Lord of the Mysteries: I Married the Queen Mystic

{T/N: You guys are really withholding those Reviews, huh?}

...

The acquisition of Roselle's 'relics' cost Odis a total of 130 pounds...

However, when filing for reimbursement, he claimed to have spent 151 pounds... 20 pounds as a handling fee and an additional 1 pound for hiring a carriage.

Of course, hiring a carriage certainly didn't cost a full pound.

After successfully obtaining the money, Odis generously took a carriage back to the herbal shop.

But as soon as he entered, he noticed two unexpected guests inside... Simon, the owner of the underground fighting arena, and his manager, Gales.

The shop assistant, Kain, approached him and said, "Sir, these two have been waiting for over an hour."

Odis nodded, "I see."

He then sat down across from Simon and said, "Didn't I already tell you? I have no interest in your so-called cooperation."

Still wearing that sly grin, Simon replied, "Last time, I mentioned that I have access to some rather confidential information. It seems you didn't take it seriously. Let me be more specific. I've heard that the Church has a particular fondness for capturing people like you... those with extraordinary abilities."

Odis responded coldly, "Would you like me to give you a map of Backlund and show you where the three major Churches' headquarters are located? If you had any real connections, you'd know your threats mean nothing to me."

Simon was momentarily stunned. He clearly hadn't expected Odis to react this way.

As he tried to gauge whether the herbal shop owner was bluffing, he said, "The nobility also need some… stimulating entertainment. They have a special arena in the Empress Borough–"

"At Unit 155 King's Avenue in the Empress Borough, right?" Odis sneered.

He continued, "You think you can compete with me in intelligence gathering? I also know your real name isn't Simon, it's Dills. You have a daughter living with distant relatives at Unit 349 Hierländ Avenue in St. George Borough. You're too afraid to keep her close because of the enemies you've made."

{T/N: King's Avenue is located in the West Borough, but I'm going to assume there are similar street names in Empress Borough as the Author has insinuated in this fic and leave it as is, since both West and Empress Boroughs are the noble's and elite's territories... If not, well... a little A.U never hurt anyone...}

Simon's jaw dropped in disbelief, "S-sir, I meant no offense."

Odis pulled out his pipe, "Everyone has their weaknesses, don't they?"

Simon immediately stood up, "My apologies for disturbing you. We'll leave at once. Please… don't take offense."

But Odis pointed at the chair opposite him and coldly said, "Sit down."

Simon had no choice but to obediently sit back down.

Odis lit his pipe, took a puff, and continued, "I can participate in a few matches, but we won't be 'cooperating'... you'll be working for me."

"...After each match, I'll pay you one-tenth of my earnings. Aside from the fights, you'll handle all the trivial matters. Also, forge an identity document for me. I don't want to use my real name in that arena."

The fighting arena at Unit 155 King's Avenue was, more accurately, a Beyonder combat arena.

The nobles of Loen might appear cautious, elegant, and refined on the surface, but beneath that façade lay cruelty, debauchery, and a love for violence.

Fighting arenas had always existed in Backlund, but in modern times, they had gone underground, fading from public view.

Yet, the nobility still enjoyed watching life-and-death battles, with Beyonder combat being their favorite. Odis had heard that a single ticket could cost as much as 100 pounds.

After advancing to 'Melee Scholar', he had considered participating in a few matches there to hone his combat skills.

Before his advancement, he was well aware that his fighting ability was roughly on par with a goose's, so he avoided physical confrontations whenever possible. Even when forced to fight, he had the Flamebolts and his Mystical scepter, making him more than a match for most Low-Sequence Beyonders.

If he accidentally provoked a Mid-Sequence Beyonder, he would simply seek help from the 'Machinery Hivemind'... though such a situation had never occurred in the past three years.

However, after becoming a 'Melee Scholar', things were different. He needed real combat experience to refine his abilities. He had long wanted to test his skills in that arena... not only for training, but also for profit.

As for performing for the nobility, Odis had no moral qualms about it. The only issue was that he lacked a proper means of entering the underground arena in the Empress Borough.

He didn't want his activities there to be linked to 'Mr. Gale' or the 'Leader'.

Unexpectedly, Simon had delivered the perfect opportunity. Back when Simon proposed cooperation at the bar's underground arena, Odis had already planned to use this connection to enter the Empress Borough's fighting ring.

Of course, he had no intention of letting a small-time operator like Simon dictate terms. He also knew this shrewd guy wouldn't give up easily. Today's meeting was inevitable. Thus, Odis had prepared in advance to seize control of the situation.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Simon brightened immediately, "No problem!"

Even one-tenth of the earnings would be a considerable sum.

As the owner of the bar's underground arena, Simon might appear prosperous, earning hundreds of pounds on fight nights. But such gray-market income required powerful backing. Otherwise, trouble was inevitable.

As such, a significant portion of his earnings had to be handed over to his patrons.

The income from serving Odis, however, could go straight into his own pocket. Moreover, it offered a chance to mingle with Backlund's upper crust.

After promising to report back tomorrow on the progress, Simon politely bid Odis farewell.

Odis checked his pocket watch and said to Kain, "Let's go to the backyard. Today, I'll teach you how to process the leg bones of a mutated flamingo."

The task didn't require much skill, Kain could handle it easily...

....

~Unit 22 Tuteva Street, South of the Backlund Bridge~

Xio Derecha returned home to find, to her surprise, that Fors had already woken up and was furiously writing at her desk...

"Back so soon, Xio?" Fors looked up with a smile, "Anything interesting at that mysterious gathering?"

"It was quite an unusual gathering." Xio hung her coat on the rack and asked casually, "Working on a deadline?"

Fors' smile instantly vanished, "Yes, the manuscript is due tomorrow, and I've only just started."

Xio nodded slowly. She had suspected as much... otherwise, Fors wouldn't have gotten up so early.

"Right now, only some bizarre tales can soothe my anxious heart." Fors turned her chair toward Xio, "Come on, tell me, what incredible things happened at the gathering?"

"Not so much incredible as… peculiar." Xio sat across from Fors, eager to share, "The organizer actually promised to protect Byron…"

She summarized Byron's investigation and the conversation between Byron and the 'Leader'.

It was an extraordinarily unusual dynamic. Among all the Beyonders' gatherings they had attended, none had ever featured an organizer making such a promise.

"He must be a man of justice!" Fors declared.