Chapter 189

「……」

I'm going to infiltrate the rebels? Are you kidding me?

After hearing the Red-haired Director's suggestion, Li Ang's first thought was that she was pulling another prank—after all, even setting aside his identity as the Duke of Lionheart, he was already on the rebels' most-wanted list.

First there was the bandaged woman who tried to attack the Ryan family, then the cloned man who infiltrated the Police Department's Secret Investigation Bureau, and finally that disheveled old man at the succession ceremony who made hearts race.

Altogether, three abnormal-item holders from the rebels had fallen into his hands; the reason he asked the Director for those three "protective hairs" was precisely to protect his family from rebel retaliation.

Even if you didn't call it a deep-seated grudge, it was certainly a feud to the death—and now she wanted him to join the rebels as an infiltrator? This was just…

Hmm… well, it's not entirely impossible?

……

After glancing at the 【If】 on the desk, Li Ang pondered briefly and realized this mission didn't sound as absurd as it first seemed.

With the 【Heart of Ambition】 now in his possession, his safety was fundamentally guaranteed; armed with the intelligence Amy had provided, he could locate the rebels' hideout and use the 【If】 to impersonate a rebel member, attempt to make contact with those holding abnormal items, and try to capture them all at once.

Considering the rebels' murky ties to the Aquarius Director, this move would not only eliminate the threat from the rebels, secure his family's safety, help Princess Veronika recover her lost identity, but also indirectly weaken Aquarius's allies and thwart any potential conspiracy he might be plotting.

Five benefits in one stroke…

After weighing the risks and advantages of the infiltration mission, Li Ang decisively nodded in agreement.

"I'll take it."

"Excellent~"

With a satisfied slight nod, the Red-haired Director spoke:

"Li Ang, the formal interrogation of the Aquarius Director won't begin for another five or six days, but we can initiate it slightly earlier—about two or three days from now.

Once I and the Taurus Lord initiate the interrogation, Aquarius will immediately return to headquarters to prepare fully for the internal inquiry; from the moment he's lured away until the inquiry ends, we can expect roughly two weeks.

During that time, I can track his movements closely to ensure he won't appear at any rebel gathering points, and with your 【Heart of Ambition】 protecting you, your safety will be maximized.

So your infiltration window is from two days from now until two weeks later—if the interrogation succeeds, we can extend it; if it fails, you must leave immediately. As for your mission objectives…"

Here, the Red-haired Director paused, then lightly tapped her fingers on the desk:

"First objective: locate the grandmother and granddaughter who may possess memory-erasure abilities—you must find them as soon as possible to help Princess Veronika recover her identity. Secondary objective: make contact with the other abnormal-item holders, determine their abilities, and confirm their locations.

Until the interrogation of the Aquarius Director begins, I'll remain at headquarters. If I go to the inquiry, Emma will stay behind to hold the fort. Once you've confirmed their locations and abilities, send back the dog Jerry gave you to relay messages—I or Emma will come to apprehend them."

"Understood. I've noted it."

"I'm not done yet."

The Red-haired Director shook her head:

"Besides these two missions, you have a hidden one: I want you to confirm whether another Prince Joshua exists among the rebels."

What?

Seeing Li Ang's startled expression, the Red-haired Director didn't explain immediately—instead, she asked:

"Do you remember the nightmare Prince Joshua had when you and Emma visited him?"

That bizarre dream about foreseeing the future?

After recalling it, Li Ang nodded, then asked hesitantly:

"Of course I remember… is there something wrong with that dream?"

"Big problem."

She poured tea into an empty bottle and took a long, greedy gulp.

With tea as her solace, the Red-haired Director rubbed her temples in exasperation:

"Prince Joshua's nightmare is the Curse of the Nightmare King upon the royal family. The Nightmare King believes that, compared to the hollow terrors of ordinary nightmares, the deepest regrets buried in one's heart are the truest nightmares.

So the Curse always forces victims to relive their most painful pasts—not empty, unreal illusions. But that directly contradicts the content of Prince Joshua's nightmare."

"So… you suspect there are two Prince Joshuas?"

"Yes."

The Red-haired Director spread her hands helplessly:

"I know it sounds insane, but given Emma's recounting of the dream's content, the only explanation I can conceive is that another Prince Joshua—who lived through those painful futures—has returned to what is, for him, the past.

As Prince Joshua grows older, his intellect matures, his beliefs and personality solidify, and his soul gradually aligns with that future version. So when the future Prince endures the Nightmare King's Curse, his counterpart here—unluckily—'shares' the nightmare."

"…"

That… actually makes sense?

After pondering the Red-haired Director's theory, Li Ang found no glaring flaws—he was beginning to believe it.

"So you think the Prince Joshua who came from the future is probably hiding among the rebels?"

"Not certain, but judging from the rebels' past actions, there's at least an 80% chance… after all, a Prince Joshua who returns from the future, burdened with such obsession, wouldn't just come back to look around, would he?"

"Makes sense."

"If it makes sense, then get ready!"

She pulled out a small notebook from her drawer, wrote a few lines, closed it, and handed it over with serious expression:

"Take this to the Police Department and find the First Assistant to the Minister of Public Order—he'll appoint you as Warden of the Death Cell. With that title, you can activate the 【Heart of Ambition】's death-swap ability.

Also, to the Aquarius Director, your dossier is completely transparent—he might inform the rebels. So avoid using any abnormal items registered with the Bureau, like the 【Witch's Broom】 or the 【Holy Spirit Pendant】—your cover could be blown.

But to establish contact with the rebels holding abnormal items, you should still reveal some unique ability… hmm… do you have any abnormal items or abilities not registered with the Bureau?"

Unregistered abnormal items or abilities?

"Actually, I do have one ability…"

After taking and stowing the notebook, Li Ang hesitated slightly, then glanced at the golden 【King of the Thrush】 on his badge panel, and said uncertainly:

"If conditions are right, I can apparently force others to bow to me."