Endless Debt Chapter 994 - 79: True Face

Ivan left with the Eye of the Chronicler, headed to Crow’s Nest for analysis. Meanwhile, Bologue and Palmer stayed by Church’s side, waiting for the doctors to transfer Church to the Border Sanatorium.

The atmosphere was deathly silent. Neither Bologue nor Palmer spoke, the suffocating sensation of oppression brewing alongside Church’s faint breathing in the narrow room.

An inexplicable feeling rose within Bologue’s heart. This wasn’t the first time he had encountered such a thing. Usually, his mood wouldn’t be affected much...

Bologue realized why.

In that maddening war, everyone’s heart grew numb. Many people died before Bologue, even though they were his comrades. The time spent together might have only been a few hours, so much so that Bologue didn’t even know their names or appearances.

In the grand narrative, everyone was insignificant.

But now everything is different.

The strange anxiety within Bologue felt like a cold venomous snake, a sinister demon, with slender and sharp claws that scratched at Bologue’s insides, ripping his intestines, breaking bones, and sucking marrow...

"Sorry," Bologue looked up, fatigued, "this first mission went like this."

"There’s nothing to apologize for."

Palmer shook his head, "We’re all field staff, we know exactly what we’re doing."

"I just feel that I should be responsible. If I could have done better, perhaps all this wouldn’t have happened."

Bologue knew that no matter how well he did, he couldn’t stop this. It was the Devil’s trap. How could a mortal resist?

But Bologue just couldn’t help but think in that direction, constantly pondering if he could have done better...

"You’re not seeking perfection."

"What perfection?"

"In everything, you push yourself to be an impeccable expert, striving for perfection... but you’re also scared, aren’t you?"

Palmer had completely dropped his former carefree attitude. He seemed like a sage of insight, seeing through the knot hindering Bologue.

Of course, he could see through it; Palmer was Bologue’s partner, roommate. One can’t see oneself clearly, but a companion might.

Through long-term interaction, Palmer understood what kind of person Bologue was and knew where his pain lay.

This was not a good time to discuss such matters.

Palmer struggled to stand up, hearing footsteps from the hallway outside; the doctors had arrived to take Church away.

Taking a last glance at Church’s scar-covered face, Palmer noticed something peculiar and suddenly realized what Ivan had just described.

So-called faceless people were fake, so how did Church achieve the change in appearance?

Through Palmer’s careful scrutiny, he noticed a flaw on Church’s face, something he normally shouldn’t have spotted. But under the erosion of the Decline Plague, Church’s entire Alchemy Matrix was damaged, revealing a flaw.

His fingers trembled slightly, touching behind Church’s ear, feeling a raised edge. As he was about to peel off this mask, Palmer hesitated. Considering the power of Walking in the Narrow Space, once Palmer saw Church’s true face, when he performed a Complete Stripping again, he would quickly forget everything about Church.

Would there be a next Complete Stripping? Palmer wasn’t sure if Church could wake up.

"You really are a total liar..."

Palmer laughed to himself, criticizing his former partner’s deviousness.

Finally, Palmer decided to remove Church’s mask, curious about his partner’s true face. This guy was full of lies; Palmer hoped to find something real.

Behind the mask, a familiar face appeared.

Palmer froze.

He seemed unable to believe his eyes. After confirming Church’s true visage, he looked again at the bizarre mask in his hand, an indescribable feeling rising within him.

Bologue also came over, seeing the mask in Palmer’s hand and Church’s true face, he too was equally stunned.

"He... he didn’t lie to you."

Bologue murmured, his voice full of disbelief.

Church’s true visage was precisely the face they were familiar with, an utterly ordinary face that if thrown into a crowd, would be forgotten quickly.

A face identical to the mask.

Palmer uttered a powerless sigh, "My God..."

He recalled past conversations with Church, constantly curious about Church’s true face, to which Church replied that Palmer had already seen his true self, but Palmer didn’t believe it.

Palmer indeed didn’t believe it; no one could believe Church, a person entirely composed of lies. Consequently, when Church showed his true self, few realized that was the real Church at that moment.

The facade Church often displayed to a few was indeed his true visage. As if finding a loophole in the rules, he used the mask to manifest his true but flawed face.

The false and true visage being the same, since the first day of acquaintance, Palmer had seen Church’s true essence.

The door was pushed open, doctors rushed in, with the subway ready at Deep Nest Courtyard, the Border Sanatorium prepared, Church would receive the best care. Church was then taken away by doctors under the two’s gaze.

The deathly silence continued until a moment when a heavy anger erupted from Palmer’s heart.

He clenched his fists, storming out of the room, with Bologue quickly following behind, "Where are you going?"

Without turning his head, Palmer said, "To find Ivan, I need to know what exactly happened to Church."

Bologue hastened to keep up. Other members of the temporary action group in the hallway saw them, trying to follow. Bologue hesitated, waved his hand, signaling them not to come.

Palmer had always been an easygoing and approachable guy, rarely seen in anger. But the calmer the person, the more intense their rage when angered, driven by fury, the more mad they seemed.

Bologue fell into inexplicable shock due to Church’s true visage, trying to empathize with Church’s feelings, but the power of Walking in the Narrow Space was too distorted. Just thinking about it made Bologue feel suffocated by helplessness.

Several moments made Bologue feel it was his fault.

The two quickly arrived at Crow’s Nest. Bologue hadn’t often visited here, but Palmer was quite familiar with the place. At the room at the end of the hallway, they found Ivan.

Inside was dimly lit, a projector placed at the center.

Deciphering the Eye of the Chronicler wasn’t difficult. The encryption Church used was standard within Crow’s Nest, as familiar to Ivan as an office phone number, starting this intricate Alchemy Armament with almost no effort.

The Eye of the Chronicler was inserted into the projector, which through its display, projected the last images seen by Church onto the screen.

"Didn’t I say, no one’s allowed to enter!"

Someone entered the room, and Ivan stood up, shouting towards the door, his anger also surfacing. Church was Ivan’s subordinate, and Ivan wasn’t as detached as he appeared.

Seeing Bologue and Palmer, Ivan’s rising anger halted slightly, his breathing was heavy, eyes lowered as though avoiding exposing his expression to them.

The oppressive atmosphere lingered.

Ivan knew he couldn’t drive the two away, especially Palmer; he clearly understood the nature of his nephew.

"Alright, let’s watch together... you have the right to know too."

Ivan sat down, Bologue and Palmer stood on either side, the projector began operating, familiar images came into view, right before the start of the mission.

Bologue focused intently on the scenes, being the mission’s supervisor, Church’s temporary leader, eager to know what happened.

Then...

Then seek retribution.

Bologue believed on this matter, he and his partner shared a particularly unanimous view.