Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

"Whooo!"

At 4:15 PM on Saturday, after nearly four days of sailing and narrowly avoiding an approaching storm, the White Agate finally arrived at the capital of the Rorsted Archipelago, "The Generous City" of Bayam.

Also known as the Spice Islands, this region thrives on the cultivation of exotic spices, forming the backbone of its economy.

The island of Blue Mountain, home to Bayam, comprises more than half the archipelago's landmass. It is rich in gold, silver, copper, coal, and iron deposits, features lush forests, an abundance of fruits, and exceptionally fertile land. Due to these bountiful resources, the first colonizers named their coastal settlement "The Generous City," believing it to be a promised land flowing with milk and honey.

Ebner returned most of his extraordinary items and materials to the "Dream Labyrinth Tower's" resting room. After packing his suitcase, he disembarked smoothly from the second-class cabin of the ship.

Taking one last look at the White Agate, with its dual smokestacks and sails, and its 12 cannons on either side, Ebner sighed with some emotion.

"It seems I don't have the 'protagonist treatment.' I've safely completed my journey without encountering a single pirate... I didn't even get a chance to showcase my skills or make connections with Just Elland."

"Maybe it's because the captain didn't host any dances, banquets, or gatherings during the voyage. After all, my streak of bad luck always seems to surface during social events!"

With a wry smile at his own joke, Ebner glanced at the sky and decided it was still early. There was no need to stay at a hotel, as there should be enough time to head straight to the estate gifted to him by Cullen, located in Bayam's outskirts.

After some thought, he hired a "local expert" named Winter from a service agency to act as his guide. Winter helped him secure a carriage willing to venture out of the city in the late evening.

Fortunately, Cullen's estate wasn't far from the city. Despite the poor weather and encroaching darkness, the allure of golden pounds convinced a coachman to take the trip.

Seated in the carriage, Ebner pulled open the window and began questioning Winter about the names of the buildings along the streets.

Winter, a tall, lanky young man with slightly curly black hair and sharp features, wasn't a Bayam native himself. He hailed from Simium Island at the westernmost edge of the Rorsted Archipelago but had been living in Bayam for three years. Familiar with the area, Winter answered Ebner's questions with ease.

As the carriage neared the city's outskirts, Ebner suddenly spotted a somewhat familiar figure emerging from a building on the opposite side of the street and stepping into a roadside carriage.

The figure appeared to be a woman, though her hood obscured her face.

However, having seen her once at the Pirate Congress and possessing an excellent memory, Ebner immediately recognized her as Tracy, Vice Admiral of Ailment and one of the Seven Pirate Admirals.

"Quite brazen, aren't you? Apart from concealing your face, you've done almost nothing to disguise yourself. Are you that confident you can escape even if the authorities discover you?"

"Ah, it makes sense. The Demoness Sect is currently collaborating with the royal family and has connections within the military. Bayam is under the control of the Loen military, and even the Church of Storms isn't the dominant force here. After all, the Rorsted Archipelago has been colonized for less than fifty years."

Initially, Loen had partnered with the indigenous rulers and chiefs through the East Balam Trading Company to exploit the region economically. But corruption, internal power struggles, and personal vendettas within the company led to unnecessary wars. The situation became so absurd that company executives even filed mutual accusations of bribery in Parliament, nearly escalating to a courtroom brawl.

Following the chaos, the king and prime minister agreed to buy back the company's shares, dissolve it, and deploy troops to fully occupy the Rorsted Archipelago, establishing direct colonial rule.

With these thoughts in mind, Ebner sighed and averted his gaze. Reporting Tracy to the church would be futile; while the military wouldn't openly shield her, they could easily arrange for her secret release.

Since he planned to live in Bayam under the guise of "Hero Detective," keeping a low profile seemed the wiser choice.

"Sir, that's the Seid Chamber of Commerce. They primarily deal in tobacco, but I've heard their private dealings are far from clean—they're connected to several local gangs," Winter explained hesitantly, noticing Ebner's lingering gaze.

"So, this Chamber of Commerce is essentially acting as Tracy's proxy to fence stolen goods?" Ebner mused. "In the original timeline, it was mentioned that pirates often rely on gangs or well-connected individuals to handle their loot and procure necessities..."

He nodded thoughtfully but said nothing.

After this brief encounter, the carriage quickly left the city, arriving at a 500-acre estate featuring a small castle and garden.

Standing before the estate's central building, Ebner saw the original steward and servants already gathered in the courtyard, evidently informed of his impending arrival.

Looking at the expansive property, Ebner's mind immediately began calculating the maintenance costs required to keep such a place operational.

"Thankfully, this is a colony, so labor costs are low. And the estate itself generates some income. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare live here."

...

The Seid Chamber of Commerce, a three-story building in the Loen architectural style, was lavishly decorated to flaunt its wealth.

In a corner room on the second floor, Helene sat quietly reading a book. On the surface, she appeared calm, but inwardly, she was growing increasingly anxious.

"With Tracy out handling business, if I don't seize this opportunity to escape, I'll be stuck by her side for the rest of my life!"

"But… Celia is still here. I'm not confident I can take her down in one strike. If she calls for reinforcements, I won't stand a chance."

Helene bit her lip, desperately brainstorming ways to distract Celia.

Celia, a beautiful blonde and another of Tracy's attendants, was also an Extraordinary.

Just as Helene was on the verge of losing her composure, Celia gave her a meaningful glance before unexpectedly standing and heading toward the hallway.

"Where are you going?" Helene asked instinctively.

"Why should I tell you?" Celia scoffed, slamming the door shut behind her.

"This is my chance!" Helene's eyes lit up. She rushed to the window, glanced down at the empty alley below, and leaped out, landing gracefully.

She quickly oriented herself and darted toward the outskirts.

"The Intis embassy is my ultimate goal, but Tracy's people might realize I've fled at any moment. If I try to escape into the city, they'll capture me for sure. It's safer to hide in the countryside for a few days—Tracy can't stay in Bayam indefinitely. Once she's gone, the city will be less dangerous."

Meanwhile, in the hallway, Celia smirked faintly, thinking, Run, run as far as you can. Never come back!

"Ever since you arrived, the captain hasn't even glanced at me once..."

Clenching her fists, Celia kept her expression pleasant as she chatted with two pirates who had come to check on her.

...

At the Fragrant Manor in Bayam's outskirts, Ebner and his guide Winter entered the dining room.

The steward, Mr. Harvey, had prepared a lavish banquet to welcome the estate's new master.

(End of Chapter)