Chapter 1562 - 86: Master of French Fries

Bologue couldn’t quite remember how he walked out of the Undying Club. To be precise, when he awoke from Olivia’s story and realized he was "Bologue Lazarus" again, he was already standing on the streets of Oubos City.

Night had fallen, the streetlights were bright, and the pedestrians were talking with hints of laughter that vanished at the street corner.

The cool evening breeze blew into Bologue’s collar, and it was then that he realized his clothes were soaked with sweat, the coldness penetrating deep into his bones as if he were submerged in icy water.

"What do you think of this story?"

Palmer came out from behind Bologue, this careless guy was also looking exhausted, leaning against the wall on the street, his gaze unfocused.

"The events have already happened, no amount of judgment can change anything."

Bologue tried to explain from a rational perspective, but halfway through, he couldn’t help but sigh, "So, does Serey count as a hero?"

If Aisha hadn’t sacrificed, if Serey hadn’t betrayed them, if the Eternal Night Empire had won the Dawn War... what would the world be like now?

Bologue imagined that heavy, gloomy Dark Iron Curtain covering every corner of the continent, first causing plants to wither, triggering the collapse of the food chain, one creature after another disappearing, sunlight becoming a legendary thing, and only the distant ocean-going ships could glimpse that warm existence from the sea.

The Eternal Night Empire might open up a benevolent sunlight zone to allow humans to farm, barely sustaining themselves.

Yes, countries would fall, mortals would become blood citizens, slaughtered like livestock by the Night Race, continually paying the blood tax until their life’s end.

That would be a completely ossified society, with the Pure Blood class occupying the top of the pyramid, their prolonged lives making their power unshakable by anyone, all to serve the upper echelons of the Empire, even the Night King himself.

Just like the Ultimate Condenser.

"A hero? I don’t think Serey would like the word hero," Palmer speculated, "It sounds like an insult to him... being called a hero by cowards, how disgraceful."

Bologue laughed twice, trying to ease the oppression in his heart, "Palmer, how do you view the Undead?"

"The Undead?"

Palmer thought for a moment and shared his thoughts, "I think the Undead are quite terrible."

Palmer began his strange description, "Take for example the game we play, ’Journey of Eternal Night’. Its fun comes from encountering various random events as the game progresses, facing numerous crises, and trying every means to overcome them. But once we no longer die, what’s the point of it all?"

He fell silent after speaking, looking like he was racking his brains.

"Let me think... how should I put this more specifically?"

Palmer was a little irritated, knowing the point he wanted to express, but unable to articulate it perfectly.

Bologue accurately captured Palmer’s idea.

"Motivation."

"Yes, yes, exactly that!"

Palmer clapped in agreement, indeed worthy as his partner, understanding immediately.

Bologue shook his head helplessly, Palmer’s ability to express himself was indeed poor; otherwise, Vasilina wouldn’t have tormented him for so long.

The two moved again, chatting idly and walking aimlessly until Bologue felt a bit tired and sat down on the steps of a parking lot.

"Yes," Bologue affirmed, "Death is an existential limitation for humans. It gives our finite lives a sense of urgency and purpose, which is — motivation."

"Because we know life is limited, we treasure time and resources more, learn, grow, and create. This understanding and fear of death, to some extent, propel human progress and development."

Palmer followed along with Bologue’s words, thinking, "Precisely because it will end, it’s especially precious."

Bologue mocked, "But as you said, the Undead wouldn’t cherish such things. Time, life, they have heaps of it, as abundant as grains of sand."

He continued organizing his thoughts, "On the contrary, the Undead don’t have the threat of death, thus they have a completely different understanding and pursuit of the meaning and value of life.

The Undead might no longer create value for self-acknowledgment, might cease to feel the urgency and preciousness of life, like a game where you can’t lose, life becomes tasteless."

Upon mentioning this part, Bologue recalled the Undead he had met. Each could be considered an eccentric, driven to hysteria to add a splash of color to their pale existence.

"It’s not that absolute," Palmer added, "It mainly depends on the type of Undead, right? Like someone like Serey, he would definitely be the former, even going to the extent of pole dancing for fun."

Bologue curiously asked, "And the latter?"

"The latter would be those who, even after becoming Undead, still pursue personal value. Like dedicating themselves to a field, using their almost infinite time for research, expanding the boundaries of knowledge."

Palmer continued, "Doesn’t that sound not too bad? Studying earnestly for a hundred years."

"And then?"