Chapter 105 - 58 - Team Members [Thanks to Leader xmukmb, additional update]

Chapter 105: Chapter 58 - Team Members [Thanks to Leader xmukmb, additional update]"Bologue Lazarus... Bologue Lazarus, Bologue Lazarus..." On the way out of the combat room, Belli kept muttering Bologue’s name, slightly raising her head, her gaze wandering above her head. "That’s what makes the game interesting." Bologue’s morbid remarks lingered incessantly in her mind, filled with coldness and madness, it was hard to imagine what kind of experiences had turned him into such a person. "Speaking of which, Balder, do we have the authority to access Bologue’s files?" Belli suddenly thought of this matter. Although she was the minister of the Sublimation Furnace Core, her understanding of Bologue was merely his name and the "Blessing," along with some experimental data she saw when she was still a Teda trainee. Other than that, her knowledge about Bologue wasn’t much. "No, before the implantation ceremony began, I had applied in your name, but regrettably, the ’Decision Room’ denied my application." Balder responded like a dedicated secretary, handling everything for Belli impeccably. Inside the Order Bureau, it was often said that the actual minister of the Sublimation Furnace Core was two people, Belli, in charge of technology, and Balder, responsible for administration. Only when the two were together did the complete power manifest, hence they were always inseparable. "Even my level five authority isn’t enough?" Belli raised an eyebrow, carrying a hint of curiosity. "Do you think Lebius and Geoffrey know?" "They should know, considering Bologue came specifically for the Special Operations Group... But I assume the information they know must be censored by the ’Decision Room.’" "Is that so..." Belli gradually fell silent, not knowing what she was considering. "I believe you understand this, Belli." Balder’s voice came from beside her, seemingly always with that steady demeanor, his voice without much fluctuation, calm and reassuring. "No one knows how large the ’Cultivation Room’ really is, just like no one knows how many departments the Order Bureau actually has. In the eyes of people with different authorities, the Order Bureau appears entirely different." His voice paused, showing a slight fluctuation. "Do you think there might be some departments even level five authority can’t understand? Apart from those intentionally hidden departments, what unknown things does the Order Bureau secretly contain?" Balder shook his head as he spoke, "I think no one knows except the director... not even the director might understand all of this." "Do you really understand the Safety Containment Department? Those groups of gray-clad people, I still don’t know any of their names, nor have I seen their faces clearly." In his memories, a chill emanated, the Safety Containment Department was far more mysterious than anyone imagined. Although they were nominal colleagues, Balder could only feel unease about them. "I understand, too much knowledge will actually make you unhappy," Belli murmured, "just like when I found out what the teacher was doing." Returning to the Sublimation Furnace Core, due to the Ether vacuum leading to several incidents, many experiments were temporarily suspended, that endless rumble fell into a momentary pause, technicians intensified maintenance on equipment, dealing with the impact of the incidents, even the heat emitted by the reactor decreased significantly. "Oh... It’s much cooler." Back in her old stomping ground, Belli was evidently much more at ease, stretching lazily, her movements outlining an elegant curve. "I really hope the Sublimation Furnace Core can maintain this temperature." Belli sincerely hoped, few knew the reason this charming minister disliked wearing protective clothing was simply that it was too hot. Turning her head to look at the laboratory where the implantation ceremony had just taken place, the containers inside had long vanished, it was unclear what methods those gray-clad people used to take them away, their whereabouts always mysterious. The area destroyed by Bologue began slowly healing, as Ether was reintroduced, the rocks seemed alive, with luminous patterns etched into them, like veins hidden within the rock, grayish flesh steadily proliferating, slowly filling in the obliterated parts. Observing all this, Belli thought of something, she joked. "If the ’Cultivation Room’ had a mind, perhaps it would be the one that knows the most." Sixty-six years ago, several secret societies representing the Rhine Alliance established the Extraordinary Organization named "Order Bureau," and the "Cultivation Room" rose upon this land called Oubos. Just like its solemn and austere black exterior, it stood as a giant commemorative monument, coldly observing the Order Bureau’s changes and Oubos’s shifts, until it all reached its ultimate end. ... Returning to Lebius’s office, Bologue sat in a chair, still wearing the previous white patient clothes, beside him were Geoffrey and Palmer, across the desk was Lebius, standing next to him was his deputy, Yuriel. Familiar faces gathered here, in Bologue’s understanding, this should be all the members of the Special Operations Group, though Lebius had mentioned earlier that some members were out on missions, there was no further elaboration afterward. "First, congratulations to you, Bologue, you’ve become a Condenser," Lebius said with pleasantries, following procedure, "I think we can get back on track now." Getting back on track, Bologue liked that phrase. "With Palmer also here, let’s have introductions together." Palmer nodded, this poor fellow unexpectedly dragged in, always in a state of confusion, though he didn’t have to work these days, he was still somewhat anxious about the unknown future, and coupled with his damned "Blessing," this unease was infinitely magnified. Compared to Bologue, he was the true newcomer, completely unaware of the Special Operations Group members and their functions. "This is Yuriel June, my deputy, holding the position of ’Communication Officer’ in our Special Operations Group." Yuriel smiled, then walked out from behind the desk, and amid Bologue and Palmer’s confused expressions, the radiance of the Alchemy Matrix began to shine on her body. In Geoffrey’s subsequent explanation, Bologue learned that when Secret Energy is activated, it emits light and patterns, this phenomenon is called "Initial Activation," which triggers radiance and ethereal waves. If one masters "Ethereal Concealment," they can reduce the intensity of the radiance, even completely dim it, and hide the ethereal waves significantly, greatly concealing the Initial Activation Phenomenon, making it impossible for the enemy to detect them. Like an assassin hidden in the shadows, thus, many Condensers only realize after being attacked that the ordinary people in front of them are a group of "Origin School" Condensers. "It may hurt a little, you two." Yuriel said as she reached out towards Bologue’s forehead, gently pressing, causing a sharp sting, and then it was Palmer’s turn. This should be Yuriel’s Secret Energy, but the two did not resist, calmly accepting everything. "Alright." An ethereal voice sounded, Bologue looked at Yuriel, who smiled at him but did not open her mouth. "Void Spirit School? I remember this Secret Energy, there are similar people in Crow’s Nest too." Palmer said. "Secret Energy·Mind Seed, I can implant a beacon by channeling Ether into you, allowing me to engage in one-way communication with you directly from the mental realm." Yuriel’s voice directly resonated in their minds. "Because Condensers often encounter unexpected situations, conventional communication devices are very likely to be interfered with by Ether, disconnecting contact, and that’s when I’m needed to contact everyone." This is an auxiliary type of Secret Energy, responsible for contacting the group in emergencies. "This is Geoffrey Kagga, responsible for the logistics of our Special Operations Group, from applications for Alchemy Armament to personal housing subsidies, you can find him." Lebius casually introduced Geoffrey. "Then there’s me, Lebius Lovisa, head of the Special Operations Group, theoretically I should lead you personally as the group leader, but you’ve seen my condition." Lebius said while raising his cane, "I have mobility issues, unsuitable for field operations, so the current field operation main force relies on you two." None of those present believed his nonsense, including the newcomer Palmer. Bologue and Palmer exchanged a glance, although it was not their first meeting, they formally reintroduced themselves. "Bologue Lazarus, Commanding School, Secret Energy·Summoning Hand, able to manipulate touched solid entities, distorting and shaping them, ’Blessing’ is ’Resurrection,’ which means an Undying Body." Looking at his partner, Bologue found Palmer pleasing to the eye; sometimes when Palmer was unlucky, he found it quite amusing, so he didn’t hide anything and said directly. "Partners are good! Having an undying partner is even better! You tell me, when necessary, can I use your body as a shield!" Palmer was far more excited than Bologue, possibly realizing he couldn’t escape the Field Operations Department led to this resignation. "Palmer Clarks, also Commanding School, Secret Energy·Wind Source, capable of manipulating airflow within a certain range, as for ’Blessing’ called ’Gambler,’ simply put, it means being lucky when unlucky, and unlucky when lucky." Palmer said as he raised his hand, airflow gathered in his palm, turning into an invisible whirlwind, emitting a piercing sound. "Speaking of which, our Special Operations Group should be able to rest for a while, right? It seems like the supporting equipment isn’t fully prepared yet. I remember those approval procedures are quite troublesome." Palmer said with ill intentions, as long as they weren’t out on duty, the Field Operations Department was quite relaxed, not knowing how long this break would extend. "No need to worry about that, the adjoining lounge has been modified into our activity room, the ’Cultivation Room’ is expanding the internal space, and the supporting equipment is directly sponsored by the Sublimation Furnace Core this time." Geoffrey said, glancing at Bologue, "Those stingy folks finally acted generously." Bologue remained silent, but his cold expression couldn’t keep up, it was clear even without thinking why the Sublimation Furnace Core was so generous. "Ha!" Palmer shouted, "That’s not quite right!" "What’s not right, although not as flourishing as other operation groups, the Special Operations Group now has the capability to execute missions." Lebius said slowly. "Hold on! You’re not going to tell us directly next that there’s a deadly mission for us, are you?" Palmer spoke with a mournful face. "Come on! I’ve only been on the job for a few days, I don’t even know the way to the Field Operations Department’s cafeteria!" "The Field Operations Department doesn’t have a cafeteria, everyone usually eats at the Logistics Department’s cafeteria." Yuriel whispered to remind. "To test the capability of the Special Operations Group, currently there’s an appropriately challenging mission assigned to us," Lebius ignored Palmer’s wailing, his gaze turning to Bologue, "Palmer previously investigated a freight point, originally a Crow’s Nest probe targeting the King’s Secret Sword, but it turned out to be connected to ’Man-eater.’" "We can now confirm the collaboration between the King’s Secret Sword and ’Man-eater’ is even tighter than we imagined, and in subsequent Crow’s Nest reconnaissance, we discovered a suspicious concentration point, potentially where ’Man-eater’s goods are stockpiled, and I need you two to investigate it." "Is this a coincidence?" Bologue whispered, his personal vendetta evolving into another much larger conspiracy. "Who knows?" Lebius looked at Bologue, "You won’t refuse, will you, Bologue." "This is the conflict you chose to join, isn’t it?"