Endless Debt Chapter 1119 - 123: Resilience (Part 2)

The Order Bureau is working diligently to re-establish order, with numerous Special Operations Groups being newly established to confront the impending crisis. Bologue speculates that at this juncture, Xilin is also enlisting warriors, preparing to launch a counteroffensive against the King’s Secret Swords. Simultaneously, the King’s Secret Swords are amassing their strength, anticipating Xilin’s reappearance.

The outcome of Xilin’s endeavors will dictate the future trajectory of the Empire.

Bologue has endeavored to push these thoughts aside, yet he acknowledges the inevitability of facing them; it is a matter as common and ingrained as breathing.

Upon reaching the corridor's termination, Bologue rapped on the door before opening it and stepping inside.

Acknowledging the knock, the individual on the bed stirred and sat up. Despite the medical attention received, his appearance remained dire; his hair had turned a stark white, his face was etched with numerous wrinkles, and a thick layer of bandages concealed his eyes, rendering him blind.

"Good morning, Geoffrey," Bologue offered his greeting.

"Good morning."

Geoffrey responded with a smile, inclining his head in the direction of the voice.

During his confrontation with the First Seat, Geoffrey was directly struck by the Age-Stealing Mist. Although prompt medical intervention was administered, the potent effect of the Seeker of Glory inflicted irreparable damage upon Geoffrey's physical form, accelerating his aging process considerably.

Due to the immense output of ether required to serve as the conduit for Secret Energy release and the catalyst for its activation, Geoffrey's eyes endured extraordinary strain. When the intense battle concluded and Geoffrey's taut nerves finally relaxed, his sight was lost. Medical professionals estimate it will be a considerable duration before Geoffrey can have the bandages removed and perceive light once more.

In comparison to these two catastrophic afflictions, his other physical injuries seem comparatively minor.

"How fares your mind?" Geoffrey inquired.

"Much improved; the hallucinations have considerably diminished."

It appears the power wielded by the Seeker of Glory is exceptionally formidable. Even an Undying Body offers no complete immunity to such an overwhelming force. The sword injury inflicted by the Sword of Confession upon Bologue has long since healed, yet the maddening echoes of the Confession Song intermittently reverberate within Bologue's mind, inducing nightmares and frequent bouts of hallucination. This is the reason Bologue remains hospitalized; he too is regarded as a patient requiring care.

Bologue articulated the reason for his visit, stating, "The physician has indicated that his isolation period concludes today. Would you care to accompany me to visit him?"

"Certainly."

Geoffrey, still struggling to adapt to his darkened vision, cautiously dismounted the bed. Bologue promptly maneuvered a wheelchair over, assisting Geoffrey into it.

The severe injuries sustained from the First Seat and Red Dog have left indelible Soul Scars upon Geoffrey. Despite having undergone Etherealization, Geoffrey continues to experience debilitating effects from these wounds, akin to those of a mortal.

Geoffrey remarked, "I find myself truly envying Lebius..."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"He possesses the ability to propel his own wheelchair."

Bologue was momentarily amused by Geoffrey's dark humor, though his smile carried a melancholic undertone, finding solace in levity amidst profound suffering.

The entirety of the Border Sanatorium appeared to be in a state of controlled activity. As the morning sun streamed into the buildings, the medical staff had already commenced their demanding duties hours prior. They were systematically visiting each ward, conducting routine examinations, diligently recording vital signs such as body temperature and blood pressure, and meticulously updating patient records. Nurses, operating with practiced efficiency, navigated the corridors with carts laden with medical supplies, administering injections and intravenous fluids to patients, among other tasks.

The cycle of observation, diagnosis, treatment, and prescription repeated endlessly.

Upon reaching the Central Courtyard, a constant stream of stretchers carrying soldiers, their bodies marred and dirt-caked, were being wheeled towards the operating rooms. For several consecutive days, casualties had been continuously discovered within the Great Rift.

Bologue was all too familiar with such scenes; during times of war, field hospitals presented nearly identical Vistas. The critical distinction, however, lay in the prevailing atmosphere: this place offered a semblance of hope, whereas field hospitals were predominantly sites of terminal despair.

The Grim Reaper, like a furtive rodent, lurked amongst the debris, its gaze fixed upon one blood-soaked, decaying corpse after another, its spectral scythe poised to sever throats amidst their final, agonizing cries.

"We have not sustained such devastating losses in a considerable period," Geoffrey murmured, his voice tinged with weariness.

"Fear not... at least our adversaries are enduring comparable hardships."

Since the recent calamitous events, an unsettling silence has descended upon the King’s Secret Swords, and indeed, the entirety of the Kagader Empire. No official statements or acknowledgments have been issued regarding the demise of the First, Fourth, and Sixth Seats – a profound blow representing the most significant casualties the King’s Secret Swords have faced since the inception of the Secret War.

Numerous powerful and influential factions, their motives veiled in avarice, are observing the situation with keen interest, completely bewildered by the true sequence of events that transpired within Oubos amidst the all-encompassing miasma.

Only a select few comprehend the underlying truth; they are aware of Xilin’s return.

Bologue posits that the King’s Secret Swords are undoubtedly cognizant of this development, which would logically account for their current reticence. At present, their primary adversary is no longer the Order Bureau, but rather Xilin, whose heart burns with an unyielding thirst for retribution.

"Could it be that the King’s Secret Swords have fallen under the dominion of a malevolent entity?" Bologue pondered aloud, lost in thought.

"Do you harbor any particular insights?"

Geoffrey inquired. He was someone who possessed some knowledge, yet even he found himself unable to grasp the full picture of the current situation. The fragmented information felt like an intricate entanglement, ensnaring anyone bold enough to seek understanding.

"The First Seat," Bologue explained, "The woman he conjured, and his personal Safeguard, these are powers exclusive to the Demon."

Geoffrey grew quiet, pondering the esteemed position of the First Seat amongst the King's Secret Swords. Considering the immense power he wielded, many previously confusing elements began to fall into place.

Bologue felt compelled to elaborate further, but Geoffrey raised a hand to halt him.

"Enough, Bologue, let us cease this discussion for now."

"What troubles you?"

"This subject carries too great a burden; I am already exhausted."

A painful cough wracked Geoffrey's body twice. Several of his ribs were fractured. Unlike Lebius, who maintained a rigorous training regimen, Geoffrey had seldom engaged in physical exercise since his transfer to the Logistics Department. Furthermore, upon joining the Special Operations Group, he had rarely participated in high-intensity combat scenarios.