Endless Debt

In the lounge of the Special Operations Group, Bologue flipped through the documents in his hand, while three members of the Sixth Group sat opposite him.

The start time of the mission was unclear, but based on the principle that acting together makes them teammates, Bologue discussed the details of the mission with these people.

At the moment, only Bologue was communicating with them, as Palmer was lying on the couch in the activity room, completely drunk with a strong smell of alcohol.

The three members of the Sixth Group occasionally glanced at Palmer, and from their eyes, it was clear they very much doubted how Palmer managed to infiltrate the Order Bureau and whether this guy was really from the Clarks.

Bologue was much better than them, having long been accustomed to Palmer's strange behavior.

"The venue for the auction is usually a Void Realm space, meaning we also can't determine its exact location. Only after you infiltrate first and send out your signal can we identify the location," he said.

Hart sat on a chair, but because of his large size, Bologue felt he looked like a bear in a circus stepping on a ball... oh no, based on Hart's beastly form, he looked more like a black wolf stepping on a ball.

The documents in his hands looked like little strips of paper, so he wore special glasses to read the fine print.

"And what about the 'invitation'?" Bologue asked. "We need that to reach the venue, don't we?"

"No need to rush on that point, other members are working to get the invitation," Kingsley said.

"Huh? Get it?" Bologue was a bit confused by what he meant.

"Do you think the Gray Trade Association would kindly invite us?" Kingsley said. "Other members are pursuing those connected with the Gray Trade Association. According to the information, the invitations have already been distributed, and they should be trying to capture those people and seize the invitations."

"Then... how are you sure there are two?" Bologue asked.

"Because we've only identified two people with invitations."

Hart said earnestly, but his words were filled with an absurd sense of banditry.

Bologue rubbed his head and thought it over, feeling there wasn't anything particularly wrong. Absolute violence could conquer many plots and schemes, even this one.

"But... can you really do it?" Hart questioned.

"Are you doubting me?" Bologue countered, the expert didn't allow any doubt.

Hart surprisingly nodded honestly and said to Bologue, "We can't enter the Void Realm, and can only try to mount a strong assault after you send out the signal, which makes your mission very important. If something goes wrong, we can't do anything but wait in vain."

"And... to be honest, how long has your Special Operations Group even been established, a few months?" Hart's suspicious gaze grew heavier.

Kingsley and Fanny also showed the same gaze. It was something they had to pay attention to, considering how peculiar the composition of the Special Operations Group was.

One well-known jinx and a newly promoted Condenser. Luckily, they didn't know Bologue's experience in the Black Prison, or their gazes might have been even stranger.

All in all, in their view, the Special Operations Group's background was still too shallow, inevitably giving rise to doubt.

"If you don't trust me, at least trust your leader," Bologue couldn't be bothered to argue with them.

"Hmm..."

The three fell silent. Before the meeting started, they had already suggested to Yas that such an important mission should at least involve a more reliable operations group as a partner.

Though the Special Operations Group had Lebius and Geoffrey, these two luminaries couldn't even handle their own assignments, let alone participate in these operations.

Even if they could get involved, given the vigilance of the Gray Trade Association, the arrival of these two Negative Power Users would surely draw their attention.

After hearing this, Yas thought for a while and reassured the three, saying the Special Operations Group was very trustworthy.

"Actually, it's not that we don't trust 'you,'" Hart specifically pointed to Bologue. "You saved Kemp and Shelley, and they praised you highly for that. We are very grateful because if not for you, we might have lost those two newcomers."

"Then... what are you suspicious of?"

Bologue found it strange. Hart was suspicious of him but didn't seem to show any contempt, until Bologue noticed his gaze and followed it to look behind him.

"Actually... he's not always like this."

Bologue tried to defend Palmer, but listening to Palmer's snores and the smell of booze made all excuses seem feeble.

"That's the gist of it. Don't be too tense, we're just planning in advance. When the mission approaches, the invitation will be delivered to you,"

Hart stood up, nodded to Bologue, and left with Kingsley and Fanny.

...

Bologue didn't wait for Palmer to wake up but instead left alone, took the subway to Qiushang Town, and then returned to the Alchemy Workshop.

After sending Aimou back to the Alchemy Workshop last night, he didn't stay in the cabin at the base but wandered the streets, leisurely strolling back to the Shenbei District, slept for only a few hours before getting up to come to the "Cultivation Room."

On the way, he passed through the Undying Club, originally intending to bring Palmer along, but Palmer was drunk at another bar at the time, regarding the Undying Club itself.

Oh my, when Bologue arrived, it was a complete mess.

Entering the Alchemy Workshop, everything was as usual, with the sound of iron being hammered coming from the experiment area above, Teda had returned and was directly immersed in work.

Bologue passed by Aimou's repair station, she wasn't there, nor was she in the kitchen, Bologue thought she must be busy somewhere in the Alchemy Workshop.

The documents mentioned that a mysterious figure named Delusional appeared in the Great Rift, and this Delusional created numerous Alchemy Armaments and caused them to flow into the Great Rift, triggering chaos.

Yas suspected Teda to be Delusional, but after a comparison of traces with the Alchemy Matrix, those Alchemy Armaments didn't seem to come from Teda's hand, and coupled with threats from the Gray Trade Association and the Sect of Corrosion, the Delusional was temporarily not considered an important target, Yas just reminded himself to be extra cautious of Teda.

Being cautious was one thing, cooperation was another, Bologue knew his own weakness, for this he needed a stronger power.

He knocked on the door and pushed open the laboratory door, Teda stopped his work at this moment and turned around to look at Bologue.

"Are you busy?" Bologue asked.

"What do you think?"

Teda displayed the tool in his hand, he was adjusting a piece of the Arm of Adaptation, with circles of hooks entwined around it.

"Ah... okay, I wanted to ask about soul detection." Bologue leaned to the side and asked.

"Are you that eager?"

"Just like you alchemists have a fervent pursuit of 'Secret Source,' we Condensers are full of anticipation for power, isn't it?" Bologue said.

Normally, he would wait patiently, but he felt pressure from the upcoming tasks, if possible, he hoped to undergo a trial before action, to enhance his body with Ether.

Teda looked at Bologue, then sighed helplessly.

"Wait for me for a moment."

Teda didn't let Bologue wait long; it wasn't long before he finished processing that Arm of Adaptation, Bologue watched from the side, Teda didn't load other functions, just adjusted the hooks.

Bologue also had this equipment and wore it all the time, in the complex environment of the Great Rift, the hooks were really useful.

"Follow me."

Teda said to Bologue, then walked out of the laboratory, proceeding through the dim corridor.

Having lived here for so long, in fact, there were many places in the Alchemy Workshop Bologue hadn't been to, not that Teda hid them from him, just many places were closed when not needed.

The door slowly opened, lights turned on one by one, a surgical table appeared under the pale lights, the trolley loaded with various tools surrounded it.

Bologue looked at this surgical table, feeling somewhat familiar, it was very similar to the one used during his implantation ritual, but much simpler by comparison.

"How are you going to detect it?"

Bologue asked, not finding this part in the books he read.

"Just like how you implanted the Alchemy Matrix before, do it again to recheck," Teda said.

"Huh? Implant again?" Bologue didn't understand.

"Redo the implantation ritual, only this time without implanting the Alchemy Matrix, just condensing your soul and observing its situation."

Teda finished and added, "This will be very painful."

The surgical table adjusted, mechanical arms slowly opened wide, like a monster baring its claws, Teda turned around, looking at Bologue, filled with bewilderment in his tone.

"I'm seeing for the first time someone so eager for pain as you."

Bologue's face darkened, thinking it over, indeed, whether it was a trial or promotion, danger and pain came hand in hand.

Many Condensers would only venture when fully prepared, only Bologue, this Undead, would treat such serious matters like a regular exam, if he accidentally died, he would just try again.

"I'm just... very curious."

Bologue mentioned something Teda didn't understand, having fought frequently recently, Soul Shards replenished then consumed again, causing Bologue to often feel the urge of Bulimia Nervosa stirring.

Fortunately, he had stabilized lately, and collected many Soul Shards while on duty, Bologue wanted to observe his own soul, not only to assess its stability but also to see the impact of Soul Shards on the soul.

Also... that place like a fleeting dream.

That void space, briefly descended upon each time he died.