, warm environment.

Remarks: One minute is the usage time for a normal Beyonder... If the wearer is a demigod or possesses other means of resisting curses, the safe wearing time can exceed one minute.

After each transformation into a spiritual entity, there needs to be a half-hour interval before it can be used again."

After appraising the ring's effects, Ebner was generally satisfied.

Although one minute was short and wouldn't be of much use in combat, it was sufficient for "Spirit World Traveling."

After tidying up the workshop, he put the bronze ring on his right index finger.

Instantly, a series of roars seemed to echo in his ears, roars that sounded like curses from the source of the Sequence.

But Ebner, who had already activated his "Eye of Pure White," quickly suppressed the roars with a trace of oppressive aura emanating from his eyes.

"An eternal roarer, huh?" Ebner muttered softly to himself. Then, his body and clothes turned from solid to ethereal, forming a special spiritual entity similar to a "Wrathful Spirit."

He briefly examined himself and found that the strength of his spiritual body was no less than that of Miss Sharon, who was a genuine "Wrathful Spirit."

As the "transformation" time was limited, Ebner no longer delayed. He took out the "Door" card he had prepared earlier, merged it into his spiritual body, then used his spirituality to outline complex magical symbols, opening a "Teleportation Gate" in the void.

Ebner unskillfully controlled his spiritual body and entered the gate.

One minute later, on Damir Island, a figure quickly materialized in a classroom at Mr. Gaston's school.

"Unlike a 'teleportation altar,' this new secret art I developed is more akin to the 'Spirit World Traveling' of 'undead' or Spirit World creatures. It must rely on self-positioning to provide coordinates to ensure one doesn't get lost...

"In other words, unless one is familiar with the symbols of the Spirit World, or has means like divination or prophecy for 'navigation,' one can only go to places they've already visited.

"Moreover, this process also takes time...

"Overall, this secret art is a success, but unfortunately, it not only requires a magical item crafted from a 'Resentful Soul' but also precious items like a Blasphemy Card... I'm afraid it has no possibility of widespread use."

Summarizing the pros and cons of the new secret art, Ebner sighed, then left the school, planning to "entertain" himself at a bar in the port for half an hour before continuing his "travel."

"The secret art will be called 'Ebner's Spirit Walk.'"

.....

Aboard the "Golden Dream," Klein followed Edwina on a tour of her collection and saw the recently much-talked-about so-called "Key of Death."

However, from its form and size, it looked more like a giant's key, and Edwina clearly agreed with this view.

Klein subconsciously asked about the price, and after receiving a quote of 5,000 gold pounds, he decisively abandoned the idea of buying it, thinking to himself: If the subsequent exploration of Silver City really needs this key, I can just have Mr. Tower borrow it...

Considering the questions Edwina was asked last night, as reported by Arrodes, she certainly wouldn't refuse, as long as he told her the result.

Afterward, Klein and Edwina discussed their plan to jointly hunt "Admiral of Blood," and proposed a scheme to intercept radio transmissions.

Due to "Admiral of Blood's" subordinate's previous attack on Danitz, Edwina agreed without much thought.

Unlike the original work, Edwina now possessed a magical item that could summon "Heroic Spirits" to fight, naturally giving her more confidence.

Since the radio needed constant monitoring, Edwina assigned Danitz, who absolutely dared not appear before her, to Gehrman as an assistant and liaison.

Having finalized the cooperation plan, it was already approaching noon. After Klein enjoyed lunch on board, he returned to the room "Vice Admiral Iceberg" had arranged for him to take a nap.

He didn't rush to rest. Instead, he sealed the room with his spirituality, then, following the guidance in Mr. Azik's letter and the ritual sealed on Madam Yalolan's golden leaf, he attempted to summon his own messenger.

Next, after several failures, having successively summoned Spirit World creatures that were too fast to stop, too slow to notice their movement, and so imperceptible that he couldn't even detect them himself, Klein somewhat helplessly "randomly" modified the summoning incantation.

He gazed at the quietly burning candlelight, stepped back, and said:

"I!

"In my name, summon:

"Spirits wandering in falsehood, friendly beings available for command, unique existences willing to become my messenger."

Whoosh!

Within the spirituality wall, the wind suddenly intensified, and a translucent head slowly emerged as if breaking through a membrane. Its hair was pale golden and smooth, its eyes crimson like blood, and its appearance was bright and grand.

Immediately after, a tall woman with only an incision at her neck, holding four identical heads in her hands, appeared before Klein.

"Is..." "It..." "You summoning..." "Me?" The headless woman, dressed in a somber and intricate black dress, stood quietly. Her four hanging heads spoke one after another, in ancient Feysac.

Although surprised that this Spirit World creature could communicate, Klein calmed himself, "interviewed" her, and finally, after settling on a "price" of one gold coin per delivery, the two parties signed a contract.

Watching one of the golden-haired, red-eyed heads held by the headless woman bite the rounded steel pen and write down the name "Reinette Tinekerr," Klein suddenly found it somewhat familiar.

He recalled briefly and remembered that this name had been mentioned by Sharon in the information she provided to Mr. Tower during the "Daniel Labyrinth" incident.

She is Liu Bo's sister from his Danitz lifetime, and also Sharon's teacher...

Or should I use "Her"?

What a coincidence!

Klein showed no change in expression, but inwardly decided to go to the gray fog later and confirm with Sharon.

On the other side, the four heads held by the headless woman Reinette blinked simultaneously, as if sensing some change, but she said nothing more. After the contract took effect, her figure quickly became illusory and returned to the Spirit World.

After confirming her departure, Klein did not retract the spiritual barrier. Instead, he walked four steps counter-clockwise and entered above the gray fog.

He didn't immediately pull Miss Temperance onto the gray fog. Instead, he first summoned the "Scepter of the Sea God" and browsed through the messages from the Sea God's believers—this was his original plan.

Initially, there was no special news, just prayers for favorable winds and rains, giving Klein the illusion that he was the "Dragon King of the East Sea."

But soon, a report from a fisherman believer caught his attention.

"Great deity, today I salvaged a large crystal, and within the crystal, a beautiful woman was sealed.

"After our collective deliberation, we have determined this to be a treasure that can adorn your collection...

"Although this violates your newly established 'Ten Commandments,' your devout followers still wish to offer it to you.

"After all, apart from you, mortals are not worthy of holding this 'Crystal Beauty.'"

A woman in a crystal? Klein became interested. With the power of the gray fog, he quickly merged into the perspective of that believer and saw what the so-called treasure truly was.

"This is... Tracy?"