This wasn’t Bologue’s first time using the "Key of the Crooked Path," but when he truly entered the Order Bureau, that strange feeling of unease in his heart was still unstoppable.
He couldn’t help but recall the pattern engraved on the box when he first received the weapon, that mysterious door containing a vortex.
Bologue began to wonder how many unknown departments were within the Order Bureau, and since the Secret War, the "Cultivation Room" had been undergoing self-repair, still not fully reconstructed to this day, with most areas remaining part of the "Ruins District."
So what is the full glory of the "Cultivation Room?"
"Bologue, Palmer, over here."
In the bustling Central Courtyard, Geoffrey, who had been waiting for some time, waved to the two of them.
"Alright, from here on, Bologue will come with me," Geoffrey said, glancing at the two and extending his hand to Palmer, "It’s time to return it to me."
"What?" Palmer feigned ignorance for a few seconds, but seeing the increasingly sharp look in Geoffrey’s eyes, he handed over the "Key of the Crooked Path," saying, "Can’t I borrow it for a few days?"
"Do you think that’s possible?" Geoffrey said unceremoniously, snatching the "Key of the Crooked Path" away.
Since the Secret War, the Order Bureau has maintained strict control over the "Key of the Crooked Path," to prevent anyone from infiltrating the core "Cultivation Room" again.
Taking back the "Key of the Crooked Path," Geoffrey signaled Bologue to follow, at which point Palmer asked.
"By the way, what are you going to do?"
"Bologue’s implantation ceremony, the rest doesn’t concern you," Geoffrey responded simply.
Palmer wanted to ask more, but seeing the fierce look in Geoffrey’s eyes, he swallowed his words, waved his hand, and bid farewell to a few people.
He wasn’t very familiar with Geoffrey, but vaguely remembered such a good-natured old man’s presence. Yet, he never expected that sometimes this kind old man’s eyes could be so sharp, as if a sword was about to pierce out, about to strike him.
This made Palmer utterly uncomfortable, but soon enough, this optimistic guy forgot about these things.
Perhaps a blessing in disguise, the work of the Special Operations Group was unexpectedly easy, at least for the moment, far more comfortable than the Crow’s Nest. That damn guy Ivan seemed to have something against him, continually assigning tasks to him, never giving him the chance to stay long-term in the Crow’s Nest.
Palmer kept on complaining, completely unaware of why Ivan was doing this.
Bologue followed Geoffrey into a deep corridor where only the two of them moved forward, their footsteps echoing back and forth on the surrounding walls.
"The part concerning the Overlord needs to be kept secret, right?" Bologue asked.
"That’s correct; it’s best not to let others know about it," Geoffrey said, "not even Palmer. He can know about the power of your Secret Energy, but don’t let him know how you got it."
"These matters are known only to us involved, after all, it concerns a ’Glory Bearer’s’ Authority, and more importantly, the name of this ’Glory Bearer’ is Xilin Kagader."
Geoffrey led Bologue through various turns until they reached another gigantic courtyard. According to the sign nearby, they were on the second level of the Order Bureau, though how many levels there actually were was something nobody knew.
What was more bizarre, looking up, they could still see the familiar Dome, with soft white light shining down, offering no warmth whatsoever.
The layout of the second level’s Central Courtyard was much like the first, except the core of the architecture differed. The first level’s central structure was gates, responsible for connecting employees arriving via the "Key of the Crooked Path."
In this courtyard, however, the core was a High Tower reaching the Dome, with elevators inside, constantly shuttling back and forth.
"We call the first level’s courtyard the ’Courtyard of the Crooked Path,’ whereas the second level’s courtyard is called the ’Pillar Courtyard,’" Geoffrey said.
"Does it have any significance?" Bologue asked.
"Of course it does. First-level clearance employees can only operate near the ’Courtyard of the Crooked Path,’ while all departments requiring second-level clearance or above must be accessed through the elevators of the ’Pillar Courtyard.’
"Due to its unique nature, the Field Operations Department can be accessed as long as you have a ’pass,’ no matter what floor you’re on, as long as you can find the ’Door’ of the Field Operations Department."
Bologue recalled his first arrival at the Field Operations Department, that corridor stacked with countless cubes.
"Of course, the rules aren’t that strictly enforced; higher-clearance individuals will experience changes in their view of the ’Cultivation Room,’ with elevators specifically arranged for their use, just like when we last visited the ’Safety Containment Department.’
The ’Cultivation Room’ is ’alive,’ a continually expanding and winding maze, where conventional spatial understanding doesn’t apply, and everything seems more like a conceptual level, where doors lead to different places..."
"It is said that the Director of the Order Bureau has the ability to directly command the ’Cultivation Room,’ and if he wishes to go somewhere, the door leading there will open before him."
The two stepped onto the stairs and into the opened elevator, where Bologue glanced at the array of buttons. No specific floors were written on them, only one emblem after another.
The crow clutching the Iron Whistle, the snake coiling around the fruit...
Due to temporary clearance expiration, Bologue did not see the emblem of the "Safety Containment Department," nor the "Vortex Gate."