After finishing lunch, the two strolled within the Order Bureau.
"As for the intelligence on the target, I think the information Lebius provided to you should be clear enough," Geoffrey said, "My suggestion is to go back and rest a bit, set off under the cover of night, it's better that way."
Geoffrey squinted his eyes as if recalling something, then continued.
"And... if I'm not mistaken, the equipment I applied for you should have already been delivered to your home."
"Equipment? What equipment?"
Hearing "equipment," Bologue's eyes lit up. Ever since he learned about Alchemy Armament, Bologue has taken a keen interest in these extraordinary weapons. If he had had an Alchemy Armament during the assessment, he might not have needed to die to shatter the Blade-Biting Wolf.
"Some standard equipment for field staff. After all, you're now a formal employee. We can't just have you slashing around with a folding knife anymore... By the way, why do you like melee weapons so much? Firearms are quite a bit more efficient."
Geoffrey lifted his coat, revealing a handgun tucked into the belt at his waist. It looked plain, but Bologue instinctively felt it was no ordinary firearm.
"Maybe it's psychological trauma?" Bologue said uncertainly, "You know, before I went to prison, I was a soldier. After staying in a warzone for so long, it's inevitable to grow weary of such things."
"Really?" Geoffrey keenly noticed something.
Bologue paused, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
"Not really, it's just that if I told you the real reason, you probably wouldn't believe it."
"Huh?" Geoffrey asked curiously, "Go ahead."
"Do you remember the thing I asked you for right after I got out of prison?" Bologue avoided explaining and instead questioned Geoffrey.
Geoffrey shook his head straightforwardly. He couldn't remember.
"Glasses," Bologue said, "It's an injury left from my time as a soldier. A shell exploded next to me, leaving my head buzzing. When I woke up, I was a bit nearsighted. When things are too far, my vision starts to blur, and my marksmanship is terrible."
"Unfortunately, it was a long time after that when I received the 'Blessing,' and for some reason, the 'Blessing' didn't cure this... maybe it doesn't count as an injury."
"At first I wore glasses for a while, but after all, we're fighting Demons, and nearly every battle would destroy a pair, so eventually, I just stopped wearing them and using guns much."
"Is your nearsightedness severe?" Geoffrey asked.
"Not severe. Actually, if I really try to see, I can manage. I just need some time to concentrate."
Bologue said, frowning and squinting, his facial muscles tensed as if entering another state. However, looking at Bologue's expression at that moment, Geoffrey's cheeks puffed up, as if he couldn't suppress his laughter.
"Go ahead, laugh, laugh, I knew it would be like this."
Bologue maintained his "focus" state and said helplessly.
His expression at this moment was very amusing, with tightly knit brows and squinting eyes, his whole face scrunched into a grimace, his features twisted together, resembling the Chinese character "囧."
"Is it really like this?" Geoffrey laughed so hard he was almost out of breath.
"Yeah, and I realized that instead of focusing to open fire, I could just as easily rush over and hack the opponent to pieces in that time."
Bologue's expression twitched slightly, which was why he didn't want to show this side to others. The cold-blooded warrior had become a grumpy killer eager to get off work.
"Haha!"
Geoffrey couldn't stop laughing, continually expressing his amazement.
"My gosh, Bologue, I never would've thought... have you thought about doing comedy?"
Truth be told, Bologue's contrasting side genuinely amused Geoffrey. He wiped the tears from his eyes from laughing, recalling how things were at the beginning.
"Wow, so at the very beginning, when you had that perpetual grim face, it was just because you couldn't quite see clearly?"
In Geoffrey's memory of meeting Bologue, Bologue was far more aloof than he is now. Even making eye contact, his blue eyes showed no reflection of Geoffrey, as if Geoffrey never entered Bologue's view, and Bologue also never truly looked at him.
Bologue treated everyone with equal disdain.
It felt fantastic, like a nightmare stepping out from urban legends, cold-blooded, oppressive, with absolute confidence in his strength... but in reality, he was just a bit nearsighted, too lazy to clearly see other people's appearances.
"Oh heavens, someone save me."
Geoffrey laughed to the point of near exhaustion, drawing the attention of nearby staff who glanced over.
Bologue did not respond. For this matter, he found himself feeling an unusual touch of embarrassment.
No one expected that Lazarus, who came back from the dead, would have such a side — slightly comedic, a little less precise, like a living human with flesh and blood, rather than a flawless monster.
"Phew, back to serious business. Once operational deployment at your 'Rupert's Tail' officially starts, Lebius should allocate you more advanced equipment. You can look forward to it a little," Geoffrey said.
"I'm already excited if you ask me. If you're willing, I'd even want you to use the 'Key of the Crooked Path' to send me home straight away," Bologue said.
"No can do. I still have work to do. You'll have to make your way back on your own and get familiar with the route on the way."