Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Tuesday noon, within the "Room of Rewards" on the sixth floor of the Dream Labyrinth Tower.

The figures of Klein and Miss Sharon appeared here, both looking disheveled as if they had just survived a great catastrophe.

And indeed, they had. Under the overlapping disasters of a super hurricane, floods, and freezing temperatures, the city in the scenario had descended into an apocalyptic state.

If Miss Sharon were still a Wraith, such extreme weather conditions wouldn't have affected her much. However, on the sixth floor, she could only use her Werewolf abilities. Fortunately, among all Sequence 7 pathways, Werewolves were considered one of the strongest in terms of both survival and frontal combat capabilities.

Meanwhile, although Klein could use his full abilities, the Magician's physical endurance was still lacking. At the very start, he was nearly swept away by the hurricane… If not for Sharon saving him, he might have had to chant the Fool's honorific name on the spot to escape to the Gray Fog.

Afterward, thanks to Klein recognizing which movie the scenario was based on, he quickly located the protagonist, completed the task, and returned successfully.

"This floor was dangerous, but it shouldn't have been set up by Linster… He's waiting for us on the fifth floor!" Klein said to Miss Sharon after taking a brief rest.

Sharon, her pale face still calm and emotionless, replied softly, "The timing after entering the scenario wasn't right. He tampered with it."

Klein frowned slightly at her words, silently agreeing with her judgment. Compared to the earlier scenarios, this time they had been thrown directly into the most dangerous part without any time to adapt… While it could be chalked up to the increasing difficulty of the sixth floor, Klein felt that if he hadn't known the plot, they wouldn't have had enough time to complete the task. They might have been trapped in that apocalyptic scenario until death…

Will the fifth floor be like this as well?

Sharon, wearing her small black soft hat, nodded slightly and then shook her head. "There will be arrangements… but we're more likely to encounter Linster directly."

A trap, after all… Fortunately, I can always 'leave' if necessary. I should go for it. As long as I can take down Linster, this Dream Labyrinth Tower shouldn't have any more traps targeting Sharon and me. At that point, maybe the permissions he blocked will also be restored…

Klein sighed and asked, "Do we continue?"

Sharon shook her head lightly and said in her ethereal voice, "The extraordinary items I prepared were all exhausted on the sixth floor…"

So we'll need time to replenish? Makes sense. Unlike me, she can't leave freely. Entering the fifth floor is equivalent to gambling with her life; preparation must be thorough…

With this in mind, Klein asked again, "When do you think would be suitable?"

"Next Wednesday or Thursday night. I'll inform you in advance." Sharon thought for a moment before replying succinctly.

This timing was also acknowledged by the Dream Labyrinth Tower.

"Alright." Klein exhaled softly, then casually chose one of the "mirrors" and walked over to review his reward.

"Shatter extraordinary characteristics and allow spiritual contamination to evaporate?"

Holding a book titled "Aetri's Conjecture", Klein showed a look of realization, followed by some helplessness.

So the reward this time really is a method to eliminate spiritual contamination from extraordinary characteristics…

But I don't have the ability to shatter characteristics! Moreover, if the Pitch-Black Eye gets shattered, the spiritual contamination from the True Creator hidden inside might erupt. Who could handle that? Should I attempt it above the Gray Fog?

The rest of the book's conjectures seemed intriguing at first glance, but upon deeper reflection, they were fraught with peril.

Was Aetri a Beyonder of the Mystery Pryer pathway? Could he have gone mad from being overwhelmed by "Knowledge"?

Closing the book, Klein turned to Sharon and found her calm blue eyes looking at him. She parted her lips slightly and said, "A method to eliminate spiritual contamination from extraordinary characteristics."

Such a coincidence? Did this tower give the same reward twice? What a scam! Is this Linster doing as well?

Klein silently complained before showing Sharon the Aetri's Conjecture. After a moment of silence, Sharon handed him a thin book titled "Roselle's Memoirs V."

Seeing the title, Klein's mouth twitched. When he opened the pages, he wasn't surprised to see an intimate encounter between Roselle and a certain Madame. However, unlike the Roselle Diaries, this book was narrated in the third person.

Did Liu Bo write this? Could he have contributed to constructing this Dream Labyrinth Tower as well?

Klein quickly skimmed through the pages, finally finding the only valuable information:

Roselle had used a "Grade 0 Sealed Artifact" to shatter an extraordinary item and allowed the Mysticologist characteristic within it to recombine.

At the same time, Sharon finished reading Aetri's Conjecture, nodded slightly, and said, "They corroborate each other."

After a pause, she added, "The rest of the knowledge in this book is very dangerous. Don't attempt it."

Stop treating me like some lunatic who tries everything recklessly… I only attempt things when I'm confident about them.

Klein recalled Sharon's look when she first heard about the Blasphemous Runes incantation. With a resigned sigh, he mentally defended himself.

...

In a Hidden Alley in the Eastern District

Freyja, the eldest daughter of laundress Liv, led her younger sister Daisy down a shortcut after delivering freshly cleaned clothes to a customer. They wanted to get home quickly for lunch.

They often used this alley and, since it was midday, felt relatively safe despite remaining vigilant.

But suddenly, Daisy was grabbed from behind by a man in a heavy jacket and a gray-black cap. He covered her mouth with a handkerchief and dragged her into a side alley.

Another man dressed similarly, grabbed her legs. Together, they swiftly carried her away and disappeared into a waiting carriage outside the alley.

The entire process took less than two minutes. By the time Freyja turned back in a panic, the carriage had already disappeared.

Seeing her fourteen-year-old sister taken away, Freyja ran desperately, but she could only watch helplessly as the carriage vanished from her sight.

Tears streamed down her face as she screamed for help, hoping for a good Samaritan.

But this was the edge of the Eastern District. Everyone here was numb to life, and no one would respond to a girl's cries. Worse, her calls drew the attention of some ill-intentioned gang members.

Fortunately, a patrolling policeman arrived just in time, saving her from also being abducted.

Freyja clutched the officer desperately, explaining everything tearfully. But the policeman merely recorded her statement and sent her home, telling her to wait for updates.

When laundress Liv learned of her daughter's abduction, she froze momentarily before turning to Freyja with an intense determination in her eyes.

"Didn't you once tell me that Mr. Aetris, who brought back your father's ashes, said we could seek someone for help?"

Freyja's eyes brightened, and she hit her forehead hard. "I can't believe I forgot something so important!

"Mom, Mr. Aetris said he's friends with the Hero Detective… and we can also find a police officer named Fassing…"

Liv nodded, took out a small parcel—her husband's inheritance—and said firmly, "We'll send a telegram to Mr. Aetris, then ask where the Hero Detective lives."

...

In the Basement of Fragrant Manor, Bayam

A circle of crackling sparks appeared above a Teleportation Altar, and Admiral of Icebergs Edwina walked out from within.

(End of Chapter)