Endless Debt

While different forces were fighting to the death within the venue, the Wandering Crossroad seemed surprisingly quiet. Like always, it was gloomy and profound. After the blizzard, every corner of this malformed building cluster was covered in ice.

The pedestrians on the street had decreased significantly, and even within the Spider Web Bar, there were only a few guests.

It's unclear whether the harsh weather had restricted people's movement or if they too were invited by the Gray Trade Association to participate in that chaotic slaughter.

Some people knew such information and then looked suspiciously towards the bar counter.

Compared to these events happening in secret, what truly intrigued them was the mysterious absence of Vika, who had never been missing from behind the bar counter.

Now, Nelli had taken on the bartender's duties, and when someone asked him about Vika's whereabouts, he calmly replied that Vika was resting today.

Resting?

No one believed this answer. For many people, since they first knew Vika, he had never left the bar counter. If the Spider Web Bar was the center of Wandering Crossroad, then Vika was the center of this bar. Now that he left, it made people feel somewhat uneasy.

Above the Spider Web Bar, between the twisted buildings, countless cables crossed each other, finally intersecting at the massive, egg-like grotesque structure above.

Everyone who came to the Spider Web Bar could look up and see the giant egg shrouded in mist deep inside, wrapped in countless cables, as if it was birthed by some creature, nurturing a bizarre madness.

Now within this enormous egg-like building, there was only one extremely dark room. Vika sat on a worn sofa, his body comfortably collapsed back.

The air was filled with the scent of alcohol, and at his feet were several empty bottles.

The black-and-white TV in front of him was the only source of light in the room. Accompanied by the static noise of the current, its pale glow shone on Vika's face, making his complexion utterly bloodless.

He focused intently on the content of the TV, where rampant blood and flesh was spreading unchecked, devouring everyone around.

A familiar figure was hacking through them, brutally killing each monster born of blood and flesh.

Vika recognized this person; his name was Bologue Lazarus.

"Is this really okay? A rare opportunity to harvest value, but it ended up like this."

Vika suddenly spoke as if conversing with another person, but in this dark room, he was evidently alone.

"From the beginning, we all knew that something like the Immortal Heart was beyond our control. Even if we did control it, the Order Bureau would never accept it. But what about the fruit of imagination?"

Vika shook his head in confusion. Despite being with them for so long, he still couldn't understand the thoughts of these entities… It made sense, as these beings were inherently unfathomable.

"The fruit of imagination requires someone to use it to reveal its true value. Stored in my hands, it's just another dull collection."

Another voice echoed, one so familiar to Vika.

Vika turned to look at the other side of the sofa, where no one was seated, but a mirror was placed. In the mirror, a familiar yet strange face looked back at him.

"This is a selection, a trial, to choose the most valuable person…"

The self in the mirror said joyfully.

"And then?" Vika asked.

"I want to see what kind of wish he would make with the fruit of imagination," the Tyrant replied.

"Is that all?"

Vika continued to inquire, knowing that the creature in the mirror was definitely not so kind-hearted. There was another purpose, a cruel intention.

"Hmm... I want to see if his wish can be fulfilled, and also, when even the fruit of imagination cannot satisfy his desires, whether he will..."

The Tyrant didn't continue but instead let out a hoarse laugh.

Vika was not surprised; he was long accustomed to the ways of these Devils.

Devils never lie nor deceive. They're honest and follow the rules, but unfortunately, every piece of advice given by the Devils leads people to a more insane abyss. The most sorrowful part is that people are fully aware of this yet cannot find a reason to refuse.

"Who have you set your eyes on?"

Vika understood the Tyrant's little schemes. His role to the Tyrant was limited, merely serving as his vessel in the physical world.

What the Tyrant needed was not a vessel like Vika but a true Deputy capable of executing his commands.

"Is it him? Or him?"

Vika pressed the remote, causing the images on the TV to rapidly switch.

First appeared a guy seemingly lost, looking around while standing before the austere gate. The screen switched to a woman wearing a veil quickly proceeding forward. From the structure of the buildings, the two seemed about to meet.

"Hmm? No, it can't be, they've both already been chosen by my siblings."

The Tyrant shook his head and spoke in a low voice.

"Beelzebub is still manageable; she seems crazy, but she's truly a glutton. As long as she's well-fed, she doesn't care about anything happening.

But the other one is more troublesome. We all rather dislike him, and if possible, I'd prefer not to disturb him for now."

"What about them?"

Vika continued pressing the remote.

The black and white images continued to switch. A group of fully armed gray-white warriors was fiercely attacking a wall covered with light trails. Their firepower was intense, and the solid Void Realm and walls were breaking bit by bit, as if they might be completely destroyed at any moment.

"Oh, the Order Bureau? I've always suspected that they had the shadows of my siblings behind them, but I've never been able to discern who it is," murmured the Tyrant.

"And these people?"

In the black and white images, another group of people was running wildly in the corridor. Unlike the chaotic crowd, these people were clearly trained to standard, each carrying an aura of murder with a clear purpose.

"Interesting, I've been observing them. Maybe they will bring me an unexpected surprise," said the Tyrant meaningfully.

Pressing the remote, the image switched to another end of the corridor, where two people who shouldn't be there appeared before the Tyrant. They were walking slowly, as if they were searching for something.

Seeing them, the Tyrant laughed out loud, pointing at the screen and said, "I like these two guys."

"It's unfortunate that they have his eyes on them," the Tyrant said regretfully. "What a pity."

"And what about him?"

Vika brought another person into view. Amidst the chaotic venue, he was hiding in the shadows, his gaze never leaving the Immortal Heart.

The Tyrant said nothing, only laughed heartily, as if mocking the man on the screen.

Finally, the image returned to the beginning view. Just like before, the berserker was wielding his sharp weapon, grinding all approaching monsters into minced meat.

The Tyrant fell silent, appreciating the scene before him. After a long while, he stared at Bologue in the image and spoke softly.

"Immensely valuable."

Listening to the broadcast, Vika put down the remote and quietly watched all this.

No one could have guessed that this was the true purpose of the Gray Trade Association… or rather, the Tyrant. The true value that was offered to the Tyrant was not the goods sold at the auction, but these people who came driven by desire.

Their identity, their actions, their impact on the world's trajectory.

This is where the true value lies.

...

Olivia advanced quickly down the corridor. She accepted the invitation of the Gray Trade Association just to find the information she needed from that terrifying figure, buying things was entirely secondary.

Yet the situation on site changed too rapidly. The attack of the Blood Rot Sect, followed by consecutive explosions, clearly someone had set up layer upon layer of traps here, and she had the misfortune of stumbling into it.

"These lunatics."

Olivia muttered under her breath. She had just attempted to head back to the Central Courtyard, but before she could reach it, a violent explosion had already turned it into ruins, destroying all the doors.

Unlike others, as an ancient member of the Night Race, she also possessed some means to break through rules, but soon she heard the voice of the Tyrant, that madman had turned this place into a Beast Fighting Arena, the frenzied power had descended, and no one could leave easily.

When she heard the fruition of fantasy, Olivia was indeed tempted. For her, the value of that exceeded the Blood and Flesh Derivation and the Immortal Heart, but she was also aware of one thing, the gifts promised by the Devil were not easily obtained.

Now she only wanted to stay away from the chaos and find a suitable opportunity to escape from here.

"The real big shots haven't arrived yet."

Olivia talked to herself, knowing the location of the venue, and outside this land, there loomed a menacing behemoth.

So far, the Order Bureau hadn't appeared, or maybe they did, just hidden in the shadows she couldn't see.

She once dealt with the Order Bureau, but that was a century ago, during the Dawn War that destroyed the Night Race.

For the Undead, such a time wasn't long, everything felt as if it had happened yesterday.

Besides anger, there was complete fear as she knew meeting people from the Order Bureau in such a place would lead to unforeseeable actions on their part.

Too terrible.

Olivia even suspected whether this auction was a trap set up by the Order Bureau and the Tyrant, after all, this wouldn't be their first collaboration.

Are they fishing for me?

Olivia quickly dismissed the idea. If she was the target, she should have already been captured by now, perhaps even exposed to the sunlight.

Blood Rot Sect?

That was indeed possible. Olivia knew what was hidden beneath the Great Rift, and the Blood Rot Sect definitely wasn't the most welcome guest to the Order Bureau.

They could allow the Tyrant to set up his territory here, but would never allow the approach of the Blood Rot Sect.

But… Olivia felt that it wasn't that simple.