🌍 Introduction:
Arc 4 marks a major turning point in Lord of the Mysteries. Klein leaves Tingen behind for good and begins his journey to Backlund—the largest, most politically charged city in the Loen Kingdom. This arc, covering Chapters 181–250, expands the scope of the story dramatically. It blends mystery, political intrigue, supernatural encounters, and the continued growth of the Tarot Club.
This retelling is designed so completely that readers can follow the events without needing to consult the original novel.
📖 Complete Storyline (Full Detail)
🔄 Preparing to Leave Tingen (Ch. 181–190)
After the events involving the Marionettist, Klein decides Tingen is no longer a safe base of operations. He arranges his affairs, ensuring his family is financially stable and well-protected. As The Fool, he continues to manage Tarot Club meetings discreetly, offering guidance to Audrey and Alger.
Before leaving, Klein secures several mystical items and gathers intelligence on the situation in Backlund. The city is known as a hub of political power, industrial innovation, and secret organisation activity—a perfect place to hide in plain sight.
🔄 The Journey Begins (Ch. 191–200)
Klein travels by steamship along the Loen coast. His journey is far from peaceful: he encounters suspicious passengers, strange omens, and hints of cult activity aboard. Using his Clown agility and Seer foresight, he avoids several assassination attempts and uncovers a smuggling operation tied to Beyonder materials.
He discreetly disrupts the operation, protecting himself while maintaining his cover as an unremarkable traveler.
🔄 Encounters Along the Way (Ch. 201–215)
While travelling inland, Klein encounters a group of travellers under attack by a dangerous, partially mutated Beyonder creature. He intervenes, saving several lives while keeping his true capabilities hidden. Among the survivors is a merchant with valuable connections in Backlund—an acquaintance that will later prove useful.
Klein also begins piecing together reports of increasing supernatural disturbances along the route, hinting that a larger conflict is brewing within the Loen Kingdom.
🔄 Tarot Club Developments (Ch. 216–225)
During rest stops, Klein continues holding Tarot Club meetings from the grey fog. Audrey reveals growing influence in high-society circles, using her Spectator skills to subtly manipulate events. Alger reports on stormy sea routes and suspicious movements by naval factions.
Klein uses their information to refine his plans for his time in Backlund, already thinking about how to position himself within the city’s power structure without revealing his identity.
🔄 Danger on the Rails (Ch. 226–235)
Boarding the train to Backlund, Klein finds himself targeted once again. This time, his enemies employ a Sequence 7 Beyonder assassin with dangerous stealth abilities. A deadly game of cat-and-mouse unfolds across train compartments and rooftops.
Klein outmaneuvers the assassin using a combination of Clown unpredictability, Seer divination, and environmental traps. The fight ends with the assassin dead, but Klein grows more cautious—Backlund is clearly a dangerous destination.
🔄 Arrival in Backlund (Ch. 236–245)
Klein arrives in Backlund, immediately struck by the size and complexity of the city. Towering factories, sprawling slums, elegant high-society districts—all of it buzzing with energy and tension. He quickly adopts a new cover identity and begins renting modest lodgings in a middle-class district.
The city feels alive but dangerous, its streets hiding a hundred different power struggles. Klein senses he has stepped onto a far more complex stage than Tingen ever was.
🔄 The First Backlund Clues (Ch. 246–250)
Barely settled in, Klein picks up whispers of a brewing conflict between multiple secret organisations. There are rumours of missing persons, occult gatherings in abandoned factories, and a possible war between rival Beyonder factions.
Klein resolves to investigate quietly, using the Tarot Club’s information network to begin mapping the city’s hidden power players.
👨🎓 Character Explanations:
- Klein Moretti / The Fool / Clown – Now an experienced Beyonder, skilled in deception, investigation, and survival.
- Audrey Hall / Miss Justice – Gains influence in Backlund’s elite circles, setting the stage for more political intrigue.
- Alger Wilson / The Hanged Man – Continues to provide intelligence from maritime fronts.
- Various Fellow Travellers – Merchants, sailors, and passengers whose brief interactions with Klein influence later events.
📚 Themes:
- Transition & Expansion – Moving from a smaller city to the heart of Loen’s power.
- Travel as Transformation – Encounters during the journey prepare Klein for Backlund’s challenges.
- Hidden Wars – The seeds of future conflicts are planted along the road.
🔮 Plot Analysis:
Arc 4 serves as a narrative bridge between the personal battles of Tingen and the grander political and supernatural struggles awaiting in Backlund. The journey allows Klein to hone his skills, make useful contacts, and subtly expand his influence while remaining in the shadows.
👇 Conclusion:
By the end of Arc 4, Klein is firmly set on a new path. Backlund offers opportunities, dangers, and the chance to play a much bigger game. But the city’s complexity will demand every ounce of cunning and control he possesses.
❓ FAQ:
Q1: Why does Klein leave Tingen?
It’s too dangerous after recent events, and Backlund offers more opportunities for influence.
Q2: Does anything major happen on the journey?
Yes—he thwarts smuggling operations, fights an assassin, and gains useful allies.
Q3: Is the Tarot Club still active during travel?
Yes, meetings continue in the grey fog.
Q4: Does Klein reveal his identity in Backlund?
No, he assumes a new cover to operate discreetly.
Q5: Does this arc have a final battle?
The train battle with the assassin serves as the arc’s major action climax.
❓ Engaging Questions for Readers:
- Would you prefer to stay in a smaller, safer city or risk a dangerous metropolis for greater opportunity?
- Should Klein have stayed in Tingen to protect his family directly?
- How would you operate if you arrived in a city full of hidden enemies?
- Do you think the Tarot Club will gain more members in Backlund?
- Could Backlund become too dangerous even for The Fool?
 {Storyline} {Character Explanation} {Theme} {Conclusion & Plot Analysis} {FAQ} | Anime Lore Hub){kind=link}
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