Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Just after leaving the ticket office at the pier, Ebner looked at the burly figure standing before him. Frowning slightly, he asked in a deep voice:

"Who are you?

"And why are you blocking my way?"

Contrary to his rough exterior, the man replied with surprising politeness,

"You must be Detective Ebner Bryan. My boss would like to meet with you. May I ask if you have time?"

Despite his courtesy, there was an undercurrent of compulsion in his words.

I haven't exactly been hiding my presence on Daville Island, but most of my time has been spent grinding points at school. Apart from that dinner with Miss Gwyn, I've kept a low profile. To know I'm on the island, whoever sent him must have access to some intelligence channels...

Weighing the situation, Ebner took a step forward and simulated Hugh's authoritative presence as he asked again,

"And who is your boss?"

"It's 'White Shark' Hamilton. I'm sure you've heard of him."

The burly man seemed reluctant to answer, but a sudden, inexplicable fear made him break into a cold sweat and spill the information.

White Shark Hamilton?

Ebner quickly recalled that Hamilton was the head of Daville Island's largest gang, the operator of the "Flying Fish and Wine" tavern, and the organizer of another Beyonder gathering on the island. However, the gatherings he hosted were neither high-level nor particularly safe.

This "White Shark" had even appeared in the original timeline. He had connections with several pirate crews and served as a shady middleman. He was also once outwitted by Gehrman Sparrow, losing access to the radio codes used to contact Admiral of Blood.

But why would he want to meet me? I've had no dealings with him.

Puzzled, Ebner dragged the burly man into a secluded alley to "interrogate" him. The man initially resisted but quickly realized, to his horror, that he couldn't break free of Ebner's grip. Regretting that he had come alone, he surrendered without further struggle.

It didn't take long for the frightened man, cowed by Ebner's simulated "aura of authority," to spill everything.

According to his confession, White Shark Hamilton had been negotiating with Miss Gwyn, the owner of the Aarunheim, over the purchase of the Golden Snake Sword. However, Miss Gwyn had steadfastly refused to sell the Beyonder weapon, which had been "invested" in her team by Lydia.

Daunted by the Lady of Dragon Might's reputation, Hamilton didn't resort to force. Instead, he hatched a scheme to abduct Ebner—rumored to be on good terms with Miss Gwyn—to coerce her into agreeing to the sale.

Ebner was speechless upon hearing this. It became clear that Hamilton wasn't particularly well-connected; otherwise, he would have known about Ebner's role in various incidents in Backlund and refrained from underestimating him as a mere detective with some luck and wit.

But why does he want the Golden Snake Sword so badly? People like him don't act without profit... Could there be a secret hidden within that sword? After all, it was crafted by Roselle and bears such a suggestive name. Who knows if Roselle left behind a 'Golden Snake Treasure' to match it.

With this thought in mind, Ebner decided to investigate further. Using a simulated "mental suggestion," he made the burly man forget their encounter, then walked to the vicinity of the "Flying Fish and Wine" tavern. Activating his "psychological invisibility," he entered the bar unseen.

On Daville Island, aside from the military and a small Punisher squad stationed after the monster attack, the major forces were few and far between. With his current abilities, Ebner had little to fear from them.

Inside the tavern, Ebner ascended the stairs, passing by the guards unnoticed. He reached the room where White Shark Hamilton resided and was about to simulate the process of unlocking the door when he heard a familiar voice from within:

"Lydia, are you sure this is okay?"

It was Terrance's voice. Were Lydia and Terrance inside? Had they captured White Shark? That made sense. Since Lydia had invested the Golden Snake Sword in Gwyn's team, she would have a vested interest in the negotiations. Backed by the vampires, she wouldn't hesitate to act decisively.

Piecing things together, Ebner passed through the door using his ability and entered the room.

"This scumbag wanted to use you and me to threaten the captain, and you're still worried about being a gentleman? I've already shown restraint by not finishing him off. It's only because he didn't escalate things further," Lydia said, pointing to an unconscious, pale, obese man lying on the floor.

"But… White Shark has a lot of influence on Daville. He's friendly with many pirates. If we provoke him, it'll be difficult to stay around here in the future," Terrance mumbled.

"Relax, my potion is very effective. He won't wake up for a while. As long as we're thorough, no one will know it was us. And besides, plenty of people want him dead," Lydia said with a grin.

"That's a relief…" Terrance exhaled before taking out materials to set up a ritual. As he worked, he added,

"But he's a Beyonder. If this matter is important to him, forcibly contacting his spirit might harm his mind."

"Want me to turn him into a puppet? But that might make his backers suspicious," Lydia offered with a shrug.

"Let me handle it…" Terrance quickly erected a spiritual wall and began communicating with White Shark's spirit in a dream.

Ten minutes later, a pale Terrance opened his eyes and reported to the impatient Lydia:

"I've got a general idea. Last week, White Shark bought a map at a Beyonder gathering. It might be a treasure map.

"On the back of the map, there's a drawing of a sword identical to the Golden Snake Sword. He noticed the captain using it to kill the bounty hunter who attacked her and became fixated on acquiring it."

"A treasure?" Lydia's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sword was gifted by Roselle to my brother—no, my family! Could the emperor have left something behind for his descendants to find?"

"White Shark's investigations revealed that the location on the map is near the Auradek Archipelago at the edge of the Misty Sea. Historical records suggest that Roselle's famous ghost ship, the Black Throne, was last seen there," Terrance added.

"The Black Throne? Our fleet needs a flagship, and a ghost ship would be perfect. If we find it, the captain might truly rise to the rank of pirate admiral!" Lydia exclaimed.

Turning her gaze to the unconscious White Shark, Lydia asked in a cold voice,

"Do you know where the map is?"

Terrance shook his head.

"His will resisted fiercely when I tried to ask. I couldn't get an answer."

"Then I'll do it myself!" Lydia, having anticipated this, leaned down and sank her sharp fangs into White Shark's neck.

(End of Chapter)