Endless Debt Chapter 1171 - 23: Guessing 3

The arrival of Bologue soon drew the attention of the individual on watch in front of the iron fence. Witnessing someone emerge from the Great Rift, he became instantly alert.

"Who goes there?" he called out.

"Greetings, I am from the Geological Institute," Bologue replied, gesturing towards the rift behind him and the city barely visible on the horizon. "From Oubos."

"Geological Institute?"

The guard remained wary, continuing his inquiry: "What business does the Geological Institute have here?"

"As you can see, I am here for prospecting. I heard there was a small settlement at the end of this rift, so I came to investigate." Bologue answered the guard's questions with practiced ease.

Prior to this operation, the Decision Room had already furnished Bologue with the necessary false identity. His official role was that of an explorer from the Geological Institute. The town hall was slated to undertake renovations on the Gray Stone Rift, facilitating his prospecting mission and a concurrent survey of Gray Stone Town located at its terminus.

The guard contacted an officer, verified Bologue's credentials, and subsequently granted him entry.

"Apologies," the guard said to Bologue. "I was perhaps a bit too vigilant."

"No trouble at all," Bologue dismissed it. "Anyone seeing someone emerge from the Great Rift would naturally be alert. But tell me, why such heightened caution?" Gray Stone Town exhibited an unusual level of apprehension towards individuals arriving from within the Great Rift, employing guards and erecting an iron fence as if guarding against unseen threats...Indeed, the Abandoned Land was known to harbor dangers.

The guard's gaze grew distant as he spoke softly, "It's because of an evil presence within the Great Rift."

"An evil presence?" Bologue looked directly at the guard. "What evil presence? I traversed the entire Great Rift and sensed nothing."

Seeing the guard's hesitation, Bologue pressed on, "It’s alright, please tell me. Addressing the town's issues falls under my purview." Bologue presented his identification once more, recognizing that documentation could often be more persuasive than words.

"It's not exactly a secret in Gray Stone Town," the guard finally confided. He glanced back towards the darkening sky and the ominous shadows lurking at the rift's end, an inexplicable unease stirring within him.

"Ever since the earthquake six months ago, Gray Stone Town was swallowed by this rift. After a period of rebuilding, we hoped to resume our normal lives. However, since then, an increasing number of townsfolk began experiencing nightmares. In the dead of night, when everyone gazed towards the Great Rift, a peculiar sensation would overcome them, as if something within was watching."

As the guard spoke, Bologue's eyes narrowed. He attempted to sense the spiritual connection but found himself unable to establish any link.

"Continue," Bologue prompted.

"Subsequently, fear of the rift permeated the town, leading to the construction of the iron fence. Fortunately, we have the Priest. Under the Priest's guidance and sermons, people felt less oppressed by the darkness, and the incidence of nightmares decreased. Now, the iron fence seems more like a symbolic gesture." The guard spoke of the Priest with evident reverence, portraying him as a figure of immense trust and admiration.

"The Priest's sermons?" Bologue mused.

"Yes, I almost forgot, the Priest is holding a sermon today," the guard suddenly recalled. "Is there anything else you require? If not, I must attend the sermon." He revealed a cross, as if for emphasis.

Bologne did not detain him. After a brief exchange, Bologue continued on his way, while the guard hurried towards the town's central square.

"Is there an issue here?" Aimou inquired quietly beside him.

"Yes, a significant one." Bologue looked down at his abdomen, where a faint spiritual connection began to manifest, only to dissipate after extending a few meters.

A malevolent force was concealed within this town, but its presence was incredibly well-hidden, preventing Bologue from forming a clear connection to pinpoint its location.

Faced with this unexpected development, Bologue's expression turned grave for a moment, before morphing into a peculiar smile.

"A pleasant surprise." Bologue, a man who abhorred idleness, found these days of inactivity quite taxing.

"Let us go and see what this Priest is like." Pulling Aimou along, Bologue mentioned, "I once encountered a Priest before," recalling a rather unpleasant memory.

"How was that experience?" Aimou was intensely curious about Bologue's past, eager to uncover every detail about him. Unbeknownst to her, their connection through Heart Overlapping Shadow had already brought them into spiritual resonance.

"That's not a pleasant memory," Bologue remarked dismissively, adding, "That Priest was a fiend. I dispatched him and incinerated his church too."

"I see..."

Aimou had imagined a plot focused on saving souls, but it devolved into combat instead. Then again, this was typical of Bologue's approach, a scenario he frequently found himself in.

"Understandable," Bologue stated. "The passage to the Great Rift is accessible; it would be unusual if adversaries weren't lying in wait."

His hand instinctively clenched around the case, concealing his Sword Axe within. Bologue started to ponder the challenges that might await him in this settlement.