Endless Debt

"Yannis."

On the bus, the "boyfriend" sitting next to Yolanda nodded lightly towards Bologue, introducing himself.

Bologue looked at the two of them, then turned to Ossana, "Are they your attendants among The Imperfect?"

"They’re friends, not attendants," Ossana emphasized.

"Hmm, quite good, much better than those two before," Bologue was referring to Soti and Rorford.

Thinking back to their aloof manner, Bologue asked again, "Are they spies planted by the radicals around you?"

"As the Duke of Fantasy, I’m not that vulnerable," Ossana tried to defend them, "They’re actually good people, just..."

"Just too fitting of the stereotypical image of the Extraordinary aristocrats?" Bologue said, laughing.

Surveying the surroundings, Bologue realized he was in an area with low-rise buildings, most of which appeared dilapidated. The walls’ bricks flaked off, exposing the wooden structures and gray cement inside; some buildings even lacked windows, with broken doors.

The narrow streets were piled with all sorts of trash: rotting food, broken furniture, discarded clothes, and abandoned electrical appliances. The trash was thrown into corners, emitting unpleasant odors. The shops lining the streets were either closed down or conducting trivial businesses. Vendors set up stalls by the roadside, selling secondhand goods salvaged from the trash heaps.

"Hard to imagine, isn’t it, that such places exist in this Earthly Celestial Kingdom?" Ossana said.

"Not for me, I’m rather pragmatic. I’ve never believed the Earthly Celestial Kingdom truly exists," Bologue replied, "Oubos is beautiful, right? But it has places like this too, much more sinister even."

Looking down at the sewage trickling past his feet, Bologue felt a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, reminding him of his first home in Shenbei District. He wondered how that area was built now and about the friends living there. Though he seldom contacted them, they still held a place in Bologue’s memory.

"Let’s go."

Ossana led Bologue forward, their group dispersed, many vanished into shadows, leaving only Yolanda and Yannis trailing behind.

Like a tourist, Bologue witnessed the shadows beneath Land of Secrets’ glamorous façade.

The Wasteland District was its name, where almost all The Imperfect lived, separated from Condensers by region.

Bologue saw many frail people living here, wearing simple clothes, expressionless as they walked the streets. Their eyes displayed exhaustion and helplessness, seemingly accustomed to such harsh living conditions, as children played in the garbage piles, swarms of flies buzzing through the air.

The security situation here wasn’t optimistic, with vagrants and homeless people everywhere. Some slumbered through the long days, while others brawled drunk in the alleys. As night fell, this district became even more dangerous, and unsupervised dark streets became breeding grounds for crime, with robbery and assault occurring frequently.

This dilapidated district was like a huge shantytown, under the invisible class of Land of Secrets, these people had no way out, and more despairingly, they couldn’t even leave Land of Secrets.

"You know, these people bear some noble heritage," Ossana said.

"And perhaps among them are your distant relatives?"

"Probably."

If not for certain lineage, these people couldn’t become The Imperfect... maybe not becoming The Imperfect is a good thing.

"Building a city like Land of Secrets is incredibly difficult, even with Condensers and vast resources, especially under population constraints."

Witnessing the chaotic and dilapidated scenery, Bologue naturally said, "There should be even more brutal shadows I haven’t seen yet."

"Indeed, and what’s more frightening is that even I can’t see those shadows."

Even becoming the Duke of Fantasy, at the pinnacle of power in All Secrets Order, Ossana couldn’t dominate everything. Paradoxically, as power reached its peak, she barely glimpsed the massive shadow lurking beneath the ice.

"There are not only The Imperfect but quite a few ordinary people, oh right."

Bologue expanded his Ethereal Perception, sensing The Imperfects and discovering many ordinary people. Through generations, hopeless The Imperfect lived in this rundown district, their descendants lost the chance to participate in the Supreme Trial, thus losing hope to change their fate entirely.

They couldn’t even leave the city, only working on the toughest jobs, becoming a resource under the supremacy of Condensers ideology.

Ossana stopped, thinking this a safe place, and spoke directly to Bologue.

"I’ve always hoped to reshape All Secrets Order with my own strength, but it’s much harder than I thought. Even at the top of power, at most, slightly improving their lives."

Ossana continued, "I made my compromise, trying to accept reality, but some recent events forced me to act quickly."

Bologue asked, "What happened?"

"Recently, there’s been a surge of missing persons in Wasteland District," Yolanda said, responsible for the affairs of most The Imperfect, "The missing are ordinary people. We’ve investigated for a long time but found no clues."

"With a Duke of Fantasy supporting you, yet you can’t find anything?"

As a professional, dark thoughts arose in Bologue’s mind, and slightly lifting his gaze, he saw the Supreme Hub towering in Land of Secrets.

Bologue murmured, "What do you think they want with these missing people?"

Before Ossana could answer, Bologue immediately gave a rhetorical answer, "Whatever it is, it surely isn’t good."

"I’m worried All Secrets Order will become what I despise, against my ideology," Ossana said, "We should protect ordinary people, not treat them like slaves."

"So you need the Order Bureau’s help, even if others see you as a traitor of All Secrets Order."

"Traitor?" Ossana was dismissive, "If I win, they’re the traitors."

Bologue liked this from Ossana, closing his eyes and contemplating, many thoughts raced through his mind. He recalled previous rumors, many speculations of the Order Bureau, and witnessed events.

"Then why are you appearing in Land of Secrets, Olivia?"

Bologue’s thoughts transmitted into Olivia’s mind through the Whistle, with an invisible crimson shadow responding coldly.

"To rectify my mistakes."

"So the Regent King is your doing, right?"

Olivia didn’t respond, but Bologue guessed she must be angry; anyone pointed out about their mistakes instinctively defends.

Accidentally, Bologue peeled away the tangled mystery, stepping closer to the truth, while feeling pressure from knowing the real situation.

"I probably figured out what happened."

Bologue assured Ossana, "I promise you, esteemed Duke of Fantasy, I can help you pursue your ideals, reshape All Secrets Order."

Ossana said, "But the price is, I’ll become a puppet supported by you, manipulating All Secrets Order, right?"

"Of course."

Bologue shrugged, "We’re all puppets, manipulated by so-called destiny, but fortunately, you have a chance to choose a fate you like, rather than being pushed around by it."

Extending his hand, this time not a polite greeting but a ritual of agreement-making. Bologue gazed into Ossana’s eyes, and after hesitating, Ossana reached out and grasped it.

"Need a Contractor to witness?" Ossana asked.

"No need, I’ll remember."

Bologue seemed excessively arrogant in confidence or backed by substantial authority in threat.

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