Lord of the Mysteries Chapter Summary 346-360

Chapter 346 – A Magician Before Going Onstage

Klein, donning his signature black double-breasted frock coat and matching half top hat, boards a carriage outside the Bravehearts Bar, where Maric and Sharron await. Maric, still dubious about Klein’s abilities, sizes him up, but Sharron’s trust in him prevails. Klein showcases his unique Beyonder powers, explaining how his attire won’t hinder him in battle. He hands Maric three sedatives, advising him on their use, and inquires about the ambush spot, learning they’re en route.

Sharron, the Sequence 5 Beyonder of the Mutant pathway, shares her vulnerabilities to purification, exorcism, and demon-hunting. Klein cleverly confirms the effectiveness of the spirituality cage in isolating the Sun Brooch’s power. He then asks about the enemies’ mystical items and Beyonder weapons, only to be told they’re unsure. Maric and Sharron do reveal, however, that their targets will be frenzied under the Scarlet Lunar Corona’s influence, making them less likely to use any mystical items.

As the carriage speeds through the night, Klein surveys his surroundings, noting the abandoned West Balam dock and its proximity to the Tussock River and the Lever Cathedral. The stage is set for an intense battle, with Klein and his allies poised to take on Wraith Steve, Zombie Jason, and Werewolf Tyre.

Chapter 347 – Zombie and Werewolf

As Maric flees from his pursuers, Klein’s insight is proven correct – the Scarlet Lunar Corona’s influence indeed drives the enemies into a frenzied state. Jason, a Sequence 6, chases Maric with an unsettling pace, while Werewolf Tyre lags behind, his dagger-like black fingernails gleaming in the moonlight. The air is thick with malevolent energy as the two forces clash, their footprints leaving behind a trail of rotting weeds and frost.

The situation takes a dark turn as Jason is attacked by a pale hand emerging from the frozen soil, only to break free and summon an army of expressionless corpses. Maric whistles, and the soil erupts, sending the corpses towards Jason. As the shadows close in, Maric and Jason face off, their powers locked in a silent, explosive battle.

Just as Werewolf Tyre advises Jason to wait for Sharron’s arrival, Wraith Sharron herself makes a surprise attack, only to be repelled by Tyre’s clever use of a spirituality seal and a mysterious, moon-shaped accessory. Sharron’s sudden retreat leaves her vulnerable and weakened, paving the way for a thrilling continuation of this intense battle.

Chapter 348 – Terrifying Wraith

Wraith Steve, a Sequence 5, emerges from the shadows, his holy and pure flames illuminating his pale face as he subjects Klein to his control. Despite being prepared, Klein’s thoughts numb under Steve’s possession, and he’s forced to stimulate his Spirit Body to resist the evil influence. Just as he’s about to fall under Steve’s control, a holy light from the Sun domain descends, weakening the possession and allowing Klein to break free.

As Klein regains his senses, he finds himself surrounded by transparent, ghostly figures, but the dark golden Sunbird brooch comes to his aid, unleashing the “Fire of Light” that repels the ghoulish entities. Klein narrowly escapes the precarious situation, realizing that even with preparation, facing a Sequence 5 Wraith is a daunting task.

Meanwhile, Maric uses his zombies to surround Werewolf Tyre, attempting to impede his movements. Werewolf Tyre, augmented by the Scarlet Lunar Corona, discovers he can split the zombies with ease and masters a strange, powerful spell. As Zombie Jason approaches the mysterious door, Werewolf Tyre throws the miniature full moon at Steve, hoping to restore his strength and bring the battle to a swift end, allowing Jason to be rescued.

Chapter 349 – Poison Bottle

As Wraith Steve’s shriek subsides, Klein takes advantage of the distraction to retreat, using his Fire of Light to repel the ghostly entities surrounding him. Meanwhile, Maric’s zombies are torn apart by Werewolf Tyre’s powerful claws, and Sharron falls to the ground, weak and disoriented from the poison. Steve, unfazed, reveals the Biological Poison Bottle, a device capable of spreading toxins and affecting even Spirit Bodies like Sharron’s.

Klein, anticipating Steve’s next move, taunts him about his plan to wait for them to succumb to the poison before attacking. Steve, amused, responds by saying Klein will be dead before the Church’s Beyonders arrive. However, Klein unexpectedly shoots a purifying bullet, which misses Steve but triggers a bizarre reaction: Maric’s zombies and Steve’s shadows suddenly stop moving, then charge towards the center of the clearing like starving beasts.

As Steve struggles to comprehend what’s happening, the zombies and shadows fight over an item, which one of the shadows eventually claims, flying off in a different direction. Steve gives up the chase, opting to investigate the mysterious object, a dark gold key ring with an ancient copper whistle and simple bronze key attached. The object seems to be impervious to his spiritual intuition, leaving Steve increasingly alarmed and curious.

Chapter 350 – Splendid Fireworks

Klein unleashes a barrage of purifying bullets at Steve, repeatedly striking his head and causing it to cave in. Despite his injuries, Steve remains alive, but his body is eventually thrown into a mysterious bronze door by the strange, tugging arms. As Steve disappears, Sharron clenches her fist, severing the door’s connection to the mysterious bronze key, and it vanishes. Steve’s charred body reappears, his head turning into a pulp as a translucent figure emerges, which Sharron promptly expels and absorbs its dreamlike liquid using twisted, bloody vines.

As the phantom collapses, Steve’s headless body begins to run, only to be blown apart by Klein’s snap of his fingers, sending Steve’s remains flying everywhere. The Biological Poison Bottle rolls out, and Steve’s existence finally comes to an end. Amidst the carnage, Klein feels his spirituality surge, and he pays respects to Sharron, who then disappears and reappears in Werewolf Tyre’s body.

Sharron begins to manipulate Tyre’s body, twisting his head off and extracting the Beyonder characteristic, a process that requires her to possess the target, kill them, and have complete control over their body. As the chaos settles, Klein collects the spent shells, aware that the investigators may trace them back to the woman who purchased formulas from him, threatening his safety.

Chapter 351 – “Game” of Question and Answer

Klein, exhausted from the intense battle, takes a break from reading the Book of Secrets and decides to store all the mystical items and Beyonder characteristics above the gray fog, choosing to wait for the commotion to subside before deciding what to take out. He’s aware of his current weakness, with his spirituality drained and his Beyonder powers growing faster than his spiritual strength. After washing up, Klein uses Cogitation to get rid of his tiredness and falls asleep, entering a dreamlike state where he sees fragmented scenes.

In the Machinery Hivemind, Deacon Ikanser Bernard is investigating the incident, using a silver mirror with ancient patterns to scry for answers. Despite the rats in the sewers tampering with divination, Ikanser manages to get a glimpse of the participants involved, seeing a figure in a black double-breasted frock coat, a middle-aged man in a dark red cloak, a woman with messy blonde hair, and two men with black fur being pulled by strange arms.

As the mirror reveals more scenes, it becomes clear that the investigation is far from over, and the mysterious Beyonder world holds many secrets. The chapter ends with Ikanser’s expression turning abnormally serious, hinting at the consequences of lying or giving a wrong answer to the mirror’s questions.

Chapter 352 – Breakfast

Klein ponders the Shaman King’s words about only worshiping the moon, not the Goddess, sparking curiosity about the Life School of Thought and the mysterious Beyonder world. The Book of Secrets reveals the rituals and deeds originated from a primitive moon worship, with the Shaman King describing the moon as the “one and only red moon, the symbol of life and beauty, the mother of all spiritual forces.” Klein wonders if a hidden god is behind this worship, using an honorable name to circumvent the Goddess and direct power to the primitive moon.

As Klein delves deeper, he doesn’t plan to copy the rituals wholesale, instead aiming to learn the underlying rules to create his own secret deeds, rituals, and summoning techniques. However, his research is interrupted by a sudden illness, which he attributes to the negative effects of carrying the Biological Poison Bottle. Weak from the poison and last night’s battle, Klein had hidden in Lever Cathedral, exacerbating his condition.

Despite his illness, Klein receives a visit from reporter Mike Joseph, who offers him a job. Klein, determined to maintain his cover, accepts, despite his cold, ensuring he can continue to operate without arousing suspicion.

Chapter 353 – Today Is Quite Different From Yesterday

As Klein sips tea with Mike Joseph in a greasy coffee shop, they discuss a potential job opportunity. The atmosphere is somber, with a group of tramps huddled outside, struggling to survive in the cold autumn weather. An elderly woman, dressed in old but tidy clothes, catches their attention, and Mike requests to interview her.

The old lady, who was once a grain merchant’s wife, shares her tragic story of how she became a tramp after her husband’s business failed and her child committed suicide. Her calm demeanor belies the deep sorrow she carries, evoking a sense of sorrow in Klein. The conversation highlights the dire circumstances of the poor and the harsh realities of this world, where suicide is not only prohibited by the Churches but also punishable by law.

As the interview concludes, Mike offers the old lady a place to rest and warm up, and she gratefully accepts. Meanwhile, Mike approaches the elderly man, Old Kohler, who has been observing their conversation, and offers him a job as a guide for two soli a day. The chapter concludes with a sense of hope and possibility, as the characters navigate the complexities of this world and the darkness that lurks beneath its surface.

Chapter 354 – Tales of an Adventure in East Borough

Mike Joseph, Klein, and Old Kohler venture into the East Borough, a realm of poverty and crime, where street children are forced to steal and beg to survive. The group navigates the treacherous landscape, avoiding the Zmanger gang, known for their brutality, and opting for the Proscrito gang’s territory, where they might face less hostility. As they explore the streets, they notice a mix of vendors selling fish and oyster soup, filling the air with a familiar aroma that eerily reminds Klein of Tingen City, his hometown.

The trio approaches a pale yellow three-story building with a sign reading “Watch Repair,” sparking a memory in Klein of a similar experience with Benson and Melissa, where they had attempted to fix his father’s silver pocket watch. Old Kohler seems to know the area well, guiding them through the labyrinthine streets, but Mike and Klein remain cautious, aware of the lurking dangers in this unforgiving world.

As they delve deeper into the East Borough, they discover the harsh realities of this world, where gangs control the streets, and the authorities seem powerless to intervene. The population count of 1.35 million, though staggering, only scratches the surface of the complexities of this society, leaving Klein and Mike to wonder what other secrets lie hidden in this unforgiving environment.

Chapter 355 – Outsider

Derrick Berg regains consciousness, held by two Dawn Paladins, who inform him that the cries for help he heard were just the normal behavior of Beyonders on the verge of losing control. They lead him to a cell, where he’s given medicine made from Black Faced Grass, which calms his hallucinations and auditory illusions. As he settles in, he hears banging on the neighboring cell, followed by a high-pitched wail, causing Derrick to take a defensive stance.

The noise ceases when the walls suddenly illuminate, as if the space around him has been transported outside, just in time for a lightning flash. The silence is short-lived, as someone knocks on the metal wall on the other side, and Derrick engages in a conversation with an elderly voice claiming to have been imprisoned for forty-two years. The old voice reveals that the neighboring Beyonder lost control and was killed by the item sealed within.

As Derrick presses for more information, the elderly voice shares that normally, Beyonders either stabilize and leave within eighteen months or quickly lose control and are purged. However, his own case defies explanation, leaving Derrick to wonder about the secrets hidden in this mysterious place.

Chapter 356 – Informant Fee

Klein, Mike Joseph, and Old Kohler venture into the factory district, where the air is thick with smog and toxic particles, reminiscent of Tingen’s dark past. The lead factory they visit is a hazardous environment, with women workers toiling without protection, oblivious to the dangers of lead poisoning. Mike, a seasoned reporter, is appalled by the lack of precautions and labels the factory owners as “murderers.”

As they investigate further, they come across a textile factory where workers are protesting the introduction of new machines that will lead to widespread layoffs. The female workers, desperate to keep their jobs, are determined to smash the machines and reclaim their livelihoods. Mike’s investigative interviews are complete, but the gravity of the situation weighs heavily on Klein, who foresees a bleak future for these workers if they lose their jobs.

As they part ways, Mike poses a poignant question to Klein: what will become of these women if the factories are shut down or their bosses are brought to justice?

Chapter 357 – Happenings at the Banquet

Klein returns to Minsk Street after a grueling day in the factory district, exhausted not just physically but also emotionally. He receives an unexpected invitation to a matchmaking banquet from Mrs. Stelyn Sammer, which he attends after sprucing himself up. At the banquet, he’s introduced to several young ladies, including Miss Sarah Taylor and Miss Angelina Watson, amidst an array of lavish food and drinks.

Stelyn takes her role as hostess to an extreme, detailing the income and prospects of the eligible bachelors, including Lawyer Jurgen, to the point of awkwardness. Klein smiles and greets each lady, all while secretly lampooning Stelyn’s tactless approach. Jurgen, visibly uncomfortable, tries to correct Stelyn, but she remains unapologetic, citing the importance of financial security in building a happy family.

As Klein navigates the evening, he can’t help but think about the stark contrast between the luxury around him and the dire circumstances of the factory workers he encountered earlier. The night wears on, filled with polite conversations, forced smiles, and an undercurrent of calculation, as the guests weigh their options in the game of marriage and social status.

Chapter 358 – The Sun’s Worry

On the luxurious carriage ride leaving Count Hall’s villa, Luke chats with Ma’am Mary about the influential guests, including Sir Ders Shaw and Mr. Cave, who will shape the forthcoming Anti-Pollution Act and Smoke Emission Act. However, Stelyn, Luke’s wife, seems distant, her mind still reeling from the casual remark about a trained hound’s price being 450 pounds. Luke attempts to reassure her, but she remains withdrawn, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Derrick Berg, formerly a captain of an exploration team, is locked in a small room at the bottom of the City of Silver’s spire, recovering from his mental affliction. He’s haunted by the captain of the exploration team in the next cell, who has been imprisoned for 42 years yet remains lucid. Derrick’s thoughts are interrupted by The Fool’s ominous declaration, “Prepare for the gathering,” which fills him with unease.

Audrey, practicing piano, stumbles upon her father’s study with a stack of papers she hadn’t seen before. Her curiosity piqued, she shares a knowing glance with Susie, her loyal Spectator, who understands her unspoken request. The scene is set for intrigue and mystery, as multiple storylines converge, and the characters brace themselves for an uncertain future.

Chapter 359 – The Blasphemer

In a mysterious conversation, The Hanged Man, Alger, reveals to Derrick Berg and Audrey that the Amon family, believed to be descendants of the ancient Sun God, wield the secrets to usurp the powers of deities. Derrick, confined in a small room at the City of Silver’s spire, is left questioning the connection between the Amon family and the Lord who created everything. Alger advises Derrick to communicate with the former captain in the neighboring cell, who has been imprisoned for 42 years, to uncover more information.

Meanwhile, Audrey shares her thoughts with The Fool, requesting a private exchange to discuss three new pages of Roselle’s diary, which she obtained by memorizing them during her visit to the Royal Museum. She wants to keep this information from Miss Magician for a week or two, believing that it would prevent suspicion. Using her Telepathist abilities, Audrey simulates Fors’ thoughts, anticipating that she would suspect Audrey of having the diary pages.

As the mysterious conversations unfold, the characters are drawn deeper into the web of intrigue, with Derrick trying to make sense of the Amon family’s true intentions and Audrey navigating the complex game of hiding her secrets. The threads of the story start to converge, setting the stage for an uncertain future, as the characters prepare for the gathering.

Chapter 360 – A Difficult Conundrum

Klein ponders the implications of transmigration, hypothesizing that his time on Earth and in this world aren’t synchronized, leading him to wonder if he’ll ever reunite with his parents. He becomes motivated, only to doubts creep in, questioning Roselle’s transmigration timeline and potential spatial-temporal turbulence. Meanwhile, Klein reads Roselle’s diary, discovering her fascination with this fantasy world, her encounter with a humanoid monster, and her possession of a mysterious silver token.

Audrey, still hiding her knowledge of Roselle’s diary, engages with The Fool, but her thoughts drift to a carefree life, unbound by the Tarot Club’s intrigue. Fors, seeking to advance as a Trickmaster, requests a stomach pouch and Deep Sea Marlin blood, but Alger’s response is cryptic, implying she must rely on herself to acquire these items. Derrick, attentive to their conversation, offers to reveal the location of Spirit Eaters, but his price remains unknown.

As the characters navigate their complex web of relationships, Klein remains driven to understand the secrets of the silver token, while Audrey and Fors are drawn deeper into the mysteries of the Tarot Club, their individual pursuits shrouded in uncertainty.