Chapter 210

【Tyrant: One driven by immense ambition, seeking to completely overthrow a legitimate government or organization through illegitimate or immoral means, in order to radically alter the existing order】

【Wearing Effect: Your stealth and efficiency are greatly enhanced when performing illegal or immoral acts】

【Advanced Path: After completely overthrowing one national-level organization or ten regional-level organizations, this badge will automatically upgrade to the Golden-tier Hidden Badge "The Unrighteous Pretender King"】

【Hidden Trait (No Need to Wear): After successfully overthrowing a government or organization, you will forcibly seize one high-value item from the defeated party】

……

"…"

Having received the "official certification" from the badge system, Leon could only sigh deeply, his identity as the rebel leader now fully confirmed.

Done for… the boss was right after all—I really did end up becoming the leader while undercover… but this badge seems pretty powerful?

Looking at the new badge flickering with dim silver light, as if ready to let out an evil chuckle at any moment, Leon couldn't help glancing toward the middle-aged Joshua.

Too bad I only got the Tyrant Badge after completing the act of usurpation—if I'd gotten it first, maybe I could've "stripped" the "Door to the Other Side" right off Joshua.

Now, though, given the Aquarius Director's "habits," if I even try to touch the "Door to the Other Side," it'll activate immediately and drag Joshua away.

Wait!

As he pondered this, Leon suddenly realized something—he raised his eyebrows slightly and spoke to the rebels:

"Since you all trust me, I won't refuse…

Also, attacking the Boarding Tower involves the Kingdom of Krook. I don't know enough about them to guarantee a correct decision, so we'll postpone the attack—but we can start gathering intel first. Any objections?"

"No objections."

"I agree!"

"Fine… I was really looking forward to burning something down."

"…"

"Since no one opposes it, we'll end today's meeting here!"

With one hand unsure how to arrange these rebel members, and the other having just thought of a way to strip the "Door to the Other Side," Leon decided not to wait any longer for Senior Emma—he immediately ordered the group disbanded:

"If there's nothing else to discuss, before Joshua's 'Door' closes, return to your posts. We'll regather once we have progress on the Boarding Tower investigation… Also, Phoebe and Lucy, stay behind."

Us?

Hearing the new leader's request, the elderly woman froze slightly, then nodded, holding her sleeping sister without moving. The other five rebels, eyes filled with hope, followed Leon's order and passed through the "Door" one by one, leaving the meeting room.

Ugh… this is exhausting…

Watching the retreating backs of those hopeful rebels, Leon rubbed his temples.

These core rebels aren't evil people, but under Joshua's reckless command, they've done plenty of terrible things. I have no right to forgive them on behalf of their victims—but I can't just execute them under kingdom law either.

After all, they're victims too. Aside from Joshua's reckless orders, they were manipulated by the Aquarius Director into birthing anomalies, and as their contamination levels surged, their extremism and hatred spiraled wildly out of control.

Maybe… after the boss finishes his interrogation, I should ask if these people meet the Virgin Bureau's recruitment standards? If they're willing to risk nearly a ten percent death rate to fight anomalies and protect the normal world, maybe that counts as redemption?

"Leader?"

Seeing Leon's shifting expression and complex eyes, the elderly Lucy spoke up:

"You asked us sisters to stay—do you have something difficult you need us to do?"

"Yes, there is something I need your help with."

Leon nodded:

"Your granddaughter—uh… your sister Phoebe—used an anomaly recently, at Nathan's request, to erase many people's memories. Can you get her to reverse it?"

"Yes, that's not difficult."

Hearing Leon's request, Lucy immediately agreed—but after glancing at the sleeping Phoebe in her arms, she hesitated and asked:

"Leader, could you wait until my sister wakes up before I ask her to reverse it?

You don't know—last time she used her ability too much. The excessive sleep is actually her body recovering her spirit and stabilizing her soul. If she doesn't get enough rest, I'm afraid she'll…"

"No rush. We can wait until she wakes up. Also…"

Having already observed the sisters' soul states through the Black Goat's soul vision, Leon thought for a moment and warned:

"Your abilities are unusual—you can surpass your own contamination level's upper limit by paying extra costs, but that's precisely why you've ended up like this.

For now, unless absolutely necessary, avoid using your anomalies. I'll think of a way to help you return to normal."

What?!

Hearing Leon's words, the ancient-looking Lucy's face lit up with overwhelming joy.

At this moment, she no longer cared about his unnerving familiarity with anomaly mechanics—clearly not something a "Little Baggins" would know. She trembled, eyes wide with disbelief:

"L-Leader… is this true? Can my sister and I really return to how we were?"

"Yes."

Leon nodded firmly—he'd already confirmed this with the Black Goat:

"The process is reversible, but recovery will take a very long time, and you won't fully return. Some damage will remain.

Your body will still age faster than normal, and your sister's mental age will remain far more childish than her peers—but your appearances can be restored."

"That's enough! That's more than enough!"

Touching her wrinkled face, Lucy burst into tears, fat droplets rolling down her creased cheeks, soaking Phoebe's neatly braided hair.

"We don't need to be exactly like normal people—just a little bit back to how we were is enough! Leader! Thank you! Thank you!"

"You're welcome. It's what I should do."

……

After smiling and seeing the tearful, grateful Lucy leave, Leon stood silently beside Joshua, who lay sprawled on broken wood, and kicked him hard in the buttocks.

You've done a lot of rotten things!

You had the classic "reborn hero saves the world after his kingdom falls" plotline—and yet you spent your time attacking and destroying, accomplishing nothing but harming others. You really are…

Hmm… well, I haven't lived through what he did, so I shouldn't judge too harshly—but I still had to kick him!

Resisting the urge to spit on him, Leon tied him up with rope, removed the "qualification" wristwatch, and tossed it into the small mirror. Then he tapped the mirror's surface and called out the puppy.

"What's going on? Why hasn't Senior Emma arrived yet?"

"Wang Wu! Wang Wang Wang!"

(She's not here! She's not in the Bureau!)

Senior Emma isn't here?

Hearing the puppy's report, Leon frowned.

Before leaving for the interrogation, the boss had promised me Emma would stay behind to hold the fort and be ready to support me anytime.

Given Emma's responsible nature, nothing short of an emergency would make her neglect her post—so… has an anomaly launched a large-scale attack in the capital? Or has her daughter been harmed?

"Wang Wang Wang, Wang Wu Wang Wu!"

(She's not here, but she left you a letter on her desk!)

If she had time to leave a letter, the situation probably isn't too dire?

Hearing this, Leon relaxed slightly, took the envelope still bearing the puppy's tooth marks, and read it quickly.

"Leon, about an hour after you and the boss left, investigators from the headquarters arrived. They said several noble families who betrayed the Bao Hua Clan had died, their corpses bearing traces similar to my 'Execution Platform.' They demanded I report to headquarters for questioning.

With no time to spare, I had to bypass the investigators and left a message for Jerry's 'friends,' asking him to take over the Bureau and support you—but his last assignment isn't finished, so he won't receive this message soon.

If you're reading this, you're in danger. Hold on for two days—he will arrive by then!"

……

Damn Aquarius Director!

After reading Emma's letter, Leon's face darkened—he knew this was another scheme by the Aquarius Director.

He and the boss had planned to strike the rebels' base while the Aquarius Director was away—but the Director wasn't idle. If I'm right, he used a method similar to Emma's to kill her enemies.

His goal? Probably to exploit the boss's absence and Emma's investigation to send someone to raid the Bureau and steal the photo from the boss's drawer. And the raiding agent…

Tsk…

Looking at the six-needle wristwatch inside the mirror world, trembling violently and pressing itself against the "photo," Leon let out a sharp sigh.

No need to guess—it's definitely Joshua. And that watch is the tool to find the "photo." Thank goodness I usurped power quickly and captured Joshua first—otherwise…

Hmm… even if he'd gone, he'd only have stolen a fake photo.

Confirming this incident was dangerous but ultimately safe, Leon smiled—and couldn't resist kicking Joshua again, the old man who conspired with the Aquarius Director.

The boss may be cunning, but he's no match for the Aquarius Director—no, he's even better. He not only made a fake photo ahead of time, but sent me here first to dismantle the rebels' nest.

And catching Joshua was an unexpected bonus. Normally, touching the "Door to the Other Side" makes it vanish instantly—but the Bureau still has Senior Jerry, the "Divine Thief." The Director won't keep this thing for long.

Thinking of the "Miraculous Hand of Theft," which can steal the one thing that most affects a person's fate, Leon raised his head and gazed at the still-open "Door to the Other Side" left by Lucy and Phoebe's departure, smiling with determination.

What's the one thing that most affects Joshua's fate?

【90】 It can't be anything else but that.