Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Jane looked at the lion but did not immediately agree.

Although this lion had always seemed relatively friendly, she couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't be a threat to Ebner.

"What do you need Ebner for? Why didn't you mention it back when we were in that grand hall together?" she asked after some thought.

After all, the other party was a demigod-level being. Though her wording was a bit blunt, her tone remained relatively calm.

"There were some things that weren't convenient to talk about there… Hmm, and they're still not convenient to tell you," Leon the lion muttered. Then, feeling frustrated, he scratched at the ground with his paw, digging a small hole as he grumbled, "Besides, I originally thought I could find him through 'mysticism,' but who would have guessed… Hmph, I have no idea what kind of thing he has on him, but I can't trace even a single thread of his fate."

So you basically messed up, huh? Jane sneered inwardly. She couldn't help but ponder, Now that I think about it, Ebner really is a bit odd… He's been staying in Backlund the whole time, yet his advancement speed has outpaced even mine, despite all my fortunate encounters…

Oh well, Ebner has his own secrets. I don't need to figure everything out—as long as it's not a threat to him, that's all that matters.

With that thought, Jane fell silent for a few seconds before saying seriously, "I can help you ask, but whether or not he wants to meet you is up to Ebner."

"No problem…" Leon the lion seemed to sigh in relief before remembering something and adding, "Oh, and make sure to tell that brat—if he wants my blood, he better agree to meet me."

Finks Lion blood was one of the auxiliary materials for the "Mysticism Magister" pathway.

Leon hadn't given it to Ebner before because he had intended to use it as a bargaining chip for a deal… But who could have expected that the guy would suddenly vanish without a trace?

Jane gave Leon a deep look, thinking to herself that this lion was quite the schemer—no wonder it had such a large head…

After finalizing their discussion, a beautiful woman with long black hair and brown eyes, dressed in the traditional attire of the Southern Continent, smiled and said, "So, you're planning to leave?"

"Yes… Our agreed-upon time was until Monday," Jane said, glancing nervously at this woman who called herself "Bruna," a demigod of the Numinous Episcopate. She couldn't help but recall the day Bruna had killed Chieftain Fate and then intercepted her.

At the time, she had spoken in the same gentle yet undeniable tone, making it impossible for Jane to refuse staying in the Southern Continent for three more days.

And since Jane hadn't yet completed the task Maric had entrusted her with, she had simply gone along with it.

"It's fine. My goal has already been achieved, so there's no need to keep you here any longer," Bruna chuckled before glancing at the little girl sleeping on the bed. "That girl, Wenna—what do you plan to do with her?"

"I know a friend of her father's," Jane replied in a slightly hoarse voice.

The implication was that she intended to take Wenna back to be raised by Maric.

"That works too," Bruna nodded before saying in a tone laced with mockery, "The 'Rose School of Thought' probably suffered a huge loss this time. That one nearly drove all of the 'Indulgence Faction's' demigods insane.

"If Suah hadn't offered up a sacrifice in time, the 'Indulgence Faction' would have had to completely rebuild itself."

"The Rose School of Thought… Something happened to them?" Jane immediately perked up with interest.

Hearing about the Rose School of Thought getting humiliated was always enjoyable to her.

"I don't know the exact reason… But I can guess that whatever you all did in that grand hall must have enraged 'that one' to the extreme," Bruna said, giving Jane a knowing look.

Jane fell into deep thought, recalling the events in the hall. By the time she came back to her senses, Bruna's figure had already disappeared, leaving only the massive lion still lying at the door, yawning.

"Can't you make yourself a bit smaller?" Jane hesitated before asking.

If Ebner agreed to meet, she would have to bring this lion across the sea to the Northern Continent… A beast of this size would be a nightmare to transport.

And if I contact the Future… I'm afraid Frank won't be able to resist doing something reckless… If that happens, even the captain might not be able to calm down an enraged demigod lion.

"Relax, in the eyes of others, I'm just a tabby cat," Leon the lion said indifferently.

"'Dream Weaver'… Weaving illusions to disguise your real form?" Jane looked at the yawning lion in surprise, suddenly realizing that its movements did resemble a cat's.

"You know quite a bit… But I can only replicate about forty to fifty percent of the effect. After all, I've only met that old man a few times," Leon remarked, slightly surprised that Jane recognized the origin of his ability, but he quickly lost interest.

Well, she is one of Her Highness's subordinates—it's only natural for her to be knowledgeable.

"Old man?" Jane asked casually.

Leon, of course, could see through her little scheme, but he didn't mind and answered offhandedly, "Just an ordinary-looking old man. He came to see Roselle a few times.

"The most memorable occasion was when he brought a few gemstones and asked Roselle to craft an extraordinary item for him.

"Roselle didn't understand why that old man needed a mid-sequence mystical artifact, but considering their past relationship, he agreed to help.

"That 'Calamity Seal' guy even gave the item a name…

"'Fallen Morning Star!'"

...

On a hillside outside the village, Bruna glanced around and smiled. "Since you're already here, why not come out and meet me?"

As she spoke, a swing made of pea vines descended from the air, and Bernadette, with her long chestnut hair, appeared before her.

"Bruna… Aunt," Bernadette said after a brief silence, her voice soft but devoid of emotion. "You detained Jane just to lure me here, didn't you? What do you want?"

Bruna studied Bernadette with a smile before finally replying, "It's about some discoveries concerning your father…

"If you're not in a hurry, I'd like to ask you to wait here for a few days.

"When your other aunt arrives, I'll tell you both together."

...

Bayam, Fragrant Manor.

In the evening, after finishing dinner, Ebner went alone to the basement to prepare the ritual for teleportation.

As for Edwina, she had already returned to the Golden Dream before dinner.

When the flame-wreathed "door" opened on the altar, Ebner stepped through and once again arrived in the wine cellar of the hot spring inn near Indo Harbor.

At night, the hot spring pool was still eerily deserted. Aside from a few more baboons soaking in the baths to keep warm, everything was exactly as it had been a few days ago during his daytime visit.

Ebner didn't mind. In fact, he was rather pleased—after all, the fewer guests an inn had, the cheaper its price would be, right?

"But I still need to figure out why this place is so empty…

"Wouldn't want to buy it only to invite trouble later…"

With that thought in mind, Ebner used his "Nightmare" ability to enter the dreams of the innkeeper and the only two employees.

A moment later, he emerged from the dreamworld, his expression turning a bit strange as he muttered to himself, "No wonder I ended up here when I came out of the Mirror World…

"So, the problem with this inn is actually my fault…"

Because the hot spring inn's owner was none other than Miss Gwen's grandfather.

(End of Chapter)