Endless Debt-Chapter 990 - 75: Land of the Curse

Under Evan’s guidance, Bologue continued forward and finally met the leader of the Fourth Group, Holt, deep in the Desperate Outpost.

Bologue had some impression of Holt; after returning from the Abandoned Land last time, out of curiosity about the Holy City and various other reasons, Bologue looked up information related to the Fourth Group and learned about Holt.

Within the Order Bureau, Holt was a legendary figure. He, along with Lebius, Geoffrey, Yas, and others, were field staff of the same period, and they all participated in the Secret War.

During his student days, Holt was extremely outstanding. After becoming a Condenser, he showed everyone his talent; it was as if he was born with it. Holt had a very high affinity with Ether, like a natural Condenser from the Origin School.

He was listed as a key training subject by the Order Bureau, and while others were still Condensers, he was the first to advance to a Prayer Believer. Since then, he was always one step ahead.

During the Secret War, Holt had a series of firefights with the enemy in the Great Rift, and then, like Bologue, he accidentally fell into the Abandoned Land.

At that time, the Secret War was at its fiercest, and no one knew that Holt had fallen into the Abandoned Land. Everyone just thought he was missing or had died in some corner. Many people lamented the fall of such a genius.

Holt did not have an Undying Body, nor the Devil’s Protection. At that time, he was only a Negative Power User. He couldn’t survive the ethereal vacuum of the Serenity Defense Line, nor could he survive the predation of Calamities in this world.

But to everyone’s surprise, Holt came back alive, enduring in this terrifying, mad land with his outstanding willpower.

According to Holt’s later reports, after falling into the Abandoned Land, he managed to avoid too many fatal injuries thanks to the Etherealization of a Negative Power User. Although the ethereal vacuum environment was gradually draining his Ether, before Ether ran out, he had killed many Calamity tentacles and advanced a considerable distance.

After that, it was simple. Holt arduously moved forward in the Abandoned Land. His goal, like Bologue’s, was to find the mysterious Fourth Group and seek their help.

When he was about to reach the ruins of the Holy City, Holt could no longer hold on. He pulled the trigger and fired his last signal flare.

What enabled Holt to endure for so long was the limitless hope this flare provided him.

Thus, the staff at the Desperate Outpost saw a signal flare eerily shoot up from the ashes. At that time, they even suspected that the King’s Secret Sword had discovered the secrets of the Abandoned Land, invading its deepest parts.

Holt’s return invigorated morale. After a brief rest, Holt clamored for revenge against the King’s Secret Sword, and then he began the ceremony to advance to Defender.

At the time, Holt was the youngest Defender within the Order Bureau.

All the information suggested Holt was a prodigy, but after the Secret War ended, this prodigy was assigned to the Fourth Group to watch over the Abandoned Land.

To many, it seemed like Holt was exiled to the frontier. While the Abandoned Land was important, it hadn’t had any significant activity for many years. Besides facing ashes every day, Holt had little else to do.

Yet Holt had no objections, entering this ghostly place at such a young age and living a retirement-like life until now.

That’s Bologue’s full understanding of Holt. After a brief review in his mind, Bologue solemnly pushed open the office door.

Raucous singing filled his ears.

Bologue expected the person behind the door to be someone serious like Lebius, or perhaps someone disillusioned and drinking all day, but never did he expect this scene.

What met Bologue’s eyes was more of a private entertainment room than an office. Two rows of bookshelves lined the room, one side filled with books and the other with records and discs.

Speakers played irritable music, and the mysterious leader had his feet up on the desk, humming along while flipping through a book, which if Bologue wasn’t mistaken, was Ewen’s new book "Endless Poetry."

Bologue suddenly remembered seeing a shipment of supplies from the Logistics Department to the Fourth Group once, and it included piles of books. Everything seemed to make sense now. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Ahem."

Evan coughed forcefully a few times, trying to remind Holt. Holt put down the book, glanced at Bologue, and turned a knob...he didn’t turn off the music, just lowered it a bit.

Bologue pulled out a chair and sat in front of Holt. Holt put his feet down, sat up straight, and extended his hand.

"Hello, this is our second meeting, Bologue, but for you, it should be the first time."

Bologue also extended his hand, shook Holt’s hand friendly, and softly uttered his name, "Holt."

"The leader has his quirks."

Evan whispered into Bologue’s ear, but Bologue didn’t mind at all. He had met stranger folks; Holt seemed downright normal to him.

"You’re much calmer than I expected," Holt remarked. "The data says you’re a workaholic."

"Did you think I’d be surprised?" Bologue glanced around Holt’s collection, which was almost like the living room at his own home. "I think it’s fine, nothing special. My partner and roommate also enjoy these things."

While speaking, Bologue glanced at Holt’s bookshelf and recognized the author’s familiar name. He affirmed, "You have good taste, I like it too."

Holt, as if meeting a kindred spirit, exclaimed loudly, "Ha! Evan, I told you young people understand me."

Young people?

Bologue’s expression remained unchanged; he was used to being addressed that way.

Holt then complained, "Those old things only caution me to look the part of a leader. Don’t I look like a leader?"

"This damn place," he cursed, "Besides that monster, it’s endless ash. I feel like I’m developing a respiratory illness."

"Leader, with your level of Etherealization as a Defender, it’s almost impossible for you to get a respiratory disease," Evan interjected appropriately to explain.

Holt completely ignored Evan’s words and continued his complaints, "It’s too boring here, I need something to pass the time."

"Hope you understand," Holt continued, "Mr. Bologue Lazarus."

Bologue nodded quietly, just as he thought before; he had encountered stranger individuals, and rarely did anything surprise him anymore.

"I need to leave this... as soon as possible," Bologue continued, "If possible, I also need some supply aid, like the Mang Silver Soul."

Although Bologue had revived, his own Ether hadn’t fully recovered. He needed to quickly return to his peak state and then re-enter the Sea of Mist above.

Currently, Bologue was unsure whether this mission counted as a success or if the others were safe. As the temporary action group leader, he felt an intense impatience within.

"Return to combat?" Holt seemed to know what Bologue was worried about. He continued, "The fight is over, Bologue."

"While you were unconscious, we received news from the Decision Room. All your members have evacuated the Fog Abyss Fortress and have now returned to the Cultivation Room. As for the success of your mission, that I don’t know."

Holt paused, "At least your group members are safe."

Hearing this, Bologue let out a long sigh, his tightly wound nerves finally relaxing. He looked up at Holt and continued, "I hope you understand."

"I am also a leader, so naturally I understand your feelings."

Holt said, standing up and inviting, "Do you need me to show you around here? There are some things I want you to see."

Bologue hesitated for a moment, nodded, and agreed, "Okay."

Bologue was full of curiosity about this place, where everything began, King Solomon’s Holy City.

"Why not explore and witness it yourself?"

A ghostly voice whispered in Bologue’s ear, tempting him to return to old places, to cross that high wall he had never surpassed.

Bologue could never remember who had said those words to him, but now, he vaguely recalled that person.

"Tyrant..."

Bologue murmured softly, clenching his fist.