LOM: Lord of Mysticism

Klein looked at Swain standing before the monster's corpse before looking sideways towards the Mandated Punisher, who was helping his semi-conscious partner up by the arm.

The things that the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and the Machinery Hivemind did were never made known to the public but were only recorded in confidential dockets. However, the danger and pain they endured were ever so real.

Perhaps there would be a day when my enemy will be one of my teammates… Klein sighed.

Old Neil said, "Let's go. Let's not disturb them."

"Okay." Klein picked up his cane and noticed that Old Neil was still holding his left hand. "Are you hurt?"

"I got stabbed by one of the shrapnel earlier. If I were still young, I definitely would've been able to dodge it. Luckily, it's just a small cut."

Klein walked off along the gangway. "Mr. Neil, you're much calmer than I imagined. Despite being less than two meters away from the monster, you could still chant the incantation and use the charm."

"I'm an experienced Nighthawk. Among the dangerous things that I've done, what happened just now isn't even in my top ten. Once, when I was patrolling Raphael Cemetery with Dunn, I had no idea that a corpse had turned into a zombie and left its tomb to lie in ambush in the shadows of the trees. I passed by without noticing it at all since I was looking for some hidden spot. Heh, you know what I mean. In the end, he leapt onto my back and seized my throat."

Klein asked, "And under such a situation, you were still calm enough to use a charm? Or did you use some spell that a Mystery Pryer could cast quickly?"

Old Neil chortled. "No, Dunn managed to drag that zombie into a slumber in time. I'm telling you this story to tell you that, as a Nighthawk, you not only have to believe in yourself, you also have to trust your teammates too."

"Mr. Neil, you are so wise today."

Old Neil did a tiny hop and found his footing on the pier. "That's because you only get to know the most trivial side of me usually."

The two of them left the harbor and walked towards Evil Dragon Bar. As the public carriage arrived, Klein took out his silver vine-leaf pocket watch and flipped it open to check the time.

"If there's nothing else, I have to head home," he turned to tell Old Neil.

Old Neil nodded, "Enjoy your dinner at home. You don't need to think about the Slumber Charm. I'll get Swain to compensate me. He's a rich man after all. Of course, I won't go today. I have to consider his mood."

"Thank you for your generosity."

It was already past seven in the evening, and the sky had already grown dark. Klein boarded the carriage and soon returned to Daffodil Street.

...

Backlund, Empress Borough, Viscount Glaint's residence.

Audrey Hall left the party with her personal maid, Annie. They came to the second floor and entered the bedroom that the Viscount had prepared.

She took off her glamorous dress and her lightweight dancing heels slowly with Annie's assistance. She then put on a black hooded robe that she had prepared ahead of time.

Pulling up the hood, Audrey stood before the full mirror and examined herself.

More than half her face was covered by the shadow of her hood, and only her lips were clearly exposed.

Long black robe, face hidden by shadows, a mysterious feeling... This is something I've been dreaming of wearing all this time! Audrey thought to herself happily.

Worried, she added a blue boat-shaped soft hat under her hood, and with the fine checkered fishnet drooping down, her facial features became even more indiscernible.

"Not bad, that's it!" Audrey stuffed her feet into leather ankle boots, looked to the side, and told Annie, "Wait for me here. No matter who comes, do not open the door."

Annie looked at her helplessly and said, "But you have to make sure that your trip doesn't take more than an hour."

"You should trust me. I have kept my promise every single time in the past." Audrey leaned in towards her personal maidservant, hugged her, and kissed her cheek as etiquette demanded.

She pulled up her hood, turned around, and exited the bedroom through a secret door. She walked all the way down and came to the side door of the viscount's residence, where she saw that there was already a carriage waiting there.

Glaint stood amidst the shadows as he glanced at Audrey and complimented her sincerely, "By dressing up like this, you are really, very cool."

"Thank you." Audrey pulled up an imaginary skirt and curtsied elegantly.

The two of them got into the carriage and left the villa, arriving at a house about ten minutes away.

Outside the house, Audrey saw Apprentice Fors Wall and her friend, Tribunal Xio Derecha, whom she had been seeing recently.

Fors's slightly wavy brown hair and her light blue eyes showed a natural laziness. She pointed at Xio Derecha next to her and said, "She's an excellent persuader, capable of helping you get things that you want."

Xio Derecha was slightly shorter, about 150 cm at most. Her facial features were soft, but she seemed pretty young and immature. Although her shoulder-length blond hair was messy and unkempt, and she was in a traditional knight training suit, she carried an indescribable look of dignity and a convincing charm.

Audrey had met her a few times. Smiling faintly, she greeted, "Miss Xio, can I trust you?"

"You don't have to worry at all." Xio Derecha smiled and gestured with her hand.

Just as she walked to follow Audrey and Viscount Glaint, they heard a sudden thud. Audrey looked towards the source of the sound and saw that a triangular blade coruscating with a cold glimmer had fallen beside Xio Derecha's leg.

Audrey and Xio Derecha exchanged looks, simultaneously at a loss for words. Xio Derecha quickly squatted and picked up the blade and hid it on her body.

"We have to prevent the occurrence of an accident. Some people lack rationality, and they aren't convinced easily," Xio Derecha explained seriously.

Audrey nodded. "I believe you..."

"These are tools to convince those bastards to talk to us calmly," Fors added, looking sideways at the grass plains.

The quartet didn't continue conversing and walked a few steps forward. They knocked on the wooden door with three long and two short knocks.

The door squeaked and opened. Slowly, using her Spectator state, Audrey looked into the house that had many people sitting around randomly. They employed various methods such as hoods or masks to conceal their looks. Some didn't even bother and exposed their faces openly.

Audrey noticed a black-robed man on a single-seat sofa. He wore a hood too, hiding his looks.

He looked at all the guests in silence, giving people a feeling that he was somehow in a commanding position.

He is very confident, but his gaze is very unsettling. He looked up and down my body like two slippery tentacles wanting to tear off my clothes… Audrey's senses were sharp as she carefully observed and made a judgment, but she nearly had goosebumps.

Fors introduced him. "That's Mr. A, a powerful Beyonder, and the leader of this secret gathering."