Lord of Mysteries

Chapter 15 Invitation

"Why?" Upon hearing Dunn's words, Klein's heart was immediately filled with shock, and he blurted out instinctively.

Are extraordinary individuals fraught with serious hidden dangers? So much so that even the church's internal judicial organs, those extraordinary individuals who handle supernatural events, are prone to problems?

Dunn Smith entered the carriage, sat in his previous seat, and maintained his usual expression and tone:

"This is not something you need to know, nor is it something you can know, unless you become one of us."

Klein was speechless for a moment, then sat down and asked, half amused and half puzzled:

"How can we make the decision to join without figuring this out?"

Without joining, there's no way to understand, creating a vicious cycle...

Dunn Smith took out his pipe again, held it to his nose, and took a puff.

"You've probably misunderstood; one of our members is an administrative staff member."

"In other words, as long as you become one of our civilian staff, you can learn about the relevant secrets, figure out the hidden dangers and potential perils of extraordinary individuals, and then consider whether or not to become an extraordinary individual?" Klein reiterated the other party's meaning in his own words as he organized his thoughts.

Dunn smiled and said:

"That's right, except for one thing: just because you think about becoming an extraordinary person doesn't mean you will definitely become one. All the churches are equally strict in this regard."

"It would be strange if it weren't strict..." Klein thought to himself, emphasizing his point with a gesture:

"What about clerical staff? They must be subject to the same strict requirements, right?"

"If it's you, then there shouldn't be any problem." Dunn half-closed his eyes, sniffing the pipe with a slightly relaxed expression, but did not light the tobacco.

"Why?" Klein was puzzled once again.

At the same time, he started to make fun of himself in his mind:

Could it be that my specialness, my aura as a transmigrator, is like a firefly in the dark night, so bright and so outstanding?

Dunn opened his half-closed eyes, his grey pupils as deep and unfathomable as before:

"First, the fact that you survived this kind of event without our help shows that you have advantages that set you apart from others, such as luck, and lucky people are always popular."

Seeing Klein's somewhat dazed expression, he smiled slightly:

"Okay, just take it as a joke. Second, you are a graduate of the History Department of Hoy University, which is exactly what we need. Although Lurmi, a follower of the Lord of Storms, has a disgusting attitude towards women, his views on social, humanistic, economic and political issues are still sharp. He said that talent is the key factor in maintaining a competitive advantage and good development, and I agree with that."

Noticing Klein's slight frown, he casually explained:

"You can imagine that we often come into contact with Quaternary documents and artifacts from even earlier periods. Many cults and heresies have tried to draw power from these things, and sometimes, they themselves can lead to bizarre and terrifying things."

"Aside from exceptional individuals in specialized fields, most of us aren't particularly good at learning, or perhaps we've simply passed that age." At this point, Dunn Smith pointed to his head, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. "Those dry, tedious facts always make people sleepy, even the sleepless can't resist them. In the past, we would collaborate with historians and archaeologists, but this carries the risk of leaks and could potentially bring trouble to professors and associate professors. Therefore, having a professional join us is an opportunity we can hardly refuse."

Klein nodded slightly, accepting Dunn's explanation, and then asked, his thoughts wandering:

"Then why didn't you just... well, develop a relationship with one of them before?"

Dunn continued speaking to himself:

"This is the third, and finally, most important point: you've already been involved in similar incidents, so inviting you doesn't violate any confidentiality clauses. If you recruit others and it fails, I will take responsibility for any leaks. The vast majority of our team members and our administrative staff come from within the church."

After listening quietly, Klein asked curiously:

"Why do you keep things so secret? Wouldn't it be better to publish and circulate information so that more people know, thus preventing the same mistakes from happening again? The greatest fear comes from the unknown, and we can turn the unknown into the known."

"No, human stupidity is beyond your imagination; it will only lead to more imitation, greater chaos, and more serious events," Dunn Smith replied, shaking his head.

Klein hummed in agreement, then said with a knowing look:

"The only lesson that mankind learns from history is that mankind learns nothing from history and always repeats the same tragedies."

"Emperor Russell's famous quote is indeed full of philosophy," Dunn agreed.

...What Emperor Roselle said? The time-traveling predecessor really leaves no room for later generations to show off... Klein was momentarily at a loss for words.

Dunn turned his head and glanced outside the carriage; the dim yellow light of the streetlights intertwined with the radiance of civilization.

"...Within the inquisitions of all the major churches, there is a similar saying, which is perhaps the main reason why it is strictly kept secret and forbidden for ordinary people to know."

"What is it?" Klein's spirits lifted, feeling a thrill of uncovering a secret.

Dunn turned his head, his facial muscles twitching almost imperceptibly:

"Belief and fear bring trouble, and more belief and fear bring even greater trouble, until everything is destroyed."

After saying this, he sighed and said:

"And apart from praying for divine protection and help, humans cannot solve truly big problems."

"Belief and fear bring trouble, and more belief and fear bring even greater trouble..." Klein muttered to himself, not quite understanding the sentence. He felt fear because of the unknown he didn't quite understand, as if in the shadows of the streetlights outside, in the darkness without any light, there were pairs of malicious eyes and open mouths.

Horses hooves swiftly, wheels rolled, and Iron Cross Street came into view. Dunn broke the sudden silence and formally invited:

"Would you like to join us and become a civilian employee?"

Klein had a thought, but couldn't decide for a moment. After thinking for a while, he said:

"May I think about it?"

This is a matter of great importance, and we cannot make a hasty or rash choice.

"No problem, just give me an answer by Sunday." Dunn nodded. "Of course, remember to keep it a secret. Don't tell anyone about anything related to Welch, including your brother and sister. If you do, it will not only cause them trouble, but it could also lead to you being taken to a special court."

"Okay," Klein replied solemnly.

Silence fell over the carriage again.

As Iron Cross Street drew near and home was just around the corner, Klein suddenly thought of a question, hesitated for a few seconds, and then asked:

"Mr. Smith, what are the salaries and benefits like for your clerical staff?"

This is a serious issue...

Dunn paused for a moment, then smiled and said:

"Don't worry about that. Our funding is jointly guaranteed by the church and the police department. Newly hired civilian staff earn £2.10 a week, plus a confidentiality and risk allowance of £10, which is about £3 in total, not much less than a regular university lecturer."

"After that, as you gain more experience and make corresponding contributions, your salary will gradually increase."

"For civilian staff, we usually offer a five-year contract. If you don't want to continue after five years, you can leave normally, but you must sign a lifetime confidentiality clause. You cannot leave Tingen without our approval, and you need to register with the local night watchman as soon as possible if you move to another city."

"By the way, there are no Sundays, only rotating days off. There must be at least three clerical staff on duty at all times. If you want to go to the south, to Dixi Bay for a vacation, you'll need to coordinate with your colleagues."

As soon as Dunn finished speaking, the carriage stopped, and the apartment where the Klein family lived appeared to the side.

"I understand." Klein turned and stepped down from the carriage, stopping beside it. "By the way, Mr. Smith, where should I find you if I've made up my mind?"

Dunn chuckled in a low voice:

"Go to the 'Hound Tavern' on Besik Street and find their owner, Wright. Tell him you want to hire a mercenary team for a mission."

"Huh?" Klein was completely confused.

"Our address is also confidential. We can't tell you directly until you agree. Well, Mr. Klein Moretti, I wish you sweet dreams tonight." Dunn greeted him with a smile.

Klein removed his hat and bowed, watching the carriage depart, its speed gradually increasing.

He took out his pocket watch, clicked it open, and saw that it was just past four in the morning. A cool breeze was blowing on the street, and the streetlights were dim.

Klein took a deep breath, savoring the quiet of the night around him.

The busiest and noisiest neighborhood during the day was surprisingly deserted and quiet at midnight, a stark contrast to the silent gaze and psychedelic atmosphere inside Welch's residence.

It was only then that he realized his linen shirt was soaked with sweat, cold and damp.

(End of this chapter)