Endless Debt
Chapter 217 - 9 Junior Sister

Chapter 217: Chapter 9 Junior Sister

In the not-so-spacious interior, Bologue and Belli stood together, surrounded by countless greenish-blue glimmers. Despite everything he had experienced, Bologue couldn’t help but marvel at the sight before him, and clearly realized that this world was far vaster than he had ever imagined.

Driven by the Summoning Hand, the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid in his hand crumbled from solid form, transforming into a soft liquid that soared and danced wildly.

In the lingering Ether, the silver-white mercury twisted into silver snakes covered with scales, swirling around the two, biting each other, with brilliant greenish-blue radiance bursting from the gaps between the scales.

In a particular moment, Bologue felt as if he were in the depths of the sea, sunlight piercing through layers of deep water, casting only such dim glow, yet even so dim, it still illuminated the swarming snakes in the dark.

A strange sensation kept emerging. In the past, when Bologue summoned substances, he had to extend the Alchemy Matrix onto the material through his hands to distort the substance’s form.

This process seemed swift, yet it was very strenuous, like a forceful invasion. However, when summoning the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid, Bologue felt no obstruction at all. His Ether had so effortlessly conquered the material, as if the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid were merely an extension of his body.

What surprised Bologue the most was that the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid in his hand could switch between solid and liquid states at any time. One second it was a solidified rapier, the next it shattered into countless liquid droplets. In theory, Bologue’s "Narrow and Sharp" restricted him to solid materials, but the mercury-based properties of the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid seemed to cheat this boundary, helping Bologue surpass it.

Bologue rotated his wrist, and the swimming snakes all retreated into their lair, coiling layer by layer around his arm. The flowing liquid instantly solidified into arm armor, but in the next moment, it began to flow again, the snake swarm crawling over Bologue’s body surface.

Just like when Sandbox used Iron-Repelling Paint, this eerie metal protected Bologue’s body, yet stronger than Iron-Repelling Paint, the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid can transform at any time and isn’t a one-time use item.

"You seem very satisfied with this alchemy material."

Belli noticed the excitement in Bologue’s eyes. People from the Field Operations Department were like this; as soon as they got new equipment that felt just right, their eyes would turn childlike. Belli guessed that Bologue’s next step was to head to the combat room to thoroughly test this new weapon.

"Alchemy material? Shouldn’t this be an alchemy armament? And of Corruption Black Level," Bologue asked.

"Hmm... how should I put it? It’s very special, just like mercury is unique among metals, it exists in a curious state between solid and liquid.

Its strength lies in its metallic properties, so calling it alchemy material isn’t wrong. As for alchemy armament, it truly is implanted with the Alchemy Matrix and can be considered as an alchemy armament." fr.e ewe.bno.vel .com

Belli looked at Bologue, the rustling sound emanating from Bologue’s clothes. A small silver snake poked its head out from his sleeve, its eyes gleaming the same greenish-blue as Bologue’s. Under Bologue’s precise control, it appeared to have genuine life.

"But this alchemy armament can only be used by you; in others’ hands, it’s merely alchemy material."

Belli reached out and stroked the silver snake, which stuck out its tongue, licking her fingers with a cold touch.

"You also felt it, the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid has excellent Ether extensibility. With the injection of Ether, it’s simply an extension of your body."

Bologue nodded in affirmation. This wondrous metal greatly reduced his Ether consumption and improved his control. freew\e bnovel.com

"And its hardness after solidification is only slightly inferior to Iron-Repelling Paint. Yet the expensive Iron-Repelling Paint is a one-time use, while it can repeatedly oscillate between solid and liquid."

"Sounds like it’s indeed a very precious alchemy material," hearing Belli speak, the functionality of the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid far exceeds its demonstrated combat power, "what Alchemy Matrix is implanted in it?"

Bologue toyed with the silver snake in his hand, the silver snake coiling around his fingers, weaving through like a shuttle in a dense forest, its movements fluid and without the slightest stiffness, showcasing Bologue’s steadily advancing mastery of Secret Energy.

"The Illusion Creation school, as long as it is injected with a large amount of Ether, it can perform self-illusion creation and continually proliferate," Belli added, "but it is just an illusion creation. After a while, the Ether will dissipate on its own, and the creation will vanish accordingly."

"Sounds like a useless invention."

Bologue nodded. Based on the information so far, the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid indeed had no combat strength, merely possessing enough bizarreness.

Belli had kept it sealed here, likely because she couldn’t think of a way to utilize it, which allowed him to scoop it up.

"Pretty much, many aberrant products are like this, strange enough but hard to put into combat. But for you, it’s not the same; this thing is almost a perfect match for you," Belli said.

Bologue didn’t deny it, as he was fascinated by the manipulation of the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid. The silver snakes kept splitting as they crawled, soon becoming a dense snake swarm. When he tried to inject more Ether, the swarm began to proliferate wildly, quickly covering Bologue completely.

Belli took a few steps back; the snake swarm climbed all over Bologue’s body, solidifying into a ferocious and sturdy armor, the surface of which was not smooth but bore many scratches, as if marked by invisible snakes swimming over it.

The armor collapsed, turning once again into a swarm of snakes that plunged under Bologue’s clothes, disappearing from sight. As his mastery of Secret Energy·Summoning Hand increased, this seemingly mundane secret energy shone brilliantly in Bologue’s hands.

The Summoning Hand does not have powerful direct lethality, but it is cunningly versatile, able to swiftly respond in fast-changing battlefield situations.

Even someone as strong as Sandbox, even with the help of Liquid Spirit Potion and Fog-Shrouded Secret Sword, was still slain by Bologue on the stone bridge, mostly attributed to the flexibility of the Summoning Hand.

An expert wouldn’t be limited by something, nor would his Secret Energy.

"Is this thing just given to me like this?"

Bologue had already considered the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid as his own. Now Belli couldn’t go back on her word, and this alchemy armament would help Bologue break through the limitations of ’Narrow and Sharp’ to some extent. In a cunning battle, this would be a lethal strike.

"Hmph."

Belli nodded, not making any demands, which made Bologue even more uneasy. Nobody knew what he might have to repay with later for this free gift.

"Rest assured, giving you this involves many factors, such as rewards for you, and because this item is especially suitable for you."

"Is that really the case?" Bologue was highly skeptical. "Even if it’s useless, just judging by value, it’s beyond what I can afford."

"Yes, but its inventor doesn’t care about wealth. She thinks this aberrant creation is very intriguing and just gave it to us to archive in the Sublimation Furnace Core," Belli waved her hand dismissively.

"Is this really okay?" Bologue didn’t expect it to have such an origin.

"What’s not okay? The samples are preserved, and the record is logged. Rather than letting it gather dust in the warehouse, it’s better given to you,"

Belli said earnestly. She seemed to have noticed Bologue’s doubts and burst into laughter immediately.

"To you, this thing is priceless, but to us, it’s just experimental material at most. If you really feel uneasy about it, then..."

Bologue put his hand over Belli’s mouth, interrupting her nonsense right there.

"Cough, cough."

Belli coughed loudly, choking due to Bologue’s sudden move.

Disabling the Secret Energy, Bologue put away the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid. Once the Ether dissipated, the group of snakes didn’t revert to their previous liquid form but instead solidified like chain armor on his torso.

"Who is its inventor? I’d like to thank her in person if I get the chance," Bologue asked.

The Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid was extremely important to Bologue. It enabled him to overcome the limitation of ’Narrow and Sharp’, something only achieved by Prayer Believers. In other words, under the effect of the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid, Bologue could temporarily elevate the effect of Secret Energy to the level of a Prayer Believer.

"She lives in the Fork of Hesitation, not in the Sublimation Furnace Core," Belli said, then recalled something and suggested, "You’re in charge of the Great Rift now, right?"

"Why?"

"I remember when the Field Operations Department is in charge of an area, don’t they usually establish a stronghold? Have you found a place yet?" Belli asked again.

"Not yet. The Great Rift is too chaotic; it’s hard to find a safe zone."

Each operational team establishes a secret base in the area they’re responsible for, allowing them to rest within that area instead of frequently returning to the Cultivation Room. The base also serves as a safehouse to avoid dangers when necessary.

In the past two weeks, Bologue and Palmer had scouted many places, but after careful filtering, they found that perhaps the safest place might just be the Cobweb Bar. Yet, thinking of establishing the Order Bureau’s stronghold there seemed odd no matter how they looked at it.

Palmer protested a few times, thinking it was a great idea to use the bar as a stronghold. Unfortunately, Bologue couldn’t tell him who the boss of Vika was; otherwise, his reaction would be entirely different.

Reflecting on the known information, there were Demons hiding in the Great Rift whose purpose was unclear, forces coming from afar, the Gray Trade Association, the Sovereign of the Fork of Hesitation, and also a King’s Secret Sword who had fled inside.

In comparison, even the Demons seemed more amiable than these entities.

While Bologue was racking his brains over this, Belli handed him a slip of paper with an address written on it.

"What’s this?" Bologue asked.

"It’s the teacher’s address. He might be able to help you with this," Belli continued, "Oh, and the inventor is also there."

"The inventor is Teda?"

"No, the inventor is my junior apprentice sister, well, sort of a junior apprentice sister." Mentioning this junior apprentice sister, Belli’s expression became troubled.

"Huh? Didn’t she pass away?"

Bologue was confused, while Belli gave him a look as if he were an idiot and then said.

"Can’t the teacher take on another student?"