Chapter 228

Damn it, if everyone actually believed your nonsense, I’d have to let the brain-eating demons lick my brain grooves! So you’re just gonna prepare a flimsy apology? After getting his scalp all tingly from Leon’s “boomerang” strikes, fearing that the Clearing Bureau Director might really believe Leon’s lies, the lanky man quickly turned back toward the Main Platform and argued earnestly:

“Director! What he said is just one side of the story! We still need to look at… uh… where’s the Director?”

“The Director’s time was up.”

A director stepped forward with an expression full of helplessness and replied:

“Just as you two started arguing, Old Earth happened to turn to the dark side of the sun halo, and the Director’s projection got blocked. Next time he comes back… probably seven or eight years!”

“…”

Wait a second… before we even decided how to handle Aquarius, the Clearing Bureau Director’s gone? And once gone, for seven or eight years? This is way less reliable than the UN!

Looking at the now vanished projection of the Director on the Main Platform, Leon couldn’t hold back any longer.

Our Clearing Bureau truly has some exceptional talents! A Director who only shows up every eight years, a traitorous Director wanting to dismantle our own space station, Subdivision Directors still thinking about infighting during critical moments, plus a certain someone who’s sharp as a monkey when sober but turns into a complete fool after drinking…

Damn it! With this bunch holding up the world, it’s a miracle we haven’t been taken over by Outer Gods yet, must’ve hit some crazy luck!

…

“Alright, stop with all the pointless bickering.”

After exchanging silent glances, it was finally Taurus Director who stepped forward, asking seriously: “Leon, was what you just said true? Did Aquarius really say who inside the Bureau is colluding with him?”

“Yes, and he mentioned each name very clearly.”

Amidst the Scorpion Bureau Director’s shocked and angry expression, Leon nodded then sighed helplessly: “But his speaking speed was too fast. Apart from the first few sentences, he could rattle off hundreds of words per second, so I really couldn’t make out what he was saying. However…”

Glancing at the Scorpion Bureau Director who seemed slightly relieved, Leon raised an eyebrow:

“However, the truth scales in his hand condensed his words into weights. Just touch the weight, and you can know its content.”

Upon hearing Leon’s words, the Scorpion Bureau Director immediately stiffened! “But then the truth scales exploded suddenly, and most of the weights scattered across the Main Platform and were crushed by subsequent attacks.”

The Scorpion Bureau Director relaxed a bit…

“But before those attacks landed, I managed to snatch a few weights.”

The Scorpion Bureau Director tensed again! “But among the weights I grabbed, there wasn’t one recording the list of traitors.”

The Scorpion Bureau Director relaxed once more…

“But although I didn’t get the list of collaborators with Aquarius, I did manage to obtain…”

“Alright, stop right there!”

Realizing Leon was deliberately messing with him, the tall man gave up completely, gritting his teeth and admitted directly: “I admit! Before the interrogation began, Aquarius privately visited me and promised some benefits, but he absolutely didn’t mention anything about the Watchtower Palace!

At that time, Aquarius only told me that there would be an inquiry targeting him after the year-end review, regarding the private creation of anomalous items, hoping I could support him then. That’s all! I’ll take responsibility for my words!”

“Aquarius also came to see me, the situation is similar to Edward’s…”

“Sigh… Same here.”

“I’m the same, though he only said it was some minor trouble…”

“And me, but I didn’t agree to him.”

But these people all swore solemnly, claiming they only knew about some minor issues and had no knowledge of Aquarius Director’s plot against the Watchtower Palace.

Having achieved his goal, Leon wisely stopped pressing further. After noting these people down mentally, he didn’t bring up the nonexistent list of traitors anymore, instead continuing after their confessions: “I didn’t get the list, but I did manage to obtain the cultivation methods of two secret arts, one being the abnormal creation secret art of the Aquarius lineage, the other called ‘Fork Finger Overturn’, a suppression technique specifically aimed at True Gods deprived of their powers… Do these two secret arts need to be handed over?”

“No need.”

Upon hearing this, Taurus Director sighed, shaking her head disappointedly: “We already have backups of these two secret arts within the Bureau, so you don’t need to submit them. Moreover, the requirements for talent are incredibly high, not something you can master just because you have the cultivation methods.

As for the abnormal creation secret art of the Aquarius lineage, it goes without saying that only those chosen by the Aquarius Star Palace can become practitioners. All twelve secret arts are like this; you must be chosen first to qualify for study.

As for that [Fork Finger Overturn], aside from the first generation Aquarius and this generation’s Aquarius, no third person has ever mastered it… What a pity, you obtained the two most valuable things from Aquarius, but also the two least useful.”

That’s debatable.

Recalling the two secret arts sealed in his mind, Leon nodded silently, even using the [Performer] badge to put on a regretful expression, but deep down, he was already scheming.

When the opportunity arises, I must see if I can try to infiltrate that Star Palace thing. With the [Materialist] badge that can “boost resistance,” maybe I have the chance to forcibly learn the abnormal creation secret art even without being chosen.

No mistake in the content found on 69 Book Bar!

…

“Olivia.”

Unaware that someone was already plotting loopholes, after questioning Leon, Taurus Director turned to her with a gentle expression and asked:

“This time, thanks to you. If it weren’t for you and Beverly persistently insisting, Aquarius might have gotten away with it, and even the Watchtower Palace might have been threatened… Tell me, what reward do you want?”

“I don’t need any reward.”

The Red-haired Bureau Director has always held a mysterious reverence for Taurus Director, who serves as the Palace Master. Upon hearing her question, she quickly refused with utmost seriousness: “Compared to your contributions to all humanity, my efforts are negligible and don’t amount to much. It’s all part of my duty.

Besides, Aquarius created twelve Anomalous Item holders that roamed around the Capital City for several years, and I failed to capture them, which is a serious dereliction of duty. Accepting rewards under such circumstances would make me unworthy.

This time, Leon discovered the clues first and provided evidence at the critical moment, cornering Aquarius with no way out. He deserves the credit! Beverly and the other Subdivision Directors also worked hard gathering evidence, so you should reward them.”

“You shouldn’t decline.”

Taurus Director shook her head: “They will all receive their rewards, but this interrogation was led by you. If it weren’t for your persistent efforts, I wouldn’t have agreed to the interrogation, and guiding Leon to seize the opportunity to capture the rebels was also your achievement. What’s yours is yours.”

“In that case…”

Hearing Taurus Director’s words, the Red-haired Bureau Director hesitated for a moment, eyes filled with anticipation:

“I remember the pearl of the Wine God…”

“Anything but that.”

“…”

“Don’t even think about it, that’s really impossible…”

Looking at the disappointed Red-haired Bureau Director, Taurus Director helplessly said: “Don’t you know your own condition? That pearl can brew any kind of liquor in the world. If I really gave it to you, your Virgo Subdivision would probably disband on the spot tomorrow!”

(End of Chapter)