Endless Debt Chapter 722 - 206 Disappeared_2

When the storm ended, everyone at Free Port saw the dock in ruins and the burning Paradise.

After the main battle concluded, the Tide Folk immediately carried out urgent repairs on the Paradise, halting its descent, yet the Paradise remained tilted, like a mountain about to collapse.

They then showcased their exceptional skills, with some rescuing important equipment, supplies, and documents, while others cleaned the cruise ship like a maze, hunting down hidden enemies in the corners.

Bodies were tossed from the wreckage, the people showed no intention to deal with them, throwing them directly into the sea to feed the fish.

At the time, Bologue watched the operation from the dock, marveling at their proficiency, when a stranger approached Bologue to explain.

"We often encounter such situations at sea; it becomes second nature over time."

Then Bologue learned that the stranger was the captain of the Horror. After communicating with the Order Bureau, it temporarily borrowed the Horror for its base, and the captain invited Bologue and others to board.

Currently, the cleaning of the Paradise has not finished, and the repair work is uncertain as to how long it will take to complete. Fortunately, these issues are irrelevant to Bologue and others, despite encountering numerous unexpected challenges, they successfully achieved their mission goals.

The door to the reception room opened again, and a weary figure entered the room.

"Looks like everyone is here."

Nolen tried to make his voice sound lively, but everyone could see his fatigue, wrapped in bandages, missing a palm replaced by layers of gauze, Lula followed Nolen with eyes filled with pity and sorrow.

Various incidents almost crushed Nolen; for three days, he barely slept, pushing through high-intensity work with injuries, trying to temporarily forget his grief with busyness.

Nolen wanted to say something, but his words faltered, unable to utter any syllable. Lebius spoke up.

"Take us to see Gold."

Lebius continued, "We need to make a plan on how to bring him back to the Order Bureau."

Nolen nodded, knowing that gathering here today was precisely for this purpose. He signaled for the group to follow, and the entourage left, guided by the captain through the intricate corridors, passing security checks, and pushing through heavy doors.

In the core of the Horror protected by layers of the Void Realm, they saw Gold lying on a hospital bed, with chains firmly locked on his wrist, ending in a familiar metallic cube box.

Besides Gold, there was another person in the room—Duwa squatted in the corner, bloodshot eyes fixated on the iron box. Like Nolen, he had barely closed his eyes for the past three days.

Various tools scattered across the floor, Duwa tried many ways to open the box but failed each time.

Bologue called, "Duwa."

Duwa did not react at all, frequently biting his nails, his fingertips torn, scabs repeatedly cracked, bloodied, like possessed, whispering something.

"Duwa!"

Bologue called again, this time louder, finally snapping Duwa out of his fervor.

Previously, they would never allow Duwa and Gold to be alone, but the events on this journey had indeed proved himself.

In the final moments of the Paradise incident, when Geoffrey found Duwa, he was clinging to Gold, struggling endlessly in the seawater. This guy couldn’t swim, but relying on instinctive survival will and zeal for the primal artifact, he floundered in the water until rescued by others.

After reaching shore, Duwa was inseparable from Gold, wanting to be with him everywhere. Lebius tried forcibly to separate them, but Duwa immediately revealed intentions of defiance unless killed.

Lebius considered action, even if not killing Duwa, teaching him a lesson but was dissuaded by Geoffrey, who also struggled to understand the Seeker’s fervor, but couldn’t deny Duwa’s crucial rescue efforts.

Duwa saved Gold, albeit incidentally, moreover, Duwa was useful to them, continuously researching the peculiar iron box’s makeup, seeking ways to unlock it.

"I can’t open it... I can’t open it..."

Seeing the group, Duwa repeated himself, voice rising, "Damn it, this damn thing, I can’t dismantle it."

Then, rings of light rose from Duwa’s eyes as he used Secret Energy to probe the metal, though even using the Secret Energy, he couldn’t penetrate its material structure.

Duwa loudly complained, "I’ve tried many ways!"

Bologue nodded, understanding that Duwa had tried his best, with the scattered tools on the floor serving as proof, and noticed at his feet a tooth, still covered in blood.

One could imagine the scene, an agitated Duwa biting down on the iron box.

Without a word, Bologue kicked the tooth under the bed, knowing Lebius wouldn’t tolerate Duwa seeing this.

Duwa, troubled, cursed, "Damn, I can’t decipher this thing, theoretically it shouldn’t be."

Suddenly, Duwa became ecstatic again.

"Indeed, King Solomon’s creation wouldn’t be so easily understood by me!"

Lebius ignored Duwa’s ramblings, verifying Gold and the iron box were unharmed, then asked Nolen, "Still can’t figure out why Gold is unconscious?"

"No," Nolen shook his head, "It might be due to our limited medical capabilities, maybe the Border Sanatorium should try."

Lebius appeared grim, though they retrieved the primal artifact and protected Gold, one remaining sealed and one unconscious, despite the successful operation, Lebius felt a sense of failure.

Geoffrey assessed the situation, proposing, "Let’s first find a way to return to the Order Bureau."

Lebius nodded, looking at Nolen, knowing what he wanted to inquire, answered, "Once the temporary Curved Path Gate is constructed, you can leave."

Through Yuriel’s connection with the Observation Tower, transforming the Horror into a temporary base for the Order Bureau, executing the Curved Path Breakthrough, despite enormous cost, achieving swift and safe return to the Order Bureau made it worthwhile.

"Bologue."

A faint voice sounded beside Bologue, who looked down to find Aimou calling him.

"What’s up?"

Aimou pointed at Gold, "Can I try?"

"Go ahead."

It was Lebius who responded, with perceptive hearing, Aimou’s words hadn’t escaped Lebius.

Aimou felt slightly embarrassed, her eyes’ halo became chaotic but quickly stabilized, she walked to the bedside, placing her hands on Gold’s head.

Duwa couldn’t fathom what Aimou was doing, next moment Aimou’s hands became ethereal, penetrating material constraints, reaching into Gold’s brain as if to empty it.

As a Secret Power from the Deceitful Structure School, the Secret Power·Shared Chord Body possesses various peculiar effects, including the ability to empathize with the target in mind-level dialogue.

This effect doesn’t require full overlap to achieve, when Aimou encounters something happy, she would usually stick her hand in Bologue’s head, letting him feel the joy with her.

Aimou closed her eyes, using her hands as a medium, overlapping with Gold’s brain, attempting to feel Gold’s spirit, capturing his emotions, Aimou frowned, facing a challenge, after a while Aimou withdrew her hands, returning them to physical form.

Opening her eyes, Aimou shook her head in puzzlement, "There’s nothing, I can’t feel anything."

After hesitating for a long time, Aimou described the strange sensation.

"He’s alive, the soul remains intact, but his consciousness is missing.

I can’t find him."