Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

The man nicknamed "Sea Serpent" was named Weaver. After losing his parents at a young age, he joined the underworld of Bayam, dabbling in theft, scams, and other petty crimes.

However, Weaver was a smooth operator. Whether stealing or deceiving, he always left a way out and never burned bridges. This earned him the moniker "Sea Serpent."

It was precisely because of this trait that Ebner hadn't killed him outright. Even by modern legal standards, Weaver's past actions weren't severe enough to warrant execution.

Of course, there was another reason Ebner had spared him and brought him back to his estate.

At the moment, Ebner didn't bother asking Helene how she had "entertained" him. Instead, he sat calmly on the main sofa in the living room and handed a Bayam local newspaper to the still despondent young man across from him. "Take a look at this."

The newspaper had been handed to Ebner by his butler on his way upstairs.

Weaver, having received some education before his parents' passing, was literate. After a brief glance, he looked up at Ebner in shock and disbelief. "Mr. Ozil is dead?!"

As for the report's claim that a sudden lightning storm caused an electrical fire in the villa, resulting in the tragedy—he didn't believe a word of it!

What an absurd coincidence! Just after Mr. Ozil revealed his ambitions about Detective Bryan estate, he ended up dead… This was clearly man-made!

And the person in front of me, Detective Bryan, is the prime suspect…

Wait, if I've realized this, does that mean I'll be silenced next?

The thought made Weaver anxious, but he quickly steadied himself. He had survived the underworld long enough to know that if he was still alive now, it was because he still had value.

"You recognize this, don't you?" Ebner placed a revolver on the coffee table—the same one he had taken from Tula, one of Ozil's henchmen, the night before.

Weaver examined the revolver carefully, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice, "That's Mr. Tula's favorite revolver… a Beyonder weapon."

If this gun is in Detective Bryanpossession, then Mr. Tula's fate is clear…

And now, I'm the only one left who knows about Mr. Ozil's plans for the estate!

As Weaver forcibly suppressed his rising panic, he heard Ebner chuckle lightly. "Not bad. Your mental resilience meets my standards."

So there's something he needs me for… That means I won't die, at least for now. Weaver exhaled softly, bowed his head, and said respectfully, "Sir, please tell me what you need me to do."

Ebner gave him a measured look and asked instead, "If I asked you to take over Amyris Leaf Bar and reorganize the Beyonder gathering there, how confident would you be?"

Yes, Ebner's other reason for keeping Weaver alive was to establish control over a well-known Beyonder gathering. This would give him a stable source of materials and a convenient way to sell items.

Hearing this, Weaver's face filled with hesitation. After a long silence, he said with difficulty, "I'm not strong enough to suppress the competition in the gang and claim control of Mr. Ozil's remaining power… And I don't have the money to buy shares in Amyris Leaf Bar…"

Before he could finish, Ebner interrupted, "You don't need to worry about the money. I'll provide it. As for strength…"

"Last night's lightning storm killed most of Ozil's Beyonders and gunmen. The remaining forces are weak… And I can offer you a chance to become a Beyonder!"

He glanced at Helene, who was standing nearby with an amused expression and added with a smile, "Even if you encounter tough opponents or enemies, I can send my maid to help you deal with them. You've already seen her capabilities, haven't you?"

While this investment was substantial, controlling a well-known Beyonder gathering would undoubtedly be worth it. At the very least, it would provide him with a new source of intelligence and materials.

The mention of becoming a Beyonder had already ignited Weaver's ambition. Hearing Ebner's assurances, he quickly nodded. "If that's the case… I'm at least 70% confident I can take control of Amyris Leaf Bar!"

Meanwhile, Helene blinked in confusion and thought to herself, Wait, does being a maid include acting as a gang enforcer?

"Good!" Ebner said with satisfaction. He then used his Notary ability to draft a contract for Weaver. Unlike the one given to Helene, this contract was far more stringent.

Next, Ebner used a Doctor Strange Card to pull Weaver's spirit into the Dream Labyrinth Tower's rest chamber. There, he used the Ninth Law sigil to place a prohibition on Weaver's mind, ensuring he could never reveal information about Ebner or Helene, even unintentionally.

This method was inspired by what Heras did to Capim's subordinates. Using the Ninth Law makes this restriction nearly impossible to break, even for a demi-god.

As for why this had to be done in the Dream Labyrinth Tower, it was because using the Ninth Law in the real world would cost a significant amount of contribution points—and after the extravagant use of a Calamity Sigil last night, Ebner couldn't afford it.

When everything was complete, Ebner returned Weaver to the study and smiled. "Which Pathway do you want to pursue as a Beyonder?"

Weaver glanced at Helene, gritted his teeth, and said, "I want to become a Hunter!"

It was one of the three Sequence 9 names he knew, and the one he understood best. He had even witnessed its power firsthand.

Moreover, his parents had been killed by a Hunter Beyonder. His earlier depression wasn't just because of Helene's "hospitality," but also because he had been reminded of that traumatic scene from his childhood.

...

At the Quelaag Club, Klein received back-to-back commissions from Reporter Mike and Doctor Allen, leaving him amazed at his growing reputation.

As for the tasks…

Mike wanted Klein to accompany him to the East Borough to interview a girl saved by the Hero Bandit Black Emperor, hoping to uncover the hero's true identity.

Doctor Allen, on the other hand, wanted Klein to accompany him in tracking down a child named Will Auceptin, who he believed was the cause of his recent bad luck.

For the first task, Klein almost couldn't stop himself from smirking. You've certainly come to the right person. He accepted the commission with grace.

The second task intrigued him even more—it felt like an opportunity for another "performance." After negotiating a fee of 2 pounds, he accepted the task.

After doing such good deeds, my luck really seems to be improving… Am I truly becoming the Yellow-Black King of Fortune?

As this thought crossed his mind, his friend Talim the Riding Instructor approached.

"Sherlock… I have a favor to ask of you!"

...

Bayam

Helene watched as Weaver, now a newly minted Hunter, left the estate with a Beyonder revolver in hand. Confusion clouded her gaze as she asked, "What's so special about him? Why not let your male servant handle this instead?"

She was referring to Winter, who had previously served as Ebner's guide. At this point, Winter had returned to his hometown, brought back the girl named Renee, settled her in the outskirts of the city, and officially started working for Ebner.

"To run a Beyonder bar in a colonial city successfully, one needs strength, wisdom, and cunning.

"Winter and the others at the estate are too upright—they wouldn't fit in well with that kind of environment. Weaver, on the other hand, grew up in the underworld. He understands its rules and knows how to navigate them. He's also quick-witted.

"But most importantly, he has a bottom line. He's not an irredeemable scumbag."

"Considering all these factors, I believe he's the most suitable choice."

Ebner explained calmly. Then, turning to Helene, he added, "Get ready—we're going out. I need to fulfill the promise I made yesterday."

And while we're at it, I'll also check on that poor girl I 'tricked' into heading to Darkwill. Has she managed to start living a proper life?

...

Inside the Quelaag Club, Klein stared at Talim, subconsciously repeating his request, "You want me to protect you while you meet a lady? At midnight?"

What is this? Are you afraid of getting set up in a honey trap?

(End of Chapter)