Chapter 212

"I think I understand why you touched my hand now..."

After Jeri Senior tried to pull three times and his right hand was dragged three times by an inexplicable force, Li Ang suddenly realized, recalling the premonition dream of "Young Joshua," and said:

"Just as the Nightmare King makes both Joshuas share the same nightmare, within the 【Stealing Fate's Skill】's judgment, these two Joshuas should be one person with two divergent fate trajectories, hence two objects exerting the greatest influence on him appeared."

"And if I'm not mistaken, the shadow on the left should be the object that most influenced Middle-aged Joshua, while my right hand is likely the thing that most shaped Young Joshua's fate—hence it appeared among the options."

"..."

That actually makes a kind of sense?

After listening to Li Ang's speculation, Jeri first nodded in agreement, then asked with some confusion:

"Li Ang, what's wrong with your hand? Why does it have such a profound impact on Joshua's fate?"

"Uh... actually, nothing much—I just slapped him twice..."

After briefly recounting the big slap during the inheritance ceremony and the brutal beating he gave the real brother-in-law during the investigation with Senior Emma, Li Ang explained with unwavering confidence under the dwarf's ghost-struck gaze:

"I didn't use any anomalous objects—just my bare hands. The agreement between the Bureau and royal houses only forbids using anomalous objects to influence or harm royal members; it never says you can't physically beat them, right?"

"..."

The agreement indeed didn't include that clause—because for any normal person, the chance of killing a prince is far higher than the chance of slapping him, isn't it?

You're truly... I thought stealing from the royal family was already insane enough, but I never imagined there'd be someone like you—no wonder you made it into our Virgin Division; you're definitely no ordinary guy!

After giving Li Ang a silent thumbs-up, the dwarf switched the target of the 【Stealing Fate's Skill】 and reached toward the left, the faintly trembling unknown object.

Though earlier they couldn't determine which was the 【Door to the Other Side】, now that the right was confirmed as Li Ang's hand, the true 【Door to the Other Side】 must be the one on the left—so all they needed to do was steal it... Huh?

Another anomaly occurred.

With a soft *plop*, the solid yet formless shadow on the left exploded the instant Jeri grabbed it—then, like a beast scenting fresh blood or a demon sensing a thread of escape from hell, it frantically crawled up Jeri's right arm!

Seeing this eerie sight, both instantly realized disaster was imminent. Jeri didn't yank his hand back immediately; instead, he extended his left hand toward the office window glass and let out a sharp dog bark.

"Wang!"

With a crisp reply, a golden dog's head flashed past the window glass, and in Jeri's left hand suddenly appeared a blunt short dagger.

He seized the dagger etched with strange patterns, pulled his captured right hand back hard, pressed the blade tightly against the skin of his right forearm, and sliced off a small piece—while beside him, Li Ang yanked the red hair tied around his neck and hurled it toward Joshua's chest.

"Ma Bu Wu!"

Amid a strange roar, half furious, half desperate, the arm gripped by the shadow instantly turned into the small slice of skin Jeri had just cut off.

Meanwhile, the portion chasing after Jeri's withdrawal, emerging from Joshua's chest, was instantly shredded into countless black-tinged meat fragments by the director's faintly bloody red hair, splattering a large patch across the carpet.

Where's the 【Door to the Other Side】? What the hell is this thing?!

"Don't go!"

As Li Ang and Jeri were still reeling, the shadow—seemingly having recognized their race—suddenly spoke in human language:

"Take me out! Take me out!"

Following the lingering ripples of the 【Stealing Fate's Skill】, it had chased all the way to Joshua's chest, now pounding violently from within, sending violent ripples across Joshua's chest as it screamed:

"Wealth! Power! Youth! Even eternal life! If you free me, I'll give you anything!"

"Fuck you!"

To rid himself of this unknown entity, Jeri had been forced to cut off a large chunk of his own flesh with a blunt blade—his face twisted in pain as he roared in fury, ready to shut down the 【Stealing Fate's Skill】 and let this clearly dangerous thing vanish far away.

But just as he was about to stop, Li Ang reached out and halted him.

'Wait—let me ask it a few questions!'

Blocking Jeri with a soul whisper, Li Ang first wrapped bandages around Jeri Senior's hand to help him heal, then fixed his gaze on the now clearer shadow and asked rapidly:

"What exactly are you? And what's your connection to the Aquarius Director of the Cleanup Bureau?"

"Aquarius!!!"

Upon hearing the name Aquarius Director, the strange entity erupted in fury, shrieking:

"It was he who imprisoned me!

He filed my bones! He cut my flesh! He squeezed my blood! Damned Aquarius! If I escape, I'll make him experience firsthand the torment I've endured for over two thousand years!"

Two thousand years?

Hearing the entity's roar, Li Ang and Jeri exchanged a stunned glance, then Li Ang continued:

"You mean... the current Aquarius Director has lived for two thousand years?"

"Lived two thousand years? He doesn't deserve that!"

After cursing the Aquarius Director furiously, the entity seemed to regain a sliver of reason, realizing these two humans couldn't possibly free it—likely just seeking information—and sneered coldly:

"You pitiful short-lived creatures—even with immense power, you're bound by flesh. Without replacing your bodies, one hundred and fifty years is your absolute limit!"

"The Aquarius who imprisoned me wasn't this worthless fool—it was the Aquarius Director fifteen generations ago! These damned bastards treated me as their family property—passed down for fifteen generations!"

Remembering the endless torment of these two millennia, the unknown entity erupted again in hysterical curses, its human speech laced with incomprehensible ancient tongues, its voice like a knife scraping glass—piercing Li Ang and Jeri's ears with sharp pain.

After venting its rage with full fury, seeing the two humans—though visibly pained—still standing there, the entity nodded in satisfaction and sneered:

"Enough talk. I can tell—no matter what boon I promise, you two bastards won't free me."

"But you're clearly not aligned with Aquarius. You found me because you want leverage against him—so hurry! Before Aquarius notices someone contacted me, ask your questions now!"