CHAPTER 375: CHAPTER 152: CONCLUSION

No matter how long the journey, there is always an end. Bologue and Aimou stood at the entrance of the Order Bureau, bidding farewell to each other.

Due to the cognitive interference from the Cultivation Room, the other end of the street was bustling, whereas on this side, it was very quiet, with only Bologue and Aimou standing there.

Bologue was in no hurry to part with Aimou, as Serey’s words kept echoing in his mind.

"Aimou, do you remember what you told me in the Abandoned Land?" Bologue asked.

"What?"

"We shouldn’t lie to each other, and we must absolutely trust each other." Bologue repeated.

"That’s right, why?" Aimou confirmed the statement.

"Is there anything you’re hiding from me?" Bologue continued.

"No." Aimou answered decisively, and then asked back, "Why are you asking these things?"

"I just feel that if you have something on your mind, we’re friends, I can help you, you should understand that." Bologue said.

Aimou blinked, "Hmm? Is this some kind of promise?"

"I don’t have many friends, you can think of it that way."

Feeling a bit tired from standing, Bologue sat down on the steps, and after a while, Aimou also sat down.

The two leaned against each other, their figures appearing particularly small under the vast city.

"Bologue, actually, there are some things that even friends can’t help with." Aimou said in a low voice.

"Like what?"

"Like things that violate your principles?" Aimou turned his head, smiling at Bologue.

"Just like the teacher, who was once the head of the Sublimation Furnace Core and was my senior sister’s teacher. I think such a relationship is close enough, right? But when the teacher went mad, everyone stopped him, instead of helping him fulfill his wishes."

"But what Teda did..."

Bologue just started to speak when Aimou interrupted him.

"It’s very crazy, I know, so when some things go beyond principles and become unforgivable mistakes, even friends can’t help him. He has to move forward alone."

Aimou’s voice lowered, "The teacher must have understood this too. He was doing things wrong, but he couldn’t reconcile with himself.

He couldn’t convince his heart to give up Alice.

He couldn’t ask his friends for help, nor dare to guess their thoughts, so he could only continue on the wrong path without turning back."

Bologue didn’t know what to say.

"If I wanted to fulfill a wish, and that wish would violate your principles, what would you do, Bologue?" Aimou suddenly asked.

"Would you violate your own principles and duties to help me fulfill it, or would you deny me and stop it all?"

Before Bologue could answer, Aimou said with a smile.

"This is the dilemma of choice. If I ask you for help and you don’t, I would be sad, but seeing you go against yourself, I would still be sad. Instead of that, it’s better not to tell you anything from the beginning.

I wouldn’t be disappointed, and you wouldn’t be in a dilemma.

I think the teacher thought the same way."

Aimou could understand how Teda felt at that time.

"Instead of giving the choice to others and testing their thoughts, it’s better not to expect anything from the start and hold the power of choice firmly in one’s own hands."

So Teda put on that white doll mask and acted as a Delusional.

Bologue fell silent; the reason he was able to interact with Aimou was because of Belli’s request. She couldn’t help Teda, nor did she want to be an enemy of the teacher, so she had Bologue watch over everything to prevent the worst outcome.

But it still happened.

Bologue’s expression was calm as he looked up at the pitch-black sky. The mist spilling from the Great Rift formed a dome, blocking all light.

"So... do you have a wish, Aimou?"

"Me? You can guess."

"Transform into a human?"

"Didn’t we talk about this before? Humans are too fragile. What’s the point of becoming one?"

Hearing this, Aimou remembered something, mysteriously raising her left hand and deftly moving her fingers, "Guess what this arm can turn into?"

"A multi-functional military saber?" Bologue answered without thinking.

"Correct."

Aimou nodded in agreement, whether it was true or a joke.

"So what exactly is your wish?" Bologue asked again.

"Nothing, just a...

A very small, insignificant wish."

Aimou was mysterious and refused to say it straight, teasing Bologue on purpose, promising, "How about this? If you treat me to dessert, I’ll tell you, how about that?"

"That’s all? Just a dessert?"

"After all, it’s you who eats, and I get to feel it, what more do you want?" Aimou said angrily.

"No... I just thought, is that really all it takes?"

"I’ve told you, it’s insignificant, not worth mentioning. If I open my mouth wide, wouldn’t that be inflating the price?"

Aimou stood up, dusted herself off, and continued, "Tomorrow after work, you decide the place, how about that?"

"Okay, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow night."

Ever since Geoffrey settled the bonus for the raid on the venue, Bologue was now filthy rich. He was even considering moving his house near the Order Bureau, and treating Aimou to some dessert was a breeze.

"See you tomorrow!"

Bologue waved at Aimou, sent her to the Pillar Courtyard, and only when he saw her enter the elevator did he slowly leave.

After saying goodbye to Aimou, Bologue returned to the Undying Club, where only Bode was left cleaning up the place. Sai Zong had wandered off somewhere, and Wei’Er probably found a random room to sleep in.

As for Serey, it was simpler; now that night had fallen, it was the perfect time for Serey to show off. Word was that Serey had become somewhat of a legend in the nightlife of Opus.

Bologue just hoped that when he returned, he wouldn’t be too noisy. Unlike these idle people, he still had work to do the next day.

Before returning to his own room, Bologue paused for a moment, turned the knob of the door next to him, and as soon as he entered, a wave of alcohol hit him in the face.

Palmer was curled up on the bed, drooling all over it. Seeing that his partner had not died of alcohol poisoning, Bologue returned to his room with peace of mind and lay flat on the bed.

Thinking about it, he and Palmer might as well be roommates; he just hoped nothing unlucky would happen.

...

"Back so soon?"

Belli pushed open the bedroom door and looked at Aimou with surprise, "I thought you’d be back after midnight."

Aimou had no intention of responding to Belli’s babbling.

"Since that’s the case... how about sleeping with your elder sister?" Belli said and attempted to fully open the door to drag Aimou in.

"No no no!" Aimou waved her hand quickly, refusing sternly.

"What a pity, then goodnight!"

"Wait a minute!"

Before Belli could close the door, Aimou reached out to stop her. Belli squinted her eyes and grinned, "What, you really want to come with me?"

"Can you be a bit more normal?" Aimou chided her.

"Okay, okay, what do you want to say?"

Aimou thought for a moment, then suddenly opened her arms to Belli. Belli paused for a moment, then with a somewhat bewildered understanding, stepped forward and hugged Aimou.

"Why the sudden change?" Belli was a bit puzzled, but her hands didn’t stop moving.

Aimou didn’t explain anything, but after releasing Belli, she said to her.

"Goodnight, see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight... goodnight..."

Even after Aimou left, Belli was still a bit perplexed, unable to understand where Aimou’s sudden warmth came from. She just pinched her palm, recalling the sensation just now, and then sighed, as expected of something she made herself, the feel was top-notch.

After parting with Belli, Aimou turned and walked out of the staff dormitory area. She didn’t require sleep, and late at night, she preferred to make small things or maintain herself.

Belli knew this and didn’t have any doubt.

Aimou’s expression cooled, like she had put on a mask. She came to the Sublimation Furnace Core, but didn’t stop, passing through gate after gate, returning all the way to the Courtyard of Winding Paths on the first floor.

In the dead of night, most of the staff had left, with only a few on-duty staff remaining in the Order Bureau.

Aimou moved silently, her presence was ghostly thin, like a specter, attracting no one’s attention. With a temporary pass, the Cultivation Room identified her as a friendly unit.

Everything was peaceful, not the slightest incident occurred.

Finally, Aimou arrived at the entrance of the Order Bureau. Recently, it was here that she bade farewell to Bologue, and now she had returned.

Aimou let out a long breath. Through the entire process, she was incredibly tense, but fortunately, she had smoothly left the Order Bureau.

"Your goody-two-shoes disguise is excellent, even Bologue would be fooled by you." A gentle voice arose as Alice appeared from behind Aimou.

"You and I both know the outcome," Alice continued, "but you’re still going to try, aren’t you?"

"Yes... I have to try, otherwise there will always be some unwarranted hope in my heart."

Aimou murmured, "I need to put an end to this."

"Oh? You’re finally getting brave, huh!"

Alice praised, turned her head to look toward the direction of the Undying Club, and sighed again, "What a pity for Bologue, you guess what he’s doing now? I wonder... maybe planning where to take you for dessert tomorrow?"

She let out a disturbing laugh, mocking the whole affair.

"He’s preparing for a date that won’t happen, how interesting."

To this, Aimou made no reply, only looked up at the towering pillar of light, which served as a beacon, guiding her.

Aimou walked toward the light, and as she left, a strange power surged within the Cultivation Room, attempting to stretch out invisible arms to pull Aimou back.

"Quiet."

Alice raised her hand, halting that pulling force.

"Don’t disturb me."

The Mad Roar Power cut in sharply, completely concealing Aimou’s presence, making even the Cultivation Room lose track of her temporarily, allowing Aimou to leave, drifting farther and farther away.