Chapter Summaries

Cattleya sensed Mr. Fool entering slumber and chose to integrate herself into the Moss Ascetic Order to investigate the Hidden Sage, despite the danger. In Backlund, Xio and Fors planned how Xio could reveal her new demigod status as she prepared to pursue Mr. Fool’s mission.

• Cattleya realized Mr. Fool had entered slumber, mourned his absence, and resolved to take a more active role in the Moss Ascetic Order to learn the Hidden Sage’s condition.
• Cattleya used Fairy Tale Magic to make the Future and its fleet disappear, leading nearby pirates to believe the Queen of Stars had been born.
• Fors warned Xio that her mission involving a Sequence 1 characteristic, a Uniqueness, and a true deity was dangerous, while Xio insisted they needed to act before the apocalypse.
• Xio planned to use Military Intelligence Section 9’s network and disclose that she had become a Sequence 4 demigod, with help from Miss Justice and Fors.
• Fors began writing a staged account of Xio defeating a would-be Sequence 4 Law Mage, while Xio listened to her family and reaffirmed her resolve to face the risks.

Leonard learned that Amon’s main body had fallen inside Sefirah Castle and that Klein had entered a slumber because of corruption, then set out to buy poetry collections to spread legends. In Backlund, Emlyn prepared to join the operation against the Rose School of Thought and summon the Sanguine to discuss a pharmaceutical company, accepting that he had to shoulder his responsibilities himself.

• Leonard asked Pallez Zoroast about the day’s events and learned that Amon’s main body had fallen, likely during an infiltration of Sefirah Castle.
• Pallez Zoroast explained that Klein’s slumber was caused by corruption, not injuries, and could not be ended by any method he knew.
• Leonard decided to buy poetry collections to help spread legends, then left for a bookstore while agreeing to pay attention to the operation against the Rose School of Thought.
• Emlyn reflected that he had to rely on himself while Mr. Fool slept and the Progenitor’s revelations were disrupted.
• Emlyn delayed his departure for the Southern Continent by half a day so he could gather Backlund’s Sanguine to discuss a pharmaceutical company.

Alger received the Book of Calamity and the Blue Avenger from the Church of Storms, then departed on Mr. Fool’s mission after entrusting the Sea God Church to Derrick and Danitz. Audrey created an identity to remain with her family and left with Susie to keep them safe, entering the Sea of Collective Subconscious.

• Alger recognized the Church of Storms’ gifts as the Book of Calamity and his former ship, the Blue Avenger, and learned that Mr. Fool had assigned him a mission.
• Alger told Danitz that Mr. Fool and Gehrman Sparrow had entered slumber, appointed Derrick to lead the Church of the Sea God, and ordered Danitz to help establish the Sea God as Mr. Fool’s subsidiary god.
• Alger warned Derrick to prioritize protecting the believers and City of Silver’s people over preserving their cities, then set sail aboard the Blue Avenger.
• Audrey split off an identity to stay with her family and placed a Virtual Persona in Susie, who chose to accompany her.
• Audrey bid farewell to her family from the Hall villa and entered the Sea of Collective Subconscious with Susie.

Azik Eggers awakened in an abandoned castle, read the letters left for him, and decided to travel in search of his past. In Backlund, Melissa helped a little girl perform a ritual to contact the sleeping Fool, and the girl greeted his tentacle with a high five.

• Azik Eggers awoke in a coffin and read the letters scattered around the room, gradually recalling his past and the people who had written to him.
• Azik wrote that he would begin a journey to learn more about the past and see how the world had changed, and that he would send letters through a sacrifice.
• Melissa guided a little girl through preparations for a ritual in her sunroom and invoked the Fool in Ancient Hermes.
• A tentacle emerged from the candle flame, and Melissa encouraged the frightened girl to approach it.
• The little girl raised her palm, and the tentacle hesitantly met it in a high five.

The author reflected on the planned ending of Mysteries, explained why he intended to continue the story in a second book, and described early ideas for its plot and the Western Continent. He also announced upcoming side stories and revised print editions, then said he would continue his reflections the next day.

• The author said he had planned to finish the novel in May and confirmed that his next book would be published on Qidian.
• The author explained that the ending and the second book had been planned from the start, with the Tarot Club members leaving their comfort zones and Klein beginning to awaken.
• The author said the second book would cover the period around Little Klein's slumber and might follow the Tarot Club members' attempts to awaken him, alongside stories involving the five gold coins and other mysteries.
• The author described possible Western Continent advancement systems based on Sefirah and Beyonder Characteristics, including an orthodox system inspired by Daoist receiving registers.
• The author announced a regularly serialized side story, occasional future stories, and the release of a revised print edition.
• The author hinted that Arrodes's connection to Klein was relevant to the disruption of the Celestial Worthy's contingency and promised to continue his reflections the next day.

The author reflected on the writing methods behind Lord of Mysteries, including its strengths and weaknesses, and discussed plans for his next book. He left the story with a tentative mid-November release for the new book and a side story expected to begin on May 7.

• The author explained that Lord of Mysteries aimed to create an intriguing world, preserve a ray of humanity amid darkness, and explore the conflict between humanity and divinity through Little Klein’s journey.
• The author assessed his writing through keywords including expression, entertainment, identification, structure, authenticity, smoothness, characters, change, details, emotion, and impact, noting areas he hoped to improve.
• The author reported that Lord of Mysteries averaged 109,000 subscriptions per chapter and thanked readers, supporters, moderators, advisers, and other contributors.
• The author said he planned to write something other than Lord of Mysteries 2 first, choosing between wasteland fiction and xianxia after resting and clearing his head.
• The author tentatively scheduled the new book for mid-November and said a serialized side story would likely begin on May 7, with Lord of Mysteries material and short side stories appearing on his official account.

Barton woke from a nightmare in which the Pope appeared as a golden-haired dog, then went about his ordinary family and work life in Stoen. At work, he received an archaeologist friend’s invitation to send a team to inspect ruins in West Vilas County.

• Barton dreamed that he was granted an audience with the Pope, who appeared as a golden-haired dog, and woke in a panic.
• Barton hid the dream from his wife and left home for his job at the Loen Antiquities Collection and Preservation Foundation.
• Barton read the newspapers at work and settled in to begin his day.
• Barton opened a letter from Furnar describing possible Fourth Epoch ruins discovered in the mountains of West Vilas County.
• Barton worried about the discomforts of an expedition and began drafting a document about Furnar’s request.

Barton helped prepare Furnar’s funding application by citing historical research suggesting Fourth Epoch ruins might exist in West Vilas County, then returned to his ordinary family and work routine. After sensing an intruder in his home at night but finding nothing, he received another empty letter from Furnar and noticed its commemorative envelope smelled faintly of blood.

• Barton supplemented Furnar’s application with historical references about the Solomon Empire, the Tudor Dynasty, and the mountains of West Vilas County, then submitted it to the foundation.
• Barton learned Furnar had briefly visited his home, but found no note or message in his study.
• Barton sensed someone had entered his house during the night and searched the corridor and study with his hunting gun, but found no intruder.
• Barton opened another letter from Furnar and found it empty, then noticed the unusual commemorative envelope carried a faint trace of blood.

After receiving an empty envelope that smelled of blood, Barton reported it to the foundation’s Compliance Department, and he and Pacheco Dawn went to find Furnar at the Clauf Hotel. They found no answer at his room, where Pacheco discovered a strange wisp of mist and Barton heard a voice call “Tamara.”

• Barton sensed blood on Furnar’s empty envelope and reported the incident to the Compliance Department instead of calling the police.
• Pacheco Dawn examined the envelope, identified its connection to the Clauf Hotel, and asked Barton to help investigate.
• During the carriage ride, Pacheco told Barton about his past as a lawyer and how Miss Audrey had recruited him to the foundation.
• At the Clauf Hotel, Barton and Pacheco learned that Furnar was staying in Room 309 and went to his door.
• When Furnar did not answer, Pacheco found a wisp of white mist beneath the door, and Barton heard a faint voice call “Tamara.”

Barton and Pacheco investigated the blood-scented room of the missing Archaeologist Furnar. Pacheco uncovered impressions on a sheet of stationery that revealed Furnar had taken items from an altar and believed something had been watching him.

• Barton connected the name Tamara to a prominent Fourth Epoch family and mentioned Furnar's recent discovery of Fourth Epoch ruins.
• Pacheco presented valid police identification and persuaded the hotel owner to open Furnar's room.
• Barton and Pacheco found the room orderly despite a faint smell of blood.
• Pacheco shaded a blank sheet of stationery and revealed Furnar's written impressions about being watched, finding religious sacrifice traces in the ruins, and taking items from an altar.

Barton followed clues left by Furnar while Pacheco tried to locate him and involve the police. They found Furnar hiding in a burned-out house, where he explained that his pursuers were watching the police station and train station before saying he had sensed the will of a great existence.

• Pacheco told Barton to return to the foundation while he sought help from the police.
• Barton returned home, found Furnar had left a warning in a history book, and showed it to Pacheco, who added the message, "Report it to the police!"
• Pacheco later inferred where Furnar might be from the book's position and led Barton to a burned-out house.
• Barton and Pacheco found Furnar hiding in the ruined house, and Furnar said his pursuers were watching the police station and steam train station.
• Furnar said he had sensed the will of a great existence.

Furnar sensed a great existence and gave Pacheco and Barton two tasks before fleeing. A strange woman from the Tamara Family took the bottle and vanished after Pacheco asked about her family and Gnosis.

• Furnar said the Fourth Epoch survivors did not believe completely, then asked Pacheco to take a bottle of pale mist outside until evening and help find a lamp shown on a paper.
• Furnar climbed away from the half-collapsed house, and Pacheco briefly grew black curls and swelling muscles before telling Barton to wait.
• Barton picked up the bottle and paper and encountered a strange woman in an asymmetrical dress.
• The woman ordered Barton to give her the bottle, and Pacheco asked whether she belonged to the Tamara Family.
• The woman said the Tamara Family was separate from Gnosis and then vanished.

Barton returned to the Foundation and tried to settle back into ordinary life after the Furnar incident. In his study, he experienced a terrifying vision of Furnar, who spoke of an undying body and the Tamara Family’s split, before Barton awoke to find only a burned cigarette and a quiet street outside.

• Pacheco told Barton they would return to the Foundation because the police would handle Furnar and monitor any danger to ordinary people.
• Barton went home, warned his wife not to admit Furnar if he visited, and later retreated to his study to calm down.
• Cigarette smoke and a faint smell of blood gathered into a misty figure of Furnar, who claimed he could revive as long as any mist remained.
• Furnar accused Barton of not taking the bottle to the outskirts, then described a vast universe and said the Tamara Family had split after changing its coat of arms.
• Furnar tried to consume Barton's thoughts, but the burning cigarette scorched Barton's fingers and ended the vision.
• Barton went to the window and watched pedestrians and an ordinary golden-haired dog walking beneath the gas streetlamps.

Barton enjoyed a peaceful day after believing the matter involving Furnar had ended, while choosing not to investigate its supernatural mysteries. His ordinary routine was disrupted when Alicia Tamara arrived as a new deputy director of the Compliance Department, leaving Barton and Pacheco stunned.

• Barton woke refreshed, spent a pleasant morning with his family, and went to work at the Loen Antiquities Collection and Preservation Foundation.
• Pacheco told Barton that the police had found Furnar, who appeared to have met with misfortune, and Barton invited him to lunch in thanks for his help.
• Barton reflected that the matter involved mysticism and religion but decided not to pursue its secrets, fearing that further curiosity would put him in danger.
• Barton went to the Compliance Department to wait for Pacheco, where the foundation's deputy chairman arrived to introduce a new colleague.
• The deputy chairman introduced Alicia Tamara as another deputy director of the Compliance Department, and Barton and Pacheco froze at the sight of her.

The narrator encountered a chilling presence in the stairwell and decided to seek help with the haunting rather than confront it alone. After The Star recommended Ms. Dai, a mysterious woman appeared in the bathroom mirror and said Sherlock Moriarty had sent her to protect the narrator.

• The narrator felt a sinister presence and saw the stairwell light flicker while climbing to the sixth floor, then decided to find someone who could catch ghosts.
• The narrator contacted The Star through a proxy and an alternate account, and The Star recommended Ms. Dai, a spirit medium.
• The narrator sent Ms. Dai a friend request and answered her verification question with “adult,” but she did not respond.
• The narrator saw a blurry woman in a bonnet and black dress appear in the bathroom mirror.
• The woman told the narrator that Sherlock Moriarty had asked her to provide protection.

The narrator learned that a ghost was protecting him from people in a cult, but she vanished before identifying them. Ms. Dai used her phone to warn that another ghost was in his room, arranged to deal with it the next evening, and sent him videos to help him get along with ghosts.

• The narrator asked the female ghost in the mirror who Sherlock Moriarty was and learned that someone wanted to harm him, possibly the cult.
• The female ghost began to identify people around the narrator who belonged to the cult, but static overtook the mirror and she disappeared.
• The narrator unlocked his phone and saw that “Sleeping with Corpses” had accepted his request, then Ms. Dai appeared through the phone and warned him that a ghost was in his room.
• Ms. Dai said her messenger had restricted the ghost for the night and arranged to visit at nine the next evening, quoting a fee of twenty thousand to fifty thousand.
• Ms. Dai sent the narrator videos to help him deal with ghosts, and he began downloading them before discovering that the first was titled “A Chinese Ghost Story.”
• The female ghost in the black dress appeared at the window and quietly watched the video on the narrator’s computer.

The narrator let the female ghost watch a movie overnight, then rushed to the airport to meet Mr. Zarathustra. After the VIP’s flight diverted to Ningbei, the narrator learned Mr. Zarathustra would arrive on a later flight and met his driver, Rosago.

• The narrator offered to let the female ghost keep watching A Chinese Ghost Story, and she watched from the computer screen before exchanging good nights with him.
• The narrator woke late, rushed through his morning routine, and took a ride-hailing car to the airport for his assignment.
• The narrator checked VariFlight and discovered NH6567 had diverted to Ningbei Airport because of a mechanical fault.
• The narrator called the office driver, who said Mr. Zarathustra had booked a flight arriving in an hour.
• The narrator met Rosago at the airport and learned that he worked at Mystery Company's local office and was from France.

The narrator waited at the airport with Rosago for Mr. Zarathustra, but storms canceled flights and sold out the high-speed trains, postponing the meeting until the next day. Rosago drove the narrator back to the company at terrifying speed, where the narrator noticed someone approaching in leather boots.

• The narrator offered to wait with Rosago at the airport while Mr. Zarathustra was delayed.
• Rosago called to say thunderstorms in Ningbei had canceled flights, then reported that all high-speed train tickets were sold out.
• The narrator and Rosago decided to return to the company and come back the next day.
• Rosago revealed he had been a racing driver and sped through city traffic, taking the tense narrator back to the company.
• The narrator entered the building, saw that the vending machine was gone, and noticed a pair of long legs in leather boots approaching.

Zhou Mingrui was caught between Huang Beibei’s request to decipher her father’s cursive writing and President Huang’s disapproval of men approaching his daughter. After being reassigned to a police joint project, Zhou Mingrui no longer had to pick up Mr. Zarathustra.

• Zhou Mingrui met Huang Beibei in the elevator, and she asked him to translate a batch of cursive documents.
• Huang Beibei gave Zhou Mingrui papers that he recognized as President Huang’s handwriting, but President Huang entered before he could read them.
• President Huang sent Zhou Mingrui out, and Rozanne warned him that President Huang had a history of transferring men who got close to Huang Beibei.
• Old Ai told Zhou Mingrui to submit his expenses, stop picking up Mr. Zarathustra, and handle liaison work for a joint project with the police.

The narrator took a ride to police headquarters with a strange monocled driver who claimed to be investigating a cult and an automated vending machine. The driver's monocle triggered a dizzying flood of visions, and the narrator recognized him as resembling the terrifying emoticon The Star had mentioned.

• The narrator requested a ride to police headquarters and met a monocled man who first approached on a shared bicycle before bringing over a white sedan.
• The narrator checked the driver's phone and number, then got into the car despite its mismatch with the vehicle listed in the app.
• The driver offered the narrator a cigarette and said he was investigating a cult that used fully automated vending machines to harm people.
• The narrator asked whether the driver knew Sherlock Moriarty, and the driver said they were old friends and hinted that they had found something.
• The driver adjusted his monocle, causing the narrator to see a jumble of roads, tunnels, signs, pedestrians, and vehicles before the ride ended.
• After recovering from dizziness by the roadside, the narrator realized the driver resembled the terrifying emoticon The Star had mentioned.