Endless Debt Chapter 84 - 44: Partner

Everyone believed that the Fall of the Holy City would mark the end of all wars, but in reality, it was rely the beginning of another mad war.

The Kagader Empire and the Rhine Alliance used Oath City, Opus, as their battlefield, with Condensers as their pawns, continuing their battles in the shadows.

With the Alchemists’ research into the "Secret Source," Secret Energy also constantly evolved, just like the weapons throughout human history, transforming from stone-crafted Long Spears to iron-forged Sharp Swords and finally to monsters made of machinery and armor, fueled by oil.

"Bologue, you look a bit unwell, are you scared?" Geoffrey examined Bologue’s expression and laughed heartily.

"I thought you’d enjoy war, especially such a mad war. Just look at that exquisite sand table in your room."

Geoffrey rembered Bologue’s room, that monotonous, slightly empty room with the war sand table placed right in the center. Bologue often stared at it for a good while, accompanied by rousing rock music, like a commander eager for battle.

Bologue shook his head at this. He calmly replied, "I’m just curious about that part of history."

Bologue had also been a soldier, but he had no feelings towards war, being more driven by curiosity about that part of history and a thirst for knowledge.

Hearing Geoffrey speak like that, Bologue sowhat understood why Geoffrey was later transferred to the Logistics Departnt.

He was one of the rare veterans who experienced that secret war among the Condensers. Knowing this, Bologue’s view of Geoffrey began to change.

Geoffrey wasn’t really the genial person he appeared to be. It was ti and experience that had worn down his edges. No one could guess what sort of face this cheerful old man truly possessed.

Just like those casual chats back then, Bologue was always curious whether Geoffrey’s Secret Energy was really as he described.

"It’s really bad."

Bologue sighed, lifted his head, and stared at the ceiling, his eyes filled with gray.

"A mad arms race, a clash between two giants, Secret Energy, Demon, Devil..."

One disastrous term after another popped into his mind. Bologue realized that the world was like a giant garbage bin, filled with all sorts of ssy things. Now Bologue had beco one of them, destined to accompany them every day.

At least...

At least Bologue wouldn’t die.

But is that really good?

The more he understood, the more Bologue realized that being "Resurrected" had many counterasures against it, such as being imprisoned in the Black Prison, sealed in cent, or even being killed hundreds or thousands of tis in a short period.

If he didn’t have the power to protect himself, being "Resurrected" would just turn him into a durable punching bag.

Under endless tornt, death seed like the perfect solution.

"Don’t worry. This world is bad, but not so bad. Over the years, we have made rapid progress in researching Secret Energy, always attempting to create the legendary ’Crowned.’"

Geoffrey comforted Bologue. As a veteran, Geoffrey was well aware of the current situation.

"Once we have the ’Crowned,’ it will be the ti to end the war."

Bologue nodded sowhat understandingly. He could hear the reverence Geoffrey held for the ’Crowned,’ a tier that existed only in imagination, the end of all power, much like an absolutely deadly weapon. Once wielded, even a vast army would turn to ashes.

"But what if the King’s Secret Sword first reaches this tier?" Bologue rained on the parade.

"Then we’d be destroyed," Geoffrey stated simply and directly. He seed to have thought it through, "This is also why we’ve been tightly entangled, with constant friction."

"A mad arms race over Secret Energy; whoever first possesses the ’Crowned’ can tip the balance of war."

Geoffrey added.

"But the ultimate winner might not be the Order Bureau or the King’s Secret Sword. In this world, there are other Extraordinary Organizations, just hidden deeper, and won’t reveal themselves easily."

Seeing Bologue’s curious look, Geoffrey continued his explanation.

"According to records, Alchemists began the research on the ’Secret Source’ hundreds, thousands, or even further back in ti. But in those tis of technological poverty, their progress was slow. However, so Secret Societies survived and have continued to this day.

Initially, these powers weren’t valued much. After all, Secret Energy itself is a ’tool’ derived from ’technology,’ and hundreds of years ago, those Secret Energies were too feeble, barely able to influence reality.

Compared to Sharp Swords and cannons, Secret Energy back then was more like street perforrs’ tricks."

Though he spoke with disdain, Geoffrey’s tone was utterly serious.

"But as research deepened, Secret Energy beca more and more powerful. From then on, it started being taken seriously again. By the ti of the Scorched Earth Fury, both we and the Kagader Empire realized conventional forces were insufficient to change the course of war. We needed so elites, so power to easily turn the tide.

Thus, Secret Energy began its militarization. After the Fall of the Holy City, it beca thoroughly integrated into the sequence, becoming part of the military."

"The Order Bureau initially was established by the Secret Societies from the Rhine Alliance, like your partner, the Clarks. They are a famous family of Condensers, who began delving into these fields hundreds of years ago and were one of the founders of the Order Bureau.

Thanks to the full support from the Rhine Alliance, our developnt of ’Secret Energy’ was rapid. However, compared to this long history, the Order Bureau still is too young, and many Secret Societies are unwilling to join us, staying independent from us."

"Like the Order of Truth?" Bologue ntioned.

Geoffrey nodded affirmatively.

"Exactly. We maintain friendly relations with those independent Secret Societies, but it’s different on the Kagader Empire’s side. The royalty forcibly assimilated all the Secret Societies, absorbing their endless knowledge. Hence, the King’s Secret Sword’s accumulation in this field far surpasses ours.

This also led to us almost being defeated seven years ago. The King’s Secret Sword’s Secret Energy evolved faster than we had anticipated. Seven years ago, they already possessed terrifying power, and we are unclear about what kind of surprises their resurging return will bring after seven years."

With this, Bologue gained a rough understanding of the current situation in the Extraordinary World.

Two colossal beings took Opus as their battlefield, wrestling with each other, and outside of them, countless secret organizations were also at play.

For now, it seems that the power of the King’s Secret Sword is much stronger than that of the Order Bureau, but the advantage of the Order Bureau is that it currently controls Opus.

No wonder the entire Field Operations Departnt was mobilized; with such an old enemy returning, no amount of caution is too much.

"Speaking of which, Bologue, are you free for a mont?"

Geoffrey suddenly asked, as sothing ca to his mind.

"Nothing much, why?" Bologue is indeed quite idle.

"I want to take you to see sothing... I feel you have the right to know, as this is the foundation of our mutual trust."

As Geoffrey spoke, he stood up and gestured for Bologue to follow.

Bologue didn’t ask Geoffrey what he was going to see, but from Geoffrey’s tone, he could clearly hear a sense of seriousness.

Leaving the lounge, turning left after exiting the door, and walking a few steps, Lebius’s office was just ahead.

Geoffrey knocked on the door and then opened it to enter the office.

Lebius looked up at Geoffrey, his gaze catching Bologue standing behind Geoffrey, and Bologue also took a look inside. Opposite the desk was Palr.

This fellow had completely failed to notice the arrival of the two and was just staring fiercely at the transfer docunts in front of him, his face full of resentnt and grievance.

He seed quite unwilling to join the Field Operations Departnt, especially the Special Operations Group.

But that was understandable; Palr’s "blessing" was just good luck, and more often than not, his good luck would turn into misfortune.

Working in the Crow’s Nest was fine, but coming to the combat-intensive Field Operations Departnt, who knows what bad luck he might encounter. If things were worse, he might just die outright.

At this mont, Bologue also realized the shift in his own ntality—being immortal, many things that seed serious did not affect him as deeply, or perhaps it was because Bologue had shielded his emotions to avoid too much empathy.

"Is there sothing you need?" Lebius asked.

"I want to take Bologue to see that thing; he has the right to know, doesn’t he?" Geoffrey pointed to Bologue behind him and said.

After pondering for a few seconds, Lebius nodded. He raised his hand, and so kind of power was swirling—the power known as Ether.

The "pass" in Bologue’s embrace began to stir, but soon it cald down, and at this mont, Lebius said.

"Temporary permission has been granted; take him along."

It wasn’t assigned to Geoffrey but to Bologue.

Geoffrey waved his hand, closed the door, and left.

Lebius then picked up the docunt and asked Palr.

"So... do you have any questions about these current matters?"

"This is Ivan’s doing, isn’t it? It’s absolutely that bastard’s doing!"

Palr shouted irritably, directly calling out his uncle’s na.

"No, it was my choice to assign you." Lebius said.

"Huh? Why! I haven’t been on the front lines!"

"But your performance is outstanding; you should learn such things quickly."

"No no, I’m a debtor! Such an identity is untrustworthy!" Palr began to look for reasons from himself.

"You are a mber of the Order Bureau, knowing that is enough, not to ntion that in our Special Operations Group, we do not discriminate against debtors."

Palr was silent for a few seconds before shouting in despair.

"No no no, have you learned about the death rate in your Field Operations Departnt? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"I am just here to notify you, the ’Decision Room’ has already approved your transfer docunts."

"But... but my ’blessing’ easily gets teammates killed!"

He started looking for reasons from himself again; sotis when misfortune strikes, Palr might not be able to protect himself, let alone his teammates.

"This needn’t be a concern."

Lebius maintained a cold expression, but Palr still felt he was being mocked. Lebius just pointed to the door.

"You have t Bologue, haven’t you? He’ll be your partner from now on."

"So what?"

Palr scread.

"Your partner... he cannot die."

Lebius smiled.