[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-the-cleanup-crew":3,"chapter-i-m-the-cleanup-crew-i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-163":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm the Cleanup Crew!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2285999,4472,"Chapter 163","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-163",163,"\u003Cp>Facing the princess who had suddenly appeared and single-handedly killed the “competition” with one sentence, everyone in the Lyon Estate was left stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the freckled prince sprawled on the ground to the middle-aged lady behind the princess who nearly fainted on the spot, every witness could only express one reaction: eyes widening uncontrollably, mouths opening instinctively…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh???????”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Under the witness of Prince Joshua and half the kingdom’s nobility, Princess Veronika personally accepted your proposal; you have obtained the Gold-Rank badge: “Thrush Prince.”】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Thrush Prince: Prince of the Thrush Kingdom, husband of Princess Veronika. Though ineligible to inherit the throne, your words and actions now carry a degree of royal authority.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Effect: As a revered prince, within Thrush Kingdom territory, you may demand any person of lower status to bow to you voluntarily.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Advanced Path: If your marriage to Princess Veronika endures long-term and remains intact after she ascends the throne, this badge will automatically upgrade to the Chromatic Badge: “The Man Behind the Queen (Cream).”】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hidden Trait (No Equipment Required): As this is a purely political marriage, Princess Veronika harbors only mild affection for you; lacking sufficient emotional depth, she will not interfere in your private life.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she really is a princess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After disabling the newly popped badge, Leon stared at the voluptuous woman striding toward him from the doorway, his mouth opening slightly, at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Investigation Bureau’s agents had only left yesterday; his suspicion in the Lyon Blood Night had yet to be cleared. Logically, he should tread carefully and shed the Lionheart Duke identity as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… this was a Gold Badge! And one with a clear advancement path, likely to reach Chromatic rank. If he renounced it now, would it be revoked?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apologies for the sudden visit; I’ve disturbed you all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Leon on stage remained indecisive, torn between advancing or retreating, the princess who had struck gold had already pushed through the crowd and reached the main platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After nodding to the stunned nobles, Princess Veronika gently lifted the hem of her plain gown, knelt slightly, and bowed her head in a graceful yet dignified lady’s curtsey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, straightening her swan-like neck, she turned lightly toward Leon on stage, her veiled white arm extended, cheeks flushed as she fixed her gaze upon his eyes, conveying with pure look the resolve of burning the boats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had only come to watch the spectacle, never expecting such a massive fortune to await her—this man, years younger than herself, was the final piece to save the kingdom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she could leverage this marriage to seize the Lionheart family’s political legacy, even if she enraged the old nobility and drew murderous attacks from rebels, it would be worth it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! I object!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the man on stage hesitate slightly—then actually reach for his sister’s outstretched hand—the prince with the swollen cheek trembled violently, his eyes filled with deep terror, and he immediately shouted his opposition!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a royal child, political acumen was the most essential subject; though Joshua was arrogant and volatile, he was no complete fool. After the initial shock, he instantly grasped the meaning of this “handshake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the damned Lionheart Duke truly secured Veronika’s hand by sacrificing the entire Lyon family, half the kingdom would fall into his sister’s hands—his status and hers would instantly reverse, and he would become the one utterly abandoned by their father!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Veronika was ruthless, he wouldn’t just lose the throne—he might be exiled across the sea to feed monkeys!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No! Today, no matter what, [27] he absolutely could not let her succeed. Not ever!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absolutely cannot let her succeed! Not at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Veronika!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two loud shouts drew all eyes, the freckled prince, ignoring the lingering sting on his face, barked: [30] “Father already pre-selected your potential princes—you must choose from among those men! By accepting the Lionheart Duke’s proposal, you defy your father’s command!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your father has already pre-selected the princes for you—you must choose from among those few! By accepting the Lionheart Duke’s proposal now, you are defying your father’s command!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the freckled prince who had suddenly crashed the scene, Veronika smirked, still holding out her arm toward Leon, replying calmly: [33] “I can’t help it—the Lionheart Duke is heroic, kind, young, and handsome. Especially when he strikes others across the face—it’s utterly captivating. Since love arrived so suddenly, I must disappoint Father’s earnest wishes. [34] Besides, as his most beloved daughter, a little personal whim in my own lifelong matter… surely he won’t blame me. He’ll likely be delighted by my happiness… Don’t you agree, Joshua?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s nothing I can do—the Lionheart Duke is heroic, kind, young, and handsome, especially the way he strikes others across the face—it made me fall in love at first sight. Since love came so suddenly, I can only disappoint my father’s devoted intentions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, as his most beloved daughter, a little bit of childishness in my own lifelong matter—I’m sure he won’t blame me; he’ll likely even be delighted by my happiness… Don’t you agree, Joshua?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her veiled retort, the freckled prince’s face darkened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it! That old bastard would indeed be delighted—but not because of your damn happiness. He’d rejoice because the leader of the old nobility suddenly went mad and threw the Road Department and Military Ministry into the royal camp!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trouble. She’s made up her mind—no matter what, she’ll swallow the Lyon family’s legacy whole. This path is already closed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are the Lyon family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his sister determined to marry the Lionheart Duke—even his father’s authority couldn’t stop her—and knowing the Lionheart Duke was too bold to fear his threats, Joshua switched targets, searching for the Lyon family’s actual leaders, hoping to pressure the damned duke through them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scanning the group of golden-haired youths with cold eyes, the freckled prince dropped all pretense, frantically searching for someone in charge while glaring fiercely and shouting: [41] “Are there no Lyon left? Are you just watching this bastard duke run wild? Are you willing to hand over the entire Lyon legacy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are there no one left in your Lyne family? You just watch as this bastard duke acts out? Are you willing to let him hand over the entire Lyne house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even as he tore off the mask, not a single Lyon stepped forward. Only silence answered him, along with murmurs and whispers among the guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Lyon family still refuse to appear at this moment, the frantic freckled prince’s brow knotted in fury as he roared: [45] “Are you just standing there? Has the entire Lyon family died? Not even one person dares step forward to stop his madness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just standing there watching? Has everyone in the Lyne family died? Not a single soul dares step forward to stop his madness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t look. The Lyon family really has no one left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the young wolf snarling desperately, trying to find someone to suppress him, Leon on stage fell silent for a moment, then replied with a strange expression: [49] “The former duke’s steward suffered a heart attack and is being revived outside in the carriage; the last surviving elder couldn’t withstand the shock when I slapped you and fainted right then; [50] as for the newly appointed head of the family—I saw him clutch his chest and collapse just as your sister accepted my proposal… there, the man lying by the door is probably him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The former duke’s steward suffered a heart attack and is being treated in his carriage outside; the last remaining elder was too old—he collapsed from the shock when I slapped you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the newly appointed head of the house, when your sister accepted my proposal, I saw him clutch his chest and fall down too… There, the one lying by the door is probably him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh????????\u003C\u002Fp>",1317,"2026-06-20T03:18:28.556Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f19fd833335da6735fb38d2541ee3c1b64af60ddddc67c1fb69a65ece5c6c65c","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-164","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-162",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-the-cleanup-crew-cover.jpg"]