Mystery: The Traveler Who Holds the Star Key

However, no matter how fancy the script is, it's just a piece of paper if no one acts in it.

Orion's gaze turned cold and focused again.

When the two monsters were biting each other until they were covered in blood.

That lone ambassador was the real piece of meat left for him...

"But the problem is... I'm only a Sequence 8 right now."

Orion looked at his long but slightly pale fingers and shook his head self-deprecatingly.

Even if the ambassador is seriously injured, even if he is alone.

Even a "scheming master" can't take on a "magician" one-on-one.

Klein is currently Sequence 8 and is busy dealing with Rosago, so he can't spare any time for anything else.

We need a helper.

A trusted ally who can completely suppress the seriously injured ambassador.

In Orion's mind, a beautiful figure dressed in an elaborate court dress and with a pale face flashed by.

If it's her... there's absolutely no problem.

As for how to get Mr. A, this madman, to get involved, but without giving him the ten thousand pounds?

Orion wrote down a few complicated words on the paper:

"The One Without Darkness", "The High Priest of Disaster", "The Prophet", "The Manipulator".

This is another condition for Mr. A to accept the task:

If they don't pay, they want the high-sequence recipe from the Divine Path.

For others, this is a fantasy.

But for Orion... it was just a few lines of text.

"A perfect closed loop."

Orion looked at the intricate yet clearly defined "hunting network" on the paper, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

Then, he snapped his fingers.

Snapped.

A cluster of eerie blue flames rose from his fingertips, instantly engulfing the note filled with secrets.

As the ashes fell, the astonishing "magic trick" existed only in his mind at this moment.

……

Two days later, at noon.

In a noisy, vulgar pub in the eastern part of Backlund.

The place was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the smells of cheap ale and moldy wood.

Orion, wearing a baseball cap pulled low, sat in a corner booth.

Opposite him sat a girl who was only about 1.5 meters tall, with fluffy blond hair, a sweet face, but trying hard to put on a fierce look.

"Arbitrator", Hugh Deercha.

"Speak, Great Detective's assistant."

Hugh glanced around warily and asked in a low voice:

"Why are you in such a hurry to ask me out? Is there something you want to ask me?"

If it's something like looking for a cat or dog, I'm too busy right now.

Recently, she has been overwhelmed with Miss Audrey's "big task".

If it weren't for the fact that Orion had given her a chance to make money before, she would never have gone to the appointment.

Orion slowly picked up the cloudy beer in front of him, but didn't drink it; he just swirled it gently.

He looked at the future "judge" in front of him without exchanging any pleasantries.

Instead, he leaned forward slightly and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, got straight to the point:

"Miss Deercha."

"Recently, has some generous noble lady asked you to find that madman named Mr. A from the Aurora Society...?"

At this point, Ollie paused, his gaze sharp as a knife through the shadow of his hat brim:

"...To assassinate one of Intis's ambassadors in the Kingdom of Rune?"

Clang!

Hugh jerked his wine glass violently, slamming it heavily onto the table, spilling wine all over his hand.

Her eyes, which had been darting around, widened instantly, and her pupils contracted sharply.

She stared in horror at the smiling man in front of her.

That was an assassination attempt on a country's ambassador!

Miss Audrey had only entrusted this secret, which she dared not even utter aloud in prayer, to me and Fors in private!

How...how could he have known?!

"you……"

Xiu opened his mouth, but found his throat so dry that he couldn't make a sound.

"Shh-"

Orian did not answer Hugh's terrified question.

He simply leaned forward slightly, raised his long index finger, and placed it against his lips, making an elegant yet unquestionable gesture of silencing.

Those deep eyes, filled with a smile, quietly gazed at Xiu, whose pupils trembled.

Until it was confirmed that the volatile "arbitrator" would not jump up and overturn the table out of excessive fright.

He slowly withdrew his hand and looked around the noisy tavern.

The drunks were playing drinking games, and the dancers were screaming.

No one noticed the conversation taking place in this dimly lit corner, a conversation that was enough to alarm the officials.

"Don't be nervous, Miss Deercha."

Orion picked up the untouched glass of beer, his fingertips tapping lightly on the rim, producing a rhythmic sound.

"I know that secret because I have my own channels."

"The reason I asked you out today is not to threaten that noble... lady."

He paused here, his tone becoming like that of a devil selling candy:

"On the contrary, I'm here to help her save money."

Hugh was stunned. His previously tense muscles relaxed slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes:

"save money?"

"As far as I know, Mr. A from the Aurora Club, in addition to demanding a huge sum of 10,000 gold pounds, also proposed another alternative."

Orion leaned back in his chair, his voice low but clear:

"He needs the potion recipes of the 'Dark One,' 'Prophet,' 'Calamity Priest,' or... 'Manipulator.'"

Upon hearing these technical terms, Hugh's expression changed.

These are secrets at an extremely high level, even in the extraordinary world.

"What a coincidence."

Orion pointed to his head, a mysterious smile playing on his lips:

"I happen to have a fragment of the formula for the 'Manipulator'."

Before Hugh could react, he threw out an even more tempting bait:

"By the way, please pass on this message to that noble lady."

Although they are now called "manipulators," in much older times...

"At a time when this method was not yet fully mastered by humankind..."

Orion lowered his voice, as if reciting a lost history:

"It belongs to the overlord who rules the sky and the mind—the dragon."

"A dragon?!"

Hugh gasped involuntarily, then immediately covered her mouth.

"How...how do you know all this?"

Hugh stared intently at Orion, his vigilance rising to its peak once more.

If knowing about the assassination mission was a coincidence...

They even know this kind of knowledge that involves high sequences and even ancient secrets.

Who exactly is this man?

Faced with Hugh's gaze, which seemed to look at him like he was a monster, Orion simply shrugged helplessly.

In that instant, he exuded a unique aura that only true, fallen aristocrats possessed—a blend of decay and erudition.

"Don't look at me like that, Miss Deercha."

He sighed, his tone carrying a hint of nostalgia that was hard to discern:

"This can be considered... the legacy of the family."

"Back when our family hadn't fallen on hard times."

I've read quite a few "leisure books" in my elders' study.

I had nothing to do at the time, so I just memorized them.

I read the book at home and memorized it.

This is the absolute truth.

However... that "home" is called Blue Star in 2020.

That "book" is called Lord of Mysteries.

Xiu opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but couldn't find a reason.

In this mysterious world.

The ancient family possesses some unknown secrets.

It seems... to make sense?

But this reason, no matter how you look at it, makes it seem like... he's in Versailles?

"Alright, let's get back to the transaction itself."

Orion didn't give her time to think.

He rubbed his hands together, looking slightly excited, and then directly presented his final solution:

"That noble lady doesn't need to pay ten thousand pounds..."

You only need to pay me £3000 as a brokerage fee.

"And I will provide Mr. A with the fragment of the 'Manipulator' formula."

He spread his hands, smiling sincerely and brightly:

"Look, the noble lady saved 7000 pounds."

Mr. A obtained the formula he had always dreamed of.

I earn a meager living through hard work to support my family.

"It's a perfect ending, a happy one for everyone. Isn't it?"

Hugh fell silent.

Her brain was working at lightning speed.

Indeed... this is a huge benefit for the client.

Not only did they save money, they also gained information about the "dragon".

The only risk is trusting the man in front of you.

If it were someone else, Hugh would definitely refuse.

But looking into Orian's all-seeing eyes, she nodded as if possessed.

"……good."

Hugh took a deep breath and said in a hoarse voice:

"I will tell her."

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Orion's smile deepened.

He pulled out a folded piece of paper that he had prepared beforehand and which was sealed with a spiritual wall.

It was pushed along the table to Hugh's front.

"This is the recipe."

You can take it to verify first.

Of course, I trust that young lady's judgment.

After speaking, he stood up and adjusted the brim of his hat:

"As for the 3000 pounds... I hope I'll see them by this time tomorrow."