Endless Debt Chapter 731 - 212: The Author Has Passed Away_2

With Ether as a constant companion, Ether gradually transforms the body of a Condenser. When reaching the Third Stage as a Negative Power User, the Etherealization achieved is most remarkable.

Aimou’s explanation was somewhat too simplistic, making Bologue realize that perhaps Etherealization could also be seen as a kind of "oxidation."

Aimou stepped forward and gently caressed the surface of the Constant Metal. Her arm became ethereal and attempted to penetrate the Constant Metal, but as before, a repulsive force came, denying Aimou’s transgression.

"If certain alchemical materials are exposed to Ether for prolonged periods, they too will be affected by Ether to some extent, similar to how metal oxidizes. The range of impact is almost negligible, but the effect undeniably exists."

Aimou said seriously, "In rigorous research, such discrepancies are absolutely unacceptable. Typically, these materials that easily react with Ether are placed under Ether vacuum conditions, but maintaining an Ether vacuum requires enormous resources, and the Ether vacuum environment is easily influenced by external factors."

Aimou was deeply touched by this. In one experiment, the external Ether concentration suddenly increased, directly compressing the range of the Ether vacuum, resulting in the failure of Aimou’s experiment.

"But it’s different with Constant Metal. As long as it’s used as a container, it can repel all Ether and thus maintain internal stability."

Just like an insect sealed in Amber.

Duwa analyzed, "In this light, the Original Object is likely a material that easily reacts with Ether. That’s why King Solomon had to use it to protect it."

Lebius was silent for a moment, nodded in agreement. Now Duwa was gradually showing his value, and Lebius began to look forward to the follow-up analysis of the Original Object.

"This means we need to find another way back to the Order Bureau," Duwa said directly to Lebius this time. "You have to know, the Curved Path Gate itself is a reality distortion for entering materials. We can easily step into the gate, but the Constant Metal will definitely reject the gate, refusing to be distorted by the path."

Duwa made an analogy, "People went in, but the Constant Metal stayed outside."

At this moment, some unresolved mysteries also had their answers. When the tenth group was attacked, Gold couldn’t bring the Original Object back to the Order Bureau because the Constant Metal rejected reality’s distortion. He could only flee carrying the Constant Metal, searching for a way back to the Order Bureau.

The few people engaged in fierce discussions again, but nobody noticed that on the smooth, mirror-like metal surface, small cracks were gradually forming where Bologue had just touched.

Bologue shook the Constant Metal. Although the impact was nearly zero, and it would be difficult to see such microscopic changes without a lens, it was indeed truly happening, as sure as the iron laws of reality.

During the exchange, Duwa’s gaze lingered on Bologue. He noticed the peculiarity in Bologue’s Secret Energy. Duwa felt as though he had seen similar power somewhere, but he couldn’t recall it.

...

In Palmer’s life, there were two collapses of his worldview. The first was during his coming of age ceremony when his beloved old father, with a smile on his face, told him about the various dangers and crises lurking in the Extraordinary World. The young Palmer was so scared that he cried on the spot, isolated himself for many days.

The second collapse of his worldview happened after Palmer had worked for a while, when he encountered a sacrificial ceremony of a cult, and was forced to become a Debtor. Fortune and misfortune toyed with Palmer’s life, kicking him around like a mouse. No matter how youthful and full of zeal he once was, in the end, only numbness from being played with remained.

If possible, Palmer thought that the two collapses of his worldview were already enough. Neither his spirit nor his body could bear the impact of a third collapse, but no matter what, Palmer didn’t expect that this day would still come, and in such a peculiar way.

Palmer sat by Ewen’s bedside, like an abandoned desolate maiden, his voice quivering with sobs, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes hollow. He could no longer withstand it, but he still feigned strength and asked.

"So... his exit, it was simply because you didn’t know how to write it, and not due to some deeper meaning?"

"Yes," Ewen confirmed Palmer’s statement. "When I wrote this character, I just felt the word count was a bit short and needed some characters to fill the content. As for the exit, it’s because he had too many storylines, and it was hard to untangle. I was too lazy to think, so I just let him exit."

Palmer almost lost his breath, nearly passed out. If not for the Prayer Believers’ resilience, he really thought he might have a heart attack.

"Then this part of the plot, is it the same? All the rare sweet warmth is just fake?"

"Oh? This part," Ewen scratched his head, "My editor said, young people nowadays like to read something more family-friendly, so they asked me to write something like that. Um... that’s it."

Palmer clutched his chest, feeling a pang of heartache. "Then... what about this part? Surely this part isn’t something you just made up, right?"

Ewen said casually, "This part isn’t, but it’s a pity. I should have written it better, but I was in a rush to submit my draft, so I just put together a couple of lines and turned it in."

Palmer fell completely silent. According to the plot in the novel, this would be the time for him to shakily pull out a cigarette, place it in his mouth, and gaze at the distance with a mournful look, or perhaps cover his face in agony.