Chapter 467

Upon hearing the inquiry from the Aquarius Director, the female journalist’s body stiffened slightly, and Leon felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

“I’m nothing like that female journalist! Given the grudge between her and me, if she finds out I’m here, the Aquarius Director would be overjoyed and likely tear me apart limb by limb, grind my bones to dust, and mix them into her food. She might even laugh about it later in heaven after remembering today’s events.”

As for the female journalist…

Though she was prepared to cover for him, the Aquarius Director’s assessment of her was correct. At her current level, trying to protect him would be no different than directly betraying him! “Don’t move!”

Realizing he couldn’t hide any longer, Leon took the risk of being discovered and extended his almost invisible right hand, pressing it against the female journalist’s waist.

At an angle where the Aquarius Director couldn’t see, through the tight contact of their souls, Leon transmitted his thoughts and ideas directly into the female journalist’s mind.

“Follow what I say! First, hesitate a bit, then mention another soul. Say it should be a blood-haired execution expert invited by the Public Security Bureau during interrogation. The expert accidentally left their body due to the collision and entered the Deathscape but couldn’t survive because the soul was too weak and has already been digested by the Hound God!”

“Alright…”

After adjusting her body uncomfortably, the female journalist struggled to control her emotions and relayed Leon’s explanation.

“Hmm… I see…”

After listening to the female journalist’s recount, the Aquarius Director nodded slightly, showing no intention to inquire further. Instead, she calmly said:

“Nicole, after this meeting, we will probably never see each other again. While there’s still time, let’s talk some more.”

“…”

Hearing the Aquarius Director’s words, the female journalist instinctively clenched her fists, feeling chaotic inside.

Although the Three-headed Dog God is dead, its ability to “digest” souls remains. If they keep chatting like this, Leon, who hasn’t fully cleaned off the “digestive liquid,” might suffer greatly, possibly even disintegrating under the erosion!

So… should she come up with an excuse, telling the Director safety first, that Blood-haired Ji might show up anytime soon, and have him leave first to release Leon?

“Don’t! Absolutely don’t!”

Through the contact of their souls, Leon quickly intervened forcefully:

“You won’t fool him with that! He might secretly return after leaving, which would truly doom me! Just nod now, lower your head, and stay silent!”

“Mm…”

After responding simultaneously to both people, the somewhat anxious female journalist bit her lips and remained silent while lowering her head.

And the Aquarius Director, upon receiving her response, softly spoke with a hint of guilt: “There’s something I’ve never told you… Although your parents weren’t harmed by me, when I found you back then, I actually had the chance to save your parents, but… I didn’t do it in the end.”

“What?!!”

Hearing the Aquarius Director’s words, the female journalist’s body suddenly trembled. She raised her head and stared fiercely at the director.

“Sorry…”

Without looking at the female journalist’s eyes, the Aquarius Director closed hers briefly, filled with regret as she said: “There’s nothing I can explain about this matter. As for why I made that choice, you probably understand even without me saying it.”

“You…”

“I must say, I truly regret it now.”

Glancing at the female journalist’s pale lips, the Aquarius Director sighed: “If I had known it would turn out like this today, I probably wouldn’t have made that choice back then. But regretting now is too late. Your parents are gone, and my decision was indeed terrible…”

“Nicole, although I wanted to leave a good impression on you during our last meeting, if I don’t tell you now, these words will never get a chance to be spoken. After much thought, I decided to be honest with you.”

“…”

Honesty…

Hearing the Aquarius Director’s words, the female journalist involuntarily tightened her grip, wanting to rush forward and question her. But she worried that without her covering aura, Leon’s soul might be completely exposed. In the end, she stood there, her voice dry as she asked quietly:

“Just because… I could become an excellent material for creating anomalies?”

The Aquarius Director nodded, suppressing the regret on her face, and calmly said:

“You know, after the death of my last family member, there was nothing left in this world worth holding onto except for the Secret Art of Anomalous Creation. My only wish, my final one, is to reach the Watchtower Palace and see what the ultimate form of the Secret Art of Anomalous Creation looks like.”

“Is the Secret Art of Anomalous Creation really that important to you?”

Hearing this, the female journalist gritted her teeth and asked bitterly: “Even if the price of just a glimpse means ruining countless lives, being hunted down by the Clearing Bureau, or even sitting alone in the silent void until your soul dissipates… knowing all this, you still don’t regret it?”

“That’s the future.”

The Aquarius Director blinked and replied calmly: “I don’t know if I’ll regret it when I sit alone in the void in the future, but if I had the opportunity and didn’t take a look, I’d start regretting it right now.”

“…”

“Nicole, you wouldn’t understand this feeling.”

Looking at the female journalist who bit her lips and stopped talking, the Aquarius Director’s eyes showed a faint trace of madness.

“In the past hundred years, most of the abnormal objects I created using the Secret Art of Anomalous Creation originated from extreme emotions such as bias, anger, hatred… these more intense and crazy feelings.

But as the highest masterpiece of this secret art, the root of the Watchtower Palace is love, a kind of not-so-intense, even somewhat taken-for-granted goodwill and compassion.

Since the Watchtower Palace is the pinnacle of the creation secret art, and I started off on the wrong path, despite having unparalleled talent, I may never reach the true peak of this secret art throughout my life…”

“Nicole, do you know how desperate I felt when I realized this?”

“I don’t want to know, nor am I interested!”

Seeing the Aquarius Director full of madness before her, the female journalist couldn’t help but feel disappointed and angrily said: “I only know you’re a madman! You’ve gone completely insane!”

“Hmm… Perhaps I really have gone mad.”

After hearing this, the Aquarius Director fell silent for a moment, the manic emotion waned slightly, then seemed to sense something, turned around and looked behind her, and shook her head regrettably:

“Nicole, I should go now. Remember my previous words. As long as you continue…”

“Go away! I don’t want to see you anymore!”

“…”

Looking at the female journalist, the Aquarius Director shook her head, turned around, took a step, and quietly disappeared beyond the Gate of the Dead.

Just as Leon let out a sigh of relief, hesitating whether he should crawl out immediately or wait a bit longer in case the Aquarius Director returned, there was a sudden sound of bones cracking within the three-headed dog’s brain.

Then, a bizarre-looking paper cutter easily pierced through the upper jaw of the Hound God and fell onto Leon with a clatter. Along with the knife, a low whisper followed.

“Let’s make a deal.”

In Leon’s wide-open eyes, the thin and sharp paper cutter quietly moved to the side of his neck, cutting a small incision.

Subsequently, strange characters seeped in through this small cut, infiltrated into Leon’s soul, and transformed into the familiar voice of the Aquarius Director.

“I’ve ruined the relationship between Nicole and me. She poses no threat to you anymore. So, I hope to trade this little knife and your life for Nicole’s protection from the Virgo Subdivision… Are you interested in this deal?”

“…”

(End of Chapter)