Lord of The Mysterious Realms Chapter 994

A-01-1-6377 [Killing Mark] is a global phenomenon, an event where individuals marked with a specific tattoo gain power by killing one another. Those afflicted will hunt down other intelligent life forms, continually strengthening themselves until they reach a certain threshold, at which point they will seek out other tattoo bearers. A holder of the Killing Mark appeared in Nolan last year, but that person had already been apprehended by Jenkins and the professor and handed over to the Church.

"That's right. Do you remember the description for A-01-1-6377?" Papa Oliver continued. "The last survivor of the Killing Mark will transform into a terrifying monster. It will break through the barriers of the material world and ascend to an unknowable, terrible realm. That so-called terrifying monster is none other than the exotic known as a [Slaughter Angel]."

As Papa Oliver explained, Jenkins recalled their last conversation about the [Killing Mark]. Back then, the old man had claimed he had no idea what kind of monster it created.

"And what about this 'terrible realm'?" Jenkins inquired, deciding not to call out his mentor's previous lie.

Papa Oliver hesitated for a moment before finally revealing the answer. "The Throne of Blood and Skulls."

After that, he refused to provide any more information. He added that there was no need to report Miss Capet's news about the [Exotic Tide] to the Church, as they were already aware of it.

Papa Oliver believed there was likely someone in Nolan City who possessed this ability, a vile individual for whom the seemingly peaceful city would make the perfect killing field.

"The green-fire demon you killed a few days ago had a tattoo that has been partially deciphered," he elaborated. "It contained a portion of the ritual for the [Exotic Tide]. The Church searched the residences of both the demon and the coachman and discovered several key letters. There's evidence that the [Dead Man's Whip], a cult that worships the evil god known as the [Lord of Slaughter], has already arrived in Nolan. They are attempting to master the [Exotic Tide], and the specific method to acquire this ability is currently tattooed across the bodies of five different exotics."

"Why would they do it like that?" Jenkins found the method perplexing.

The information Papa Oliver was sharing had only been compiled into a complete report the day before. He had learned of it from Miss Bevanna when he took the "food-poisoned" Jenkins to the church, which was why he could explain it all today.

In a strange way, Jenkins's abduction by the coachman had turned out to be a blessing for the city. The kidnapping case had alerted the Church to the terrible events about to unfold, allowing them to connect it to the ancient, murderous ability. It was truly a stroke of luck for Nolan City.

In any case, as night descended and Jenkins arrived at the appointed place to meet Magic Miss, his mind was still consumed with thoughts of the [Exotic Tide].

They met in a small, unlit alley, while the rain that had started at noon continued its steady drizzle. A man in a black rain cloak, holding an umbrella with a cat nestled on his shoulder, stood in the gloom. It was a moonless, stormy night, the kind perfect for murder.

When Magic Miss entered the alley, she was momentarily startled by the exceptionally tall, black-clad figure. It was only when she spotted the small cat, Chocolate, that she realized it was Candle Mr.

She walked over, offering a greeting, and then the man's voice cut through the patter of the rain.

"Good evening, Magic Miss. Do you know anything about the [Exotic Tide]?"

The woman paused, then slowly shook her head. "I know it's an ancient forbidden art, but I only know the name. Has something happened?"

"A friend of mine at the Church told me something dreadful this morning..."

Jenkins recounted a half-true version of what Papa Oliver had told him. Then, using Psychography, he materialized a photograph of the demon's tattoo inside his pocket.

"I know you've always been skilled with rituals, so I was hoping you could study this tattoo and see if it's possible to track the other four bearers. Consider it my payment for helping you deal with the pirates... Of course, that might not be enough. I have other compensation."

As he spoke, he handed her the photograph. In the gap between their umbrellas, raindrops spattered onto the image.

"I don't think it will be a problem," she said, studying the photo for a long moment before nodding her consent. "But I'm rather busy with the Femishue matter at the moment, so my research on these tattoos may have to wait until next month."

"I will offer you a very reasonable reward. I think this favor, plus this, should be enough."

Jenkins reached into his pocket a second time and pulled out the red bead he had acquired from Pomphey during their last gathering. His voice was deep and steady, a reassuring presence even on a stormy night.

"That's too precious," the cloaked woman said. "I don't think you need to pay so much." She considered Candle Mr. a friend and had no desire to take advantage of him.

"But I really need to find the other four tattoo bearers as soon as possible. I'm sure you understand what kind of trouble it would cause if someone actually learned the [Exotic Tide]."

For once, Jenkins was being completely honest. At that moment, he genuinely wanted to use his power to protect the city.

Magic Miss fell silent for a time before reaching out to take the warm, red sphere from his hand. The agonized face of Pomphey, captured within the bead, was struck by a raindrop falling from the sky between their umbrellas, and the small orb was quickly slick with water.

"I'll begin my research as soon as I can. I'm accepting this sphere not to possess it, but only for study. When I've deciphered the meaning of these tattoos and found a way to track them in reverse, I will return it to you. I imagine you wouldn't want to learn the ability it represents without knowing what it is. After all, methods to selectively remove an ability are exceedingly rare."

"That's fine," Jenkins nodded, saying no more. He briefly considered asking Alexia for help as well, given her expertise, but his attention was quickly diverted as Magic Miss revealed their destination.

"The pirates' base is at 32 Wells Alley, in a two-sided apartment building. 32A is where the only Enchanter resides. 32B houses his ordinary men—a collection of uncultured pirates. The street has regular police patrols, so we need to kill every last one of them quietly within ten minutes."

Jenkins faltered for a second. During his recent trip to the future, the note in the picture frame had read:

[Wells Alley, 32B, second floor, room 3. Kill him, and do it before the end of the third month of 1866!]

Two completely unrelated events had just miraculously intertwined. Though surprised, Jenkins quickly accepted the fact.

Based on his experiences over the past six months, he had long since learned that messages from the "future" had a peculiar way of manifesting in his life. The connection to his business with Magic Miss wasn't entirely unexpected.

Magic Miss didn't notice his momentary pause. The two figures, both draped in black rain cloaks, walked side by side under their umbrellas. Jenkins observed that despite the wind, the woman remained completely dry. She must have used a ritual to treat her umbrella or clothing.

Chocolate, who despised getting his fur wet, was currently burrowed inside Jenkins's coat. If it hadn't been for the rain prompting Jenkins to wear an extra layer, there would have been a conspicuous bulge on his chest.

"I assume you know the Heart of the Ocean has been corrupted," Jenkins said, choosing his words carefully as he posed the question.

"A corrupted Bestowal has likely devolved into a Cursed Item. Do you really need it?"

"I need that item not to study it, but to trade it for something else," Magic Miss replied, her gaze fixed on the dim street ahead. "Prepare yourself, Candle Mr. We're almost at our destination."

Wells Alley, like most of the city's unremarkable side streets, was quiet and peaceful in the spring rain. It remained calm and serene, even as two black-clad figures with murderous intent paid it a midnight visit.

The sound of the rain and the damp air would do an excellent job of masking screams and the scent of blood. From the very beginning, there was no possibility of failure in this battle; the only variable was how long it would take.

Jenkins felt no sympathy for the pirates. While his own memories were colored by romanticized depictions from various works of fiction, the original Jenkins had been a Nolan native. He knew exactly what kind of scum these people were.

He and Magic Miss first went to deal with the Enchanter in 32A. The man, asleep in the arms of a prostitute, passed into eternal death without ever waking.

Next, they crossed from the second-floor window into 32B and proceeded to slaughter every living person inside. Thanks to a sound-dampening charm, there was no large-scale resistance before the last man fell.

The pirates were indeed cautious; a few of them managed to open their eyes and sense that something was wrong. But that was all they managed to do.

Next came the search for information. Preoccupied with the message from the future, Jenkins volunteered to search the second floor of 32B.

Magic Miss naturally agreed. In her view, the documents she needed were most likely in the Enchanter's residence, back in 32A.

During the earlier killing spree, Room 3 on the second floor had been empty. Jenkins melted the lock with a touch of fire and pushed the door open, revealing a dark room with its windows and curtains tightly shut. Thıs content belongs to novel·fire·net

Unlike the other chaotic rooms, which were filled with disgusting odors, this one was neat and orderly. It was hard to believe a crude pirate had lived here.