Chapter 468

After feeling the sharp sensation of a cut on his neck, Leon couldn’t help but pause in silence for a moment before responding with a crisp “hmm.”

While it still couldn’t be confirmed whether there was any ulterior motive behind Aquarius Director’s deal, the female journalist herself was indeed a good person.

Even if one could forge credentials, disguise character, and fake reactions, all her responses matched her soul vibrations—there seemed to be no room for deceit. And for someone like her, being executed by the Clearing Bureau due to involvement with Aquarius would indeed feel… inappropriate.

“Very well.”

Upon hearing Leon’s response, the letter opener that had been pressed against his neck finally ceased its advance and began to withdraw.

But what Aquarius Director didn’t expect at all was that just as the blade was about to fully leave Leon’s neck, a hand suddenly reached out, pressing the blade back into Leon’s throat.

“Wait!”

As though he hadn’t just narrowly escaped death, Leon grabbed the letter opener at his neck and, through the connection between their souls, pulled it back without hesitation, saying:

“Since you’d rather let me go than risk Nicole’s life, would you consider paying a little extra so she can have an easier time within our bureau?”

“…”

From afar, Aquarius Director, who had not left but merely concealed herself, watched as Leon held the letter opener and fell silent.

From a strength perspective, the other party was special, but ultimately only a Level 3 Cleaner. Given the right opportunity, she could kill him dozens, even hundreds of times within a single breath.

Yet this Level 3 Cleaner kept messing up her plans. Despite having countless cards up her sleeve and already holding the upper hand, whenever she encountered him, things always slipped out of her control bit by bit…

“Speak.”

Looking at the distant, downcast female journalist, Aquarius Director hesitated for a while but eventually suppressed the impulse to retract her offer and spoke through the [Silver Knife]:

“What do you want? Wealth and status should already be within your grasp. Do you seek powerful anomalous items? Or perhaps longevity beyond human limits?”

“None of those. I just want to ask you a few questions.”

Hearing Aquarius Director’s reply, Leon secretly sighed in relief and, still gripping the knife’s blade, asked impatiently:

“Is the tin doll that attacked the Royal Palace connected to you?”

“…”

“I’ve thought it over. That thing didn’t act until the exact moment when the Bureau Director went to the Dream Realm, and the only one who could possibly know the director’s movements besides me is you.”

“…”

“Don’t try to deny it; this is definitely your doing!”

Seeing that Aquarius Director remained silent, and the blade started to pull out again, Leon quickly grabbed it and continued:

“Before you showed up, I was only suspicious. But now that you’re here, I’m absolutely certain that Nicole’s capture was intentional on your part. You wanted to divert the Bureau Director’s attention and allow the doll to attack the palace. You must be connected to that mysterious organization and the anomalous entity known as ‘The Slayer King Three’!”

Listening to Leon’s firm judgment, Aquarius Director could only nod from afar and then furrowed her brows: “I can’t answer that question. You saw how that doll died. When I joined them, it was equivalent to signing my name on some kind of contract-related anomaly.

If I betray them and reveal critical information, the powers of the other signatories will converge through the bridge created by that contract-related anomaly and completely crush both my body and soul!”

Death upon revealing secrets?

Upon hearing Aquarius Director’s words, Leon’s eyebrows shot up.

So, if I prepare something like a ‘Compulsory Truth Serum’ anomaly, I might trigger the effect of that anomaly, directly eliminating Aquarius Director or other members of that organization?

“Also, don’t think you can use things like the ‘Truth Scale’ to kill me by triggering that anomaly.”

Just as Leon began contemplating exploiting loopholes, Aquarius Director seemed to see through his plan and scoffed coldly:

“I used this method to eliminate two of their members before joining them. Now, based on my suggestion, they’ve modified the effects of that anomaly. Things like the ‘Truth Scale’ are useless now.”

“…”

You…shoreline hacker fixing vulnerabilities after getting off, reporting seeds after watching movies, right?

Disappointed, Leon inwardly clicked his tongue but maintained his composure and lied smoothly: “No, I’m struggling to protect myself right now. How could I think of killing you? I was just wondering if the deer horn symbol on Nicole’s head belongs to one of the Deathscape Sovereigns, specifically the Doe of Afflicted Flesh’s mark? Could it also be a member of that organization?”

“I don’t know, I’m not familiar with it. I haven’t met it yet.”

Unfamiliar? Hearing Aquarius Director’s response, Leon blinked and immediately caught the implied meaning.

Aquarius Director claimed unfamiliarity with the Doe of Afflicted Flesh, despite never meeting it, yet they “trusted” each other enough to borrow its power. This meant the Doe of Afflicted Flesh must also be a member of that organization.

Otherwise, where did Aquarius Director make contact with it? Through WeChat Shake-to-Shake? “I understand.”

Nodding knowingly, Leon continued pressing the letter opener and asked: “Then the next question…”

“I’ve said more than enough!”

Despite placing the knife on Leon’s neck to threaten him, it ended up with Leon grabbing the knife and interrogating her. Even with Aquarius Director’s depth of scheming, she couldn’t help but feel irritated.

“Just these two pieces of information alone would be enough for me to convince Bloodhair Princess to protect Nicole. Don’t push it too far!”

“One last one, I promise!”

Having figured out Aquarius Director’s weakness, Leon hastily grabbed the knife that was about to be pulled out and smiled apologetically: “And I won’t ask for free. You know, although I’m just a Level 3 Cleaner, because I uncovered your secret, in the eyes of the higher-ups at the Clearing Bureau, we’re mortal enemies.

So if even I, your sworn enemy, am willing to vouch for Nicole and confirm she has no issues and was merely dragged into this by you, then Nicole would be completely cleared, wouldn’t you agree?”

( ) “One last…”

(The chapter ends)