Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

"Heh, to be precise, he's just a part of Inspector Russell's ritual to advance to a 'Devil'!" Leone scoffed in a human-like manner.

Hearing the lion speak so confidently, Ebner asked in surprise: "How did you figure that out?"

Even he, with a stronger "Blight" ability, had only vaguely sensed that Inspector Russell was problematic.

"What happened to that criminal is about fifty or sixty percent similar to the story in a novel Roselle wrote called Les Misérables. To say that the mastermind didn't draw inspiration from it, I don't believe it!

And from what I know, the 'Devils' of the Nors family particularly enjoy using the method of reenacting characters with extreme personalities from literary works to complete their rituals. So, I'm eighty or ninety percent sure that this whole thing is a script written and directed by that Russell fellow himself...

If you don't believe me, you can investigate: in the past few decades, has there always been an inspector in Trier who upholds 'justice' and 'law' but seems inhumane, leading to a talented person's family being destroyed and them embarking on a path of revenge..."

Les Misérables? So that's it... Roselle actually plagiarized this world-famous masterpiece! Ebner felt a bit embarrassed, because in his previous life, he had only heard the name of this famous work but hadn't read it, completely unaware of its content, which led him to overlook the "key" clue.

However, since it's a plot from Roselle's novel, didn't anyone in the official organizations figure it out?

Ebner thought this, and then asked the question.

"Lion" Leone shook his head, replying: "Roselle never publicly published this novel after writing it. Besides me and Bernadette, I'm afraid only the 'Demon' who obtained that manuscript knows about it."

At this moment, Fanny, who had been listening to the conversation between the man and the lion, couldn't help but ask: "What are you talking about? How is this case connected to a 'Devil's' ritual?"

Fors, next to her, also looked at Ebner, eagerly awaiting an answer. The inside story of this case was so complex, even more exciting than a novel; she really wanted to "collect" some material.

Ebner pondered for a moment, then smiled and retorted:

"You should know about the legend of the 'Fountain of Immortality' on the sea, right?"

Fanny and Fors both nodded, saying: "We know a little. Legend has it that the Fountain of Immortality is deep in the Sonia Sea, and 'Undying King' Agarito, one of the Four Kings, drank from its waters."

"Yes, the 'Undying King' even sends people to hunt down adventurers who know about the 'Fountain of Immortality'!" Ebner said. Seeing that the two ladies' interest had been piqued, he then changed the subject: "But that's a trick! A trap deliberately released by the 'Undying King' to specifically harm adventurers searching for the 'Fountain of Immortality'!

And the 'Just Inspector' in this incident is, in a sense, of the same nature as the 'Fountain of Immortality.'"

"This... this is part of a 'Demon's' demigod advancement ritual?" Fors, who had heard "Little Sun" describe the characteristics of the "Demon" Pathway at the Tarot Club, asked thoughtfully.

"Lion" Leone then "heh"-ed and interjected: "In fact, if Russell's plan hadn't been ruined by this kid... according to his script, that criminal wouldn't have been caught here. Instead, he would have successfully framed Fanny, then calmly escaped, and then kidnapped or killed Russell's son and daughter, forcing him to choose between 'justice' and family affection, tempting him to no longer adhere to his ideals, even causing his ideals to collapse, and gradually fall...

But at the end of this 'game,' the criminal, whose humanity hadn't completely vanished, would suddenly discover that the 'just' and 'righteous' inspector was actually the one who had fallen the deepest, the true devil!

Everything was an illusion!

...Ultimately, experiencing great joy and sorrow, only to discover before success that he had been the other party's pawn all along, the criminal would die in extreme shock, anger, and unwillingness, becoming part of the ritual.

Then Russell would probably recover the criminal's characteristic and then seek out the next unlucky person for his script."

After hearing its narration, both Fors and Fanny felt a chill down their spines, especially Fors. As a writer, she subconsciously empathized with the criminal's feelings and shivered.

Just thinking about it makes me feel grief and despair... Fors sighed, feeling that her next book's villain character had been conceived.

This is essentially "Joker" playing with "Batman," only to find out in the end that Batman was already "The Batman Who Laughs"... Ebner also summarized inwardly.

Fanny bit her lip, frowning: "But his wife was indeed killed... If Leone's speculation is correct, his son and daughter might also die... Can one be so ruthless just for advancement?"

"Sequence 8 of the 'Demon' Pathway is a 'Cold-Blooded One'... He's different from normal people!" Ebner sighed.

The carriage was silent for half a minute. Fors looked at "Lion" Leone, changing the subject: "Since it's finished, why didn't Emperor Roselle publish Les Misérables?"

If it were her, she would have found an editor and submitted the manuscript immediately after finishing it.

"Princess Bernadette also asked this question, and Roselle's original words were, 'One's position determines one's perspective. It's not appropriate for me, as an archon, to publish such a novel.'" Leone always spoke freely when it came to topics related to Roselle.

One could even say that if this case hadn't been somewhat similar to the plot of Les Misérables, it wouldn't have volunteered the information.

One's position determines one's perspective... Although Fors and Fanny lacked a true understanding of politics, they still grasped the meaning contained in that simple phrase.

Roselle was truly "realistic"... Ebner sighed inwardly, then looked out the train window, his gaze seemingly penetrating space to fall upon Trier, their destination.

I wonder how this demon, who orchestrates others' fates from behind the scenes, will react to this unexpected turn?

Also, as a member of the Nors family, could he be related to the Deline family?

Thinking this, Ebner fell into thought, his eyes gradually deepening.

This concentration, coupled with the "Goddess of Beauty" mark on his forehead, made it almost impossible for the two accompanying ladies to look away.

.....

Lanz Island is a small island in the southern Rorsted Archipelago with only a few thousand permanent residents.

The "Golden Dream" approached a private port on the island and dropped off Klein and Danitz.

Dunn looked back at the ship, which shimmered with golden light, and suddenly sighed:

"I feel like my friendship has sunk into the sea! Except for Talim, everyone else wishes I'd never come back to the 'Golden Dream'!"

In front of Mr. Tower, you are all losers...

Adding a sentence inwardly, Klein pressed his hat and said calmly:

"Losers can form an alliance."

"..." Danitz, Vice Admiral Disease to Vice Admiral of Ailment, didn't know whether he should be happy or sad.

After a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a question: "Where are we going?"

"First, find a hotel on this small island to stay at." Klein said this aloud, but added inwardly: Then, after the Tarot Club, I'll go to a deserted island tens of nautical miles to the south and dig up "Vice Admiral of Ailment"...

—After receiving the "oracle," the fishermen buried Tracy underground to avoid losing the item dedicated to the deity.

.....

Woo!

Amidst the whistle, the long steam train clattered into Trier.

Ebner had "Chezia" carry the luggage, while he himself, with Fors and Fanny, stepped onto the land of this "City of Flowers," "Romantic Capital," and "Art Sanctuary."

Because Roselle had forcefully relocated heavy industries away from the capital region after becoming emperor, this city, which had completed the Industrial Revolution earliest, didn't have the perpetually gloomy and dark skies of Backlund.

—Though this order faced immense resistance at the time, almost all business owners and the Church of Steam opposed it, with only the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun offering support.

Fresh air, bright sunshine, comfortable temperatures... Judging solely from the natural environment, Trier was considerably more comfortable than Backlund.

As Ebner pondered, an elderly man who looked like a butler calmly approached.

He first bowed to Ebner, then walked to Fanny's side and introduced himself.

Fanny pursed her lips, spoke briefly with the elder, then turned to Ebner, saying with some reluctance: "Ebner... my father sent someone to pick me up and take me back to the family manor... so I'll have to say goodbye here."

"It's alright. You go home first, and once I'm settled, I'll pay a formal visit," Ebner replied with a smile, politely nodding to the elder.

Dealing with the Deline family might require the Surry family's power and connections, so Ebner had already planned for this.

Upon hearing this, Fanny's eyes curved into a smile. After waving goodbye to Ebner, she happily boarded the carriage parked by the roadside with the butler—although she knew Ebner had no other intentions, she still held a small expectation.

After the carriage drove away, Fors turned her head and asked: "Where are we going now? Straight to the First Bank?"

Ebner glanced at his pocket watch, finding it was not yet ten in the morning. After examining Fors from head to toe, he said with a smile: "The bank can wait...

"First, we'll go to Chavignia Street in Trier to buy you a new outfit."

.....

At 12 PM Trier time, 3 PM Backlund time, Fors, now dressed in a new light yellow lace dress, accompanied Ebner to a high-class club hotel for lodging. As soon as she sealed the room with a "Spiritual Wall," crimson light surged out before her eyes, engulfing everything.

.....

On the "Future," Cattleya once again delivered her "last words" to the crew, then returned to her captain's cabin under Jane's hesitant gaze, immediately sealing the room with her spirituality.

She sat on her bed, pondering the impact Mr. Fool and the so-called Tarot Club would have on her.

Unconsciously, a tall figure appeared in her mind, and the words that she could never forget echoed in her ears once more:

"Leave. Your destiny is not with me."

Is this my destiny, Your Majesty?

Cattleya closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her vision was filled with a tide of deep crimson light.