As the darkness dissipated and light returned to view, Bologue found himself back in the familiar Field Operations Department. The white bricks stacked around were neat and simple, a design Bologue always appreciated.

Nesanel, unexpectedly considerate, had brought Bologue to the door of Lebius's office. Pushing the door open, familiar people and things sat quietly inside, unchanged.

Lebius sat behind the desk, scrutinizing documents with a serious expression. Geoffrey was flipping through today's newspaper on the sofa next to him, while Palmer, sitting beside Geoffrey, was dozing off.

Someone gently patted Bologue, prompting him to step aside. Yuriel entered, carrying a cup of hot coffee, and handed it to Lebius.

Yuriel, the most inconspicuous member of the Special Operations Group, seemed more like the group's nanny than a field staff, quietly taking on all the troublesome follow-up work.

"Thank you."

Lebius accepted the coffee without looking up and said.

Yuriel smiled faintly, then opened the cabinet and began organizing the documents, assisting Lebius with his work.

The room was very quiet, with only the subtle sound of breathing, barely perceptible. Bologue sat down beside Palmer, making the three look slightly crowded on the sofa.

Bologue checked the time; it was still early. Aimou should still be at the Sublimation Furnace Core. When there wasn't any essential work, patrols were handled by Bologue and Palmer, while she stayed within the Sublimation Furnace, learning under Belli to manufacture various Alchemy Armaments.

With this connection, the Special Operations Group had rarely been more well-off. Even Palmer could now use Alchemy Warheads freely.

Regrettably, the Oubos in Oath City had been very quiet recently, not giving Palmer the opportunity for a heavy strike.

As Lebius would say, the aftermath of the time-axis disorder event had instigated a major purge of the Great Rift. Even after several months, the gangs and demons within still hadn't recovered and could only hide under the Tyrant's protection, not daring to take any significant actions.

Current times in the Great Rift were the most peaceful in recent years.

While the internal situation was stable, the external situation wasn't good.

Buzzing noises emanated from the walls, and after a deep rumble, capsule containers rapidly swept through the overhead pipes, finally stopping behind the desk.

Lebius retrieved a capsule from the pneumatic pipeline, opening it to reveal a document from the Decision Room.

"The battle of the Narrow Countries has ended."

After a cursory read, Lebius suddenly lifted his head, seemingly speaking to Bologue or perhaps addressing everyone in the office.

Geoffrey put down the newspaper, Yuriel stopped her work, and Bologue looked over, simultaneously elbowing Palmer awake.

With a dazed expression, Palmer didn't know what was happening, but it wasn't hard to discern the gravity from the solemn atmosphere.

Palmer wiped his drool and sat up straight.

Lebius began recounting the details of the operation, "The Tenth Group had encircled the Crimson Rot Sect in a border town named 'Iris,' launching the final battle there."

"Iris Town was the stronghold of the Crimson Rot Sect. To counter the Tenth Group's siege, they triggered the Extraordinary Disaster: Eternal Rotting Land in the town."

Bologue's expression subtly changed. Since being listed as an Unshakable, Bologue had become a reserve for responding to Extraordinary Disasters and had carefully studied all recorded disasters.

The Eternal Rotting Land, triggered by the Crimson Rot Sect, would transform vast areas into flesh constructs, mutating all life forms into flesh monsters. Meanwhile, inanimate objects would gradually acquire the traits of flesh life, becoming parts of a massive flesh construct.

"Fortunately, the Tenth Group had been preparing to completely destroy the Crimson Rot Sect on the front-lines not long ago, with the Narrow Countries providing cover for the encirclement operation.

To curb the spread of the Eternal Rotting Land, the Tenth Group, with assistance from the Observation Tower, transported hundreds of tons of Red Mercury via Curved Path Breakthrough, flooding it into the Eternal Rotting Land. The resulting fire burned for nearly a month, only extinguishing a few days ago."

Lebius turned the page, "This report was recorded only after confirming the Eternal Rotting Land was completely purified following the fire's extinguishment."

Bologue sighed in relief. Though not a member of the Tenth Group, he had some interactions with them during the time-axis disorder event, having used their Alchemy Armaments.

Hearing that an event ended and an external threat was eliminated naturally brought a sense of relief.

Geoffrey sighed, "It's finally over, huh? The Tenth Group's operation lasted over half a year, didn't it?"

Despite having the Curved Path Gate for rapid movement, the Order Bureau needed to control vast regions, let alone the Narrow Countries wedged between the Rhine Alliance and the Kagader Empire.

The Narrow Countries served as a buffer zone between the two, historically the most conflict-ridden land. Numerous secret groups thrived there, leading to the Tenth Group's formation to enhance control.

The Tenth Group, Hunters of Many Nations.

The Tenth Group's scale was larger than any other operations group, with the most members, amounting to a small-scale Extraordinary Legion wherever deployed.

But even such a Extraordinary Legion fought in the Narrow Countries against the Crimson Rot Sect for nearly half a year, illustrating the operation's challenges.

Lebius said, "Indeed, over half a year. They're currently resting and will soon return to the Order Bureau."

"I can't understand why the Crimson Rot Sect was so persistent; they'd usually retreat when under heavy attack. It's the first time they fought us to the bitter end."

Geoffrey, who had faced the Crimson Rot Sect many times, had some insight into these madmen.

Palmer said, "Who knows? We'll find out when the Tenth Group returns, right?"

While at the Crow's Nest, Palmer collaborated with the Tenth Group, providing them with operational intelligence, acquainting him with a few Tenth Group members.

"Speaking of which, how's the Third Group's operation going?" Palmer asked, "I remember they went to deal with the Joyful Garden."

The Third Group, Wall-Breaking Blade, handled various Void Realm anomalies, echoing Bologue's style—reduce all uncontrollable Void Realms to mundane ruins.

Geoffrey said, "The Joyful Garden suddenly vanished not long ago, whereabouts unknown. The Third Group is still pursuing it."

"Joyful Garden..."

Bologue muttered the familiar yet strange term under his breath.

According to official Order Bureau records, the Joyful Garden was an endlessly running train traversing nations, inside which existed an extremely peculiar Void Realm. Unlike other Void Realms, this uncanny Void Realm moved swiftly with the train.

Few returned alive after boarding the Joyful Garden, resulting in scarce information about it. What's hidden within the eerie Void Realm eludes even Lebius.

But it's certain that each appearance of the Joyful Garden heralds chaos, like a bird proclaiming disaster.

"Church should be tracking these too, right?"

Palmer recalled his old partner. After returning from the Wind Source Highlands, Palmer wanted to consult Church, to clarify his doubts.

But he couldn't find Church. According to Ivan, Church resumed work after a few days' rest, now integrated into the Seventh Group, Unseen Infiltrators, executing secret missions externally.

Church had mentioned these before, but Palmer forgot, only remembering after Ivan brought it up.

They exchanged glances. All action groups were busy, while the Special Operations Group found itself idle.

In the Audience Chamber, Bologue also asked Nesanel if there was anything he could do, but Nesanel refused, saying Bologue, being a Prayer Believer, needed the Defender's power to fully delve into the conflicts among Devils.

Having learned of the Devils' machinations and entrusted with a great mission... only to end up lying on the sofa with Palmer.

Bologue felt frustrated, but before he could vent, a piercing alarm blared.

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