Endless Debt

Great Rift, Alchemy Workshop.

Nearing midnight, Bologue returned to Teda's Alchemy Workshop, waves of noise coming from above suggesting Teda was still busy.

Bologue went straight to the small hideout in the corner, sat at the table, and spread a document out on the surface.

After leaving the Order Bureau, Bologue had considered whether to go home or come here. After much deliberation, Bologue ultimately returned here, the core of the conspiracy, feeling troubled and worried.

Opening the document, it was an action file and related materials. Even though Bologue had many speculations, it was just speculation; no one really knew what these merchants were aiming to do.

But Bologue was already involved, even becoming crucial, having been enrolled in the action against the Gray Trade Association by the Sixth Group.

To be accurate, it was a collaborative mission between the Special Operations Group and the Sixth Group. Bologue operates actively in the Great Rift, assisting the Sixth Group when necessary, and vice versa.

The Sixth Group began investigating and searching the Gray Trade Association, a very tedious and tiring process, fortunately unrelated to Bologue. A brief look at the file showed Bologue's role in the operation was more like bait, an enforcer.

If the Gray Trade Association's target is himself, they are bound to meet again. Ideally, Bologue is not a timid lamb but a fierce hunting dog. If they rashly reach out, they will be bitten in return.

Bologue's life temporarily returned to normal tracks; the rest is just waiting for news from the Sixth Group. Yas mentioned he would take him to meet the Sixth Group members when time allowed.

In the Field Operations Department, the number of members in each action group varies, with small numbers like the Special Operations Group or large ones like the Tenth Group, with nearly fifty members.

The number of an action group's members is somewhat restricted by the group's functional tendencies. The Special Operations Group has just been established, and its members are all Debtors, making it difficult to recruit fresh blood.

The Tenth Group is responsible for the areas outside Oubos in the Oath City. They wander frequently among the countries squeezed between the Rhine Alliance and the Kagader Empire, as extensions of the Order Bureau's reach, their numbers growing due to complex tasks and vast territories.

The Sixth Group has more than ten members, usually divided into different pairs, but they gather into a formidable force during significant operations, which arouses Bologue's curiosity.

According to Geoffrey, a flock of Origin School Condensers are true Condenser assassins, making him quite eager to witness their coordination in battle.

Closing the file, Bologue locked it in the safe, his mind then absorbed by another matter.

After bidding farewell to Adelle, Bologue thought he had severed ties with that dreadful past, facing a brand-new life, a long journey ahead.

But on the way back to the hideout, Bologue kept pondering, his heavy thoughts troubling him immensely.

Touching his pocket, Bologue picked up a Canyin coin, placing it under the desk lamp.

The Silver symbol under the light caught his eye; its strange nature made it seem as though it would disintegrate into droplets, turning into actual mercury.

Bologue realized one thing; the current conflicts can be seen as remnants of secret wars, further traceable to being after effects of the Fall of the Holy City.

An extension of an extension.

"The start of everything."

This is the starting point of Bologue's fate, also the origin of all present turmoil, a continuation of that bizarre war...

Sudden knocking interrupted Bologue's thoughts; he looked toward the door, already knowing who came without guessing.

"Come in, Aimou."

The door was pushed open, Aimou cautiously poked her head in, curiously asking.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Guessing," Bologue was too tired to explain.

Only Aimou, Teda, or Palmer would knock; since Teda was still busy when he got back, and even if he finished, he'd knock heavily and enter immediately without waiting for Bologue's consent.

Palmer? That's even simpler, as it's a rest day, he would never show up at the workplace, nor does he ever knock.

Clearing his mind of those chaotic thoughts, Bologue focused on Aimou, unsure what she wanted as she fully opened the door, holding a tray with a sandwich with bacon and fried egg.

"Want a midnight snack?"

Aimou hesitated a bit before continuing.

"I read in a book that food is essential for humans, and during eating, you feel a sense of satisfaction. I don't know what that feels like, but it's said to bring happiness... especially eating late at night, doubling that joy."

"Ah..." Listening to her, Bologue lightly rubbed his forehead.

"Don't you like it?"

"No, just tired; working overtime on a rest day is awful, though there's overtime pay."

Rescuing Kemp and Shelley was considered a mission turnout, not only with overtime pay but also extra task bonuses. However, rather than financial rewards, Bologue wished for some rest, as his continuous mental tension had tired him out.

But those were lies; rubbing his forehead only stemmed from finding Aimou more troubling than those concerns.

Whether it's the Gray Trade Association or the Tyrant, Bologue simply needs to smash their skulls one by one with the Sheep Horn Hammer. But it's different with Aimou. She perplexes Bologue, yet she hasn't done anything wrong—in fact, she's very kind to him.

Bologue has lived for so many years and few people have shown him kindness. Most people, in contrast, would rather see him dead.

Aimou placed the tray on Bologue's table and stood shyly to the side.

"Are you trying to please me?" Bologue suddenly asked.

"Ah... ah?"

Aimou was dumbfounded by Bologue's question, her eyes' halo swirling like waves.

"I... I thought you were mad at me," Aimou cautiously replied.

"Why should I be mad at you?" Bologue countered.

"But you seem a bit off today."

Aimou referred to their conversation in the morning when Bologue suddenly became cold toward her, leaving her unsure of how to react.

"It's nothing, Aimou. Humans are like this; our emotions are volatile... It's normal, you shouldn't worry too much about it."

Aimou was more sensitive than Bologue had anticipated. He guessed that since his departure, she had been wondering how she had upset him.

Bologue couldn't help but laugh. Aimou was just like a child—a child who doesn't understand all this chaos, who shows adults strange mud simply because she finds it interesting, yet cannot understand why adults would respond with disdain.

"Normal... is it?" Aimou was a bit surprised by Bologue's answer.

"Has no one ever told you this?"

"No, books don't write about such things," Aimou shook her head. "The stories in these courting novels are too complicated, convoluted. I can't understand them."

Silence.

Bologue suddenly looked seriously at Aimou, which alarmed her slightly. Bologue then placed his hand on her shoulder and earnestly spoke.

"Aimou, stop reading those kinds of books. Whether the authors understand these matters themselves is questionable, let alone what they write in their stories."

Bologue seemed a bit conflicted, as if unsure how to explain these things to Aimou.

"The human world is not like that. It will mislead you."

"Huh? So, do Hunters not exist either?"

"What are Hunters?"

"The book 'Night Hunter,' you know, where monsters roam the city, and Hunters go out at night to hunt these creatures," Aimou said.

"That likely doesn't exist. The only things roaming between cities are Demons; those who hunt them should be Condensers," Bologue earnestly discussed.

"Then... is the life-and-death rescue filled with human brilliance also fake?"

"According to Order Bureau regulations, in hopeless rescue situations, one should preserve strength and prioritize the mission."

Bologue explained coldly.

Aimou shattered, literally shattered. The halo in her eyes broke into several pieces, while her body slightly heated up. Bologue felt she was overloaded.

Aimou's understanding of the world all came from books. To her, the stories in novels were events that had happened in reality. In the outside world, Hunters would move in groups at night, and by day, there were people in love, abandoning wealth to elope.

Bologue shattered the alchemy puppet's illusion, telling her there's no such beautiful fantasy in this world; only hard coldness remains.

"But... the world is not always absolutely rational."

Just as Aimou was about to explode, Bologue timely intervened, allowing her to detach from the complex thoughts.

"What?"

"Reality is rational, but because it's too rational, too cold, people create some illusory works, entrusting their inner beauty within them... The stories you see are fake, but the emotions in them are real."

Bologue spoke to Aimou in a way he could understand.

In this aspect, Bologue was actually a bit like Aimou. The long time in the Black Prison left Bologue with a strong yearning for stories; he loved watching movies, reading books, listening to intense music...

All of this was like a safe harbor, allowing Bologue to briefly escape from the busy reality and enjoy that moment of inner peace.

"Because humans are overly rational, they need emotional, illusory stories?" Aimou softly asked.

Bologue thought for a moment and nodded in confirmation of Aimou's words.