Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1426 - In Modern Day 24

Despite the distance and the cluster of people dressed in bizarre attire separating us, I can clearly make out the naked man bound in dark crimson ropes. Whether he is wearing anything beneath the table, or what that attire might consist of, remains a mystery obscured by chairs and various clutter.

To put it simply, my impression of the fellow is:

An absolute pervert!

And likely one with a taste for S&M.

Whether he is a genuine deviant or merely engaged in some elaborate cosplay remains uncertain.

“Right, you can head inside now,” the security officer remarks nonchalantly.

“Wait, what?” I question, doubting my own hearing.

In my haste to concoct an excuse, I had lied about being there to see Vice President Wu, never expecting to actually be granted entry. My original strategy was to sneak in while the guard checked with the front desk, hoping to capture that runaway “mushroom man.” However, the sheer scale of the costumes inside had left me stunned, forcing me into a momentary existential crisis of “Who am I?” and “What am I doing?” By the time I regained my senses, the opportunity had already slipped away.

“Vice President Wu has approved your entry. Don’t you understand what I told you?” The guard eyes my confusion.

I am even more astonished.

“V-Vice President Wu personally gave the order to let me inside?”

This... is he trying to recruit me into his marketing squad?

The security officer spares me a glance.

“You aren’t well-acquainted with Vice President Wu, I take it?”

“We’ve only met briefly,” I quickly clarify.

The guard shifts his gaze toward the office interior. Noting that the Vice President is currently out of earshot, he murmurs, “Vice President Wu isn’t one for conversation. He rarely offers instructions or replies to queries.”

“We eventually grasped his rules. If he doesn’t actively object to something on the spot, he’s silently offering his tacit approval.”

Is that so? Then again, perhaps there is another explanation. I once had a friend who was rather dense; he would only grasp the first joke once the next one had already begun. Perhaps Vice President Wu suffers from a similar sluggishness, failing to respond simply because he is still processing the information. He might require ten full minutes just to formulate a reply... I decide not to debate the guard and keep these thoughts to myself.

Since the golden opportunity has presented itself, I care little whether Vice President Wu is truly acquiescing or if the Creator blessed him with looks but withheld his intellect. Without delay, I stride past the guard and step directly into the neighboring office.

I navigate the edges of the room, which is filled with a chaotic din of wild dancing, as I scan the area for the mushroom creature of my own creation.

Skull ornaments, blood-tinged fluids, tapestries stitched from leather... This place is more than just a multi-level marketing front; is the perverted boss next door also ensnared in some twisted cult? As I observe the surroundings, my heart races, and the urge to flee becomes nearly overwhelming.

If not for my status as an Assassin, which grants me the ability to perform a Leap of Faith and access to extraordinary powers, I would never have dared to linger here.

As I traverse the room, I spot a lengthy banquet table groaning under the weight of breakfast.

Suddenly, a figure cloaked in a long black hooded robe turns to study me.

“Who are you?” he asks with a hesitant tone.

I respond with no trace of guilt, “I’m cosplaying as a corporate employee!”

If all of you are allowed to dress as cultists or arcane figures, surely I am permitted to portray something grounded in reality?

“Employee...” The man repeats the term, completely bewildered.

His intelligence doesn't seem particularly sharp... which makes sense. If I were running an MLM scheme, I would treasure such members, as they are so easily manipulated. Seizing the moment, I slip past the black-robed man toward the table.

As my eyes scan the spread, a surge of joy erupts in my chest.

I have found the “mushroom man”!

It is lying amidst a mound of roasted mushrooms, coated in a layer of sauce, attempting to blend in like ordinary, mundane food.

Nevertheless, its distinct, alluring aura gives it away.

Even among the vast array of dishes on the table, it remains unmistakably unique.

It doesn't seem particularly bright either... I feign ignorance while slowly inching closer.

I reach out to snatch the mushroom creature.

Before I can make contact, a fork lunges forward, impaling the “mushroom man” and whisking it away.

The creature attempts to squirm, but to no avail. It is thrust into the mouth of a “beautiful-looking” man, who immediately begins to chew.

The poor thing. Lacking even a mouth to scream, it is consumed before it can offer a protest.

Me: “...”

“What? Is something the matter?” the androgynous man asks, his voice muffled by the mouthful of food.

“Are you feeling alright?” I ask, feeling a sudden chill.

Gulp. The beautiful man swallows the final bite.

“I feel fine.”

“Really? Are you sure?” I inquire, my subconscious taking over.

I have a persistent suspicion that a strange entity like the “mushroom man” wouldn't be finished off so easily.

“I am perfectly fine,” the man replies, shaking his head. “And you are?”

“I’m with Vice President Wu. May I ask your name?” I scrutinize him for any signs of distress.

The man’s expression darkens.

“I am Mr. A.”

I hold his gaze for a few beats before forcing a smile.

“I’m on my way to see Vice President Wu.”

Without a second's hesitation, I maintain my smile while swiftly retreating from the banquet table and heading toward the exit.

Once I am safely out of the office and into the stairwell, I drop my facade and pull out my phone.

“Hello? Is this the police? I have discovered the location of a major pyramid scheme!”