Endless Debt-Chapter 794 - 255: First Generation Minister

When Bologue saw Gold, this mighty Defender was lying on a sickbed, his entire arm bloodied and covered with wounds, his expression exhausted and listless, as if he hadn’t slept well for several consecutive days and nights.

"I never thought I’d leave there alive."

Seeing Bologue arrive, Gold reluctantly lifted his spirits a bit and gave Bologue a not too unattractive smile.

"I didn’t expect it, either."

Bologue felt somewhat awkward, this was his first direct conversation with Gold, rather than through a card.

"Looks like Ewen’s wish included you too."

Gold nodded, even now, he still felt a bit dazed, not expecting that he could really return from that hell-like paradise, the feeling of regaining control of his body and freedom moved Gold to tears.

"Sorry, I lost my composure a bit inside the Joyful Garden."

"It’s nothing," Bologue shook his head, "everyone has their limits."

Bologue could see Gold’s current disarray; his body was filled with tubes, and fatigue and exhaustion were almost written on his face. He guessed Gold needed to see a psychologist and enjoy a long holiday to heal his broken spirit.

"What happened to your hand?"

Bologue noticed the injuries on Gold’s arm, now that he was under the protection of the Order Bureau and was himself a Defender, Bologue did not understand how he got injured.

"They call that thing Constant Metal," Gold raised his hand, "I don’t understand much about it, but I know how to twist it."

Gold began to tell what had happened to him, "It’s simple, in order to remove the Constant Metal from me, another guy twisted it with absolute force, and because he couldn’t control his power, he snapped a few of my bones along the way."

Compared to the mental torture he endured in Joyful Garden, such injuries were nothing for Gold; on the contrary, the throbbing pain from his arm gave him a sense of being alive.

Gold often heard people say that only after experiencing some things, people realize certain truths. He thought, as a Defender, he was already at the top of this world, but the experience of Joyful Garden taught Gold a hard lesson. He hadn’t felt such love for this world in a long time.

Bologue said, "Lebius said you were looking for me."

"Yeah, I just wanted to thank you in person. Without you getting inadvertently involved, I might have really had to endure eternal torture there."

Bologue appeared indifferent, "It’s nothing, just my duty."

Gold laughed hoarsely, inside Joyful Garden, his exchanges with Bologue were limited, now he felt Bologue was a decent guy.

"Are you from the Special Operations Group?"

"Why?"

"Interested in joining our tenth group?" Gold continued, "Right now, we’re short-handed."

The attack by Zongge Orchestra inflicted severe trauma on the tenth group, now most of the group members are still lying in Border Sanatorium, and due to the temporary paralysis of the Operations Group, the Order Bureau’s control over the Narrow Countries is starting to decline.

Bologue paused for a moment, smiled and shook his head, "Forget it."

"Just kidding."

Gold chuckled as well, relieved from danger, and the leader of this Defender group turned out to be quite humorous.

"You must have more important reasons for seeing me, is there anything else?"

Bologue asked puzzled, after waking up, Gold didn’t go to see his own team members but rather came to see him.

"It’s not me who has something, it’s another group of people," Gold said, looking behind Bologue, "They don’t want to summon you directly, so they went through me, taking a detour."

Turning around, Bologue saw a researcher in protective clothing had been waiting for some time. Bologue’s gaze flickered between the two, full of confusion.

Gold said, "It’s okay, go with him."

Bologue hesitated a bit but then nodded, following the researcher down the deep, dim hallway.

During the time when Bologue and his group went missing, this terrifyingly large machine that is the Order Bureau did not stop for anyone, instead, it carried on its work with unimaginable efficiency.

The researcher said nothing, as if an impeccably precise machine, faithfully executing its orders, amidst the lengthy silence, Bologue couldn’t help but ask, "Who wants to see me?"

The researcher responded simply and directly, "Scholars’ Hall."

Bologue fell silent, as the Scholars’ Hall, which is higher than the Sublimation Furnace Core, he had very little contact with it, his only impression of intersection was during his promotion ceremony, when the Scholars’ Hall was observing, but even as observers, they hid behind thick observation windows.

Bologue couldn’t fathom the purpose of the Scholars’ Hall summoning him, could it be inquiries about the Joyful Garden? But this wasn’t within the Hall’s scope of responsibility.

With uneasy feelings, passing through gates that slowly rose, Bologue touched the core of the Sublimation Furnace Core, a place where many researchers dream to reach.

Scholars’ Hall.

Unlike the scorching heat of the Sublimation Furnace Core, a cool breeze approached, and a mysterious blue light cascaded from above, as if situated beneath a giant aquarium. Bologue could see countless figures weaving through the area; books were placed haphazardly on one side, piled high with sheets of paper densely covered in data.

The mechanical sound of typewriters echoed incessantly, accompanied by heavier and more frequent metallic friction sounds. Bologue walked toward the center of the hall; there was a circular gap filled with some kind of solution below, and countless copper columns stood within that piled-up liquid. As the mechanisms turned, the mechanical piles atop the copper columns began to rotate as well.

The massive mechanical linkage created an indescribable sense of awe. Nearby Bologue, machines installed on the copper columns emitted a series of paper strips with holes printed on them as they operated.

Scholars retrieved the paper strips, seemingly possessing some unique method of translation, converting the holes on the strips into sets of data recorded meticulously on white sheets.

A low hum of gas compression and release sounded within the shadows. Raising his head, Bologue noticed numerous pipes traversing the gaps, with pneumatic logistics capsules also covering this area.

Just as Bologue was mesmerized by this mechanical construct of a hall, a familiar voice rang out from the front, calling him.

"Bologue!"

Following the direction of the voice, Bologue saw an unexpected person appear.

"Deputy... Deputy Director?"

Bologue doubted his eyes, as the elusive Nesanel had suddenly appeared before him, confirming with a strong embrace that this was indeed reality and not an illusion.

"Have you been looking for me?"

Nesanel replied, "Partly... Let’s talk as we walk."

Following Nesanel, Bologue realized that each of Nesanel’s appearances brought shocking news. He sensed that this matter was not so simple.

Nesanel casually said, "Lebius mentioned your upcoming promotion, didn’t he?"

"Yes..." Bologue expressed his doubt, "I remember Negative Power User promotion requires us to acquire the materials ourselves, right?"

"That’s the rule, but most of the time, staff can exchange their achievements for materials," Nesanel said. "You’ve done quite well previously, and do you know? You’ve been chosen as the year’s best new employee."

Upon hearing about being the year’s best new employee, Bologue was stunned; he had heard Palmer talk about this countless times but never thought he’d actually receive it, especially informed by Nesanel under such circumstances.

"Just like that?"

"That’s right," Nesanel said. "What more do you want? A ceremony?"

"I thought it would be grander," Bologue said. "Palmer often boasted to me about those times."

"It was indeed so before, but now you know, the Order Bureau is busy, potential enemies are everywhere," Nesanel, usually nonchalant, became unusually serious. "We might wake up one day and find ourselves on the brink of another extraordinary war."

"Is it really that bad?"

Nesanel showed a mysterious smile, "You’ll soon find out."

"Regarding your promotion, after consideration, we’ve decided to convert your best new employee award into alchemy materials. Don’t worry; whatever is insufficient for your promotion to Negative Power User, the Decision Room will cover."

Bologue frowned, "Isn’t that against the rules?"

"Of course, it is," Nesanel admitted honestly. "But we can start a particular plan, with you as the protagonist. As for the plan, it aims to elevate you to Seeker of Glory... Relax, I’m the Deputy Director. The plan’s documentation will be approved quickly with me."

Bologue’s brow furrowed tightly. This was more absurd than he had imagined, but Nesanel seemed to understand his thoughts, softly speaking.

"Bologue, you are burdened with the undead debt and possess Overlord Xilin’s Alchemy Matrix; chosen by the Devil... Did you think we were truly planning to treat you as an ordinary field staff?"

Nesanel stood tall, still wearing his mysterious smile. Before Bologue could speak, he continued.

"We’ve arrived."

Another heavy gate rose, revealing a white-robed elder waiting there for quite some time. His muscles shrunk like withered trees, yet his eyes were sharp, radiating intense life force.

An unfathomable force emanated from this decrepit body, accentuated by the glowing pupils. The elder exuded a powerful presence akin to Bologue and Nesanel.

Seeker of Glory.

Bologue was certain; the figure before him was an illustrious Seeker of Glory.

Nesanel spoke with reverence, "Let me introduce Mamo Pine, who has lived since the Fall of the Holy City and was the first-generation head of the Sublimation Furnace Core."

Mamo ignored Nesanel and his praise, coldly gazing at Bologue with eyes akin to a leopard targeting its prey.

"I want you to see something, Bologue."