Endless Debt Chapter 661 - 172: Chips

The meeting room was dead silent; everyone was speechless, focusing their gaze on Nolen, waiting for his reaction. Nolen’s hands rested on the meeting table, like a wounded beast, his eyes downcast.

"Why?"

Nolen asked deeply, "Over the years, Hert has eradicated Demons, brought order to the Wrecked Ship Shore, stabilized the Free Port, and he is a Negative Power User... Isn’t that enough?"

Compared to his many achievements, in Nolen’s view, Hert’s identity as a Negative Power User was undoubtedly the most important.

Though the Sea Tide people occupy the sea and hold vast wealth, in terms of Alchemy Matrix Technology, they are far inferior to the Order Bureau and the King’s Secret Sword. Many years have passed with no birth of a Seeker of Glory among them, and even Defenders are few and far between, so in comparison of Extraordinary Power, the Sea Tide people can only be counted in the second or third tier.

Hert as a Negative Power User already possessed immense value; if not for the incident on his last voyage, he might have had hope to ascend to a Defender.

"Negative Power User? Compared to the mistakes Hert made, Negative Power User is of no use," the agent ruthlessly tossed a document, sliding it before Nolen, "Navigator, your control has been negligent."

"The United Company... No, the reason the Sea Tide people have grown stable until now is because we only handle transactions, never favoring any side, and Hert has violated this principle."

The agent’s voice was cold, like a machine reciting.

When they realized their power lagged behind the era, the Sea Tide people made a very smart decision. They transformed, from pirates into merchants, opened up sea routes, delivering interests to all factions.

There have been examples of absolute neutrality before; now that city has been burned to ashes, buried in the Great Rift of Oubos.

The Sea Tide people once worried if their neutrality would be attacked, but quickly they found a solution. The board members who hold power dispersed across the sea, relying on advanced navigation technology and the Void Realm enveloping ship hulls, few can chase this group of Sea Tide people out on the sea. More importantly, while forces scramble and slaughter on land, the sea remains outside their vision.

Nolen was puzzled, "Violate... principle?"

"The board’s investigation into Hert has lasted for years, you think he established the Wrecked Ship Shore to control Free Port’s chaos; in reality, it was another breeding ground, nurturing true monsters."

Nolen picked up and opened the document, shocking words arranged upon it.

"As you see, we have ample evidence proving Hert has connected with the Zongge Orchestra, they are using the Wrecked Ship Shore as a gathering place, preparing something."

"No... no one told me this..."

Nolen couldn’t believe the evidence before him. Over the years, Hert did hunt Demons, yet he also assisted the Devil’s actions, offering them refuge.

As for the Zongge Orchestra, Nolen had some understanding of this force. Recently learned, the Zongge Orchestra participated in some conflict...

A hundred-meter-long clap of Thunder flashed across the sea’s surface, deafening thunder slowly arriving, the glass windows, ground, trembling slightly along.

"You care too much for Hert... are you guilty towards him?"

The agent had an inkling of that event, he whispered, "That voyage was supposed to be yours."

Nolen stood dazed in place, clenching his fists, nails digging into flesh.

"You just keep hosting the banquet; the board values tonight’s trade negotiations," the agent said, glancing at his watch, "As for Hert, when you entered here, no, when the banquet started, the guards already began their action."

As the agent stated, this wasn’t a discussion, but a notification. Others departed one after another; the agent paused beside Nolen as he walked by.

Nolen’s voice carried poisonous resentment and hatred, questioning the agent, "Then, what does the Motleys’ sacrifice mean?"

The agent said nothing, he had given up; saying anything now would only anger Nolen further.

Regarding the sacrifice Nolen mentioned, it was a matter from decades ago, all files sealed, most involved were dead.

Nolen mentioned something that had never happened, at least among the Sea Tide people’s records.

The agent left without a word; he didn’t wish to provoke any more conflict with Nolen. After all, Nolen is the current Navigator and still a precious Negative Power User. Despite the illusion syndrome limiting the Motleys’ future, Nolen still had hope of becoming a Defender.

Only Nolen remained in the meeting room. He didn’t remain silent for long, instead hardened his expression, and strode into the hallway.

Lula was already waiting in the hallway for Nolen; seeing his face, she knew the worst possibilities had occurred.

Nolen immediately asked, "Was Gold’s matter informed to the board?"

"No," Lula shook her head, "this matter is simply too..."

"That’s good."

Nolen interrupted Lula’s words, quickened his pace, entered the elevator, heading into the depths of Paradise.

Lula anxiously asked, "What happened?"

"The board wants to kill Hert, they’ve already acted."

Nolen maintained his calm and then said, "But I believe Hert won’t die so easily."

He understood his brother very well. To combat Illusion Syndrome, Hert had tried to undergo Etherealization early on, striving to rid himself of mortal constraints, transforming his body entirely into pure Ether.

Etherealization cannot reverse innate defects, it can only slightly curb Illusion Syndrome. Although it cannot cure this disease, it has granted Hert immense Life Force. Due to powerful Etherealization, Nolen believed that even if the guards acted, Hert wouldn’t die so easily.

But this is only temporary.

The elevator swiftly descended, Nolen became increasingly anxious. Accompanied by a soft ding, the elevator door slowly opened, and Nolen directly commanded the guards at the elevator entrance.

"Seal this place, no one is allowed to enter."

The guards nodded and continued to pass down Nolen’s orders. Soon, the entire area was strictly guarded, watertight doors replaced and sealed tight, the guards loaded their bullets, as if a formidable enemy was about to attack.

Lula questioned, "What are you going to do?"

"Redeem Hert’s life."

Nolen pushed open the door to the ward, Gold was lying on the hospital bed, eyes closed, shackles on his wrist connected to a rectangular metal box.

Even in Gold’s slumber, he still emanated an aura of a Defender, shaking Nolen’s mind.

In the class division of Condensers, Defenders are considered a watershed. Upon reaching this Tier, one has arrived at the end of Condenser’s long powers-tier, only a few can accomplish "Ascension," thus transforming into Seekers of Glory.

Seekers of Glory, terrifying beings enough to turn the tide of battle, or destroy a nation.

The disaster of the Fall of the Holy City terrified countless Extraordinary Influences, they all feared becoming the next Destruction, and thus madly pursued power.

The Tidefolk did the same, they yearned intensely for the power of Seekers of Glory, and had done numerous mad acts for it.

"Me, Hert, and the Motleys..."

Nolen murmured to himself, "We are all pursuers of power, but also victims of power."

Nolen harbored a secret in his heart.

In fact, Nolen knew the truth about Illusion Syndrome.

It was an event many years ago, vaguely remembering it was similar to today, that was also a stormy day. His father was collapsing on the sickbed, seeming to anticipate his death, relying on the only consciousness left to murkily pass his dying wish to Nolen.

Behind the family photo, Nolen found a letter.

Turns out his father had long lost the ability to write; the letter was probably pre-written. It contained none of the usual things regarding property distribution found in typical wills, but was full of apologies from his father to the Nolen brothers.

The father mentioned a certain alchemical experiment supposedly capable of granting a person great power, then... the experiment failed and left the father with extremely terrifying sequelae.

Nolen still didn’t understand what the so-called sequelae were, but he had no chance to ask his father after Hert had killed him with a dagger the next time Nolen saw his father.

Years later, along with the gradually worsening Illusion Syndrome in his body and the rise of Nolen’s status among the Tidefolk, regarding the current plight of the Tidefolk, Nolen somewhat guessed what his father had gone through and why he apologized.

Due to a certain alchemical experiment, the Motley family’s bloodline began to deform, which led to Illusion Syndrome.

After becoming a Navigator, Nolen found such records in a top-secret file, but when he tried to read that document again, the related data had been collectively erased.

As if nothing ever happened.

Over the years, Nolen’s Illusion Syndrome worsened and his memory deteriorated, he couldn’t quite recall what his father actually said to him that night, as for that letter, Nolen couldn’t find it either.

The existing evidence from the past is gradually disappearing until the events that once occurred become a mere bubble.

Nolen often felt a similar panic, suspecting whether his hatred for Illusion Syndrome led him to have such illusions.

It’s all actually nothing.

Lighting a cigarette, Nolen leaned against the wall enjoying the power of nicotine, he was already too lazy to differentiate between right or wrong, pros and cons, his wishes were not much, he just hoped Hert could live well.

Picking up the phone, Nolen contacted the operator.

"Connect me to the Order Bureau."

Nolen exhaled a dense smoke, his voice slightly distorted amidst the swirling smoke.

"Tell them, Nolen Motley wants to make a deal with the Order Bureau."

The corner of his vision fell upon Gold, who would become the bargaining chip for Hert’s redemption.