[{"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-990":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},1553367,2017,"Chapter 990: Klein’s Request","lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-chapter-990",990,"\u003Cp>Bayam,Black Rose Bar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein, wearing an utterly ordinary face, stepped through its doors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bar’s patrons were mostly dark-skinned, curly-haired locals or mixed-bloods — members of Bayam’s many gangs, mercenaries secretly serving the rebels, or both. Ordinary people were rare here. They drank strong rum and traded gossip about the sea’s latest legends with a few weather-beaten adventurers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for pirates — since theAdmiral of Bloodhad recently come ashore and clashed several times with both the military and the Church of Storms — none of them dared to show their faces openly, lest the authorities seize them to vent their anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein scanned the room, spotted the bar’s manager, and approached him directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to meet the couple who arrived here today... This is the token.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took out a badge and handed it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something Mr.Towerhad passed to him not long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager examined it, then looked up at Klein with a cold expression before nodding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Follow me... Since you’re the boss’s guest, I won’t charge you the entrance fee.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein followed silently, though inwardly he couldn’t help complaining:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this really a secret outpost of the Church of the Evernight Goddess? Why does it feel exactly like a gang den?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe that’s precisely why no one suspects it — it doesn’t fit the Goddess’s usual style at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They slipped through a hidden door and descended a long underground passageway. Near the end, the man suddenly turned left into a large stone cavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cavern was about the size of a basketball court, with numerous heavy doors set into its walls. The manager led Klein to the last one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re inside. Go in yourself.\" The man’s tone was frosty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His aura was similar to Frye’s from the oldBlackthorn Security Company— probably a \"Corpse Collector\" or \"Gravedigger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein nodded thoughtfully, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, his eyes fell upon a figure achingly familiar — the figure that had once been his strongest support, that had shaped his principles and methods, that now, he noticed, had a slightly higher hairline than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Tower once said I’ve always been a guardian — first imitating others, then being imitated in turn...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the very first person I imitated after coming to this world was him. To me, he is friend, superior, mentor, and elder all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll never forget that deep voice saying: \"We saved Tingen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s so good... that you’re still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein barely managed to keep his expression neutral by using theClown’sability, then quickly shifted his gaze to Daly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Daly was visibly pregnant now — yet even more beautiful than before. Of course, she used to intentionally dress dowdy, thinking it would conceal her feelings and keep other men away...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But honestly, who in the Nighthawks didn’t already know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling those days in Tingen, Klein felt both joy and melancholy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joy, for the warmth of that time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melancholy, because he could never return to it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the Captain was willing to reveal his true face out of respect for the Fool’s blessed... I can’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from friends like Ebner or Sharon, who have both power and background, anyone else who gets close to me would only meet misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he sighed inwardly, Dunn and Daly stood up one after another. With polite but cautious gestures, they greeted him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honored Blessed, we’re pleased to meet you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m Dunn, this is Daly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how harmless \"The Fool\" appeared, awe toward such a great being still lingered in their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein thought for a moment, then shifted back into the form ofGehrman Sparrow. Removing his hat, he bowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good day, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he pointed to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m Gehrman Sparrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gehrman Sparrow? The strongest adventurer who hunted down the ’Massacrer’?\" Dunn exclaimed in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gehrman Sparrow? The adventurer with those ambiguous relationships withAdmiral of AilmentTracy,Admiral of the StarsCattleya, andAdmiral of IcebergEdwina?\" Daly blurted out as well — though her focus was quite different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ambiguous relationships? Are you making me sound like Old Huang or Old Liu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady, your sense of humor hasn’t changed at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein grumbled inwardly, then caught sight of the room’s only mirror — and, as expected, saw Sharon reflected within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue-eyed, porcelain-faced lady rested her left elbow on her right palm, her chin in her hand, watching the scene with quiet interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiously, only Klein could see her; Dunn and Daly remained unaware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Miss Sharon’s become even more elusive since reaching demigodhood... If I didn’t already know she followed me here and harbors no hostility, I might not have noticed her at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had arrived in Bayam earlier that morning. After some discussion, Klein had agreed withAdmiral of IcebergandAdmiral of the Paleto join their hunt for theAdmiral of Blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the handover concerning the identity ofDwayne Dantèsmight require her assistance, she had accompanied him here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring Daly’s teasing remark, Klein adopted Gehrman’s usual cold courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My time is limited... Let’s begin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he couldn’t reveal his real face anyway, better to end things quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dunn and Daly exchanged a glance; seeing nothing strange in his tone — since that brusque manner suited the famous adventurer’s reputation — they both nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dunn then began recounting in detail everything he had done over the past few months under the guise ofDwayne Dantès, producing a small notebook filled with notes on his social network and pending matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daly’s report was simpler. Having married Dunn, she had left Nighthawk duties for months, maintaining only polite contact with the wives of several bishops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Dunn added, \"According to the ’script,’ I’ll make a large profit here in Bayam. When we return, I’ll move to a new residence, hire servants and a butler again... So you needn’t worry the staff will notice anything off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein nodded seriously. \"What kind of business earns that profit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You probably noticed the natives and rebels at the bar,\" Dunn said with a faint smile. \"I’m smuggling them a shipment of weapons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smuggling arms? That really is a lucrative trade... But why would the Evernight Church’s secret network handle such business?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does the Goddess intend for the Rhosid Islanders to gain their own militias? That sounds quite like the Fool’s stance...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outwardly calm, Klein asked again, \"And how much have you earned?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know,\" Dunn replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t know?\" Klein forced his brow not to twitch. \"Then how much money did you actually receive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Truthfully, I didn’t take part directly. My name’s just on the papers — a convenient cover,\" Dunn explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the mansion, the servants, the entire wealthy-merchant façade — I have to pay for all that myself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klein nearly broke character, but barely maintained Gehrman’s stoic mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After going over several more details, he finally took his leave with polite composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he was gone, Dunn let out a long breath. Despite the polite exchange, the man’s reputation for madness — and his identity as a Blessed of the Fool — had been overwhelming pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least he hadn’t \"gone mad\" in front of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daly, however, remained silent, her expression thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong?\" Dunn asked gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That ’Crazy Hunter’ gave me... a strange sense of familiarity,\" she murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, back in his rented hotel room, Klein was busy persuading the composed figure standing before him — Miss Sharon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d like you to impersonate that Mrs. Smith we just met — no, I should say Mrs. Dantès.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It won’t be hard... You saw her yourself. She’s over four months pregnant — you only need to stay at home pretending to be resting, occasionally appearing before the servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doll-like Sharon turned her head and gazed at him silently for a long moment. When Klein was nearly squirming under the weight of her stare, she finally gave a small, graceful nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1320,"2026-06-06T07:27:22.126Z",1,"novelbin.me","6d2c58fa8934ee805988dd9fea0eecfd4f860a0a34e2501f37050dcee9388eba","lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-chapter-991","lord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-chapter-989",1326,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-mysteries-starting-as-a-reader-cover.jpg"]