Endless Debt

Chapter 1301 - 92: The Fraudster (2)

Past scenes flash and change before my eyes, like the reversal of a film reel, time in reverse order.The recent adventure in the Ruins District, the combat under the night sky with the Regent King, Xilin’s return, the azure bird sweeping across the sky... Bologue, utilizing the curse of Protection, forces himself to make this solitary choice—to fully recall everything he has experienced.

"I won’t forget, absolutely won’t forget!"

Bologue’s eyes are bloodshot, constantly growling under his breath. Throughout the long years in the Black Prison, he repeatedly reminisces about the days he has lived, which are so vivid to him.

At this moment, influenced by the curse, Bologue swims upstream in the river of time, and at the end of those scenes, Bologue glimpses something.

It is the initiation ceremony Bologue participated in when he ascended to become a Prayer Believer. It was during this ceremony that Bologue consciously arrived at the afterlife, Between Nothingness, and it was here that Bologue first learned of the astronaut’s existence.

That was not Bologue’s first encounter with the astronaut.

Bologue recalls that during the implant ceremony to become a Condenser, he had also visited Between Nothingness, where he sat on a bench with someone, watching a movie.

The specific content of the movie Bologue can hardly remember, yet he discovers a name in the fragmented memories.

Alberto Alfredo.

That is the name of the first-generation director of the Order Bureau, also the name of the creator of the Chosen Ones. When Mamo mentioned this name, Bologue felt an inexplicable familiarity, but he still couldn’t fathom when he had heard it.

Now Bologue remembers everything. During the film viewing at the implant ceremony, at the end of the subtitles, there was a line of text.

"Starring, Bologue Lazarus; Supporting Actor, Alberto Alfredo."

In an instant, Bologue’s head felt like it was splitting, and he collapsed onto the slope, his chest heaving fiercely.

As for Bologue being the starring actor, he easily accepted it; after all, he is the Chosen One of the astronaut, the executor of the sinister plot. But what about Alberto?

As the first-generation director of the Order Bureau, he had long since died...

Bologue’s breath was caught as he softly said, "He didn’t die, Alberto didn’t die."

According to the Order Bureau’s report, he was discovered after the Fall of the Holy City and subsequently contained by the Order Bureau. At that time, the Order Bureau was newly established; the first-generation director Alberto hadn’t died yet but was holding power.

In other words, it was Alberto who contained him. He must know of his existence, even though by the time he was released from prison, the Order Bureau’s director had changed several generations, and Alberto had long vanished into history.

But he had never truly died.

"The Chosen Ones... oh my God..."

Bologue felt a chill all over him. For many years, Bologue had always thought the astronaut was a sinister schemer hiding in the shadows, but now Bologue belatedly realized that there are conspirators among humans no less cunning than the astronaut.

Alberto died, Alberto still lives; he lives among the Chosen Ones. Even if it is a replica of his consciousness, it still faithfully executes the commands he gave in life.

There have been eyes watching him all along, not just the gaze of the astronaut, but also Alberto’s gaze. From the first time he stepped into the Order Bureau, to when he became a Condenser, a Prayer Believer, a Negative Power User, every time he entered and exited...

No time is spared.

The Chosen Ones can be anyone who has passed, and it could also be Alberto.

Both all and one.

Bologue is about to forget the purpose of his journey, with only one mystery after another fermenting freely in his mind.

"What exactly are you plotting?"

The power of the curse gradually dissipates, and Bologue, in a daze, looks toward the shattered peaks overhead and mutters.

After a moment of silence, a familiar voice resounds.

"Truth be told, you wouldn’t believe it, Bologue."

Bologue suddenly sits up, only to see the astronaut standing not too far away, with another person beside him, a scarred figure enveloped in flames.

"Sai Zong?"

Bologue froze for a moment, although the person had Sai Zong’s face and form, his demeanor was completely different from the Sai Zong Bologue knew.

Though known as a champion of fury, under Sai Zong’s intense malice, there was also calm rationality, but the Sai Zong before him was not like that—a strong, near-tangible killing intent lingered by him; beneath his wrath was not peace, but a more terrifying savagery.

Like saying the previous Sai Zong was a storm, outwardly terrifying and violent, yet calm within the eye of the storm; the Sai Zong before him now was a pure, erupting volcano, with only increasingly intense flames.

"Bologue."

Sai Zong gave Bologue a slight nod of acknowledgment, his voice particularly hoarse as if scorched by fire.

"You shouldn’t be here now, Bologue," the astronaut added, "You should leave."

"Speak!"

Bologue shouted sternly, "Say it, say it so I can decide whether to believe it."

Bologue continued to press them; he wasn’t sure if he would remember these experiences after leaving, but he must seize every opportunity, never letting go.

"What is your purpose, Leviathan?"

Bologue shouted, in places he couldn’t see, Leviathan had amassed vast power—this was no longer a storm approaching, but a tsunami capable of engulfing the continent.