Endless Debt

Three days after meeting with Evan, Bologue arrived at the underground Border Sanatorium, where a subway station was established, connecting to Opus's vast network, leading directly to the Deep Nest Courtyard of the Order Bureau.

Bologue still wore his usual gray-black attire, standing alone on the subway platform. Apart from the necessary Face of Horror and Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid, he didn't bring anything else.

After three days of rest, as an Undead, Bologue quickly recovered to his best condition. With the doctor's consent, Bologue immediately prepared to return to the Order Bureau.

In fact, Bologue wanted to bring Palmer along, but Palmer was fiercely opposed to it.

"You should be fine now, right? The cast will be removed in a few days, and the leg injury can be managed with crutches. Why not come back with me?"

Bologue said to Palmer this morning.

Palmer might not have been fully awake; he stared blankly for a few seconds, looking at Bologue, recalling his appearance when he was carried in, like a piece of rotten meat, and then seeing his current full form.

Eyes as sharp as to make one afraid to look directly, a resolute face, a robust body, fists capable of smashing several Demons in one blow...

"Are you insane?"

Palmer cursed furiously.

The Undead could just catch their breath and get back into the fight, but I'm just an ordinary person. A light touch would have me in the hospital for ten days or half a month!

"You'll be fine, most of your wounds can be treated within the Order Bureau, can't they?"

As he spoke, several Silver Snakes crawled out of Bologue's collar, reaching straight towards Palmer like tentacles, ready to bind him.

"Wait! Physical injuries are one thing, but I still have psychological scars!"

Palmer wailed, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm just an ordinary Condenser. This blasted action involved the Crimson Sect, the King's Shield Guard, and Negative Power Users everywhere, but me?

I'm just a First Stage Condenser and a jinx at that. Do you know what a psychological shadow this has cast on me?

I applied for psychological counseling, at least let me finish it before returning to work!"

Palmer appealed emotionally and reasonably, knowing well that in his current state, if Bologue was determined to take him back to work, he wouldn't be able to resist.

Bologue extended his hand toward Palmer, and just as Palmer was about to call for the nurse, Bologue simply patted Palmer on the shoulder, his tone unexpectedly gentle.

"Then rest well and heal."

After advising Palmer, the Silver Snakes retreated under his clothing, and Bologue left by himself, leaving Palmer dumbfounded.

On the empty platform, Bologue awaited the arrival of the subway. The Bologue of the past would have taken Palmer away without hesitance; he knew Palmer's little schemes all too well—Palmer merely wanted a vacation.

But after returning from the Abandoned Land, Bologue's mentality had changed somewhat. Back there, Bologue nearly experienced a life-and-death separation.

Palmer almost died, and Aimou nearly did too.

He is the Undead, but those around him are not. Bologue didn't harbor any reclusive thoughts, like acting alone in the future to protect others.

Bologue pondered whether, if he were a Prayer Believer, or even a Negative Power User, the situation might have been entirely different.

This is why Bologue is so eager to return to the Order Bureau. Teda disappeared with the Immortal Heart into the outside world, and this issue has not yet concluded.

At least, for Bologue, all of this is not yet over.

Bologue needs greater power to handle all this. He might not have time to advance to become a Prayer Believer, but at least he should resolve the Triple Trials, closing the gap as much as possible.

The sound of a rumble echoed, bright lights emerged from the tunnel's end, the train tearing through layers of dimness, steadily stopping before Bologue, and the door abruptly burst open.

...

Pushing open the door, Bologue stepped directly into the office, feeling he had been away for quite a while, yet upon returning, the office remained exactly the same.

Lebius sat behind the desk with piles of files before him. The slight difference was that this time Yuriel and Geoffrey were not present; only Lebius was in the office, occupying himself with some unknown tasks.

Lebius glanced at Bologue and then said, "You did quite well."

"What?"

Bologue was caught off guard by the sudden remark and then remembered one thing about his team leader being quite a peculiar person.

"The raid operation and returning from the Abandoned Land, you performed quite well," Lebius muttered, eyes fixed on the files, never lifting his head.

"Oh..."

Bologue sat opposite Lebius without hesitation and directly said, "I want to apply for the Triple Trials."

"The Trial of Salt?"

Lebius still didn't lift his head, seemingly having anticipated Bologue's request.

"No, I mean all Three Trials together."

The sound of writing stopped, and Lebius looked up, his gaze carrying a hint of confusion as he stared at Bologue.

He had heard many strange requests, but this was the first time Lebius heard such a request.

Bologue's eyes were resolute, "I did some tests before. My soul has stabilized, and since I am an Undead, even if I fail, the threefold trial cannot kill me, it might just put me to sleep for a while."

"So... the threefold trial? All at once?"

Lebius frowned, thinking Bologue was joking, but seeing his serious manner, it didn't seem like a joke.

"Salt, sulfur, mercury, I think I can do it."

At this moment, what supported Bologue was not a confident mindset, but a pursuit of power, a craving for greater strength.

"You're a bit impulsive, Bologue," Lebius answered calmly.

"Teda is a Delusional, he carries the Immortal Heart, stubbornly wanting to resurrect his daughter... who knows what he'll do next," Bologue said.

"Are you worried... about Aimou?"

Lebius recalled that name and said pointedly.

Bologue fell silent, then slumped in his chair like a deflated ball, his voice carrying a hint of heaviness.

"Compared to that unfamiliar Alice, I hope Aimou can survive more. Her Secret Energy is interesting and possesses talent in Alchemy, she'd make a good team member."

Unexpectedly, Bologue was candid, pouring out his thoughts in one breath.

"Are you recommending her as a team member to me?" Lebius asked.

"Consider it a recommendation... if there's a chance."

Bologue understood, the choice was in Leibus's hands, and looking at the Special Operations Group's selection method, Aimou was far off on various metrics.

First, Aimou needs to be a person, secondly, Aimou needs to be a Debtor.

At this moment, Bologue fully realized again how bizarre his action group truly was.

Lebius put down the pen in his hand, looked up at Bologue, Bologue felt Lebius was smiling, or maybe not, his leader was truly emotionless, guessing his thoughts was too taxing, so Bologue simply didn't bother thinking about it.

"Hmm? A recommendation from the expert, truly hard not to notice," Lebius asked again, "Besides this, do you have any other reason? Bologue, things that can make you pay such attention are not many."

Bologue was stumped by Lebius's question, recalling carefully, indeed, there were not many things he cared about, besides the mystery surrounding himself, only Adelle could motivate Bologue, but she had left long ago.

His partner? Palmer Clarks?

Bologue felt he didn't really care much for Palmer, to be precise, when it did not involve life-threatening situations, he wasn't much concerned about this partner.

Then...

"She's my friend," Bologue answered, "I don't have many friends."

"But she actually counts as Teda's asset... an asset of the Order Bureau," Lebius deliberately said, "You can't decide her fate."

"But she's my friend."

"In the eyes of the Sublimation Furnace Core, her positioning is just a sentient Alchemy Armament."

"Then apply to have her assigned to us, we never lack weapons, do we? And didn't we just make a great achievement? Although we couldn't protect the Immortal Heart, we at least killed a crimson Bishop."

Bologue stared intently at Lebius, rarely being so serious and earnest in looking directly at Lebius, usually, he had great respect for his leader.

Lebius raised an eyebrow, not delving further into this matter with Bologue.

"Don't worry, she's with the Sublimation Furnace Core, managed by Belli, you can go see her after."

Lebius drew open his seemingly bottomless drawer and took out a document printed with four locks and swords, directly tossing it to Bologue.

"Rather than these, you might want to look at this first, have an accurate perception of yourself, before helping friends, understand who you are."

Bologue saw the level markings on the document, realizing that within it was a certain confidential intelligence.

"Information related to the Abandoned Land?"

"No, the Abandoned Land is something you cannot access for the time being, this is for your own good, as for this here..." Lebius said, "It's information related to yourself."

"What?"

Information related to himself, what does he want to know, does he need someone else to tell him?

"Haven't you always been curious, about your resurrection, what is it exactly?"

Lebius's words made Bologue tense, he pointed at the document in Bologue's hand.

"Why don't you open it and see for yourself?"