Endless Debt Chapter 736 - 216: The North Wind and the Sun

Belphegor followed Asmodeus’s fingertips and looked at Ewen on the screen, where Hart hugged Ewen tightly, whispering something in Ewen’s ear, and Ewen kept a awkward smile, helplessly accepting this not-so-painful torture.

Recruiting readers is also part of the author’s job, and Ewen can’t escape this time.

"Hart, the legendary Crowned Blue Jay is right in front of you, don’t you want to ask him something about his work?"

Palmer leaned in, hinting at Hart.

Maybe after experiencing so many deadly events these days, seeing Hart, an original Beastman, Cinderella was not surprised but overjoyed, eager to reach out and grab him forcefully.

Immediately Cinderella followed up, singing in harmony with Palmer.

"Yeah, yeah, don’t you want to know the fate of those characters?"

Cinderella immediately sensed Palmer’s intention, and Palmer secretly gave her a thumbs-up.

Hart either camped in the wilderness these past two days or fought with those madmen of the Zongge Orchestra, the maddening thing is, those madmen screamed even happier the more they got hurt, over time, it really wore down one’s spirit.

Hart was already exhausted to the bone, thinking he’d be back at the Order Bureau, yet he was sent to join the Special Operations Group again, expecting another bloody battle, only to find his idol as soon as he boarded the train.

There was nothing more marvelous than this. Hart was completely overwhelmed with joy and even didn’t think about why Ewen would be on the train, or who this girl named Cinderella was.

Then in the expectant eyes of the crowd, Hart asked his question, Ewen knew what game Palmer and Cinderella were playing, he hesitated for a moment but still said his true thoughts helplessly.

The rest of the story is just like before, the shattering of fantasies and Ewen’s painstaking efforts to rebuild.

Outside of the scene, Belphegor said, "Did you do it on purpose?"

"What’s the matter?"

Asmodeus always wore a smile on her face, her expression carrying a slightly intoxicated feel.

"Ewen Flesher, I know this man, I also know you’re very concerned about this mortal’s soul, so I am very interested in him too.

After long observation, I’ve found that Ewen is indeed an interesting fellow, a natural and noble poet."

Asmodeus continued, "Don’t you think he’s very suitable? Not just for the wager, he can also prove the dispute between you and me, to see whether he will throw himself into the ethereal ’Endless Poems’, or embrace me and enjoy the present pleasure."

Belphegor did not directly answer Asmodeus’s words, he drew a book from the void, from the appearance, the book is already aged, despite Belphegor’s careful preservation, the cover was slightly damaged, the pages yellowed from oxidation, but the words remained clear.

Turning the pages, it recorded a parable story.

Belphegor whispered, "The North Wind and the Sun."

"I’ve read the story," Asmodeus said, "The North Wind and the Sun made a bet to see who could make the traveler take off his clothes."

"I thought you wouldn’t read," Belphegor said as he let go of the book, which fell back into the void, "Such a ridiculous story, should be difficult to stir your emotions."

"I just have a preference for parables and fairy tales."

Asmodeus leaned sideways against the chair back, her silvery hair cascading down, "Then do you think you will be the North Wind or the Sun?"

Belphegor retorted, "This is your proposal, you have always been a crafty fellow, I think you must have some assurance to dare make such a wager with me, right?"

"Of course!"

Asmodeus grinned widely, "I’m not like you, I know what Ewen wants."

After speaking, a brilliant light rose in Asmodeus’s eyes, her pupils seemed to be burning, exuding a fire opal-like splendid color.

"Oh?"

"So, do you still want to bet with me?"

Belphegor looked back at the screen again where Ewen was, now Hart had shrunk into the corner, completely downcast, Palmer beside him couldn’t stop laughing, while Ewen, like a psychologist, kept counseling Hart.

Seeing this, Belphegor laughed and said firmly, "No... I think you don’t know what Ewen truly wants."

Asmodeus thought Belphegor would refuse her, but Belphegor continued, "I can bet with you, but I have an additional request."

"What?"

"If I win, I need you to join us, stand with us... at least until we lose value to each other, stand firmly with us."

Asmodeus’s smile froze on her face, then bloomed again, "Belphegor, if you could fully control the Order Bureau, that is indeed an irresistible request. I wouldn’t even need a bet, I would directly choose you."

"But the fact is, you can’t control the Order Bureau at all, and my proposal for a ceasefire is just because I don’t want to waste any more resources on you."

Asmodeus mocked Belphegor’s plight without restraint, "If any of us were to exit next, it would be you. The Chess Player is actually restricted by the pieces, what a disgrace."

Belphegor wasn’t affected by Asmodeus at all. He knew this woman was best at stirring up others’ emotions, be it joy or anger.

Hands crossed on his knees, Belphegor wore a ridiculous nightgown, but he emitted an irresistible awe, expressionless, like an aged godfather.

Belphegor shook his head, "It is you who are ignorant, my blood relative."

Instantly, an indescribable chill covered the cinema, a thin layer of ice formed on the surface of things, and Asmodeus’s breath turned into white mist, snowflakes drooped on her eyelashes.

It was a strange sound, first the disturbance of water flow, then a sound of some hard scales scraping against each other, a sharp sound with a sticky blood feeling, faintly accompanied by the low rumble of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.

The tide rolled, heavy footsteps echoed from the darkness, a sound with a sense of sluggish heaviness, then came a heavier, muffled breathing, the other seemed hidden beneath some armor.

"You have always been my enemy, not my guest."

Asmodeus was not the guest Belphegor awaited, the popcorn and drinks weren’t prepared for her. She just came a bit early, now the real guest arrived.

Belphegor stared coldly at Asmodeus, "Not to mention, you don’t even have the ability to appreciate film."

This was what Belphegor disliked the most.

Yet the next second, Belphegor showed a cruel smile and continued, "You’re right, we can make a bet, it’s a good opportunity..."

A swarm of fish swam out of the darkness, dense and numerous, in groups.

Different sizes, completely engulfed in darkness, only leaving black silhouettes: cuttlefish, tuna, sharks, giant whales... all kinds of fish emerged, colliding with each other causing bizarre metallic sounds, an invisible tide invaded the cinema, allowing the fish swarm to move freely.

In the midst of the dark fish swarm, a bloated figure stepped forward with heavy steps, his speed carried a strong sluggish feeling, as if walking in the deep sea, every step as if trampling on Asdemor’s heart, meanwhile, Asmodeus realized many things.

For many years, she always believed he hid after the Fall of the Holy City, but now it seems he remained highly active. Reflecting on past events, every unexplained thing Asmodeus encountered had the shadow of the fish swarm behind it, coldness penetrated her body, reaching deep into Asmodeus’s heart.

"You deliberately served under the Order Bureau."

Asmodeus murmured, "From the start, you were a decoy, a puppet used to camouflage his whereabouts."

Belphegor liked Asmodeus’s current expression, making this woman show a panicked side was not easy, "After the Fall of the Holy City, I talked with him, unexpectedly found we were quite congenial."

"My god, if I had known he understood me so well, I should have teamed up with him during the Anger of the Scorched Earth, but now it’s not too late.

I will help him win the strife, and he will help me complete the ’Endless Poems’."

Belphegor clapped vigorously, "Don’t you think this is wonderful?"

Asmodeus’s mind was blank; the other’s arrival completely shattered the situation that Asmodeus believed.

Indeed, he was always at the forefront, and I only recently found the opportunity to rise, they are siblings, but never on equal footing.

Suddenly, a pair of hands crept onto Asmodeus’s snow-white neck, choking her from behind, Belphegor’s voice sounded, like a snake spitting its tongue beside her ear.

"Now, do you think we, I have the qualification to bet against you?"

Asmodeus seemed not to hear Belphegor’s words, her eyes fixating on the expanding fish swarm, footsteps approached, the other walked out of the darkness, the black silhouette was dispelled by dim light, and then a strange outfit revealed itself to Asmodeus’s eyes.

To the naked eye, it was an outfit Asmodeus had never seen, resembling a bloated diving suit, but clearly, the only similarity to a diving suit was its shape.

Layers of white fabric wrapped around, completely covering the body, a spherical helmet with a golden glass visor, overall looking like a white giant.

This is a diver, at least in Asdemor’s understanding, this is the attire a diver would wear, although separated by a barrier, she recognized the other’s identity immediately.

"Long time no see, Asmodeus, my blood relative."

The Astronaut greeted Asmodeus.