Endless Debt

As the banquet drew to a close, people in the hall began to leave one by one, none trying to conceal their identity as Condensers. Some used Ethereal Amplification to leave quickly, others transformed into birds or beasts and soared away, while some pushed open the Curved Path Gate, vanishing into the void.

Bologue watched these scenes, admitting that the widespread use of Extraordinary Power did indeed change everyone’s lives. The banquet hall, gradually becoming deserted, had only a few remaining people saying their final farewells.

"Where did you go?"

Palmer came over, asking softly.

"Just took a walk outside, why?" Bologue replied.

"No attacks? Not being watched?" Palmer’s expression revealed slight tension as he continually rubbed his Lucky Dice in his palm, "To be honest, Bologue, ever since you returned, I’ve been on edge. I feel like something unlucky is about to happen."

Palmer was on edge, having been cursed long enough that he almost integrated this Blessing into his instincts. At this moment, Palmer was keenly aware of some crisis lurking nearby... It sounded like nonsense; this was the All Secrets Order, how could there not be a crisis.

Bologue remained calm, patting Palmer’s shoulder, "Don’t worry, no one here will kill you, at least not easily."

The people from the Order Bureau stayed in the banquet hall, awaiting Nesanel’s unified arrangement. Apart from Bologue, who had a special role, no one else would act alone, thus providing an opportunity for the All Secrets Order.

While reassuring, Olivia’s voice echoed in Bologue’s mind.

"Is this bastard your partner?"

"Why, do you know him?"

Olivia laughed angrily, "Of course I know him, I even know his name, Bologue Clarks."

Bologue was puzzled for a moment, "What?"

"Just kidding," Olivia became serious, "He’s Palmer, the heir to the Clarks family."

"Among many forces, you’re considered a legend, so as your partner, Palmer is also hard to hide."

Having gone through several major Extraordinary Disasters, Bologue was already a celebrity, infamous not only on the Devil’s side but also renowned among various Extraordinary Influences.

The price of fame was more and more attention falling on Bologue. Although the Order Bureau’s confidentiality was high, some basic information about Bologue inevitably leaked out, such as the configuration of his partner.

It was said that many seriously read Bologue’s file, hoping to find his weaknesses, but when seeing Palmer’s document, they would show a bright and relieved smile, marveling at how partners always require balance.

What they meant by balance, Bologue was not sure, but just a bit of thinking would reveal it was definitely offensive... toward Palmer.

One side shone too brightly, the other inevitably looked dim by comparison. Bologue worried about Palmer’s emotions but seeing him, with sleepy eyes, scratching his belly and yawning while asking about last night’s leftovers, reassured Bologue.

Palmer possessed a very precious quality unnoticed by others.

Satisfaction.

He was very easily contented, lacking any crazed desires or excessive obsessions. His enthusiastic hobbies were few and harmless.

In this world rampant with Devils, Palmer was genuinely reassuring.

"Do you know? Just like you, I met him at that auction once, back then he called himself Bologue Clarks."

Olivia’s voice sounded again; when she read this part of the document, she realized Palmer had fooled her.

"Ah?"

The praise Bologue had for Palmer vanished, and then he realized where Palmer’s unease stemmed from.

Palmer’s potential enemies were lurking in his shadow, and the straight-line distance between them was less than a few meters. It was unclear whether to admire Palmer’s keen perception or his unfortunate luck.

"Let’s go, everyone, it’s time to rest."

Nesanel stood up, announcing to everyone. He tidied his outfit, the confident smile still on his face.

"Alright, see you tomorrow, Fabien."

Nesanel said as he gently embraced Fabien, whispering near his ear, "Can I count you as my only friend here?"

"Of course."

Fabien replied softly.

As they parted, Nesanel’s smile took on a subtly intriguing nuance; he wanted to say more but ultimately remained silent.

"Come on, we will all be staying here for a while." Nesanel pointed upwards to the Umbrella Tower where everyone was situated.

"Please follow us."

The attendants smiled as they stepped forward, guiding the delegates to their rooms. Along the way, they introduced Bologue and the others.

"This tower is called the Diplomatic Tower. All diplomatic matters and daily life of the emissaries are conducted here."

"Do you really like ’towers’ as architectural structures?" Bologue asked curiously.

Even in the corridors, the All Secrets Order used numerous curves to shape them, and most walls were web-like lacework that allowed direct viewing of other areas.

"In the culture of the All Secrets Order, towers carry extraordinary significance," the attendant answered skillfully, appearing familiar with this frequently asked question, "Towers represent a force moving upwards, progressing toward higher tiers, much like the Heaven-Reaching Tower in mythological stories."

"In mythology, people believed building the Heaven-Reaching Tower would let them set foot in the Celestial Kingdom, transforming from mortals into Celestial Gods," Bologue said.

"The transformation from mortals into Celestial Gods embodies an upward force, doesn’t it?" the attendant continued, "The height of a tower also largely represents the importance of its status."

Bologue discreetly noted this critical piece of information, which could differentiate the importance of structures but soon abandoned this notion.

In the Land of Secrets, there was only one significant building, and it was the tallest tower.

Supreme Hub.

"Here is your room."

The attendant led Bologue to a pristine white wall, the material still resembling plastic alchemical materials. Bologue wasn’t sure if it held other secrets.

"This?" Bologue looked at the blank wall, puzzled.

"Please release your Ether."

Bologue did not resist, the Ether slowly released from his body and merged into the wall. Suddenly, a clear door seam appeared, and then the door opened.

"This reminds me of the Cultivation Room," Bologue murmured.

"Most of the buildings in the Land of Secrets are inspired by the workings of the Cultivation Room," the attendant explained at the right moment, "However, the Cultivation Room is overly complex. We can only mimic the surface and apply its characteristics of random alteration in small places like this."

"Alright, I understand."

Upon entering the room, the attendant did not follow inside, but stayed outside the door. He bowed to Bologue and then turned to leave.

The door closed, isolating the outside noise. In the dim light, only Bologue remained.

Suddenly, Bologue felt a sense of isolation from the world, which completely relaxed him and simultaneously made him slightly uneasy.

Sitting on the soft sofa, Bologue faced a floor-to-ceiling window. From here, he could directly overlook the towering clusters of towers, with the Aurora Path traversing between them, dim specks of light illuminating the ground.

"Aren’t you planning to leave?" Bologue asked.

The shadow started to move, Olivia emerged from within the shadow, as if surfacing from beneath the water.

"Leave? To where?"

Bologue rubbed his forehead, then realized something—he might share a room with Olivia.

"Where were you before?"

"In shadows, various shadows," Olivia added, "always maintaining the activation of Secret Energy. Although it doesn’t consume much Ether, it’s a test of endurance."

Unwilling to give up, Bologue continued, "You, me, in this one room?"

Olivia said nothing, sitting down against the corner of the wall. If it weren’t for her striking crimson eyes, Bologue would indeed struggle to discern her from the shadow.

"Serey would kill me," Bologue thought for a moment and added, "Aimou too."

"Who is Aimou?"

"My girlfriend, didn’t you know?"

"Why should I know about your girlfriend?"

"I thought you investigated me thoroughly, like through social networks, familial ties, and such."

Olivia shook her head, helplessly saying, "I’m fighting alone, intelligence gathering is something that needs to be outsourced."

"Oh... damn Mammon."

Bologue cursed, apart from Mammon’s Gray Trade Association, there should be no one else who sells, or is capable of selling his information.

"What are you planning to do tonight?" Olivia asked.

"Do nothing. This is just the first night. The other three Dukes, who haven’t appeared yet, are certainly keeping a close watch on us."

Bologue hugged Yawn into his arms, shifted his position, and curled up against the sofa.

"What are you doing?" A sound echoed from the shadow.

"Finding a comfortable position to sleep," Bologue said.

"Aren’t you sleeping in the bed?"

"No."

"Why? Are you wary of me?"

"Wary is part of it; the other part is... I’m not used to sharing a room with someone."

This was true. Whenever Palmer entered Bologue’s bedroom, within three minutes, Bologue would drive him out. To Bologue, the bedroom was his sanctuary, his inviolable safe haven.

"And with... with Aimou?" Olivia tried to pronounce her name.

Bologue thought carefully, shook his head, "No, not even her."

The room fell silent, thinking Olivia finally settled down. Suddenly, Bologue felt someone sitting on the sofa. Turning his head, he saw Olivia with her feet on the sofa, sitting on the backrest, overlooking him from above.

The dim light fell on Olivia, revealing the snow-white skin under the hazy black veil. She lowered her head and leaned close to Bologue, her crimson eyes inches away.

Olivia seemed to have found something interesting, she asked, "Bologue, have you never even kissed her?"

Bologue quickly ran through his thoughts, nodded, "No, why do you ask?"

Olivia covered her stomach and began to laugh uncontrollably.

"So, the famous Bologue is actually like this?"

Bologue felt she was mocking him, but he didn’t know why.

Suddenly, Olivia slid down from the back of the sofa, sitting directly beside Bologue, pressing tightly against him. Her breath was so close, Bologue again caught the faint scent of blood.

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