Endless Debt

Order Bureau, Field Operations Department.

After setting up field operations and building a small outpost, Bologue felt that he hadn't been to the "Cultivation Room" for quite some time. Even when he returned, he only handed in some reports and quickly left again.

Sitting in Lebius' office, Bologue felt an almost surreal sense of being transported to another time and place.

Lebius remained unchanged, sitting behind his desk approving documents as if Bologue was completely invisible, while Yuriel served tea and water, looking every bit the part of a caregiver.

Seeing her with that smiling demeanor, Bologue realized that Yuriel's presence in the Special Operations Group was quite faint. She seemed to be ever-present, yet hard to recall in memory.

Yuriel was always this way, quietly taking on many of the tedious tasks for the Special Operations Group. Geoffrey was similar, but he would curse indignantly while handling it all.

This guy had spent a long, leisurely period in the Logistics Department, and seemed somewhat unadjusted upon returning to the Field Operations Department, appearing much more worn compared to when Bologue first met him.

Each action team had a different composition. Some individuals were powerful Negative Power Users, while others were only newcomers as Condensers. The tier differences meant team members faced different levels of task challenges.

Bologue and Palmer took on the basic work of patrolling the Great Rift. Although they had already encountered the Gray Trade Association, the Decay Sect, and other sudden situations since the start of their work, Bologue felt everything was under control.

Thinking about how even his work as a Condenser was so perilous, he wondered what sort of tasks the two Negative Power Users were currently undertaking.

Anyway, with Nesanel's nature, he definitely wouldn't let the two rest.

The room was silent, with only the sound of their breathing and the rustle of turning pages, along with the friction of pen tips on paper.

The corridor outside was also deserted, lending the entire Field Operations Department an air of stillness.

This reminded Bologue of his early days in the Field Operations Department. At that time, he was curious why the Logistics Department was so lively, yet here, hardly anyone was around.

He later learned that each Special Operations Group usually left only a few members in the "Cultivation Room," most of whom were like Yuriel, functioning as communicators, while others were stationed at various outposts or on duty outside.

Bologue recalled voicing his query to Geoffrey, "Even if Opus is vast, it wouldn't deploy all field staff, right?"

"The reach of the Order Bureau isn't limited to Oubos in Oath City," Geoffrey explained. "We span the entire Rhine Alliance, have divisions in many key areas, and sometimes the Special Operations Group traverses the globe."

Geoffrey stated that such situations were uncommon, as the Rhine Alliance encompassed numerous Extraordinary Organizations and Secret Societies. Often, these areas were self-governing, with the Order Bureau acting in more of a supervisory role.

Of course, this only applied to those organizations within the large Extraordinary Alliance that the Order Bureau was part of. Many other Extraordinary Organizations remained outside the Bureau's jurisdiction, and each time these were mentioned, Geoffrey showed signs of frustration and reluctance to elaborate.

However, more exhausting than the organizations outside the alliance were the many disturbances in neutral zones.

The Rhine Alliance and the Kagader Empire dominated the world's poles, separated by numerous neutral countries acting as buffers, where gray zones served as sources of much contention.

Moreover, there were ambiguous groups like the Gray Trade Association that might sometimes benefit you or stab you in the back, or completely chaotic cult groups, like the Decay Sect, bringing nothing but madness without any meaningful contribution to the world.

After thoroughly understanding all this, Bologue realized how daunting it was to govern such a large organization and maintain balance and order amidst such a complex web of powers.

Fortunately, these concerns didn't involve Bologue, as an ordinary field staff member, he didn't have to ponder these vexing issues.

The deeper in conspiracy Bologue found himself, the simpler and more satisfying he found straightforward combat to be, free from complicated matters, it always made for a refreshing task.

The office door opened, and the first person to appear was Geoffrey. He glanced at Bologue, nodded, and following Geoffrey was Yas.

"How's the situation? Any progress?" Bologue asked.

After rescuing Kemp and Shelley, these two newcomers were sent to the Border Sanatorium. On the return journey, Bologue and Yas discussed the various aspects of the conspiracy, leading to the current situation.

Bologue had been waiting here all afternoon, hoping for some new information.

"None," Yas lamented with a sigh.

"Couldn't even Crow's Nest figure anything out?"

Bologue was somewhat surprised; in his perception, Crow's Nest was always a wondrous place where anyone who entered would reveal all under Ivan's interrogation. Yet this time, Crow's Nest seemed to have failed.

"These thugs were all hired by the Contractors," Geoffrey explained. "Even if they were just ordinary people, they were enveloped in the Power of Contract, sourced from the Devil's strength above everything else."

"Blocked by the contract?"

Bologue knew about the Contract School. Rather than a school, it's more like a profession. Contractors summon devils and sign contracts between different wills.

"Yes, these people are no different from the dead. They are more like puppets, completely giving their body and mind to the other party under the constraint of the contract, acting under their command.

Ivan searched through these people's memories; they really are just a group of ordinary thugs. The most crucial memories about the contractors, however, were shrouded in shadows, hard to discern."

Geoffrey continued, "But it's not a complete loss."

"What?" Bologue asked.

"In other circumstances, we would indeed have difficulty determining the motives of these thugs and the contractor behind them. But now, with the appearance of the Gray Trade Association... it's a common tactic they use. If a customer can't pay the price, they allow the customer to pay in another way."

Geoffrey's voice lowered.

"For example, by forming a contract with them to handle something for the Gray Trade Association. Once the task is completed, they're square, but everything during this is restricted by various clauses, and this power comes from the devil."

"These thugs are employed by the Gray Trade Association," Bologue affirmed.

He still remembered the battle when he was pursuing the gunmen, with various alchemy armaments appearing endlessly. Even the field staff of the Order Bureau couldn't afford such lavishness, let alone these questionable individuals.

The conversation fell into silence. Everyone wore a distressed expression, headaches brought on by these mysterious merchants.

"Does the Order Bureau have no records on the Gray Trade Association? We need to at least understand our opponent," Bologue said.

No one responded to Bologue's words. Eyes crossed each other silently until Yas finally spoke.

"The Gray Trade Association acts very mysteriously. Unlike many extraordinary organizations, these guys are like nomads, moving between countries and never lingering long... They are like ships on land, advancing along a course, returning to the Great Rift after a certain period, bringing conflict, and then leaving again."

"Then the Order Bureau should also know some deeper intelligence, right? Or is this information not for me?" Bologue suspiciously looked at everyone.

"It's not that we can't tell you. It just might affect how you see... the image of the Order Bureau," Geoffrey hesitated slightly.

"Image? From the moment you hired me, I had a deep understanding of the organization." Bologue was dismissive.

Claiming to maintain the stability of the extraordinary world and protect human safety, but Bologue understood that the glory of ideals couldn't cover up the true nature of the Order Bureau.

It's a giant entity, one of the most terrifying monsters in this world, a pure violent organ walking in the hazy gray between black and white.

Having any beautiful thoughts about such a presence is really too naive, sounding like something a child would say.

"Everyone's a villain, maybe just slightly more righteous compared to other villains, right?"

Bologue half-joked, understanding that so-called image was just Geoffrey's cover. As he spoke, Geoffrey's gaze was fixed on Lebius, seemingly seeking his consent.

His boss held a position in the Order Bureau and was disabled, seemingly harmless to humans and animals, but in critical decisions, everyone listened to his decisions, whether it was Yas or Geoffrey.

"This involves matters during a secret war, classified as confidential within the Order Bureau. Besides those who experienced the secret war, only some high-ranking employees have the authority to know."

The silent Lebius finally spoke. Yuriel, working beside him, exited the office consciously without anyone stopping her. Her job was just communication, knowing too much wouldn't benefit her. She was aware of this since she started working beside Lebius.

The atmosphere in the room became more oppressive. Bologue glanced at Yas, recalling the secrets he mentioned at the crossroads of hesitation.

"Could it be like the crossroads of hesitation, where to win the secret war, the Order Bureau made agreements with the Gray Trade Association, letting those arms dealers support the Order Bureau?" Bologue asked seriously.

Hearing this, Lebius seemed surprised, then he said.

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"Huh?" Bologue was stunned, then Lebius continued.

"The Gray Trade Association and the crossroads of hesitation are one and the same; that dark, twisted land is the end of these merchants' route."