Endless Debt Chapter 1386 - 2: The Extraordinary Class

"Speaking of which, this is why I don’t like living in the Cultivation Room."

Palmer looked at the staff coming and going in the courtyard room; everyone was swift and serious, as if carrying some significant mission. He glanced up; it was one in the morning.

"Does it feel like sleeping at the company?" Bologue asked from the side.

"Pretty much, if you take it too far, it’s like sleeping under your workstation and having to jump up when someone calls you." Palmer complained bitterly.

"It wasn’t this busy before, but now is a critical time, having more work is unavoidable."

A voice came from behind them, and Bologue turned his head to see Hart in pajamas, carrying a large bucket of fries, eating as he walked.

Palmer asked, "Midnight snack?"

"Do you want some?"

Palmer unhesitatingly reached out and grabbed a handful, then leaned against the wall, crunching as he watched the busy staff in the courtyard.

"Hold on, Hart."

Palmer suddenly realized something and turned to look at Hart again, "Why are you wearing pajamas?"

"Why can’t I wear pajamas?"

Palmer thought for a moment, "Don’t you already have a layer of fur? So aren’t you now wearing pajamas over pajamas?"

"Huh? What are you thinking about?" Hart retorted, "Then wouldn’t I be naked without pajamas?"

"But you have a layer of fur?"

"Uh?"

Bologue listened to their boring and somewhat idiotic argument, feeling inexplicably weary, unsure whether to lament their childishness or appreciate their innocence.

"Critical time? Has the Order Bureau already announced a state of emergency?" Bologue interrupted.

"Almost, but it hasn’t been officially released yet."

Hart swallowed his fries and became serious, "All bases and posts within the Rhine Alliance Territory have already entered a state of alert, and Extraordinary Clans closely connected to the Order Bureau are cooperating with its actions, piecing together a fragmented alliance."

"The roaming Night Race inside the territory is being eradicated bit by bit, but no matter how hard we try, there’s always a small part that can’t be completely eliminated."

Bologue noticed this point and asked, "Any findings?"

"Well... how should I say this, although the Order Bureau has united the internal Extraordinary Power, there’s a part that doesn’t belong to us and doesn’t follow our orders."

Hart’s expression turned serious, "This is our historical issue left undealt with since the Wrath of Scorched Earth, dragged out until now."

As the heir to the Clarks Family, Palmer keenly asked, "All Secrets Order?"

Hart nodded affirmatively, "Yes."

All Secrets Order.

To Bologue, this was a force both unfamiliar and familiar; he often learned of their existence through others’ conversations, but in daily work, Bologue never had any contact with the All Secrets Order.

The existence of the All Secrets Order can be traced back to the Wrath of Scorched Earth period. To combat the approaching Kagader Empire, the northern countries united to form the closely-linked Rhine Alliance, along with internal Extraordinary Influence, forming the embryonic Order Bureau.

But not everyone chose unity. Some Extraordinary Influence refused to join the Order Bureau, and the Bureau didn’t forcefully intervene; after prolonged negotiations, they were allowed to have high autonomy in their territories.

In the days that followed, the outline of the Order Bureau became clearer, becoming a giant formidable enough to rival the King’s Secret Sword. Perhaps feeling threatened by its existence, these independent forces gathered together, forming the hidden All Secrets Order beneath the earthly world, the only Extraordinary Influence within the Rhine Alliance Territory not controlled by the Order Bureau.

"They are truly reclusive, no matter what changes occur in the world, they choose to stay on their patch of land, unmoved, like witnesses of the world, while we are participants alike."

Palmer expressed his worry, "If they continue to stay silent and peaceful, that’s fine, but it’s feared they might have other intentions."

Bologue didn’t immediately provide an answer, "What do you mean?"

"We suspect that the activities of the Night Race inside the territory might be related to the All Secrets Order," Hart frankly stated, "Otherwise, under our strict control, where do these endless Night Race come from, and who shelters them?"

Bologue realized the seriousness of the situation, "This is a very severe accusation."

"So we remain restrained until we obtain definitive evidence," Hart said.

Bologue pondered, "Could the All Secrets Order be collaborating with the Night Race? Do you think it’s possible?"

Hart did not answer but redirected his gaze to Palmer for an explanation.

Palmer coughed a few times and formally said, "Bologue, in your opinion, is there a difference between Condensers and ordinary people?"

Faced with this sudden question, Bologue shook his head, "To me, Condensers are just a special type of troop transformed from ordinary people, a handy tool."

"That’s good, most of the members in the Order Bureau think this way. We are human beings, not some noble existence above humanity, meaning everyone is equal."

Palmer stuffed another french fry into his mouth. He seemed unable to stop, like someone with hyperactivity disorder.

"I’ve dealt with the All Secrets Order a few times. They’re an extremely arrogant bunch who take pride in being Condensers, thinking they are superior to humans, a more noble existence."

"Like another form of the Night Race?" Bologue quickly realized the key point.

"Pretty much. They are the radicals among the Condensers, believing that Condensers shouldn’t hide in the mundane world, but should stand openly under the sun. Relying on Extraordinary Power, Condensers can completely create a greater new era."

Palmer’s tone darkened, "But we all know resources are limited, and not everyone can become a Condenser. What about the ordinary people then?"

"This is the crux of the conflict between the Order Bureau and the All Secrets Order. Our basic philosophies are fundamentally different, but both are part of the Rhine Alliance, forcefully pieced together," Hart added. "We’ve looked down on each other for many years, yet things have remained peaceful. However, with recent developments, many hidden tensions have surfaced and become more acute."

Bologue remained silent, recalling various plans he had considered earlier.

Shut the Gate of Origin to prevent the merging of the Ethereal Realm and the Material Realm, thereby banishing the Devil completely.

This was indeed a good plan, but the resistance to its execution would be far greater than Bologue imagined. It meant completely severing the Extraordinary.

If there was even a slight possibility of this plan, and if others got wind of it, all those Condenser forces reliant on Ether would view Bologue as an endless enemy.

The Devil merely plunders souls, bringing continuous turmoil to the world, but breaking off the Extraordinary would mean returning those lofty, superior beings to ordinariness.

No one can tolerate the potential severing of the Extraordinary... even Bologue himself.

Members of the Undying Club, himself, and Aimou.

All are stakeholders born from Ether. Severing the Extraordinary is tantamount to killing them all.

"Do you think the All Secrets Order would be our enemies?" Palmer asked.

"I’m not sure," Bologue shook his head, then added, "but I know that to unite all forces, we must first quiet those opposing voices."

"No worries, this isn’t something we need to fret about. Let those above have their headaches." Hart consoled.

Bologue exhaled deeply. This truly wasn’t something he should worry over. He was skilled in swordplay, not strategy.

Palmer grabbed another handful of french fries from Hart’s bucket, then shouted to both, "Good night!"

"Good night."

"Good night."

As they bid farewell, Palmer vanished down the corridor. Bologue glanced at Hart, who showed no intention of returning to sleep. So he asked.

"Are you on duty tonight? Not heading back?"

"I need to take a trip to Furya," Hart shrugged helplessly, "It’s like taking care of a child."

"Does it count as overtime?"

"It counts as overtime."

"That’s not bad then."

The two exchanged smiles, Hart waved to Bologue, then disappeared through the courtyard out of sight, while Bologue stood in place for a while, turned, and walked towards his room.

Due to the Cultivation Room’s extensibility, the employee dormitory was not as closed-off as imagined, but instead, very spacious. They arranged a standard single room for Bologue, with all necessary living supplies readily available, even prepared multiple sets of uniforms for him. Opening the fridge, they had even reserved a bottle of orange juice for Bologue.

Bologue’s interests and hobbies were not complex, with a bit of effort, it was easy to please him.

Seeing this, Bologue couldn’t help but smile, then lay down on the bed. Usually, he could fall asleep easily, but this time, no matter how he closed his eyes, he couldn’t fully drift off.

Maybe it was the change in sleeping environment, or maybe too much happened today one after another, leaving him completely numb.

Or maybe it’s...

"All Secrets Order."

Bologue whispered the somewhat unfamiliar phrase softly. Through others’ explanations, he had gained a rough understanding of this mysterious existence.

The All Secrets Order seeks a new class, surpassing power and wealth, beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

An extraordinary class.

If the Night Race once intended to create an eternal, sunset-free Eternal Night Empire, these radicals of the All Secrets Order yearn for a gap between deities and humans.

"Like a detestable cycle, Condensers defeated the Night Race, yet after victory, Condensers became the new Night Race."

Bologue contemplated, gradually slipping into slumber.