Lord of the Mysteries: Volume 2 — Faceless

Part I: The Magician of Backlund

The events of Volume 2 begin in the grim aftermath of the Tingen City tragedy. Klein Moretti, having
lost his Captain Dunn Smith and the Blackthorn Security team, and having witnessed his world
shattered by the betrayal of the Angel of the Red Priest pathway, Ince Zangwill, finds himself utterly
alone. His younger siblings, Benson and Melissa, believe he died a hero, allowing them to collect a
generous pension from the Nighthawks, though the truth is a wound that forever festers in Klein's
transmigration-burdened soul.

I.The Birth of Sherlock Moriarty

Klein, now a Sequence 8 Clown, arrives in Backlund, the capital of the Loen Kingdom—the “City of
Steam and Machinery,” a place of both dazzling modernity and desperate poverty. He settles in West
Borough, choosing a location near the wealthy areas to leverage his divinatory skills. To prevent
himself from "losing control" and to properly act as a Clown, which requires physical and mental
flexibility, and to sever ties with the danger that followed "Klein Moretti," he creates a new persona:
Sherlock Moriarty, a private consulting detective from another city.
His primary motivation is twofold: to earn money to sustain his new life and his Beyonder journey,
and to secretly investigate the greater conspiracy behind his former Captain’s death, believing the key
lay with the enigmatic Antigonus family notebook he retrieved from the Tingen tragedy.

World Building (Reference to Volume 1): The Antigonus family notebook is a Sealed Artifact
containing pages written by the ancient transmigrator Emperor Roselle Gustav in Chinese, along with
Beyonder knowledge, including the formula for Sequence 4 of the Seer Pathway. Its recovery proves
Klein’s first great success and greatest danger.

His identity as Sherlock Moriarty is painstakingly crafted. He rents an apartment, adopts a refined but
slightly mysterious demeanor, and uses his powers of observation and divination (Spirit Vision and
Dream Divination) to establish a reputation in the mundane and occult communities.

II. The First Tarot Gatherings in Backlund

The Tarot Club, established in Volume 1, becomes the most crucial setting for this new chapter. Above
the gray fog, in his silent crimson palace, Mr. Fool (Klein) continues to preside, demonstrating subtle
power that further solidifies his divine image in the eyes of his members:
* Audrey Hall (Justice):
 The only one in Backlund, she is Klein’s closest observer. She provides the bulk of the money and
knowledge needed for Klein's acting method. She continues to document her journey and acting
method as a Spectator and learns about her next Sequence: Psychologist.
* Alger Wilson (The Hanged Man):
Still exploring the seas, he provides valuable intelligence on the Church of the Lord of Storms and
the oceanic Beyonder world. His growing fear and respect for The Fool make him a reliable, if distant,
servant.
* Derrick Berg (The Sun):
The boy from the City of Silver begins to give more details on his perpetually dark and mysterious
land, giving the members a glimpse into the true extent of the world’s hidden dangers and ancient
lore.
The most significant early development is the introduction of new members:
* Fors Wall (The Magician):
A Beyonder of the Apprentice Pathway (Sequence 9), a professional fantasy novelist struggling with
debt. She is brought in by Audrey through a suggestion from Klein (using The Hanged Man’s
request). She seeks information on the dangers of advancing. Her inclusion provides Klein with easy
access to information regarding the Spectator and Apprentice pathways.
* Xio Derecha (Justice’s Friend, later The Judgment):
A powerful bodyguard and Beyonder of the Hunter Pathway (Sequence 9), she accompanies Fors to
the Tarot Club at one point, though she is not initially a full member.

III. The Formula for the Magician Potion

Klein's major goal is to advance to Sequence 7: Magician to gain more powers, especially the ability
to manipulate nature and perform rituals, crucial for protecting himself. His first target is the
Conspirer Pathway.

He uses his identity as Sherlock Moriarty to investigate a suspicious death that leads him to a
high-ranking Beyonder of the Church of the God of Combat, who possessed the Magician formula.
This investigation forces him into his first intense battle as a Clown, leveraging his superior reflexes
and enhanced senses.
Ultimately, through divinations above the fog and the assistance of The Hanged Man, Klein secures
the recipe for the Magician potion.

Part II: The Magician and the Assassin

Upon advancing to the Sequence 7 Magician, Klein gains two powerful abilities: Air Bullet and Flame
Jump. His performance in battle is now focused on theatrical, calculated maneuvers, fitting the
essence of the Magician pathway.
I. The Rosago Incident and the Pursuit of Lanevus

A pivotal turning point in this volume is the encounter with Rosago, an agent of the Twilight Hermit
Order and a high-ranking Beyonder of the Seer Pathway (Sequence 5: Marionettist).
Klein and Audrey’s investigations lead Sherlock Moriarty to a secret society, and he inadvertently
stumbles upon Rosago, who is in the process of attempting to steal a sealed artifact related to the
Black Emperor Pathway from the Intis Ambassador's residence.

The Fight (Klein, Sequence 7 vs. Rosago, Sequence 5):

The disparity in Sequence levels is immense. Rosago, an experienced Marionettist, can control
puppets using thread-like Spirit Bodies, making him incredibly difficult to pin down.
Klein is forced to use his most dangerous resource: The Creeping Dread (a Sealed Artifact which is
the remnant of a Sequence 5 spirit) and his newly acquired Magician powers. The combat is swift and
brutal:

* Klein utilizes Air Bullet for ranged attacks and feints.

* He uses a ritualistic paper figurine, Paper Angel, imbued with powerful light and fire, forcing
Rosago to retreat.

* Crucially, he uses his connection to Mr. Fool to distract Rosago and the spirit body that attacks him,
enabling his escape, though Rosago manages to leave a spiritual imprint on him.

This encounter leads to a dark revelation: Rosago was working with Lanevus, the infamous leader of
the Aurora Order who was responsible for the Tingen nightmare (Reference to Volume 1). Lanevus is
a follower of the True Creator, attempting to initiate a ritual to allow the Outer Deity's descent.

II. The Descent and the Revelation of the True Evil

Klein's pursuit of Lanevus, using divination and his Magician skills for information gathering, brings
him closer to the main conspiracy. He discovers that Lanevus is attempting to sacrifice a massive
number of people in Backlund through a widespread ritual of despair.
The true antagonist of the volume is then fully revealed: Ince Zangwill, Klein's former colleague who
betrayed Dunn Smith (Reference to Volume 1), is revealed to be a powerful Angel (Sequence 4 of the
Red Priest Pathway, or higher) leading the conspiracy. He is working with the Aurora Order and the
Demoness Sect to facilitate the True Creator’s descent.
The confrontation with Lanevus is short-lived. Lanevus is not the ultimate enemy, but a vessel. In a
terrifying moment, the True Creator begins to project its power into the world through Lanevus's
ritual.
Crucial Dialogue (Internal Monologue): "I lost everything in Tingen, and now this entity is trying to
take everything from Backlund too? I will not allow this tragedy to repeat! For Dunn, for the
Nighthawks, and for Benson and Melissa, who are still here!"

Klein is forced to use an even greater power: he secretly petitions Mr. Fool (himself) to manipulate the
spiritual world, summoning a figure known as The World (a puppet). The use of The World's avatar is
a costly, temporary measure of immense power, enough to disrupt the ritual, but not enough to defeat
Zangwill. The immediate crisis is solved, but the stage is set for the final clash.

Part III: The Faceless and the Great Smog

The second half of the volume focuses on Klein’s rapid power accumulation and the preparation for
his most complex advancement yet: Sequence 6: Faceless.

I. The Adventurers of the Fog

Klein realizes he needs better, less traceable sources of income and materials. He expands the Tarot
Club and introduces the persona of The World, a puppet under Mr. Fool’s control, to act as his
representative, allowing Klein to converse with the club from a position of detached power without
risk.
New Key Members:
* Emlyn White (The Moon):
An arrogant, noble Sanguine (vampire), Sequence 8: Pharmacist. His main contribution is providing
high-quality, rare Beyonder ingredients (unwillingly, through The Fool's coercion) and adding comic
relief.
* Cattleya (The Hermit):
A powerful pirate admiral and member of the mysterious organization The Moses Ascetic Order. She
is a high-level Beyonder (likely Sequence 5 or 4) who seeks Roselle’s diaries. Her inclusion provides
the Tarot Club with unprecedented knowledge about the High Sequences, the sea, and ancient history.

II. The Path to Faceless

The ritual for advancing to Sequence 6: Faceless is one of the most demanding. It requires the
Magician to successfully fool a high-level Beyonder into believing the Faceless is someone else
entirely.
Klein focuses on building the identity of the "Hero Bandit Black Emperor", a legendary
criminal/vigilante. This identity requires him to:
* Change his face and height.

* Forge a complete background and history for the "Black Emperor."

* Perform multiple "heroic" acts that gain widespread recognition and media attention in Backlund.

This period is a showcase of Klein’s Magician skills, as he subtly uses paper figures, illusions, and
divination to execute daring heists and rescues, always making sure to act in line with his new
persona.
III. The Climax:

The Duel in the Ruins

The volume culminates in the final confrontation Klein has been preparing for, a moment of profound
personal closure for the Tingen massacre.
Klein, now a true Faceless, successfully infiltrates a major Aurora Order/Demoness Sect ritual that
takes place beneath Backlund, involving the recovery of the complete Antigonus family notebook.
The key figures involved are:
* Ince Zangwill:
The angel (Red Priest Pathway) who stole Sealed Artifact 0-08 and was responsible for Dunn’s death.
* Mr. A:
A high-ranking Sequence 5 member of the Aurora Order.
* Trissy Cheek:
A Sequence 6 member of the Demoness Sect.

The Detailed Fight (Klein, Sequence 6 vs. Ince Zangwill, Angel):

This is not a fair fight, but a meticulous ambush, a testament to Klein's new powers and his nature as a
Faceless manipulator.
* The Ambush:
Klein doesn't face Zangwill directly. He uses his Faceless ability to become someone completely
unexpected. He leverages pre-placed ritual materials and the environment (an ancient Tudor relic/ruin)
to his advantage.
* Sealed Artifact 0-08:
Zangwill is protected by Sealed Artifact 0-08 (The Wish-Granting/Reality-Altering Pen). This artifact
is the ultimate trump card, making the wielder almost invincible by changing reality around them.
* The Decisive Move:
Klein anticipates Zangwill's reliance on 0-08. He doesn't fight Zangwill; he fights 0-08 by using a
counter-curse and a massive, instantaneous divination above the gray fog, confusing the pen's effects.
The key, however, is the use of the Antigonus family notebook—a Sealed Artifact of the Seer
Pathway—as a direct counter.
* The True Savior:
In a critical moment when Klein is pushed to his limit and nearly killed, the power of Sealed Artifact
0-08 backfires or is hijacked. The true savior arrives: Pallez Zoroast, the ancient, powerful existence
(likely a Sequence 2 or 3) residing in Leonard Mitchell's (The Star) body (Reference to Volume 1's
twist). Pallez Zoroast, using Leonard's connection to the Evernight Church, strikes a decisive,
terrifying blow against Ince Zangwill.
Klein successfully retrieves the notebook and ensures Zangwill is dealt with, finally achieving his
long-sought revenge. However, Zangwill's death ritual successfully facilitated the descent of the True
Creator's power, causing the widespread disaster known as the Backlund Great Smog—a terrifying,
city-wide event of madness and death.
Part IV: The Aftermath and Epilogue of a Faceless

The volume concludes with Klein surviving the ordeal, having avenged Dunn Smith and advanced to
the powerful Sequence 6: Faceless. He is now a true master of disguise, illusion, and strategic
manipulation, capable of walking among demigods, albeit carefully.
He attends the final Tarot Club meeting of the volume, confirming his status as Mr. Fool and
observing the growth of his organization. The major themes are now solidified:
* Identity: Klein is no longer just Klein Moretti or Zhou Mingrui. He is the enigmatic Mr. Fool, the
secretive detective Sherlock Moriarty, and the heroic phantom Black Emperor. He has embraced the
Faceless path.
* Lore: The lore has expanded from a city-level conspiracy to world-level threats, with the
introductions of the Demoness Sect, the Sanguine, and the reality of Angels like Ince Zangwill.
* The Future: Klein’s new goal is clearer: to find the third transmigrator's diary (Roselle's Diary) and
continue his journey up the pathways to find a way home, with the looming threat of the True Creator
and the knowledge that true power resides in the High Sequences.
The last scene shows Klein silently mourning the loss of his innocence, now a man who has
successfully engineered the death of a powerful enemy, ready to move onto his next identity and the
next volume: The Traveler.