Miao Miao bid farewell to Klein in a secluded alley of West Borough. She knew Klein would now hurry toward the Leaver to keep the entire matter out of the Machinery Hivemind's reach. After seeing him off, Miao Miao turned her steps toward that old house at No. 17 Moonlit Crest Road in West Borough—the place where she had first opened her eyes to the world of "Lord of the Mysteries."
The house was a two-story structure, shrouded in a heavy, deathly silence. On her way there, she hadn't seen a single sign of light in any house for nearly a kilometer. The area was so desolate that even if someone were murdered and their body hidden, not a soul would notice.
The architecture was that of a tasteful residence belonging to a middle-class merchant. Aria Nightshade's foster father had once been a prominent grain merchant. However, after the enactment of the "Grain Act," his booming business collapsed like a house of cards, and the family sank into an abyss of debt.
Aria Nightshade was an orphan. The kind-hearted Mrs. Fiona Nightshade had rescued this street urchin and given her a name and identity. Mr. Dont Knight was equally generous; despite having a son of his own, he didn't hesitate for a moment to adopt a girl taken from the streets.
They loved Aria as their own child. Aria's elder brother, Neris Knight, was currently studying in Lenburg. The women of the Knight family adopted the surname "Nightshade," while the men used only "Knight."
"Aria Nightshade... not a bad name, but Aria Knight sounds better. Strange customs..." Miao Miao muttered to herself with a hint of irony.
Twelve years ago, they had left this old house in West Borough for a mansion with a garden near Aulika Street in Hillston Borough. But obsessed with hoarding grain, Mr. Knight went bankrupt. Before the debts could be cleared, their cherished household was put up for auction. Mrs. Fiona could not bear this extreme decline in their standard of living. After falling victim to a fraud by a merchant from Winter County and a subsequent robbery, she lost her mental balance.
Unable to endure this dual blow, Mr. Dont Knight chose the path of suicide. Within two months, Neris Knight had to attend the funerals of both his parents. Currently, the last remnant of the shattered Knight family was this dilapidated two-story house standing before her.
Miao Miao let out a deep sigh.
.....
The Machinery Hivemind was swarming around the open space surrounding the abandoned warehouse. The person in charge of this incident had already risen from a Team Captain to the level of a Deacon-tier powerhouse.
Ikanser Bernard's brown hair was always messy, stubbornly sticking out in a way that even his hat couldn't hide. As a result, many members of the Machinery Hivemind secretly joked that the Deacon probably used bombs to get a haircut.
At this moment, Ikanser, with his stern and distinct facial features, held an ancient, ornate silver mirror in his hand. The mirror was adorned with eye-like decorations on each side, made of black gemstones that looked deep and mesmerizing.
Looking around, Ikanser said, "Although the sewer rats are experts at interfering with divination and mediumship, and they handled the situation effectively, this is still a mysterious and extraordinary world. There are no guarantees of success here."
As he spoke, he looked at the silver mirror and gently rubbed its surface three times with his right palm. Pausing for two seconds, Ikanser took a deep breath and said in a grave tone, "Honorable Arrodes, my question is: who participated in what just happened here?"
The surrounding darkness suddenly thickened, and the surface of the silver mirror shimmered with watery light. Soon, a scene emerged within the mirror.
Amidst fierce flames, a figure hovered in the air. He wore a black double-breasted frock coat and a half-top hat. His body was distorted, and his face was so blurred it was difficult to see clearly. Furthermore, his body was smeared with oil paints. Fire erupted beneath his feet and consumed him.
With a flash of watery light, the scene changed to reveal a middle-aged man dressed in deep red robes. His arms burned with bright flames, but his head was shrouded in darkness.
As the scenes shifted, Ikanser and the others saw a woman wearing an intricately designed black regal dress with messy, pale golden hair. But her face was completely transparent, as if she didn't exist. Beside her were two men whose bodies were covered in black hair. Strange hands were pulling at their backs.
Then, the watery light of the mirror froze for a moment. No clear form emerged like the previous three figures. Only a vague, incomplete silhouette appeared, which gradually merged with the air.
Finally, the changes ended and the scene settled on flames rising toward the sky, bursting into dazzling 'fireworks' that illuminated the surroundings. In such a dreamlike scene, the man in the black double-breasted frock coat appeared again.
His body twisted and shrank horizontally as he turned his face forward. Pressing his hatted hand to his chest, he bowed slightly in greeting. Not only was his face extremely blurred, as if distorted by some interference, but it also bore a faint glow of oil colors.
Just as Ikanser was about to ask his team members for their opinions, several lines in ancient Feysac suddenly appeared on the silver mirror: "According to the principle of reciprocity, it is now my turn to ask a question. If you answer incorrectly or lie, you will be punished."
The word 'punishment' was blood-red, as if liquid was dripping from it!
For a moment, Ikanser's expression contorted before becoming unnaturally solemn. Then, the watery light flashed across the silver mirror, and a new row of words appeared: "What is your sexual orientation?"
Ikanser was stunned, feeling the gazes of his teammates fixated upon him.
.....
A triumphant smile played on Miao Miao's lips. She thought, 'Lucky I was there! Poor Klein, how he sighed with regret in the original novel after missing out on the Zombie Beyonder characteristic. Because of my presence today, Jason's valuable heart went into his pocket. At least in this one instance, I could change the course of the story!'
The night was deepening. Amidst the freezing silence of West Borough, she stood before the old wooden mailbox of her house. Opening the rusted lid, two envelopes caught her eye. She picked them up.
The first envelope was heavy and made of expensive paper. The recipient's name was written in beautiful, rounded letters—Aria Nightshade. The sender's section read: Neris Knight. Her elder brother had sent it from Lenburg.
The second letter had no sender's name or address.
Miao Miao entered the house and secured the door firmly with the locking bar. Lighting a candle, she sat at the table. On one side was her brother's emotional letter; on the other, the anonymous one.
> **The Anonymous Letter:**
> *Dear Aria,*
> *You didn't show up at the Quelaag Club even once this week. I checked a few times and found you weren't home either. You'll surely see this letter when you return. I want to give you some wonderful news—I am getting engaged on the first day of next month ! At least send your best wishes to your dear friend! I want to hand you the engagement invitation personally. There is so much to catch up on. You must come to the Quelaag Club this Friday . I will be waiting for you.*
>*Sincerely,*
> *Richie Wills.*
>
Miao Miao frowned at the letter. She mused, "Richie Wills? Who is that? A friend of Aria Nightshade?"
Miao Miao sighed. Today was Thursday , which meant "tomorrow." Meeting Richie Wills meant facing an unknown social test where any wrong answer might spark the old friend's suspicion.
> **Neris's Letter:**
> *Azshara, Lenburg*
> *Dear Aria,*
> *I hope you are well despite the gloomy fog of Backlund. I was quite worried after not hearing from you for a long time. You know my study pressure here in Lenburg is at its peak, but since that tragic incident with our parents, leaving you alone in that house has always been like a thorn in my heart.*
> *I know that old two-story house in West Borough is painful for you now. But for now, it is our last refuge. The losses we suffered due to the Northern Grain Act may not be recovered in this lifetime. However, I want to reassure you that I have found a small job here that covers my expenses. I am sending 5 pounds with this letter. I know it's very little for you, but use it for your needs for now.*
> *One more thing, Aria—the New Year is approaching. This year has brought many storms upon our family. I promise I will try my best to come home during the New Year holidays. At least we can spend a few days together again. As Neris Knight, I may be destitute now, but as your elder brother, I am always by your side. Until then, take care of yourself. Be safe; the nights in Backlund are no longer as secure as they used to be.*
> *Take care. I will return soon.*
> *— Your affectionate brother,*
> *Neris Knight.*
>
"Quelaag Club? Aria was a member of the Quelaag Club."
Thinking this, she began pacing the study.
Her eyes drifted to a dusty wall in the corner. An old black-and-white photograph was mounted there in a simple wooden frame. She stepped slowly toward it.
The photo depicted a happy family. In the middle sat Mr. Dont Knight, looking stern yet kind; beside him was a serene lady—Mrs. Fiona Nightshade. Standing behind them was a teenager of thirteen or fourteen, with a spark of brilliance in his eyes; undoubtedly, this was Neris Knight.
And standing near Mrs. Fiona's lap was a little girl of five or six. The girl wore a frock with a large ribbon tied in her hair. But surprisingly, that little girl in the photo was also wearing a pair of glasses.
"Did Aria have eye problems since childhood? But I can see everything perfectly without glasses." Miao Miao took out the gold-rimmed glasses from her space ring and observed them for a while; they seemed to be just ordinary glasses.
"Adopting an orphan street child and becoming the city's top grain merchant within just two years of being on the brink of bankruptcy—that cannot be a normal equation,"
Miao Miao calculated in her mind. "Did Dont Knight use some Beyonder power? Or was little Aria herself the key to his fortune?"
Breathing effortlessly underwater... from just this, I am certain this Aria was no ordinary girl. Yet in the original novel, she died as a mere cannon fodder in a trivial incident.