Chapter 580

At the Clearing Bureau’s headquarters, in a small conference room named “The Room of Dim Sunshine,

“Everyone, this time both I and the Archer Director have summoned you here because there are several extremely important matters that need to be conveyed to you immediately.”

With the main seat vacant, Taurus Director sat in the secondary position and, looking around at the over eighty illusory shadows gathered below, announced with a complicated expression: “Firstly, after an investigation by the Scorpio Division, it has been confirmed that the Gemini Division located in the Crocodile Kingdom has been completely wiped out. Nearly half of its members were either killed or imprisoned, while the rest have suffered enslavement on a spiritual level. Only Nicole Koloman, originally a Level 1 Cleaner from the Gemini Division, managed to survive.”

“?!!!”

Though everyone knew that convening all division directors remotely during the bureau’s self-isolation meant something major had occurred, the sudden explosiveness of the news still caught everyone off guard.

In response to such shocking information, all the directors of large and small divisions within the Clearing Bureau, despite their true forms not being present and thus unable to “whisper among themselves,” still exchanged looks of shock left and right. Some had already started secretly “private chatting.”

“Everyone, please maintain order!”

Clapping her hands forcefully, Taurus Director forcibly cut off all private chats between the directors before speaking with an unpleased expression: “You can discuss this matter amongst yourselves after the meeting. Right now, we need to deliberate on what to do about the vacancy in the Gemini Division!”

What to do about the vacancy in the Gemini Division? At these words, a somewhat hunched shadow seated among the twelve seats of the Zodiac Divisions coughed twice and raised his hand:

“Taurus Honorable, Boris, the director of the Furnace Division, broke through the 60-point Leon Value twenty years ago and can directly step up to take responsibility for rebuilding the Gemini Division.”

Upon hearing this from the hunched shadow, many other shadows suddenly understood and began raising their arms one after another, recommending various candidates:

“Taurus Honorable, I recommend Anduin, the director of the Great Magpie Division!”

“I also recommend Boris from the Furnace Division!”

“Taurus Honorable! The Compass Division volunteers itself!”

“Silence!”

Clapping her hands again to interrupt the recommendations, Taurus Director couldn’t help but glance toward the Virgo Division’s seat before saying:

“The situation this time is rather complicated; it’s not as simple as just selecting someone to fill the vacancy.

Most of the cleaners from the Gemini Division have been rescued, but many of them participated in the rebellion initiated by the Aquarius Director and committed numerous violations, which will require careful review and accountability.

Additionally, the issue isn’t confined to the Gemini Division alone. Andre, the third prince of the Crocodile Kingdom, conspired with the Aquarius Director and murdered the majority of the royal family… well, Edward!”

Calling out to the Scorpion Bureau Director, Taurus Director propped her head with her hand and said helplessly, “You’re the lead investigator of this mission, so please explain the current state of the Crocodile Kingdom.”

“Alright…”

After acknowledging, the Scorpion Bureau Director’s shadow stood up, hesitated briefly, and then confessed directly:

“Everyone, the Crocodile Kingdom no longer exists.”

“?!!!”

Faced with this bombshell dropped by the Scorpion Bureau Director, all the shadows present visibly jolted simultaneously. The red-haired bureau director sitting across from him involuntarily widened his eyes, a strong sense of foreboding surging in his heart.

“Director Edward?”

After a long pause, the hunched shadow who first recommended a replacement candidate broke the silence, his voice filled with shock:

“The Crocodile Kingdom… was completely annihilated?”

The Scorpion Bureau Director slightly bowed his head:

“Although 1.3 million citizens still remain, over 99% of the kingdom’s territory has been entirely scorched. Almost all members of the royal family are dead, and the only surviving princess has no intention of inheriting the throne. She surrendered on behalf of the Crocodile Royal Family to others, marking the complete demise of the Crocodile Kingdom.”

“This…”

Even though they had braced themselves somewhat, upon hearing the outcome of the Crocodile Kingdom, everyone present couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. The first hunched shadow to speak up looked utterly incredulous as he questioned:

“Director Edward! Could you please explain why the Crocodile Kingdom was utterly destroyed under your supervision?”

“…”

Because I was careless and got ambushed, nearly dying. Then I was forcibly controlled and ended up fighting against our own surviving cleaners. After barely being saved, I fell asleep and woke up to find the Crocodile Kingdom gone. Not only did I fail to help throughout, but I caused quite a bit of trouble…

If I explained it like that, I might as well have died in the Crocodile Kingdom!

Just then, someone tugged at the Scorpion Bureau Director’s clothes, and a shadow flashed out from behind him.

“Directors, Director Edward’s injuries haven’t fully healed, so I’ll continue explaining the rest.”

After bowing slightly to the group of big shots, Leon, brought into the meeting by the Scorpion Bureau Director, spoke up:

“I was also part of the investigative team for this mission, which proved to be exceedingly dangerous. Our adversaries weren’t just the Execution King Assembly targeting royal families but even some royals who should have been protected.

Director Edward detected anomalies beforehand and deliberately split the team into two groups. He tasked me with protecting Princess Phelia, whom we had already rescued, and specifically left Senior Cleaner Algernon with me. Meanwhile, he led the more perilous investigation himself.

During the ambush and attempted control, he resisted strenuously, buying time for both me and Senior Algernon. His keen insight identified issues with the control method, allowing us to cleverly break free thanks to our默契 (mutual understanding).

Even when he discovered tampering with his soul, he resolutely allowed me to consume his soul, risking post-operation damage, providing crucial strength to help us escape danger and ultimately turn the tables…”

Given that those who reached the rank of division director generally possess adequate intelligence, after listening to Leon recount the entire investigative mission, dozens of division directors’ shadows exchanged glances and saw a hint of understanding on each other’s faces.

So… greedily rushing ahead, falling into an ambush, getting controlled, and lying flat until the end?

Regardless of how hard this newcomer tried to protect Director Edward’s reputation, based on the facts, Edward clearly dragged the team down this time. The person who truly carried the burden of the mission was probably this young man he brought along.

“I see…”

Glancing at Leon, who retreated back behind the Scorpion Bureau Director after finishing his explanation, considering that if he were in the same situation, he would likely have messed up just like Edward, the hunched shadow decided not to press further but gave the Scorpion Bureau Director some face by nodding and saying:

“It’s not entirely Edward’s fault; this enemy was indeed too formidable. Destroying the Crocodile Kingdom to ensure the Watchtower Palace remains unaffected was unavoidable…Edward.”

Addressing the Scorpion Bureau Director, the hunched shadow inspected Leon, whose features were unclear behind him, and asked curiously:

“Who was the one speaking earlier? Is he a cleaner from your Scorpio Division? He seems to have contributed significantly this time. Can you introduce him to us?”