Endless Debt Chapter 1003 - 86: Workday

Sunlight fell on Bologue’s face, the warmth of the morning light melting the chill from his body, and he slowly opened his eyes, then sat up straight in bed.

A new day.

Bologue didn’t have much expectation for the new day. He wasn’t sure if it would be better or worse; perhaps a bit of both, just like yesterday.

The conversation with Aimou last night left Bologue’s heart restless, as if a herd of deer had knocked him down and were trampling him with their hard hooves.

It was somewhat pleasant, at least Bologue thought so; it was beautiful and warm, though somewhat peculiar, but this sense of beauty didn’t last long.

Once home, in the silence, Bologue’s mind uncontrollably drifted to work, and then to the Devils’ plans.

Bologue was always like this, his internal consumption of thoughts completely shattering the joy Aimou brought, and the various possibilities made Bologue suffer.

Looking at the side of his pillow, the pitch-black blade was within reach.

Holding the weapon could provide Bologue with some sense of security, and sleeping with a weapon also effectively cured Bologue’s insomnia caused by stress.

Back during wartime, Bologue did the same thing; the trenches were unbearably stinky, but as fatigue deepened, Bologue would eventually pass out at his physiological limit.

But Bologue was not stable even in deep sleep; he would wake up from time to time. However, as long as he slept with the weapon, his sleep became particularly peaceful.

In this way, the weapon could be considered Bologue’s sleeping doll.

Getting up and pushing open the door, Bologue glanced around briefly. Just as he thought, Palmer hadn’t come home the entire night. He should be sleeping on the sofa in the activity room now.

Turning on the radio, waiting for Dudel’s morning broadcast, Bologue tidied himself up a bit, then went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

As a veteran returning from the battlefield, Bologue could adapt to many harsh environments, including food. Coupled with his lack of desire and efficient approach, Bologue cooked quite simply.

Usually, when Palmer was around, he could make some complicated demands, making Bologue prepare food that at least looked appealing and tasty. Now that Palmer wasn’t around, Bologue just satisfied his own hunger and cooked casually.

Heating the frying pan, adding a bit of oil, after a simple heating, cracking several eggs with no extra seasoning. A few minutes later, a steaming omelette was done. Then taking a few sausages from the fridge, slicing and heating them, piling them on the omelette, and spreading some meat sauce.

This was Bologue’s meal. Adding a glass of chilled orange juice, the whole process took less than ten minutes. Bologue ate quickly, finishing everything in under five minutes.

Placing the plate in the sink, just as he was about to change into his uniform, Dudel’s voice slowly came through the radio.

"Hello, listeners! I’m Dudel, your twice-daily loyal friend, welcome to our program!"

Hearing Dudel’s voice, Bologue, who was tying his tie in front of the mirror, suddenly paused.

According to the usual life rhythm, when Bologue finished making breakfast for both of them, just as they were about to eat, they could perfectly catch Dudel’s radio broadcast. Then Bologue and Palmer would finish breakfast, get dressed, and head out to work, listening to Dudel’s chatter.

Today, with Palmer not at home, everything sped up and got completely disrupted. It was then that Bologue truly felt Palmer’s influence on his life.

Not to mention Church’s influence on Palmer.

Bologue tried to understand others, experiencing things from their perspective, and then he felt an overwhelming surge of emotions.

Having understood the feelings of others, Bologue noticed some real issues right before him.

The Key of the Crooked Path to the Undying Club was damaged. The new key from Serey hadn’t been given, and with Palmer not around, there was no one to drive. Bologue himself didn’t have a driving license.

Going to work now became a problem... Actually, with the speed of a Negative Power User, running at full speed wasn’t much slower than a car, and he had ample stamina and ether reserves to sustain a long run. But the problem is that using Extraordinary Power openly in public was against the covenant.

Bologue sighed for a moment, then fitted a black bag over Grievance. Grievance was long and narrow, without a crossguard. Wrapped in the long bag, it looked like a packaged cane.

Half an hour later, when Bologue alighted from the crowded bus and staggered towards the Cultivation Room, he once again deeply realized the impact Palmer had on his life.

Today, the Order Bureau was noticeably more bustling than usual, as was the Field Operations Department. Normally, the place was very quiet, with only a few people moving around, but now field staff could be seen everywhere. Several task groups had been mobilized, constantly on the move.

Bologue thought this might be related to the intelligence report he brought back. The usually silent Tyrant suddenly stirred up turmoil, and the Wandering Junction seemed poised to slip from the Order Bureau’s control. If this were true, the resulting harm would affect the entire Great Rift, and the entire Great Rift could potentially turn into a zone out of control.

Besides this, there is the direct threat from the King’s Shield Guard.

In Bologue’s report, the Shadow King, or the Second Seat, still retains the power of a Glory Holder Tier, but how much of it he can unleash is unclear to Bologue. Next is the Third Seat at the Defender Tier, and the even more mysterious Silent Legion.

From the last battle, the power of the two Silent Ones both held the Defender Tier. Perhaps with just one more Silent One downed, the other would reach the Glory Holder Tier.

This is an exceedingly terrifying force, now hidden beneath the dense fog of the Great Rift. And then there are those lethal decay plagues.

Nobody knows exactly how much decay plague the King’s Shield Guard controls, but what is known is that once these lethal gases leak within the city, it will trigger a frenzy massacre.

There is also some secret information known only to Bologue.

The Tyrant exploited him and coerced the Shadow King, learning from his mouth the Astronauts’ plan. Once the Tyrant informs the other Devils about this, even if they do not fully grasp the astronauts’ conspiracy, based on the astronauts’ past actions, they will definitely strike heavily.

Oubos is like a vortex, attracting all the monsters and demons here.

The towering Cultivation Room will become the new Holy City. Bologue does not know whether it will continue to stand or whether it will perish as has happened on this land before.

Bologue stopped his steps, unconsciously clenched his fists, and muttered to himself.

"It will always stand... as always."

Like Church, Bologue also has reasons to defend this city.

In the activity room, Bologue found Palmer sleeping on the sofa, curled up, sleeping soundly. Even asleep, his face still showed unresolved worry and hatred.

Bologue didn’t wake him up but left quietly instead. Only Yuriel was in the office helping with paperwork; Geoffrey and Lebius were nowhere to be found.

They should have also been busy. Besides internal issues, externally, there is the King’s Secret Sword eyeing them. Now, the Order Bureau machine is fully operational, roaring loudly.

According to the normal regulations, after a mission, Bologue would have a short break, meaning no work would be assigned to him, and he could just lie at home instead of reporting to the Cultivation Room.

On ordinary days, Bologue would enjoy this brief quiet. Now, Bologue has no mood to rest.

Originally thinking that after becoming a Negative Power User, his internal yearning for power would be somewhat alleviated, the Defender’s force instead delivered a blow, leaving him unable to pause even for a moment.

Bologue arrived at the spacious practice room. With others busy elsewhere, the practice room was left empty. Under Bologue’s command, stone pillars rose from the ground, forming a dense stone forest.

Standing atop a stone pillar, Bologue carefully felt the surging of his own strength.

Ethereal Skill is an application of Condensation’s precise control over Ether, turning into a technique in combat. When sufficiently studied in depth, small portions of people mastering Ethereal Skill can reach the "Extreme Realm" tier.

From the records, when an Ethereal Skill is studied to the Extreme Realm, it undergoes qualitative change, extending into what can be considered as "Secret Energy," like the Devils’ Protection and Blessing.

As a Negative Power User, Bologue now mastered multiple Ethereal Skill techniques, including Ethereal Amplification, Ethereal Concealment, and Ethereal Perception.

Among them, Ethereal Perception remains relatively unfamiliar, while Ethereal Amplification is the most proficient. If Bologue aims to study to one Extreme Realm category, his optimal choice is Ethereal Amplification.

Bologue clenched his fist, intricate light trails flickering, as the Ether coursed, fearsome power gathering on Bologue’s fist.

He wondered what the power of the Extreme Realm would be like, and if it would bring qualitative change, like Blessing and Protection.