Pleasing and Fear

"The identity of this Devil is now clear."

"Another question is," Ikanser said weakly. "Who was the Extraordinary who killed him?"

Judging from his tone, it seems he also intends to ask Arrodes a question.

"."

The other members of Machinery Hivemind looked at each other, then suddenly became busy. They began to examine the scene and check for traces, appearing serious yet guilty, none of them daring to look up and meet the eyes of their captain.

"These guys."

Ikanser muttered helplessly, slumping onto the table. "I'll have to do it myself, but I need to rest for a bit."

"What a peculiar Mirror!"

Klein couldn't help but say.

"You can ask it questions too, we don't mind."

Ikanser spoke tremulously, burying his head in his arms as he slowly recovered. His tone was somewhat self-deprecating, like someone who had fallen into a mud pit inviting someone nearby to come down and play.

"Then, shall I give it a try?"

Isengard, holding his pipe, said with great interest.

He seemed quite confident in himself, and indeed, Isengard called himself the "Eye of Wisdom," perhaps because he had already mastered a considerable amount of occult knowledge to dare to call himself that.

"Go ahead. However, it requires that someone be present while you are using it."

Ikanser didn't care at all.

"Does everyone have to see me get struck by lightning? This Mirror has a really twisted sense of humor. Sherlock, you'd better be Spectator."

Isengard spoke to Klein, extending his right hand to stroke the mirror three times. Then, a strange phenomenon occurred once more: the room seemed to be filled with a misty vapor, and the Mirror's surface also developed a peculiar sheen.

"Your Excellency Arrodes, I would like to know, where does my hope for promotion lie?"

"Isengard asked the question."

The light on the mirror shifted, eventually revealing a bustling city. The city's buildings were mostly blue- Dome, a stark contrast to the pointed-roof architecture of Backlund.

"Lenburg?"

Isengard saw the image in the Mirror and said, surprised but not unexpectedly.

Lenburg, a small country nestled between the Loen Kingdom and the Feynapotter Kingdom, seems to be a fitting place for Isengard's title, as it worships God of Wisdom.

Klein's heart stirred slightly.

At the same time, the mirror surface quickly changed, forming bloody text just like before:

"Based on the principle of reciprocity, you will answer one question for me."

"Please ask your question."

"Isengard said with great confidence."

The mirror surface rapidly changed, ultimately creating the following problem:

Do you have a crush on a woman much younger than you, simply because you are captivated by her intelligence and beauty?

The smile on Isengard's face froze.

Ah this

Klein felt incredibly embarrassed and could only lower his head, pretending not to have seen the description above.

He had initially thought the Mirror would only ask questions about mysticism, but its questions were so tricky, specifically targeting people's weaknesses. In Isengard's case, whether he answered or not, his behavior already spoke volumes!

Isengard stared blankly at the line of text. Just when Klein thought he would choose not to answer, he smiled with a complicated expression and said, "That's right, but I understand social common sense and personal morality even better."

After saying this, his shoulders slumped slightly.

The answer is correct.

Blood-red words appeared on the mirror, signaling that he was spared.

"."

The atmosphere in the room became somewhat awkward, Klein didn't know what to say. Isengard, however, spoke up, smiling, "Sherlock, may I go upstairs to the bedroom? Maybe I'll find some new clues."

He just wants to escape for a while.

Please make yourself at home.

Klein nodded and watched Isengard leave.

Ikanser was still slumped over the table, panting. The other members of Machinery Hivemind were unwilling to come closer, leaving only the Mirror lying quietly.

It's really dangerous and could kill someone.

Klein thought to himself, and pushed it away with his fingers, trying to get it further away from him.

However, just as he touched the edge of the Silver Mirror and felt its slightly cold metallic texture, the Mirror suddenly trembled twice, and then a line of white words quickly appeared on it:

"Your faithful and humble servant Arrodes, is at your service!"

The eagerness and ingratiation in his words were practically overflowing through the mirror.

Ah?

Klein was somewhat bewildered.

He first stepped back off the table, then subtly looked around, only relaxing slightly after realizing that no one else had noticed what had just happened.

Isn't this Mirror supposed to be troublesome? How come it's become a simp in my case?

Klein was both curious and confused.

However, he quickly connected these events to his own unique circumstances.

His Gray Fog, his relationship with the Spirit World

In other words, perhaps this Mirror sensed the Gray Fog mist emanating from me?

Just as various speculations were surging in Klein's mind, he suddenly saw an arm appear in the void and touch the Silver Mirror as well.

No, it didn't appear suddenly. The owner of that hand was already there, but he and everyone else there just happened to ignore him, as if he didn't exist.

--Luther, who had been observing coldly throughout, also reached out and touched the Mirror after Klein touched Mirror.

"Whoosh--"

Sure enough, he heard the sound of the Tide within his body grow louder and louder, as if it were seeping through his fingers and onto the mirror's surface. The moisture seemed somewhat similar to the hazy luster that the mirror had just emitted.

Clang!

The Mirror shook violently, and the Klein words that had been written on it vanished in an instant. A moment later, a line of pale, trembling text appeared:

"Great Lord, your insignificant and ignorant servant failed to perceive your presence; please forgive my incompetence!"

His words were filled with fear.

Um?

Luther frowned.

How come this is different from what I just said to Klein?

Why were you so ingratiating with Klein, but so afraid of me?

If I had to describe it, it's like your own pet dog, beaming with joy because of the neighbor's feeding and petting, only to turn around and see its owner coldly staring at it with a stick in hand—that's the kind of guilt and fear I feel.

Don't throw it away.

Ikanser looked up and said to Klein, "It is, in a way, a precious Sealed Artifact."

Klein paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sorry."

He had, of course, witnessed the scene and was equally astonished by the Mirror's reaction. He couldn't help but wonder: if he had gained the Mirror's favor because of the aura of the Gray Fog, then what was it about Luther that made the Mirror so fearful?