Endless Debt Chapter 1145 - 8: The Authenticity of the Past

Lebius's head bent over the documents, and as a deluge of information entered his awareness, his expression grew graver. A turmoil stirred within his chest, accompanied by a peculiar warmth coursing through his veins.

"Ha... this is truly dire," Lebius muttered.

"What's the matter?"

As the voice spoke, the newcomer pushed open the door. Lebius looked up, assessed the visitor, and remarked, "I'm still not accustomed to seeing you like this."

Geoffrey adjusted his spectacles and replied, "I'm also not accustomed to seeing you in a wheelchair."

A moment of silence passed between them, followed by a soft, shared chuckle.

The Decline Event had inflicted immense damage on both of them, leaving Lebius paralyzed and wheelchair-bound, relying on the Power of Command for mobility. Geoffrey's fate was marginally better, but only by a slim margin.

In an effort to contain the Seeker of Glory's power, the strained Alchemy Matrix had caused Geoffrey's eyes to become bloodshot, resulting in temporary blindness. He had also endured the double impact of the Age-Stealing Mist and the Decline Event.

In recent times, numerous white strands appeared in Geoffrey's hair, and wrinkles etched themselves onto his face, making him appear several years older. However, his most significant alteration was the adoption of thicker eyeglasses, as the backlash from the Alchemy Matrix had severely impaired his vision.

Ultimately, Geoffrey could not take his retirement as planned. Like Lebius, he stepped away from direct combat, leveraging his prior experience in the Logistics Department to help alleviate Lebius's workload.

"Besides the emergence of the Rebellious Royal Court, the disaster in the Abandoned Land represents the most critical issue at present. Once this searing light fades, the seal's equilibrium will shatter completely, unleashing this monstrous entity. By then... this city will face destruction once more."

Again?

Upon reading this word, Lebius couldn't help but offer a wry smile. Oubos was indeed a magnet for misfortune, a vortex drawing all manner of fiends and monsters.

"Try to relax a bit, Lebius," Geoffrey offered in consolation. "At least we're no longer on the front lines. These days are quite comfortable."

Bologue had been officially appointed as the team leader, yet the majority of directives still originated from Lebius. Nowadays, Bologue functioned more as a supreme operative, and together, the two could comfortably manage most tasks from the office with ease.

A faint glow of Ether emanated, and an illusory Ether projection materialized behind Lebius, propelling his wheelchair forward autonomously, guiding him away from his desk.

"Where are you headed?" Geoffrey inquired.

"To see the Minister. I have a report I wish to present to him in person."

As Lebius spoke, two Blade-Biting Wolves rose from a corner, following closely behind him. They opened the door ahead of him under his silent command.

Despite his paralysis, Lebius's mobility had become remarkably enhanced through Ether's power. Belli had even proposed equipping him with external exoskeletons and mechanical limbs, but Lebius detested the idea of attaching extraneous apparatuses to his body, preferring instead to directly manipulate domination objects.

As Lebius moved forward, a door materialized on the wall of the Cultivation Room, subsequently opening to reveal a space shrouded in absolute darkness.

Audience Chamber.

This was the most secluded area, second only to the Decision Room, impervious to Belphegor's scrutiny and serving effectively as Nesanel's private sanctuary.

Even Nesanel required his own space to process and release pent-up emotions.

No individual is truly made of iron; at our core, we are all delicate beings of flesh and blood.

Emerging from the brief pitch-blackness, a dim light flickered to life, and Lebius perceived Nesanel, who had evidently been waiting for some time.

Following the Decline Event, everyone had undergone transformations, and Nesanel was no exception.

The confident smile that once defined him, the powerful, lion-like aura he used to possess, had vanished. Before Lebius now stood a man who appeared aged, permeated with a palpable sense of defeat. The lingering aroma of liquor clung to Nesanel, his bloodshot eyes clouded with uncertainty and confusion.

Nesanel was no longer the elusive figure he once was; his former courteous and composed demeanor had evaporated. Nowadays, Nesanel spent most of his time in solitude within the Audience Chamber, lost in contemplation, as if formulating some clandestine plan.

Possessing experience in the secret war, Lebius could, to a certain extent, comprehend Nesanel's emotional state. However, regarding the specifics of those involved, he remained entirely in the dark.

Nesanel lifted his gaze, acknowledging Lebius's arrival without any discernible shift in his expression.

Long before the unfolding events, Nesanel seemed to have acquiesced to the directives of the involved parties, carrying Xilin's lifeless body onto the battlefield. At that juncture, Nesanel had already harbored a vague premonition of what was to come. Yet, when Xilin genuinely resurrected, standing alive before him once more, an overwhelming and suffocating sensation inevitably seeped into his heart.

Even though Nesanel understood the secret war was a ruse, a gnawing doubt permeated his very being, compelling him to question the significance of his actions.

At times, Nesanel found himself cynically amused, contemplating that even if he ascended to the status of a Seeker of Glory, he would remain naught but a pathetic pawn.

"Minister, the item you desired has been procured," Lebius announced, presenting a document to Nesanel.

Nesanel accepted the document, his gaze shifting to Lebius. "Do you not harbor any questions for me?"

"What is it you refer to?" Lebius inquired.

"This clandestine operation... it was not a directive from the Decision Room, but a personal request from myself," Nesanel stated. "This clearly transgresses established protocols, and you, of all people, are one who meticulously adheres to them."

Lebius's expression remained impassive. "My curiosity merely mirrors your own, Minister."

Nesanel's unfocused gaze momentarily sharpened. "Indeed," Lebius continued, "upon diligent reconsideration of the events surrounding the Decline Event, we possessed the full capacity to prevent Xilin's revival. For instance, his remains could have been placed in the Cultivation Room from the outset, rather than being transported to such a perilous locale."

"Trusting the Decision Room implicitly, I find it difficult to believe they would sanction such an egregious oversight... unless, of course, this outcome aligns precisely with their intended design." Lebius elaborated further.

"Given your extensive experience, you must surely feel a profound sense of dissatisfaction regarding this matter. While it may not constitute outright betrayal of the Decision Room, it undoubtedly seeds doubt, a sentiment I wholeheartedly share with you, Minister."

Lebius's gaze flickered towards the document Nesanel held. "You possess knowledge of deeper secrets than I. For instance, I remain uncertain as to why this particular curiosity is focused on Bologue, yet it matters little, for I too am consumed by an intense curiosity regarding Bologue's origins."

"Shall I interpret your reaction as precisely as I had anticipated?" Nesanel inquired in a hushed tone.

Lebius offered a simple smile in response.

Unfolding the document and leafing through its pages, Lebius spoke while perusing its contents. "Previously, I engaged in conversation with Bologue regarding his formative years. He mentioned hailing from a locality known as Redwood Town."

"Bologue's detailed recollections and the genuine emotion conveyed in his voice suggested authenticity, yet my extensive research yielded no trace of such a place. For a time, I entertained the notion that he was deceiving me, but he lacked any conceivable motive to fabricate such a story solely to mislead me. The more he elaborated, the more potential inconsistencies would arise. Considering Bologue's character, he might very well have refused to discuss the matter further with me."

"Ascertaining the veracity of Bologue's past is a straightforward endeavor; one simply needs to locate another individual from Redwood Town," Nesanel stated.

"However, its practical execution presents significant challenges. Based on our assessments, eighty years have elapsed since Bologue's birth, and Redwood Town has effectively vanished from all records. The majority of its former inhabitants have long since passed away." Lebius sighed.

"Fortunately, my efforts bore fruit. After navigating a labyrinth of difficulties, we managed to find a needle in a haystack, finally identifying an individual with roots in Redwood Town. Records and comparative analysis indicate that this individual even enlisted alongside Bologue during that period."

Nesanel nodded, his eyes already scanning the details of this individual and the associated information presented within the report.

"And where is this individual situated currently?" Nesanel inquired.

"They are within Oubos."