Endless Debt Chapter 111 - 64: Skills

"Gray mist! Industry! And... delicious crispy shrimp cake!"

In the misty morning, beside the sowhat busy street, Dudel’s energetic voice rang out, seemingly always full of vitality.

"Hey! Boss, you listen to this too?"

Bologue rummaged through the dusty shelves, listening to Dudel’s signature opening line on the radio, and asked the boss.

"Of course, there aren’t many music stations in Opus."

The boss stood behind the counter, adjusting the radio to make Dudel’s voice clearer.

"You should know, when I was young, I was a guitarist in a band."

He boasted, stepping aside to reveal the guitar placed behind the counter. That guitar was incongruous with the old goods store; everything else was dust-laden, but it was polished bright.

"Looks nice, can I touch it?" Bologue asked.

"No way, it’s not for sale, just look." The boss smiled and refused Bologue.

Bologue helplessly looked at the boss, complained a bit, then turned back to rummaging through the miscellaneous items on the shelf, which kicked up dust occasionally.

This is an old goods store nad "Charlie’s House," nad directly after the boss. It’s one of the places Bologue frequents the most; his war tables, record player, and old records at ho all ca from here.

For Bologue, this place is a fascinating junkyard, always full of interesting things to discover, so he visits periodically to not miss anything.

"Boss, have you collected any records recently?"

"Collected a few, but not many. Nowadays everyone is using tapes, which are more convenient and wear-resistant than records." Charlie casually picked up an ornant and started wiping it with a cloth.

"I see..."

Bologue searched for a while but couldn’t find anything useful, so he picked so records with worn packaging and placed them on the counter.

"Clearance, huh? You’ve bought out what little I had left." Charlie glanced at the items Bologue selected and laughed while ringing up the sale.

"No choice, I can only afford such old goods for now. Once I have money, I’ll get better stuff."

Bologue sighed, his mind still thinking about the advance paynt of wages.

"Rember to co to then. I have so really good ones here, just a bit worn, but the price is very good, definitely cheaper than buying new." Charlie kept babbling; profits in a used goods store aren’t large, and he must hold onto loyal custors like Bologue.

"Alright, alright."

Bologue picked up the bag Charlie packed and responded perfunctorily.

"I’ll definitely co to give you money soday."

"See you then! Bologue!"

Charlie waved enthusiastically, watching Bologue leave the old goods store.

Outside on the street, it was a familiar sight; "Charlie’s House" was near Bologue’s ho, one of the reasons he often ca here.

In his leisure ti, Bologue wandered around Shenbei District, very familiar with the area; "Charlie’s House" was discovered during one such walk.

On the street, silent pedestrians walked by, occasionally speaking in languages Bologue couldn’t understand, with so unfamiliar faces; most living here were outsiders from afar, making the district vibrant in a sense.

The slightly cold air filled his nose, walls adorned with various advertisents; among the black-and-white sheets, a few colorful ones caught Bologue’s attention.

Depicting a person walking at a crossroads, anxious and uncertain about the future, yet reality kept pushing him to make decisions.

"Oh, that’s ’Wandering Rat’!"

Bologue imdiately recognized the poster on the wall; he had one at ho with Kedening’s autographed signature.

Realizing this, Bologue suddenly rembered the last act of ’Wandering Rat’ was about to be perford. Initially, he planned to watch the performance as promised, but now, becoming a Condenser, Lebius had tasked him with actions against the "Man-eater."

The actions might start soon, leaving Bologue unsure if he’d have ti to watch.

Regarding this, Bologue didn’t hesitate; his primary goal had always been revenge on the "Man-eater." Performances can always be replayed; it’s just a pity missing the premiere.

The rest of the posters were about festival celebrations, where various shops used the festival as a reason to launch activities, a scene of jubilation.

"The Vow Festival is coming up."

Bologue looked at the festival poster and murmured to himself.

It’s already October, late autumn and approaching winter, and in just over a month, it will be the Vow Festival.

This festival is exclusive to the city of Opus, where citizens celebrate the end of the Scorched Earth Fury and the establishnt of Oubos in Oath City. They designated the day when the Kagader Empire and the Rhine Alliance made their vow together sixty-six years ago as the date of the Vow Festival.

Everyone is preparing for the festival’s arrival, even in the desolate and remote Shenbei District, the street lamps are adorned with fluttering ribbons.

Bologue gazed at all of this with a sowhat hollow expression.

He rembered that he was released from prison around this ti a year ago. After spending the Vow Festival at Adelle’s ho, he left, ca to Shenbei District, and started living alone.

It was a warm festival, a morable occasion for Bologue. Perhaps missing those tis, Bologue unexpectedly anticipated this year’s Vow Festival like a child, even though he wasn’t sure what it would be like.

...

Returning ho, Bologue casually picked a new record from his collection. Although it was considered new, the record itself had already passed through many hands and was old. Bologue had little expectation for its sound quality.

The needle dropped, and as the song gradually started playing, Bologue comfortably nestled into his sofa, casually picking up a folding knife and unfolding it.

Gripping the cold handle of the knife, a greenish glow spread across the back of Bologue’s hand—the trajectory surpassing the limits of the flesh and extending onto the folding knife.

The tal twisted, reshaped, with the green glow montarily burning like flas, as if placing the folding knife into a furnace of nothingness; it collapsed into a warhamr in Bologue’s hand.

But the transformation wasn’t over. Driven by Bologue’s will, the warhamr continued to change, turning into a slender sharp sword.

Cracks appeared on the slender blade. Bologue tightened his expression, directing his full concentration into manipulating the Ether for this precise transformation.

Sweat slipped down his forehead after several minutes of alteration. Bologue released the Secret Energy, breathing heavily and feeling a wave of fatigue.

Slowly raising his hand, the slender sword had now beco a rough chain, swaying in Bologue’s hand.

"Still not enough."

Bologue sighed.

Whenever he had so free ti lately, he would practice his Secret Energy. After nurous attempts, Bologue gained a deeper understanding of Ether consumption and Secret Energy operation.

Shaping the folding knife into a rough warhamr consud very little Ether and allowed for quick moulding. But once his creations beca complex, it greatly increased Bologue’s consumption, whether of Ether or energy.

The good thing was that this could be trained. As Bologue grew more familiar with Secret Energy, his operation beca increasingly precise. Initially, he could only shape a small segnt of the chain; now, he could fully mold the slightly complex object.

But it wasn’t enough—he still rembered Balder’s "Illusion Creation." Unlike his rough chain and blade, Balder’s weapons were exquisitely crafted, adorned with patterns, indicating that Balder’s mastery of Secret Energy was indeed superior to Bologue’s.

Palr was the sa, although that guy...

Bologue was reluctant to think about it further. Ideally, aside from work, he didn’t want to rember that he had such a partner.

Palr could manipulate airflow, which sounded like a rather weak Secret Energy. However, under Palr’s precise control, he could simultaneously utilize airflow to maneuver nurous Flying Knives and accurately pierce Eugene’s body.

Thinking about these things made Bologue feel so pressure, but he also comforted himself by acknowledging he was just a novice, a new Conder, gradually improving with training.

"But this power is truly deceptive."

Bologue stood up, whipping the chain in his hand. In mid-swing, the chain burst with green light and transford into a sharp Long Sword. Bologue then stepped forward and rotated his body; when he swung again, the sword had beco a Hand Axe.

With the Summoning Hand’s assistance, as long as there was steel around him, Bologue could shape different weapons. One mont it’s a folding knife; the next, it becos a Long Spear being thrown.

In addition, Bologue also noticed another use of the Summoning Hand.

Standing before his bedroom door, Bologue closed the door and slowly extended his hand, pressing it against the wooden panel.

A flash of green light streaked across as the wood twisted and fractured before Bologue.

This is how Bologue realized another use; he could easily summon any door, wall, or even an enemy’s Armor. As long as he touched it, he could summon it and cause it to shape and shatter.

Just as Geoffrey said, Bologue no longer needed the Shock Hamr. Going forward, he could easily break through any barrier, whether it be several ters thick iron doors or solid rock, as long as it’s solid material, it would crumble under formidable power.

"I really am a genius."

Bologue remarked confidently, recovering from his self-satisfaction to find a broken, dilapidated door swaying precariously.

Stunned for two seconds, Bologue hastily pressed his hand, trying to restore everything.