Bologue nodded, took out six Weng Coins from his pocket, and handed them to the old man through the iron bars.
After a while, the old man handed over a piece of bread and a can of beer through the iron bars, and Bologue put them in his pocket as he was preparing to leave. He noticed something.
"Is the security not good lately?" Bologue asked.
"It's alright, it's just preparing a little more. When you operate this late, you're bound to run into some trouble."
The old man chuckled, stuffing the gun handle that peeked out by the small window back inside.
Bologue raised an eyebrow, waved his hand, "Remember to tell me if anything happens, goodnight."
"Goodnight, Bologue."
The old man replied with a smile, then pulled the small window shut.
Returning to his apartment, he pushed open the first-floor door, glanced at the drowsy superintendent, and walked up the dirty stairs, with endless noise filling his ears.
Those were the neighbors of Bologue. An elderly man who was a bit deaf, always liked to turn the TV volume up to max; while another was a couple with emotional discord, who argued from time to time, and once they began, it would last the whole night. Unfortunately, Bologue lived between the two.
To be honest, it felt rather peculiar. The neighbors ran around every day for the sake of daily provisions, while he wandered about hunting demons, yet ultimately they all returned to one building, sleeping peacefully.
Like people from two worlds, yet wondrously coexisting in one.
Ignoring the incessant noise, Bologue stopped in front of a worn-out door, turned the handle, and returned to his familiar little room.
...
After a day's work, Geoffrey dragged his weary body home. Having lent his coat to Bologue, the cold wind on the way back made his cheeks flush slightly; he suspected he might be coming down with a cold.
Slumping onto the sofa, just as he was about to enjoy this brief tranquility, a shrill phone ring sounded. Geoffrey looked towards the source of the ring, with a slight gloom covering his eyes.
Picking up the phone, a familiar voice resounded.
"What do you think of this Bologue Lazarus?" The person didn't bother with pleasantries, directly asking the question.
In the dim room, Geoffrey hung his head low, holding the phone receiver, hesitated for a few seconds, then answered, "Not bad, at least I think he's a good person."
"A good person?"
The voice on the other end was momentarily stunned.
"Yes, a good person," Geoffrey loosened his tie at the chest with one hand, it was making him feel a bit breathless, "A somewhat unconventional, beyond common sense, not quite a good... good person."
A vague image of Bologue Lazarus formed in his mind.
"You think he's a good person? Look at the things he's done."
Geoffrey wasn't surprised by the other party's reaction; Bologue truly was a peculiar guy.
Like some rare species, when you meet him, you start questioning the reality of the world.
With a bitter smile, he picked up a cut-up newspaper on the table, each clip reporting all sorts of shocking news.
"In January this year, a serial killer codenamed 'Werewolf' appeared near the Great Rift; this Bologue Lazarus gentleman found him, and hung him on the cable car of the Great Rift. In the morning, as the cable car moved up, the dangling corpse was witnessed by hundreds..."
The phone receiver resounded.
"The opponent was a demon, you know too, demons are no longer human, there's no need to be so merciful... I think Bologue sees it that way too." Geoffrey attempted to argue on Bologue's behalf.
"In May, he wielded a knife, slaughtering several train cars on a tram heading to the suburbs. When the tram arrived at the station, the cars opened, and there was a river of blood, a heap of corpses... Now some citizens who witnessed this scene are still receiving psychological treatment in the hospital."
"That tram was packed with gathered demons. I admit his methods might be a bit extreme, but he did stop a meeting of demons, whatever they were conspiring, anyway, they all turned into a heap of corpses."
Geoffrey covered his head, having to admit Bologue's record was quite impressive.
"And what about this? This... he did well on this one, the demon codenamed 'Poison Fang', we've been tracking it for a long time, but he accidentally resolved it."
The voice on the phone became complicated. According to Bologue afterward, he was wandering that day, happened to notice the demon's trail, and took care of 'Poison Fang' on his way as overtime work.
"And what about this next one? A vendetta? He single-handedly dismantled several small gangs and dealt with some bribed sheriffs using private punishment, slaughtering all the way, then there's today's priest."
"This just goes to show, he has justice in his heart! The wrath of the righteous!"
Geoffrey began to speak nonsense.
The other end of the receiver fell silent, after a while, the other party asked.
"Why are you defending him like this?"
Geoffrey didn't answer immediately, squinting, recalling working with Bologue over the past year.
"How to put it? Yas, I just feel... Bologue's quite okay, though this guy has various troubles, he's indeed an expert in handling these matters."
On the other end, Yas didn't interrupt Geoffrey, listening quietly.
"Sometimes, I think Bologue might be somewhat self-destructive."
"Self-destructive?"
"Yes, he's quite unlucky. I've talked to him many times; he can't even recall why exactly, but he made a pact with the devil, inexplicably becoming a debtor, then before he could do any bad deeds, he got locked up."