Endless Debt Chapter 1023 - 95: Blood Hand Axe (Part 2)

Bologue hesitated for a moment and then shouted, "Aimou!"

After a while, the sounds of knocking and hammering above halted, and a familiar face appeared from above.

"Bologue?"

The person’s voice was full of surprise and alarm, as if she hadn’t expected Bologue to come looking for her at this time.

Aimou seemed a bit flustered, having nowhere to retreat. She descended the ladder with a helpless expression, and it was then that Bologue noticed Aimou was different from usual.

Whenever he saw Aimou normally, she was either in casual everyday attire or wearing a white lab coat that nearly reached her knees, complementing her lively and expressive eyes. In any case, no matter how busy she was, she always managed to maintain a certain level of elegance and propriety.

Today, Aimou seemed rather disheveled.

Aimou wobbled as she came down the ladder, with a clattering sound accompanying every move she made as Bologue observed her all over.

Currently, Aimou was wearing overalls with suspenders, the large pockets filled with tools like wrenches and screwdrivers. Her upper body was clad in a white tank top soaked with sweat, her hands also covered in it.

Due to the harsh working environment, engine oil was smudged everywhere: on her pants, tank top, gloves, even smeared on Aimou’s cheeks.

She looked like a stray cat that had just crawled out of a trash pile, or like a mechanic who had been interrupted at work and was crawling out from under a car.

Bologue glanced at her and then at the equipment behind her. "Is there a problem?"

"Ah... a small issue, but nothing major."

Bologue had never seen Aimou like this before; Aimou seemed somewhat embarrassed by it, and evidently, Bologue noticed this as well.

"Are you shy?"

Bologue found it difficult to associate the current Aimou with the one who had him retreating step by step atop the Observation Tower.

"No."

Aimou shook her head. After a series of high-intensity training sessions, she was already good at controlling her facial expressions.

Bologue looked at her suspiciously, then gave a thumbs-up.

"Not bad."

"Not bad in what way?"

"It seems to have a sense of power, a vitality, much better than the previous overworked look."

"Huh?"

Bologue waved his hand; he had serious business to attend to and stopped joking, "How’s the Phantom Dagger?"

"Oh, that matter."

Aimou sighed; she knew that Bologue had come to find her for such matters.

After glancing at Bologue, Aimou called over the others for a simple handover of the work. She wiped the oil from her body, casually found a white lab coat to drape over herself, trying hard to regain some of her scholarly demeanor. Whatever little she could regain.

"Come with me," she indicated.

"With the Phantom Dagger suffering multiple damages, its Alchemy Matrix is no longer stable. No matter how much it’s repaired, it’s difficult to extend its lifespan and performance, let alone enhance it further."

Hearing this answer, Bologue’s expression showed a trace of disappointment. The Phantom Dagger was something he had confiscated from an enemy, and although it was an enemy’s weapon, Bologue found it quite handy to use.

"If it were another Alchemy Armament, it might still have some use. But the Phantom Dagger’s ability involves curves, and you should understand the eeriness and complexity of curves. Any error can lead to it going out of control."

Bologue was equally aware of this point; curves can transcend the limits of space — its functionality is extremely powerful, but the complexity and demands for stability also increase accordingly. It’s a kind of power difficult to control.

"So then..."

"So I’m trying to replicate the Alchemy Matrix inside the Phantom Dagger, essentially reverse engineering, which will take some time."

Bologue murmured softly, "This must be quite difficult, right?"

"I think it’s okay, just a bit time-consuming," Aimou’s words were filled with confidence.

Even though Bologue didn’t understand Alchemy, at this moment he realized Aimou’s talent and capability in research. No wonder she had been included in research related to the Ethereal Realm.

"I’ve given the Phantom Dagger some simple repairs, but you need to know it doesn’t have much more lifespan left. Encounter damage like the decay epidemic again, and it’s highly likely to go out of control and collapse, which will hurt you."

Aimou thought for a moment, "Luckily, you’re an Undead, so you don’t have to worry about these things; instead, you can use it as an attack method."

"This attack method sounds rather extravagant."

"Anyway, it’s going to break, might as well make use of it."

Bologue asked, "So am I returning empty-handed today?"

"Who knows?" Aimou gave Bologue a smile, then took out a string of keys, "Maybe if you bribe me a little, there might be a surprise."

Bologue asked sincerely, "So how do I bribe you?"

Aimou thought for a moment, "Say some words of praise?"

Compliments were something Bologue rarely said, but he had no other way since he was asking for a favor.

"Aimou is very good, very outstanding, research is top-notch," Bologue said, expressionless.

Aimou frowned, looking at him, "Let’s not even talk about your facial expression problems, this compliment is too bland, isn’t it?"

"Then..."

Bologue thought for a moment and then continued, "The weapon you crafted is the best I’ve used, like an extension of my limbs."

A silver serpent crawled out of Bologue’s sleeve; it undulated up and down as if greeting Aimou.

"That’s more like it," Aimou said with her arms crossed.

"Especially when it tears the enemy apart — the rupture of organs, the surge of blood, the crushing of bones — you really should hear their screams..."