{T/N: Today, I spent most of my free time going through the 'LOTM' Fandom Wiki and checking on some obscure facts and lore, mostly Mystical Languages and Beyonder organizations... As I was going through the Beyonder organizations' lore, I noticed a number of inconsistencies with my TRANSLATION.
That is, reading up On 'Element Dawn' which was Founded by Bernadette to combat the 'Moses Ascetic Order', I immediately noticed my blunder... Upon skimming through 'The Hermits of Fate', I noticed they had nothing to do with the 'Knowledge Moor' and the 'Savant'/'Mystery Pryer' Pathways... Infact they are from the Error Pathway...
So my mistake became apparent. I took the literal translation of the Organization, 'Hermits of the Fog/Mist', and thought it was referring to 'Hermits of Fate' without fact checking... The lore accurate translation is 'Moses Ascetic Order', which in hindsight makes perfect sense... So all this time, you guys have been reading nonsense... My bad...}
...
When Klein had previously investigated the serial killings, he had heard of Mr. Gale.
Since the victims of the serial killings were all current or former streetwalkers, Klein had gained some understanding of Backlund's streetwalking industry during his investigation.
Nearly all dance halls treated streetwalkers as money-making machines, utterly indifferent to their lives.
These women were either bought, kidnapped, or came from various parts of the Northern Continent, the Rorsted Archipelago, or even the Southern Continent.
The dance halls were filled with gang members to prevent these "assets" from escaping.
No one dared to investigate these establishments, as doing so always implicated powerful figures, leading to cases being quietly dropped.
Mr. Gale was the hidden owner of the 'Rosewood Pavilion', a dance hall that stood out in the streetwalking industry. Unlike others, aside from enforcers maintaining order, no one monitored the streetwalkers there.
The women who worked at the Rosewood Pavilion were all there out of desperation, entering the trade voluntarily. The pavilion provided them with rooms for their work, ensured they wouldn't be extorted by gangs or the police, and even arranged doctors when they fell ill.
In return, the streetwalkers handed over one-fifth of their earnings to keep the establishment running.
At the time, Klein had been deeply impressed by Mr. Gale, feeling that despite operating in a gray industry, the man still possessed a basic sense of decency.
But now, seeing Lady Mandy, one of Gale's subordinates, "recruiting" girls from the East Borough, he couldn't help but doubt the man's supposed benevolence. Were those women truly willing?
So Klein asked Old Kohler, "Do the girls who leave with Lady Mandy ever come back?"
Old Kohler blinked in surprise, "I've never heard of any returning."
Klein frowned.
But Old Kohler continued, "From what I've heard, once a streetwalker catches the eye of a powerful patron, her entire family moves out of the East Borough to live a respectable life. No one's ever come back."
This was somewhat unexpected for Klein. He couldn't quite grasp what kind of "business" the Rosewood Pavilion was really running.
"I've heard stories about this Mr. Gale," Mike chimed in, "He's a man with quite the reputation. They say he always wears a silver mask... no one's ever seen his real face..."
"...I've also heard that after Lady Mandy selects a few streetwalkers from the East Borough, she spends months, even half a year, teaching them dance, painting, music, etiquette, grammar, and more. After this cultural and artistic refinement, these women become elegant and sophisticated. They typically entertain high-rolling patrons..."
"...Once a streetwalker secures a few regular wealthy clients, Mr. Gale rents her a luxurious villa, hires a butler and servants, and arranges for her to attend high-society balls and social events. At a glance, she'd seem no different from any upper-class lady..."
"...Rumors say such streetwalkers— no, they can't even be called streetwalkers anymore, these 'professional women' save up enough money within a year or two. Some move to other cities, while others choose to become mistresses to their patrons."
Klein glanced again at Lady Mandy in the distance, 'This operation sounds awfully familiar…'
His personal values made him instinctively recoil from such a "business", but faced with the harsh realities of the East Borough, he couldn't bring himself to outright condemn it.
Old Kohler adjusted his hat, "Look, that girl has found hope again."
Sure enough, the sixteen or seventeen-year-old streetwalker's nervousness had vanished, replaced by a spark of joy in her eyes.
With a pang of sorrow, Klein realized, 'In a world where class barriers are this rigid, this might be the only path for East Borough women to live a decent life...'
....
~Unit 51 Henry Street, West Borough~
Odis politely escorted Aelia to the door after her lesson, leaving the woman flustered by his courtesy.
Today's lesson had covered the disassembly and assembly of 'Flame Arrows'.
Tomorrow, she would learn to craft the corresponding mystical bullets, thus concluding her training...
Odis watched Aelia's carriage depart, his real reason for stepping outside being to observe the mysterious gaze that had been fixed on his herbal shop.
Just as he'd suspected, the watcher's attention followed the carriage as it left.
Odis pressed his lips together, 'So the gaze was drawn by Aelia after all...'
He was certain Aelia had noticed it too, the scrutiny had been blatant. Yet she had remained unfazed, suggesting both sides had their own schemes in motion.
Odis knew his role was marginal. If Bernadette had already eliminated those coveting his research, the most he'd face was surveillance. For now, he could afford to ignore it...
...
~Late at Night, Near a Large Warehouse South of the Backlund Bridge~
Lush flowers suddenly sprouted around the warehouse, growing at an unnatural pace until they engulfed the entire structure.
By the time those inside noticed something amiss, it was too late. The warehouse grew hazy, as if detached from reality.
The blossoms bloomed into exquisite flowers, some even bearing fruit. The petals tasted like the sweetest confections, and the violet-hued fruits were filled with the finest wines.
Eating a single flower was akin to absorbing the knowledge of an entire book, while consuming a fruit and its wine granted access to long-lost or hidden Mystical secrets...
The 'Moses Ascetic Order' hiding inside, responsible for Backlund operations, were overcome with frenzy, lunging to devour the offerings.
But the moment they touched the plants, they fell into hallucinations of floating among clouds and being surrounded by fantastical flora and fauna, as if transported to paradise.
In their trance, they stood motionless, their faces lit with blissful smiles.
Back in reality, thorns erupted from the flowers, thickening and lengthening until they became sword-like spikes, impaling the Beyonders from all directions.
One by one, they collapsed, their smiles still intact.
The blossoms withered, and the warehouse phased back into reality.
A moment later, Aelia stepped out from the illusory veil. After confirming all targets were dead, she calmly collected their Beyonder Characteristics.
Once finished, she cupped the Characteristics in her hands and bowed slightly, "Your Majesty."
The Characteristics shimmered brilliantly before vanishing from her grasp.
The voice of the 'Queen Mystic' (Bernadette), echoed from the air, "A pity. The demigod escaped."
What she'd expected to be a fierce battle had ended with surprising ease.
Then, in an ethereal tone, Bernadette added, "There are still two pawns to utilize. Go to Gale's Herbal Shop. Save Odis."
Her voice grew increasingly distant until it faded entirely.
Aelia blinked in surprise, 'Save Odis?'
...
{T/N: I'd appreciate it if y'all point out any other inconsistencies you might have come across...}