Endless Debt

Palmer is a weirdo, a freak who shows exactly what he thinks and feels without any disguise. This guy always plasters on a smile, finding joy even in misfortune, as if he has no idea what sadness is.

So when the two are together, Bologue looks like an unhappy, aloof assassin, while Palmer is a complete, brainless maniac.

Palmer slept all through the day and only woke up in the evening, greeted by a pounding headache. The remnants of his hangover made him miserable.

Flopping around on his single bed like a fish out of water, he finally came to a stop and soon made a hoarse wail from his throat.

"Palmer, I think you should quit drinking."

Bologue, wearing high-magnification glasses, carefully polished a small object in his hand and said without looking up.

"Life's bad enough. I need some alcohol to escape reality..." Palmer lay flat on the bed.

"Reading books, watching movies... I think either is better than drinking."

Bologue put down what he was holding, took off the glasses, and looked at Palmer.

"Just think of it as a little indulgence for the Vow Festival," Palmer's voice suddenly filled with energy. He sat up abruptly, grinning at Bologue, "So, what's up, expert?"

From looking like he was on the brink of death, he suddenly burst with vitality.

Bologue figured this might be the boost Palmer got after passing the triple trials; the protectorate granted to the Condenser's body, mind, and spirit meant that a hangover, which troubled ordinary people, was something Palmer could completely recover from with just a nap.

"No wonder it's you, Bologue Lazarus."

Palmer staggered to his feet, circled Bologue, and made strange noises from time to time, as if Bologue were a piece of art and he was the connoisseur, appraising him critically.

"I was away for just one night and you've made such rapid progress," Palmer complimented, feeling like he was getting to know his partner anew, gazing at Bologue's gloomy, disheartened face, "I really didn't see that coming."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

Bologue was creeped out by Palmer's weird look and didn't understand what Palmer was saying. Sometimes the guy spoke in gibberish even he couldn't comprehend.

It's sometimes recognized that due to their different environments and life experiences, there really was something called a "generation gap" between Bologue and Palmer.

Knowing Bologue's past, whenever Palmer lost a fight with him, he'd call him an inflexible old wreck.

Being nearly a century-old relic, Bologue naturally wouldn't fuss over petty verbal wins and losses with someone young like Palmer. He'd simply quietly pull out his Sheep Horn Shock Hammer and stare at Palmer with a blank expression.

"You... and that alchemy puppet, you're the only two here for the Vow Festival. What did you do? Just look at her reaction, oh my!" Palmer asked excitedly.

Bologue still couldn't grasp Palmer's meaning, but the mention of Aimou nudged him to discuss these matters with Palmer too.

"Nothing much, just got to know her better."

At this, Bologue's expression trembled slightly.

It wasn't just getting to know each other, they became a fusion—an upgraded version of Bologue Lazarus.

Endowed with Ether Perception and Ethereal Concealment, along with strong Ethereal Endurance, she was far more reliable than his drunken partner Palmer.

Bologue's mind sometimes wandered off as he pondered, after parting ways with Aimou, if he really managed to recruit Aimou, during missions, should they fight in that state, would it be fitting to come up with a cool name.

Maybe something like "Overdrive Mode" or "Infinite Ether Mode."

"Just that?"

Evidently, Palmer's understanding of "getting to know" was vastly different from what actually happened.

"Mhmm, and I also got to know a bit about her Secret Energy."

Bologue didn't mention Aimou's birthday or taking her out. He was someone who kept his promises, and since this was a secret only between them, it shouldn't be revealed to a third party... More importantly, Bologue didn't trust Palmer's mouth.

From what he knew about Palmer, if he told him these things, Teda would come knocking furiously in no time.

"From what I understand, Aimou's Secret Energy is very compatible with mine, even ignoring her alchemical skills. Based on that alone, I think we could consider recruiting her to the Order Bureau."

Bologue said earnestly to Palmer, whose face turned a pale, helpless shade, and this wasn't the conversation he had in mind at all.

Giving Bologue a deep look, Palmer had to admit that in some areas of understanding, the two truly were at odds.

"Even if you say so, you should first know that Aimou is not an independent individual. To be precise, she is 'property' belonging to Teda."

Seeing his indirect hints were unsuccessful, Palmer began discussing seriously with Bologue.

"Uh-huh..."

Bologue realized this was an issue, but after a brief contemplation, he said, "Isn't there an agreement between Teda and the Order Bureau?"

"Yes, so what?"

"I'm not clear on the specific contents of the agreement, but I'm sure the Order Bureau really values these technologies, which is why they allow Teda to operate so wantonly within the Great Rift, and receive the Order Bureau's support."

Bologue crossed his arms, a strange thought rising from the bottom of his heart, and he continued to ask.

"Actually, the way I see it, Aimou is tantamount to shared property between the Order Bureau and Teda, right?"

"If you want to think that way... it seems that's not wrong," Palmer thought for a moment and agreed with Bologue's idea.

Since the King's Secret Sword lost the secret war, Oubos has been completely under the control of the Order Bureau. The only lawless area, the Great Rift, and the monsters lurking there have strict treaties with the Order Bureau, restraining each other.

In this way, the Order Bureau certainly should own a part of Aimou... Aimou.

"Dismantle Aimou?"

Palmer had a bad idea.

"Aimou is not human but an alchemy puppet. If one day the Order Bureau and Teda really fall out, we would need to..."

Palmer made a slashing motion at his waist with his hand as if it were a knife, "Split her half for you and half for me?"

Bologue looked at him as if he were an idiot, saying, "Get your mask out."

Palmer pulled out a black hood from somewhere, the fabric moist with the smell of alcohol.

"Put it on."

Palmer obediently donned the black hood, with Bologue retrieving a mirror to let Palmer see himself in it.

"What do you think you look like?" Bologue asked.

"A bandit."

"Yes, a bandit," Bologue started speaking in a bandit-like manner, "This is the Order Bureau's turf; if things really go south, we might as well start looting."

Palmer looked enlightened, exclaiming, "You really are the expert."

"But... isn't this a bit improper? Teda was, after all, the former minister of the Sublimation Furnace Core," Palmer cautiously said.

"Which camp does Teda belong to now?" Bologue retorted.

"Order of Truth?"

"Exactly, he was once one of us, and we fondly remember that time. But unfortunately, every journey has an end, and Teda was the first to break away from us. We remember his good deeds but must also defend our own interests," Bologue said, lowering his voice, while clenching his fist, exuding a sense of strength.

Palmer was dumbfounded, not expecting this expert before him to justify himself so effectively, but it seemed not so much justification as truth.

Yet, hearing such words from Bologue felt peculiar irrespective of anything else.

Bologue remained silent for a second or two, his gaze fixed on Palmer, then turning to the door of the base's small cottage. Both were in the Void Realm, uncertain if Teda had the ability to spy on them, even though Bologue had already examined every corner of the room beforehand.

"There's another thing, Palmer, you need to believe in me completely and unconditionally," Bologue said solemnly.

"It's a must; you are my partner," Palmer nodded repeatedly.

Bologue asked, "Do you remember today's meeting content?"

"I remember..."

Dizzy, blurry memories surged towards Palmer. The more he recalled, the stranger his expression became, looking at Bologue as Bologue picked up pen and paper, hastily writing a sentence to show Palmer.

"Teda is not to be trusted."

Bologue continued to write,

"If necessary, we might very likely become enemies with him."

Palmer opened his mouth, speaking silently, forcefully shaping his words, "Become enemies with a Negative Power User? You've lost your mind!"

"I know, if we oppose Teda, our chances are extremely slim, but sometimes it's not merely killing the opponent that constitutes victory in a battle."

Bologue raised the paper, a sly gleam flashing in his eyes.

Palmer froze momentarily before quickly understanding Bologue's intention.

"Is this considered human trafficking?" Palmer whispered. The topic of their discussion was now unlikely to be overheard.

"The premise of human trafficking is that the trafficked must first be human," Bologue retorted using Palmer's words against him.

"We call this safeguarding the Order Bureau's rightful property," Bologue asserted righteously.