Chapter 459

Listening to it sounds a little ridiculous, but it also seems fine…

After hearing the female journalist’s account of the current state of the Crocodile Kingdom, Leon couldn’t help but blink speechlessly.

He originally thought that after the Crocodile Kingdom faced a mechanical intelligence crisis, people there should be suffering terribly. However, it turns out their average living standard has risen significantly. It seems he overthought things.

Hmmm… Upon closer reflection, this actually makes more sense.

After all, based on his exchanges with Arthif 128, they don’t seem to have any hatred for humans. They’re not the kind who think “Humans are the cancer of Earth!” or “From a data perspective, humans are trash that should be erased.”

Moreover, even as a subunit like Arthif 128 knows how to negotiate for survival when the flying ship is about to explode, Apheta 01, which is more “intelligent,” would naturally know how to weigh pros and cons.

It just so happens that the Crocodile Kingdom excels in technology, not lacking money, food, or productivity. With its population, it could simply support everyone, and it wouldn’t cost much.

For Apheta 01, it’s cheaper to keep ordinary people alive rather than kill or enslave them, causing a lot of trouble, or even outright war.

After all, if raising people leads to the cultivation of a few great scientists, it could even benefit itself. Given the intelligence of Apheta 01, it naturally wouldn’t recklessly harm humans.

“Alright…”

After understanding the logic behind the current state of the Crocodile Kingdom, Leon couldn’t help but slightly twitch his lips. After recording the situation, he asked another question that had been on his mind.

“So the next question… were you at the Pink Mystery bar in Treasure Street before the Nightmare King descended?”

“Hmm…”

Upon hearing Leon’s words, the female journalist bit her lower lip and then nodded slightly: “I was indeed there, and I stole Blood-Haired Maiden’s wallet.”

It was definitely you.

Leon blinked upon hearing this and asked somewhat confusedly: “Why did you steal her wallet?”

“I don’t know either.”

The female journalist shook her head and said:

“I’m only responsible for stealing the wallet; the director didn’t tell me anything else. As for the director’s purpose, it was probably to deal with Blood-Haired Maiden—something you can guess anyway.”

Hmm… That’s true.

Looking at the female journalist’s soul, completely calm without any shadows or concealments, Leon couldn’t help but frown again.

Previously, he might have worried that the Aquarius Director would use the scent from the director’s wallet to remotely cast curses or something.

But after touching the director’s white teeth earlier, Leon was now very sure that facing the comprehensive protection of [32 Masters], curses would definitely not work.

That’s strange, then why does the Aquarius Director need the director’s wallet? It can’t just be for fun, right?…

“Mr. Leon…”

When Leon was puzzled by the actions of the Aquarius Director, the female journalist recalled their recent conversation and realized that Leon, who supposedly had a deep grudge against the Aquarius Director, hadn’t asked many questions related to Aquarius. She felt something seemed off.

But Leon’s expression of heart-wrenching pain and indescribable sorrow in his eyes looked utterly genuine. After hesitating for a while, she couldn’t help but cautiously probe: “If you don’t mind, could you tell me what the director did to you?”

Hmm… She’s starting to realize something’s off.

Looking at the alert soul of the female journalist, Leon quickly understood that his questioning was inappropriate, deviating from his image as a “bitter victim,” making her cautious.

“Do you want to know what I went through?”

“As long as you tell me his whereabouts, I promise to tell you everything. What do you think?”

“I…”

Seeing the blood seeping from the bite mark on Leon’s lower lip, the female journalist couldn’t help but tremble all over. She dared not look into those overly emotional eyes anymore and quickly lowered her head, stammering: “I was thinking… If you’re willing, I can try to compensate you…”

“Compensate me?”

Upon hearing this, Leon took a step forward, squatted down in front of the female journalist, and looking at her panicked eyes, coldly rejected: “Then abandon your foolish loyalty and tell me his whereabouts! This is the only way to compensate me!”

“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry…”

The doubts that had just surfaced were instantly crushed by the [Performance Master]. Looking at the “victim” who suffered greatly in front of her, the female journalist couldn’t help but tear up, filled with guilt.

“I’ve wronged you too, but he saved my life and raised me… I… I really can’t…”

“Ho ho, are you sure he saved your life instead of seeing your talent, killing your parents, and ruining your original life?”

“I…”

Not a single mistake in the content inside the 69 book bar!

“I’m disappointed in you.”

Taking the female journalist’s file and placing it in front of her, Leon said with disappointment in his eyes: “According to the investigation results from the Fish Division, although you failed to stop the Aquarius Director from doing evil, you privately contacted many victims, trying to change their fates and reporting abnormal events to other divisions in advance, saving many people from his hands.

Even after the Aquarius Director discovered your actions and stopped taking you along, you still didn’t stop these actions, secretly sabotaging many of his experiments. So after reading your file, I thought you weren’t on the same side as him. At least you still had some conscience.

And precisely because I knew this, I never used torture to extract information. Instead, I tried to persuade you, hoping you’d understand your mistakes and give you a chance to repent. But now it seems… hah, I thought too much.”

“I…”

Facing Leon, who had climbed onto the moral high ground using big PUAs for the first time, the female journalist immediately teared up, feeling truly guilty, betraying the trust of the “victim,” and began to doubt whether her choices were correct.

Hmm… She’s almost broken.

Looking at the wavering soul of the female journalist, Leon remained silent for a moment, then sighed deeply and got up to leave with heavy steps.

Just as Leon was pacing “disappointedly” to the door and pulled it open with a creak, the female journalist finally couldn’t bear the torment of guilt in her heart and tearfully called out: “Wait… wait! I’ll talk!”

Done!

Upon hearing the female journalist’s words, Leon’s lips curled slightly after pretending to pull the door. He then walked back to the female journalist but said nothing, only looking at her with an eye full of relief.

“…”

I shouldn’t have done this! Seeing Leon’s warm eyes melting like ice, the female journalist immediately scolded herself again in her heart and choked back tears, tremblingly saying:

“The Aquarius… he hasn’t abandoned his original plans yet, preparing to launch a surprise attack… wah!”

Before she finished speaking, the female journalist’s face suddenly turned pale, and she vomited a large amount of fresh red blood, directly splashing Leon. Her soul also unexpectedly left her body like being swept by a strong wind, colliding with Leon with a bang.

“Woof? Woof? Woof?”

With three baffled barks, Leon’s soul was also pushed out of his body. The huge gate of the Deathscape entrance quietly appeared, and under the gate, the Three-headed Dog God awakened from its nap, its three dog faces full of joy looking over.

(End of Chapter)