Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

After the rewards from the Vampire Ancestor were distributed, "Vice Admiral Iceberg" Edwina, having put away "Silent Winter," paused for a few seconds. She then picked up "Groselle's Travels" from the altar and handed it to Ebner, stating, "The deities wish for you to keep this book."

Looking at the parchment-bound volume in Edwina's hand, Ebner understood that this was likely the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom" bestowing rewards. This copy of "Groselle's Travels," which concerned the ownership of the "Dream Labyrinth Tower," was indeed what he needed most.

So, Ebner accepted it without hesitation.

Next, Edwina took out the "Error" card and, handing it to Klein, simply said, "This is yours."

For her, since the knowledge contained within the "Blasphemy Card" had already been recorded, the card itself held little appeal. Thus, even when the deity instructed her to give the card to Gehrman, she felt little regret.

Klein, having watched the "live stream" earlier, also knew this was a reward from a "deity," so he didn't bother with formalities. He enveloped the card with his spirituality and tucked it into his pocket.

"The 'Error' card... According to Mr. Tower's 'scope' theory, it should belong to the three 'Bizarre' pathways... It should be very compatible with that mysterious space above the gray fog... Hmm, I'll test it out later."

While thinking this, Klein saw Edwina retrieve a circular brass plate engraved with numerous runes and present it to Sharon, briefly introducing it: "This is a charm sealed with a demigod-level 'secret art' that can create 'golden armor' to resist divine attacks."

This charm was given to her by Madam Isabella as a life-saving contingency, but it wasn't used until the first floor's scenario ended.

It now seemed that there was indeed a deity's arrangement behind this; otherwise, a deity wouldn't casually allow a follower's private item to be given away.

Miss Sharon did not immediately take the charm. She first looked at Klein, and only after he gently nodded did she pick up the charm, concisely saying, "Thank you."

With Sharon's acceptance, Edwina's "distribution" task concluded. As for Taylors and herself, their rewards had already been received beforehand.

Since there were no Beyonders of the "Sleepless" pathway among those present, the Goddess's "reward" was unlikely to arrive quickly. So, after "Chessia" retrieved the "Book of Stars" and the "Book of Concealment," Ebner used short-range "teleportation" to bring everyone to the room where he had set up the "Teleportation Altar."

—Although the "Book of Concealment" failed to fulfill its mission of stealing Zaratul's "resurrection" miracle, having been used twice, it was still in a semi-damaged state. According to Ebner's observation, it would completely disintegrate after at most one more use.

Speaking of which, Ebner had originally wanted to arrange a dinner for these friends who had fought side-by-side, but because they had been delayed for several days in the "Dream Labyrinth Tower," aside from Klein, who seemed somewhat interested, both Edwina and Sharon were eager to return home.

Among them, Taylors, upon hearing that they were in Tosk, showed a thoughtful expression, then took his leave first and departed alone.

Meanwhile, Ebner activated the "Teleportation Ritual," first sending Sharon to Backlund, and then returning with Klein and Edwina to the basement of the "Aromatic Manor" in Bayam.

.....

The luxurious suite at the "Azure Wind" hotel.

Danitz, who had returned late at night after carousing at a bar, unknowingly fell asleep. He dreamed that the Captain finally came to find him, but she and "Vice Admiral of Ailment" Tracy were following behind Gehrman Sparrow, like maids, clearly having been subdued by him.

Just as Danitz was seething with indignation and about to go find the equally terrifying Detective Bryan or "Doctor Strange" to rescue the Captain, he suddenly saw the blurry surroundings become clear, settling into the hotel's luxurious suite.

Thump, thump, thump.

Danitz heard a slow, rhythmic knocking at the door.

Am I not dreaming? Danitz, holding onto this doubt, walked to the door and twisted the handle.

As the gap in the door widened, he saw a familiar figure.

It was a beautiful lady with an oval face, a high nose bridge, thin lips, and a pair of light blue eyes like clear spring water.

Her brown hair was parted in the middle, tied simply yet elegantly at the back of her head, then flowed smoothly downwards.

She wore no hat, dressed in a blue mage robe cinched at the waist, with a large, palm-sized flower-shaped decoration woven from white lace extending downwards from the collar. It was none other than Edwina!

And beside her, two gentlemen followed.

They were dressed similarly and both wore gold-rimmed glasses, though one was young and handsome, the other mature and stern. They were Ebner and Klein.

"Captain!" Danitz exclaimed.

He immediately turned around, blocking Gehrman and Ebner, shouting:

"Run, Captain! This lunatic has teamed up with the detective; I can't hold them off for long!"

As his heroic self-sacrifice surged, Danitz heard his Captain frown and ask:

"What exactly did you dream of just now?"

I dreamed you were captured and made into a maid... Danitz mumbled, then instantly realized that the letter the Captain had left earlier indeed said she would return with her companions...

So, he stopped his obstruction, enduring Ebner's and Klein's strange gazes, and sheepishly said, "I... I was still half asleep..."

"You are still in a dream right now," Edwina calmly stated.

A dream... Right, I'm dreaming, what's there to be afraid of... Danitz thought this, recalling relevant lessons from the "Golden Dream" ship, and suddenly understood:

"Captain, have you simulated a 'Nightmare's' ability?"

"This is a 'Dreamwalker's' ability... But it's close enough," Ebner interjected at this point, asking with slight confusion:

"What did you do? Why are there several people staking you out outside the hotel?"

.....

Inside the three-story building near the Bayam Governor's Mansion, an open and unrestrained dance party hosted by the "Celestial Sect" was underway.

The daughter of a gang boss, the Governor's mistress, and the sect's "Fertility Emissary," Miss Abby, guided a subordinate to climax just as the dance music ended.

Leaning against him, she asked in a husky voice, "Has that adventurer still not returned?"

"Pant... pant... Yes, Miss... We haven't found his ticket purchase record at the ticketing company... He should still be on Blue Mountain Island, possibly exploring the mountains." The subordinate replied, still out of breath.

Abby, hearing this, thought for a moment as her finger traced down his cheek. She then inquired, "Besides that servant, does he have any other relatives or friends?"

"According to information our people obtained from within the 'Demoness Sect,' he should be the adventurer who previously rescued 'Vice Admiral of Ailment' Tracy," the subordinate replied.

"Tracy, you say? Troublesome... but for the Mother Tree's mission, sacrifice is necessary." Abby nodded thoughtfully. As her finger moved, she continued to ask, "I remember the last intelligence report said she was actually being hunted by her mother?"

"Yes, Miss..." Although the subordinate was excited again, he still offered a reminder, "Our people are probably not enough to deal with a Pirate Admiral."

"I know... If necessary, I will act personally."

As her words fell, the subordinate's eyes instantly lost focus. When they regained it, his eyes held nothing but Miss Abby.

If a Beyonder were to use Spirit Vision at that moment, they would discover that his spiritual body was tightly entwined by brown branches.

My condition isn't good today, stomachache, brain's foggy, so this is all for now.