The eyes of Hamr and Yidir were filled with doubt, feeling quite unexpected about the Regent King’s promise.
"That’s right, I need to keep the Order Bureau busy. As long as I can deplete their strength, this little bit of help is insignificant to ," said the Regent King.
"So what exactly are you going to do?" Yidir was puzzled, "Is it just for... for the person you’re looking for?"
"Almost, but the situation might be more complicated," said the Regent King. "Right now, she doesn’t know I’ve arrived in Oubos, thinking she’s escaped my control... My actions must be swift, preferably successful in one go. If I alert her, she may hide in a place I can’t reach, and then my goal would fail."
"Hide in the Order Bureau?" Hamr asked.
"No, it’s a place even more troubleso than the Order Bureau." The Regent King did not intend to be explicit.
"So, do you understand my dilemma? I have only one chance, but the location of my action is the enemy’s stronghold, which is very stressful indeed."
The Regent King then shifted the topic to Hamr and Yidir, "As for you, are you engaged in a power struggle within the Scarlet Sect?"
Hamr and Yidir exchanged a look. Forced by circumstances, they had to admit, "War is coming, sweeping across many lands, a new wave of conflicts."
"The Scarlet Sect is gathering strength to make our loose group cohesive again, hence it needs a unified will to weed out unnecessary impurities."
"You are a Negative Power User. From what I understand, your position is at most a Bishop and cannot reach that higher power," the Regent King speculated. "So, are you going to be weeded out?"
Hamr fell silent, and the Regent King realized he guessed correctly, "The little power you have left is about to be taken by others, so you and him, this Calamity Servant, made such a reckless move in panic, trying to unleash the Beast of the Herd to get that woman’s attention again?"
Seeing the two remain silent, the Regent King continued, "It should not be just that."
Hamr suppressed his emotions, speaking with hatred, "The Zongge Orchestra and the Order Bureau, they ruined everything for ."
"What happened?" The Regent King was quite curious.
"About a year ago, we carried out a mission under that woman’s orders to trade with the Gray Trade Association," Yidir slowly spoke. "That trade item was very important, but after we obtained it, we were attacked by the Order Bureau, and the trade item was snatched away. We were about to pursue it, but the Zongge Orchestra suddenly intervened and took it away without a trace."
Yidir glanced at Hamr, "Hamr and I were in charge of that operation. That great failure made the woman very angry, and in the days that followed, our status beca precarious, and our power was continuously divided."
Upon saying this, Yidir smiled bitterly, "In the end, we who held high positions ended up like this."
If Bologue were here, hearing this conversation, he would certainly sigh at the coincidence of fate.
The item that Hamr and Yidir traded was the original object that Bologue desperately chased during his trip to the Joyful Garden. After several transfers, it is now sealed within the Sublimation Furnace Core.
"Then the question arises," Hamr was not blinded by the Regent King’s promise, calmly asking, "What are you going to do?"
The Regent King smiled as he took out a vial from his pocket, with crimson blood swirling inside the transparent glass.
"Few can resist the lure of immortality."
...
"I’ve already reported this part to the Decision Room. You can take a rest,"
In the office, Lebius organized the docunts as usual, thodically and ticulously.
"Where’s York?" Bologue asked.
"He’s currently undergoing interrogation by the Crow’s Nest," Lebius replied. "Don’t worry, very few can keep anything hidden from the Crow’s Nest."
"No, I’m not concerned about that. To be honest, I don’t think he knows much about the details of the event," Bologue explained, "I’m more interested in him as a person."
"Oh? Why, is he interesting?" Lebius’s curiosity was piqued that even Bologue took notice.
"He’s sowhat interesting. I’m thinking, if possible, maybe we could recruit him into the Special Operations Group," Bologue glanced at the empty office. "Don’t you think there are too few people in the Special Operations Group?"
Lebius sighed, "He’s already almost fifty years old."
"But he’s already an Undead. Since he’s accepted the Blood of the Night Race, age doesn’t bind him anymore," Bologue continued, "What I’m more concerned about is the flaw in his immortality—being unable to act in daylight is terribly disadvantageous."
Bologue then joked, "That makes him quite suited for night shifts."
Lebius forced a stiff smile, "Let’s not think about that for now. Wait until the Crow’s Nest completes the interrogation, then we can consider these things."
Currently, York is still a suspect. Bologue is familiar with this process, and one could say that York is experiencing exactly what Bologue went through back in the day.
First cos scrutiny, then imprisonnt and observation, followed by a long trust-building exercise, internship, and finally embarking on the job.
Fortunately, this ti with Bologue around, he can use his authority to expedite everything. Usually, Bologue wouldn’t be so invested, but now the entire Order Bureau is desperately short of manpower, making even the Special Operations Group, and even Bologue, sotis feel exhausted.
This large violent apparatus needs more new blood.
"Let’s stop talking about work for now... Why haven’t I seen Palr, hasn’t he co for his shift?"
Since returning to the Order Bureau, Bologue hasn’t seen Palr.
Palr, being a steadfast paycheck stealer, never does more work than necessary and opts for leave at every opportunity.
Previously, when Bologue was a team mber, he sowhat appreciated Palr’s laziness. But now that Bologue is a team leader, speaking in more professional terms, he and Palr are no longer in the sa class.
As the team leader, Bologue can’t stand his mbers skipping duties, especially now when there’s such a personnel shortage.
Lebius said, "He’s on leave, handling so troubleso matters."
"What troubleso matters? Night Race invading?" Bologue joked.
"For him, it should be even more troubleso than a Night Race invasion," Lebius sighed.
Upon hearing this, Bologue’s expression turned serious. After all, Palr is still his partner, and Bologue values his friends greatly.
"What’s going on?"
"Not long after you left for patrol, his fiancée ca, along with a recomndation letter from Fuen."
Lebius coughed twice, clearing his throat, "Vasilina ca to the Order Bureau to apply for a job."
"What?"
Bologue’s expression turned awkward. Before leaving, he and Palr had discussed this matter, and Palr was quite gloomy about it. Surprisingly, the event progressed so quickly, leaving no ti for Palr to react.
"Has her application... been approved?" Bologue asked cautiously.
"Not yet, it’s currently in the interview stage."
Bologue breathed a sigh of relief, but Lebius’s subsequent words once again made Bologue concerned about Palr’s fate.
Lebius said, "The interview is just a formality. With Fuen’s recomndation letter and her status, her position is already set."
"What position is that?"
Bologue suspected that the Special Operations Group might have gained a new mber, uncertain about the resulting dynamics.
"Liaison Officer."
Lebius ntioned a position beyond Bologue’s expectations.
"Liaison Officer? Liaison with whom?" Bologue asked.
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