Chapter 356

“…”

Having listened to the “negotiation” content from the red-haired Bureau Director, Leon’s expression couldn’t help but slightly awkward.

Imagining the red-haired Bureau Director, who was living a pretty good life, threatening the square-headed old man that if he didn’t help, he would spread the word about being his “apprentice,” ruining his reputation, Leon’s heart even felt a tiny bit of guilt.

After all, though the square-headed old man had an odd personality and a foul mouth, he was still contributing to protecting humanity even after death. Using such a thing to threaten him wasn’t really right.

In his heart, Leon apologized on behalf of the Bureau Director to the square-headed old man and remembered this useful negotiation method. Then, he reached out and touched the semi-transparent strange glove.

【Name: Scream Hand (Suppression, Resentment, Revival)】

【Appearance: A strangely designed semi-transparent glove with reinforced knuckles, entirely sewn from a kind of half-transparent spiky nettle found near the River of Yellow Springs. If you look closely, you can see countless very small barbs】

【Ability: Suppress divinity, resentment mantra, brief revival】

【Cost: No need to inject any strength; just wearing it on your hand will make it effective.

However, every time you punch a target, the fine thorns inside and outside the glove will pierce both parties’ skin, injecting a large amount of soul toxins that suppress divinity and cause excruciating pain】

【Record: Forged by the anomalous object “Forging Spirit,” using materials like the translucent nettles growing by the River of Yellow Springs and some special soul fragments from the Aquarius Director. It has an extremely strong suppression effect on the divinity distributed in the flesh of true gods.

Additionally, because of the anger over the disgraceful threat he received, the “Forging Spirit” accidentally chose the highly penetrative translucent nettles during material selection. This not only greatly enhances the suppression effect but also brings unimaginable severe pain to the user while keeping their soul always clear and sharp.

And when first contacted without mental preparation, the toxins seeping into the soul through the translucent nettles might even briefly revive the dead】

【Evaluation: One punch results in two screams—one yours, one mine】

【Taint Value: 0.1】

“…”

Looking at the archive of the [Scream Hand] mentioning “briefly reviving the dead” and the evaluation of “one punch, two screams,” Leon’s lips couldn’t help but twitch violently.

Thanks, Third Generation Teacher!!!

From now on, you’re my only teacher in forging secrets! No one can stop me from helping my teacher gain fame!

Carefully putting this thing away into the Mirror World and warning the puppy not to touch it under any circumstances, Leon, whose mood improved greatly upon hearing the news of Aquarius’ “death,” turned his head toward Emma and asked with a smile: “Sorry, Emma Senior, I didn’t hear clearly… What does Elie need?”

“…”

Elie needs a complete family, especially someone who is particularly good to her… and her mom, someone who can compensate for the lost fatherly love she’s been missing all these years…

“Why are you looking at me?”

Ignoring the “Why aren’t you leaving yet?” look from her best friend, the red-haired Bureau Director had no awareness that she was being a third wheel. She stayed in Leon’s office with a malicious glint in her eyes, smiling sweetly as she urged: “Say it already, Emma~”

“Just say what you want to say~ I like Little Elie too, so I’ll help with whatever she wants~”

“…”

You helping me and Elie would be by just leaving already!!

But no matter how fierce her gaze, the words that had already reached her mouth, Emma simply couldn’t utter them.

…

There’s no other reason—there’s a ten-year age gap between the two of them, and her daughter is already as old as Leon’s younger siblings.

Even if Leon once said he didn’t care when drunk, if the situation were reversed, it would feel like a divorced middle-aged man with kids asking a newly adult girl for love.

Maybe Olivia could say it, but her own face isn’t as thick as hers, and she truly couldn’t do something like this.

The first time she almost managed to say it was because she suddenly heard that Elie could return to normal, and her emotions overwhelmed her rationality.

After being interrupted by Olivia, she managed to open her mouth again thanks to the belief of “cherishing those in front” and the idea of giving Elie a complete home, barely mustering up some courage, which was then ruined by Olivia again.

When the excitement subsided and the courage was forcibly interrupted, this third attempt was already incredibly difficult, and there was an annoyingly familiar guy nearby with a mischievous grin watching her intently…

How could she possibly open her mouth? After glaring angrily at the red-haired Bureau Director several times, all of which were deflected effortlessly, realizing there was nothing she could do about this scoundrel, Emma had no choice but to bite her lip, enduring the faint heat in her ears and the reluctance in her heart, and began speaking in a steady tone:

“Elie… needs peers and friends, and also some normal childlike experiences… Can she go to school with Melanie and the others?”

After struggling to speak, concern for her daughter took over again, and Emma gathered her scattered thoughts, voicing her worries:

“Elie has a rather introverted personality, hasn’t interacted with peers before, and hasn’t attended school either. If she suddenly enters a strange environment, I’m worried she won’t be able to adapt… So if possible, could your younger siblings take care of her more?”

“No problem!”

Leon, full of joy over the Aquarius Director’s death, didn’t notice the game between the Bureau Director and Emma Senior. He immediately promised, slapping his chest and taking full responsibility:

“Let Elie be in the same class as William! If possible, place their seats closer! As for Elie making friends, although Melanie doesn’t have great grades, she gets along well with classmates. With them leading her, Elie will quickly fit in.”

“Thank you…”

Expressing sincere gratitude but still feeling somewhat reluctant, Emma couldn’t bear the two parts playful, three parts teasing, and five parts meaningful looks from her best friend any longer. Her cheeks flushed red as she instinctively turned away, avoiding the gazes of Leon and the others. Feeling somewhat flustered, she pushed open the door to the office and hurriedly bolted out like she was escaping, leaving behind a trembling farewell.

“I… I still have things to do, I’ll leave first!”

After her hasty departure, the seemingly calm duo inside relaxed simultaneously.

Just as Leon was about to ask about the details of Aquarius’ death and check for any suspicious points, he felt a slight tightening around his collar. A beautiful face filled with gritted teeth and a “smile of rage” appeared directly in front of him.

“Three days!”

Grabbing Leon’s collar tightly, the red-haired Bureau Director, who had been holding back for a while, clenched her teeth and asked with a mocking smile:

“It’s only been three days since I left! And you’ve already charmed my Emma away? You damn bastard, is your efficiency really that high?”

(End of Chapter)