[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader":3,"chapter-lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-chapter-1064":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1553591,2017,"Chapter 1064: The Black Saintess","lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-chapter-1064",1064,"\u003Cp>No matter the angle, the gentleman before them possessed a beauty like that of a classical sculpture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Audrey’s elder brother, the Earl’s eldest son, Hibbert Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome, Viscount Beldane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the main purpose of this ball was centered around Ebner, Hibbert naturally appeared extremely enthusiastic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hopefully we’re not late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebner returned the greeting with a smile and handed over a bottle of red wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Loen high society, when attending a banquet or ball hosted by someone for the first time, onemustgive the host a small gift. Alcohol was the most popular option—but for a first visit, it had to be a domestic product.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This particular wine Ebner brought was actually a promotional tie-in by his film company. After buying out a small workshop, they began producing wine under \"film-themed branding.\" It was mainly about thelabelandpackaging—the taste barely mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hibbert glanced at the bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a young man, he quite liked the fashionable design. Were they not in a formal venue, he would’ve picked it up to examine it from every angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Ebner had already filed a patent for this bottle design and sold limited editions—each bottle numbered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the production cost was low, the auction price would be anything but.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Compared to the previous life where bottled water with a pretty label sold for over a thousand, this is nothing,\" he muttered internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebner then introduced his two companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Xio and Fors—Audrey’s close friends—Hibbert naturally wasn’t unfamiliar with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pretending this was their first meeting, he also beckoned forward a woman with waterfall-like long hair, fair skin, a black veil, and an off-shoulder black evening dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his companion for the night—Miss Nancy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebner greeted her calmly, stepped forward, bent slightly, and performed a gentleman’s air-kiss on her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in his heart, waves surged violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this so-called Miss Nancy looked exactly like the \"Black Saintess\" from Owen’s memories!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—When Owen had once controlled the \"White Saintess\" Katrina, he had her draw portraits of the Demoness Sect’s two known angels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running into the \"Catastrophe Demoness\" the moment I step out the door... is this what ’bad luck’ means?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebner very much wanted to leave immediately, but that would only arouse suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this was Backlund—and the Transformation Belt could instantly restore his strength as the \"Death Consul,\" making him not particularly afraid of a confrontation—if a fight truly erupted, the clash of angel-level powers would annihilate everyone present... including Xio and Fors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was absolutely unacceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his Sequence increased, the world behind the \"Pure White Eye\" grew ever more connected to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without opening it, the \"Calamity Seal\" hidden within could no longer be perfectly concealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was built upon converging \"fate,\" and in the future, it would likely pull his destiny closer and closer to high-ranking Demonesses and Hunters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, no matter how often it happened, it shouldn’t reach the point of encountering one everywhere he went...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past two days of constantly running into Sequence 2 Demoness, Hunter, and Warrior beings was simply because he was going through a period of bad luck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, more guests arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hibbert excused himself and went with his attendants—and Miss Nancy—to greet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the bicycle-company shares and the proposed \"Academy Awards\" venture—those could be discussed once the ball officially began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Miss Nancy intentionally cast Ebner a glance—one filled with an indescribable, obscure meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebner completely ignored it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Fors and Xio, he entered the villa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside were glittering crystal chandeliers, a ballroom spacious enough for dozens to dance, and tables laden with exquisite dishes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foie gras, pan-fried dragonbone fish, baked lobster...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Olmir wine, Mist Champagne...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once upon a time, Fors would’ve been drooling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after traveling and \"playing roles\" with Ebner across nations and tasting countless delicacies, she now found these merely... decent, with superior ingredients—but nothing remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the most delicious food still belonged to the \"gourmet-specialized servant\" of Mr. Fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, her eyes brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young lady in a beige court-style gown walked toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blonde hair, blue eyes, exceptionally beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore white silk gloves, delicate emerald earrings, and carried an aura both pure and elegant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none other than Audrey, freshly returned to Backlund.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Miss Justice, Ebner thought for a moment, then leaned toward Xio and whispered a few words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xio looked a bit startled but nodded solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They soon split up—Fors and Xio went to greet Audrey, then all three entered a lounge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Ebner entered the washroom to report the \"Black Saintess\" discovery to Mr. Fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the lounge, Audrey first sent the golden-furred big dog Susie to guard the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she smiled at Xio—who had padded her shoes a whole ten centimeters and was still wearing high heels—and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xio, long time no see... Earlier you gestured at me. Is something going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xio nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sealing the room with spirituality, she said obscurely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve already requested that gentleman... Let’s talk there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed at the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So it really was you... At first I suspected Princess Vera, but then it didn’t add up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Audrey immediately understood—and also instinctively looked toward Fors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As far as she knew, Fors probably didn’t know that Xio was Judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xio spread her hands helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At this point, hiding it is pointless...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And she’s not actually stupid. Once something strange happens in a minute, how could shenotfigure it out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fors, meanwhile, looked left and right, completely confused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xio didn’t bother explaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She found a comfortable spot on the sofa and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ll know in a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fors grew even more perplexed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Know wh—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could finish, crimson light flared around her and swallowed her whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When her vision returned—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was already sitting in the ancient palace she had visited hours earlier, on the chair of the \"Magician.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justice and Judgment sat beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fors might sometimes be lazy with thinking, but as Xio said, she was far from stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately understood the implication of Xio’s earlier words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xio... you’re Judgment?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared wide-eyed, full of wounded accusation—How could you hide this from me?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You also didn’t tell me you’re the Magician first, did you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xio asked, completely justified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s because I... because I... ugh, anyway! You were hiding it from me! You were watching me make a fool of myself! You’ve completely learned bad habits from Ebner!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fors looked heartbroken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xio rolled her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I was watching for fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I’m not the only one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fors frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xio’s lips curved uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take a guess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fors’s expression stiffened—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t tell me...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Tower... is actually Ebner?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1115,"2026-06-06T07:27:25.441Z",1,"novelbin.me","1e6d7b7eaedefdd77c0abd4473e99430ceb59023e01dad172eb9428185df3b74","lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-chapter-1065","lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-chapter-1063",1326,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-cover.jpg"]