It starts with a gunshot that should have been fatal. Honestly, most web novels begin with a truck hitting a high schooler or some generic god offering a cheat code, but Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1 takes a much darker, weirder turn. You wake up as Zhou Mingrui, but you aren't in your bed. You're in a dimly lit room, your head feels like it’s been put through a meat grinder, and there’s a literal hole in your temple.
Cuttlefish That Loves Diving—the author—doesn't waste time with flowery introductions. He drops you straight into the deep end of a Victorian-era nightmare.
The atmosphere is thick. You can almost smell the cheap kerosene and the metallic tang of blood. It’s a bold move. Most authors want you to like the protagonist immediately. Here? You’re just trying to figure out why he tried to blow his own brains out. Or if he even did it himself.
The Mystery of the Self-Inflicted Wound
When we first meet "Klein Moretti" in Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1, he's a corpse that forgot to stay dead. This isn't your typical power fantasy. Zhou Mingrui, our transmigrator, finds himself staring into a mirror and seeing a face that isn't his, marked by a grotesque wound that should have ended the story before it began.
The blood is everywhere.
It’s on the desk. It’s on the revolver. It’s smeared across the diary.
What’s fascinating is how the narrative handles the shock. Zhou doesn't scream. He survives. The wound heals right before his eyes in a way that feels wrong—unnatural. It sets the tone for the entire series: nothing is free, and everything has a price. This isn't just a "new world, new me" scenario. It’s a "who was the guy who lived here before me and why was he so desperate?" situation.
Most readers miss the subtle cues in this first chapter. The layout of the room, the specific mention of the currency (soli and pence), and the sheer poverty of the Moretti household. It’s gritty. It’s grounded. It’s Steampunk, but with a layer of grime that most stories in the genre ignore.
Why the Crimson Moon Matters More Than You Think
You see it through the window. That massive, oppressive crimson moon. In Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1, the moon isn't just a celestial body; it’s a warning. In the world of Cthulhu-inspired mythos, which this story heavily leans on, celestial bodies are often linked to madness or higher beings.
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The color is vital.
Red means danger. It means the occult. It means the Beyonder world is watching.
While Zhou Mingrui is busy panicking about the blood on his hands, the moon is sitting there as a silent witness. It’s the first hint that the world of Tingen and the Loen Kingdom isn't just about steam engines and top hats. There are gods here. And they aren't the benevolent kind you find in Sunday school.
The Diary and the First Clue
Then there's the diary. It’s written in a language Zhou—now Klein—somehow understands despite it being ancient Hermes or a variation thereof. The phrase "Everyone will die, including me" is etched there. Talk about a mood killer.
It’s a classic hook.
Who wrote it? Was it the original Klein? Was it someone else? The first chapter leaves these questions hanging like a noose. It forces you to keep clicking. You're not reading for the action yet—there isn't any. You’re reading for the dread.
The Cultural Impact of the First Ten Minutes
I've talked to plenty of fans who say they almost dropped the book during the first few chapters because the pacing is "slow." They’re wrong. The pacing isn't slow; it’s deliberate. Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1 is world-building through observation rather than exposition dumps.
We learn about:
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- The socio-economic status of the protagonist (he's broke).
- The technological level (post-industrial revolution).
- The presence of a mystery-based magic system.
- The psychological state of a man who just realized his soul is in a dead body.
If Cuttlefish had started with a big magic battle, the stakes wouldn't matter. By starting with a quiet, terrifying room and a silver revolver, he makes the world feel heavy. Real.
Common Misconceptions About Klein’s Arrival
A lot of people think Zhou Mingrui was "summoned" in the traditional sense. Without spoiling the later reveals, let's just say Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1 hides the truth in plain sight. That luck-enhancement ritual he performed back in his world? The one with the four steps and the ancient incantation?
It worked. Just not how he expected.
He thought he was playing a game or following a harmless folk tradition. He wasn't. He was knocking on a door that should have stayed locked. The genius of the first chapter is that it frames the transmigration as a mistake or a fluke, when in reality, every single detail—from the positioning of the body to the choice of the host—is part of a much larger, much scarier machine.
The Style of the Loen Kingdom
Loen feels like London. Victorian London, specifically. But it’s a London where the fog might actually be a monster. The descriptions of the apartment—the shared bathroom, the meager bread, the reliance on a sister’s income—place Klein in a position of extreme vulnerability.
He isn't a hero. He’s a survivor.
He’s a history graduate who suddenly needs to be a detective just to stay alive for the next twenty-four hours.
How to Approach the Rest of the Series After Chapter 1
If you've just finished the first chapter, don't rush. The details matter. Every name mentioned, every book on the shelf, and every weird feeling Klein has is a breadcrumb.
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Here is how you should actually read this:
Pay attention to the coins. The economy in this book is one of the most consistent and well-thought-out systems in web novel history. If Klein says he has five pence, that actually means something for his survival.
Watch the shadows. The "horror" element isn't just a gimmick. The Beyonder powers in this world lead to madness (Loss of Control). Every time Klein gets closer to the truth, he gets closer to losing his mind. Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1 is the last time he is truly "sane" or at least "normal."
Look for the "Old Ones" influence. If you like Lovecraft, you’ll see the fingerprints everywhere. The sense of insignificance in the face of cosmic entities starts right here, with a man looking at a crimson moon.
Actionable Insights for New Readers
- Don't skip the descriptions: The Victorian setting is vital for understanding the political tensions later on.
- Track the rituals: The "Luck Enhancement Ritual" is the foundation of the entire plot. Keep a mental note of how it was performed.
- Note the date: Time moves realistically in this story. The calendar matters.
- Trust no one: Not even the narrator's first impressions. Klein is learning as he goes, and he can be wrong.
The beginning of this journey is grim, lonely, and confusing. That’s exactly how it’s supposed to feel. You are stepping into a world where knowledge is the most dangerous currency you can possess.
To get the most out of your read, keep a tab open for a fan-made map of the Northern Continent. Understanding where Tingen is in relation to Backlund will make the upcoming geopolitical shifts much easier to digest. Also, familiarize yourself with the basic currency conversion: 1 gold pound = 20 soli = 240 pence. It sounds tedious, but when Klein is debating whether to buy a cup of coffee or a lead for a case, you'll want to know the stakes.
Stop looking for a "chosen one" narrative. Start looking for a man trying to pay his rent while avoiding eldritch horrors. That is the true heart of the story that begins in that blood-stained room.