Endless Debt

The woman's words had nothing to do with the current task but still startled Bologue. From Serey's mouth, he knew that the Night Race had long vanished from history, yet suddenly there was a female Night Race before him, and she seemed intent on purchasing that flesh mass to nurture more of her kind.

"Who is your friend?" the woman asked again.

"The auction isn't over yet. There might still be many things I can't understand," Bologue delayed.

The woman narrowed her eyes, a hint of anger showing, but she quickly smiled as if she didn't mind.

"Are you going to betray your friend?"

Aimou's voice sounded. To avoid attracting the woman's attention, she tried her best to lower her presence since the conversation began.

Of course, Bologue couldn't answer her verbally but shook his head subtly.

Betray?

Bologue did want to betray Serey, but the problem was that Serey was riddled with suspicion.

According to Serey, after the Dawn War, the Eternal Night Empire of the Night Race completely collapsed. Most of the Night Race were killed by the sunlight, while a few were imprisoned for life, unable to leave. The most mysterious Night King also disappeared after the Dawn War.

But despite such a cruel conclusion, Serey, a Night Race Lord, was overlooked. With his status, even if he wasn't killed by the sunlight, he should have been confined somewhere.

In reality? Serey not only lived well in the Undying Club but also dated different women daily, drank, and hosted various weird parties…

If the Undying Club were actually a form of imprisonment for Serey, then his treatment was quite good.

All signs forced Bologue to start suspecting what role Serey played during the Dawn War.

A general fighting at the Night King's frontline?

Those generals had long died under the sun; clearly, Serey wasn't one of them.

This led Bologue to only think of an inside mole who betrayed the Night King.

Serey being a mole…somehow, recalling Serey's image as a nightclub dancer, Bologue wasn't surprised.

If this were true, Serey would be a sinner of the entire Night Race. If his name were mentioned in front of the woman, perhaps a conflict would erupt between the two right now.

As for telling the woman Serey's name after the auction ended.

Bologue glanced around at the guests immersing themselves in fervor, continuously bidding. It seemed only Bologue knew the outcome of this auction.

Oh, right, there was also his perpetually missing partner.

"Aren't you going to bid?" Bologue asked.

The bidding for the Blood and Flesh Derivation was nearing its end. As an undead, Bologue didn't think much of it, but for others, the Blood and Flesh Derivation was undoubtedly a chance to survive, so they were biting hard over the price.

"I don't like repeated bidding."

The woman said lightly, which Bologue could discern. Since they started chatting, she hadn't looked at the high stage and had been watching Bologue instead.

"But you make me find it a bit interesting. Making friends with someone from the Night Race these days isn't easy," the woman said meaningfully.

"I can only say I'm good at making friends; everyone likes me."

"Haha."

Upon hearing Bologue's words, the woman couldn't help but laugh.

Does Bologue know how to make friends? It was obviously a no. If he did, the two should have had a showdown in the field of romance just now. This guy completely missed the woman's hints and instead held onto his expert analysis of her relentlessly.

"You see, everyone likes me, even the Night Race," Bologue said.

The woman understood the meaning behind Bologue's words. She stopped smiling and, shaking her head, said,

"My liking isn't the same as what you think, just like you see an interesting little dog on the roadside. That's how I see you."

The woman's expression cooled as the bidding drew to a close, and the host began counting down. At this moment, the woman elegantly raised her hand.

Everyone's gaze was drawn to her, and with a simple wave, she withdrew it. She made no bid, nor said anything, merely performing that simple action. Everyone gave her puzzled looks, with some already predicting the ensuing tragedy.

Mocking the host wasn't something funny.

But to everyone's surprise, the host vigorously hammered and shouted with joy.

"Congratulations, you've bought it."

Another buyer was dumbfounded; he had been prepared to offer his worth, but the host simply ended it with a hammer.

Before the buyer could protest, the host added,

"Her value is extraordinary; you can't compare."

The voice was stern, allowing no doubt.

"Even if you offered all you had, it still wouldn't compare."

No Mammon Coin, no expression needed; her mere presence was a testament to value.

Others in the venue turned their gaze to this place, trying to get a clear view of the woman, who remained indifferent, still looking at Bologue as before, causing others to look at him too.

They mistakenly thought the two were together and whispered continuously.

"I want to buy something else," she said, looking at Bologue.

"You speak."

The host asked respectfully.

Only then did the woman shift her gaze to the host on the stage.

"I want to buy a piece of information."

"What will you offer?"

"Also a piece of information."

The host fell silent, wearing a mask outlined with golden threads, with thoughts hidden beneath.

"He will meet you personally."

The woman nodded, her gaze returning, as if this was just an interlude, the host immediately resumed the auction, as if nothing had happened.

"Then his name." Her voice was cold.

"Are you trying to show me your power?"

Bologue was completely unfazed by her threat.

"Is it not enough?"

"I told you, I'm new here."

"Newcomers wouldn't come here." She was getting a bit annoyed.

"I don't understand anything about this place, including your display of power."

Bologue paid no attention to her tone, continuing to narrate his self-crafted persona, "Unless you and the host have a close relationship and you're telling me, if I listen to you, I can take a shortcut and get what I want?"

Bologue smiled, lying with open eyes.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"I won't die."

"Regarding the power you displayed behind you," Bologue continued, "I work at a company with decent perks, which shouldn't be much less than yours."

Listening to Bologue's earnest reply, the woman was suddenly puzzled, unsure why he was so composed. To her, he seemed either similar to her or far stronger, but clearly, Bologue was just a weak Condenser.

Only one possibility remained, that Bologue was a fool, and only a fool would be so dim-witted, only this explained everything so far.

The woman's gaze shifted from irritation to curiosity and slight pity.

Bologue's expression was unchanged; he seemed expressionless, without any change even in his eyes, the only variation was the occasional flicker of golden rings in his eyes.

The woman rubbed her forehead slightly, realizing how pointless her actions were, that she had wasted time on someone like Bologue.

"Forget it, you'll tell eventually."

The woman decided not to argue anymore, waiting for the auction to end, knowing she'd have ways to get Bologue to reveal the person's name.

"Do you know the most valuable item in this auction?"

As she remained silent, Bologue took the chance to press on.

"I don't know." She dismissed him; she was tired of talking to Bologue.

"I do."

Truthfully, Bologue's demeanor was indeed deceptive, with an earnestness so profound that made everything he said or did appear expert and serious.

Yet thinking deeply revealed inconsistencies in every step now she sensed it too, believing Bologue must be a fool, yet his earnest attitude seemed honest; he really knew what the headline item was.

"You know, approaching women like this is quite a failure."

She shook her head, concluding Bologue was someone with a problem, with strange interactions typical of talking to a fool.

"But I really do know."

"Then go ahead?"

Bologue fell silent, remaining quiet for a long while, during which the host sold quite a few items, strange things constantly appearing, though most were within Bologue's understanding, those beyond it were identified by Aimou.

Aimou's level in Alchemy could crush Bologue's, as she explained these things in his mind.

Powerful alchemical armaments, deceitful contract objects, even human trafficking appeared, as did odd products from the Order of Truth; fortunately, none were peculiar like Blood and Flesh Derivation, so Bologue didn't need to ask her for explanations.

After the grotesque and distorted display, Bologue gained new insight into the Order of Truth, realizing how these madmen operated.

Comparatively, Bologue realized Teda among them was one with relatively mild conditions.

He now understood why the Order Bureau found Teda safe and rational, someone using only alchemy puppets in experiments was a refreshing exception among these lunatics.

It also led Bologue to consider not being entirely antagonistic with Teda, knowing things might adjust.

Hoping Teda wouldn't do anything foolish.

Bologue's gaze swept across the crowd, aware Teda was among them.

The atmosphere was heated by the host, gearing up for the headline item, a crimson curtain draped over a box, with fervor in the host's speech.

"Next is the headline item of the auction..."

He declared, placing his hand on the curtain.

"Immortal Heart."

Bologue spoke before the host, his voice low, heard only by the woman, as her expression slightly shifted before relaxing again, thinking he was merely spouting nonsense.

"Holy Relic from the Blood Curators Sect."

The host uncovered the curtain, his voice booming.

"Immortal Heart!"

On the high platform, the crimson heart was still amidst cold quartz, its eerie ripples from inside affecting everyone's heartbeat and blood.