Endless Debt-Chapter 900 - 35: Leviathan of Envy (2)

"Xilin is not in a hurry to kill them but is causing large-scale destruction to the Cultivation Room. This is our cornerstone; the longer the battle drags on, the more damage it causes us. In comparison, the Seeker of Glory is rather cheap."

Bologue murmured, "They’ve already fallen behind."

"Yes, exactly," Nesanel said, "I’ve always felt there was no need to see the Condenser as human. Our true nature is a weapon, a weapon that iterates with technology.

From stones, sticks, long spears, iron swords, and muskets, we evolved to heavy cannons, tanks, and bombers.

We can afford to lose these outdated weapons, but we cannot lose the factories that develop them. That would undoubtedly interrupt our road to the future."

Nesanel took a deep breath, "At that time, I was the Order Bureau’s latest Seeker of Glory and possessed the most advanced Alchemy Matrix, but I wasn’t inside the Order Bureau then."

"Where were you?"

"In the Narrow Countries."

Nesanel squinted, "We derived the possibility of an attack from the calculations of the Congregation, but I never expected it would be Xilin leading a large-scale invasion.

It was as if someone was guiding Xilin; he completely bypassed the forces I deployed within the Narrow Countries. By the time I received the news, the battle had already broken out."

"I tried to return to the Cultivation Room through the Observation Tower, but the high concentration of Ether caused by the Seeker of Glory disrupted the entire Cultivation Room. They needed time to stabilize the Ether so that I could pass through the winding paths.

To buy me time, she made a stunning decision."

Bologue could already imagine the decision she made; in that desperation, the only thing left to reverse the situation was the omnipotent yet restricted Devil.

"She became the Chosen One of Belphegor but still couldn’t defeat Xilin. She was on the brink of death under his power, and that was when I arrived on the battlefield.

After a fierce battle with several Seekers of Glory, Xilin was also weakened. His Ether was massively depleted, and his body was full of scars.

The story after that is quite simple. I temporarily suppressed Xilin, giving other action teams a chance to catch their breath. Under our siege, Xilin died inside the Cultivation Room.

But the war didn’t end there. Along with Xilin came the Second Seat, who was also a Seeker of Glory. He tried to rescue Xilin but failed, and later attempted to seize Xilin’s body... He almost succeeded.

After that, the Second Seat retreated from the Cultivation Room and started a secret war with us in the shadows. At that time, the Order Bureau was severely weakened, the Cultivation Room was heavily damaged, space began to twist and deform, and many disappeared inside the chaotic structures. That area is now called the Ruins District.

As for her, I carried out her last instruction to me and brought her before the Congregation... The rest you already know."

The two fell into silence simultaneously. Nesanel’s account was simple, without excessive embellishments. He was immersed in past sorrow, while Bologue pondered the secret war.

Nesanel said, "There are many suspicions in the secret war."

"Like Xilin’s suicidal attack?"

Bologue had seen similar conjectures in books, "Xilin could have retreated safely after the surprise attack. With the strength he displayed, the Order Bureau would have been worn down in prolonged warfare, but he aimed to destroy the Order Bureau in a single blow."

"Yes, but now we have another piece of intelligence to base on."

Nesanel said, "Not long ago, our intelligence personnel returned from the Kagader Empire. They brought some intriguing information."

He then simply narrated to Bologue the news brought by Church, focusing on the split between the First Seat and Second Seat.

"The war was prolonged. Without the support of the First Seat, the Second Seat’s power was greatly limited. If they did not thoroughly destroy the Order Bureau, they would just be gradually worn down. They were close to success.

From later analysis, it appears that in the mid-to-late stages of the secret war, the conflict had become completely chaotic. Not only were the Second Seat’s people fighting, but also those of the First Seat secretly participated. If they had succeeded, they would have trampled over the Second Seat’s corpses to utterly defeat us."

Bologue said, "But we won."

Nesanel replied with lingering fear, "Yes, we won."

Bologue murmured, "But now they’ve returned to reclaim Xilin’s body."

"At times like this, I’m thankful for the existence of the Congregation."

"Why?"

"This kind of thing is so troublesome. I’ve never liked thinking about such complicated matters," Nesanel said, flexing his arm to show Bologue his muscles. "She said I only have brute strength in my head, and I think so too. I’m not suited to be a leader, but a soldier."

"In that regard, I’m a lot like you; don’t bother with those complex things, just tell me the time, place, and how many people to kill."

Bologue was taken aback for a moment and then refuted, "No, I am completely different from you. I’m just better at solving problems with violence; besides that, I’m someone who enjoys thinking."

He softly added, "Overthinking tends to tire me out."

"Which is why you’re always questioning," Nesanel said, "like this time."

"Sorry, I can’t control myself."

"I understand," Nesanel said, "I went through a period like that too, questioning the Congregation as you do, but I soon came to terms."

"How did you manage that?"