Chapter 226: 225 Knowledge

【Through materialist understanding... having preliminarily grasped the operating rules of the 'True Word Balance,' your resistance to this anomaly has increased; you can now block general-level influences.】

Accompanied by the badge system's prompt, Li Ang felt a sudden jolt through his body, as if he'd instantly lost control of himself, overwhelmed by an unimaginable urge to confess.

"I touched... the ass of that god-tier brain-eating demon..."

No sooner had Li Ang finished speaking than the right tray of the True Word Balance finally lifted a single weight—yet this grain-of-rice-sized weight plunged the tray sharply downward.

Strange. This isn't even a secret—why did a weight appear? And why did the True Word Balance recognize its value?

Gazing at the weight that shouldn't have existed, the Aquarius Director frowned, once again feeling that strange sense of crisis: his plan was drifting, things slipping from his grasp.

This Li Ang is too strange. Maybe... I should question someone else?

Just as the Aquarius Director was weighing whether to kill Li Ang, a jujube-sized weight slammed down, instantly flattening the tilted True Word Balance.

"Through the Demon Badge... I directly... seized control of the god-tier brain-eating demon."

Badge? What's that?

Seeing that a mere vague name carried the weight of four of his secrets, the Aquarius Director—who had just hesitated over switching interrogators—suddenly widened his eyes in sharp interest.

"What anomaly is the Demon Badge? What is its effect?"

"The Demon Badge... is not an anomaly... its effect is... direct control over all demonic anomalies bearing the corrupted attribute..."

Not an anomaly itself, yet able to directly control all demonic anomalies? How could such an unreasonable thing exist?!

After hearing the full effect of the Demon Badge, the Aquarius Director sucked in a sharp breath. He opened his mouth to ask more—but the True Word Balance had already flipped entirely; his own tray had been violently lifted by a duck-egg-sized weight.

"..."

Trouble... If I keep asking, I'll have to reveal some terrible secrets of my own. Is it worth it?

But the Aquarius Director's hesitation lasted only an instant.

Before a tool that lets a Level-3 Cleaner forcibly control a True God-tier anomaly, a little risk is worth it. Even if I leak secrets now, it doesn't matter—I'll kill him the moment the deal is done. A dead man, no matter how much he knows, will keep his silence forever!

"What I'm about to say is the path to directly ascend to the Watchtower—paths accessible to anyone who meets the conditions. To completely replace the Taurus Director, I crafted six high-rank anomalies designed to work in perfect synergy."

As the Aquarius Director spoke without expression, weights began accumulating on the left tray of the True Word Balance.

"The six anomalies' effects are: usurpation of the body, simulation of the soul, replication of personality, imitation of emotion, replacement of the past, and prediction of the future."

Because body, soul, personality, emotion, past, and future... these six aspects fully encompass everything of a person.

If I wear Taurus Director's body, possess her soul, emotions, and personality, and even share her past and future identically, then even the mighty Watchtower must acknowledge me as Taurus Director."

"Click."

A chicken-egg-sized weight dropped. The right tray of the True Word Balance finally rose high—and still unsatisfied, the Aquarius Director continued adding:

"The entire rebellion was formed to achieve this goal. The body-usurping anomaly is in Luke's hands; the soul-replicating anomaly belonged to Barton, the rebel you killed; the future-predicting anomaly is Nathan's Door to the Afterlife;

The emotion-imitating anomaly resides in Oliver, whose face constantly shifts between joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Personality arises from memory and experience—so if Phoebe completely erases my memories, and Lucy implants Taurus Director's memories, I can nearly replicate her personality."

Of the six anomalies, only the one capable of replacing the past and forcibly altering reality proved troublesome—I tried over a dozen times and failed. But recently, I found it: your sister's photograph..."

After rapidly spilling a flood of secrets, seeing the left tray crushed to its limit, the Aquarius Director nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Li Ang with burning eyes:

"Your turn. How exactly did you obtain that Demon Badge..."

"Besides the badge, I have other valuable secrets!"

Before the Aquarius Director could finish his question, Li Ang—who had already grasped the True Word Balance's rules—interrupted, mimicking the Director's tone, eyes gleaming:

"What I'm about to reveal is a social science theory, capable of reshaping the world, independent of anomalies—a guiding ideology for establishing new political systems beyond old ones like kingdoms and federations, along with a fully developed theoretical framework.

From a historical materialist standpoint, societal development is determined by the economic base; changes in economic form inevitably trigger social transformation, and societal progress and change occur through struggle between opposing forces..."

"????"

What the hell are you even saying?!?!?!

Though each word was understandable, together they formed a strange knowledge he couldn't grasp at all—the Aquarius Director froze.

But what stunned him further was that as Li Ang continued speaking, a crimson weight larger than a watermelon suddenly appeared on the right tray, crushing the True Word Balance into a new imbalance and making it groan uncontrollably!

So... he's telling the truth?! Just a few sentences—this truly has the power to change the world?!?!

On the True Word Balance now: one tray held the path to the Watchtower, the other the knowledge said to reshape the world. Under the crushing weight of these two "world-level" secrets, the balance began violently trembling, as if ready to explode at any moment.

Never had he imagined Li Ang harbored a secret of this caliber. Faced with this unprecedented absurdity, feeling his power draining like a dam breaking, the Aquarius Director—who had always appeared in full control—finally showed shock, lips trembling as he roared:

"Damn it! You... shut up! I didn't ask for this! Be quiet!"

Not shutting up! Not even if I die!

Seeing the Aquarius Director, drained and barely standing, Li Ang—finally finding his chance to turn the tide—was overjoyed, and began frantically reciting from memory.

Beyond the terrifying cost of the True Word Balance weighing these two world-level secrets, to maintain balance, the Aquarius Director—no matter how unwilling—could only reveal his most valuable secrets, one after another.

"The Classified Anomaly List of the Cleanup Bureau..."

"The whereabouts of the Ophiuchus Branch Director after the Ophiuchus Nation-Eroding Incident..."

"The entry method for the Aquarius Line's Anomaly Creation Secret Art..."

"The location and control method of the God of Enlightenment..."

"The principle and training process of the Reversal Fork Finger Technique..."

As one of the twelve Directors of the Cleanup Bureau, the Aquarius Director had likely served nearly a century—his secrets were countless. Though lower in quality, their quantity was truly overwhelming.

As his lips moved rapidly, one heavy weight after another appeared on the left tray. Li Ang, only half-familiar with Ma Zhe, once again felt the urge to speak, and began pouring out more, intensifying his effort.

"The theory of surplus value holds that exploitation in capitalist society arises because laborers create surplus value..."

"The royal family of the Krook Kingdom has been secretly imprisoned by intelligent machines; the current ruler of Krook is merely..."

"Societal development is continuous progress; political change exists to resolve internal societal contradictions and inequalities..."

"The members of the Gemini Branch have been fully controlled; only one escaped—now..."

"..."

As both sides gritted their teeth and kept adding weights, Li Ang and the Aquarius Director no longer understood what the other was saying—only driven by the shifting, overwhelming urge to speak, their worn-out lips kept opening and closing, veins bulging on their foreheads as they frantically spewed forth.

And as weights piled higher, the Aquarius Director—who bore not only the burden of revealing secrets but also the True Word Balance's drain—paid a far greater price. Though many secrets remained untold, he was already drained to the point of collapse, collapsing onto the floor.

But just as Li Ang was overjoyed, preparing to press his advantage and finish the Director off, a deadly situation arose—he had no more secrets left.

Damn it! The exam only covered the first five chapters—I haven't memorized the rest yet!!!

"The Black Abyss summoned by the Baneful Cult will briefly overlap with the Kingdom; at that time, everyone will..."

"..."

"Besides Nathan, I've arranged other backup attacks against the Virgo Branch..."

"..."

"?"

After uttering two secrets and receiving no reply, the nearly numb Aquarius Director finally noticed Li Ang's pause. Seeing he had nothing more, the drained, skeletal Director surged to his feet, face twisted with malice as he glared at Li Ang.

You fucking bastard!

I chose you to question hoping to save energy—but a Level-3 Cleaner's mind holds secrets of this caliber?! You nearly sucked me dry!

And worst of all—I didn't understand a single word you said! If I'd known this would happen, I'd have just forced Olivia to fight me instead!

Filled with rage and regret, his features contorted, the Aquarius Director made no move to summon an anomaly—instead, he lunged forward with two withered hands, aiming to strangle Li Ang alive!

In this dire moment, Li Ang's mind flashed—he ducked aside as the Director stumbled, then shouted at the top of his lungs:

"What I'm about to reveal is the fundamental elemental composition of the material world, arranged by atomic number, chemical properties, and periodic law!

Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron; carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon; sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus; sulfur, chlorine, argon, potassium, calcium..."

"????"

What the hell is this?!?!

Under the shock of the Periodic Table, the Aquarius Director felt the suction surge again—and turned in horror to see another massive weight appear on the right tray of the True Word Balance.

Though slightly faded, uneven, and partially mismatched, its size—larger than a rice cooker—still qualified as a "world-level" secret!

Besides the last one, he can produce another of the same level?! What the hell is this kid?!?!

Seeing this second world-level weight, the Aquarius Director was utterly bewildered. He turned back to Li Ang, still reciting, and roared in disbelief:

"How the hell are you..."

Before the Aquarius Director could finish his terrified shout, the True Word Balance—pressed by the equivalent of four "world-level" secrets—let out a cracking sound, then exploded violently, scattering countless precious weights into the air!

"Wah!"

At the instant the True Word Balance shattered, the Aquarius Director suffered unimaginable trauma—he vomited a gout of black blood, along with fragments of internal organs.

As the user was injured, the Time Gap accelerating them could no longer be sustained. With a strange sensation like grinding gears, the world around them—once painfully slow—began speeding up.

No!

Noticing the changes and the Cleanup Bureau members turning toward him, the Aquarius Director shuddered violently, leapt up covered in blood, and lunged for the nearest "world-level" weight.

Even if I don't understand it—if it could shatter the True Word Balance, then this bastard's words must be valuable!

Li Ang, snapping to his senses, rose to pursue him before the Time Gap ended—but his anomalies were crushed under the asteroid's suppression, inert, and his physical strength was vastly inferior.

Within seconds, the bleeding Aquarius Director kicked him away, sending him crashing into several other weights.

"The Anomaly Creation Secret Art originates from..."

"Societal development is continuous..."

"The foundation of the Reversal Fork Finger Technique..."

The instant Li Ang touched them, the three weights vanished, flooding his mind with vast knowledge.

Meanwhile, the Aquarius Director touched the weight bearing the Periodic Table—but could not comprehend it at all. He clutched this priceless world-level secret and staggered toward the Cleanup Bureau Director... or rather, the unconscious Nathan behind him.

"OPEN THE DOOR!!!"

With a blood-flecked roar, the middle-aged Joshua—still unconscious—lifted his hand involuntarily, and an invisible door suddenly opened before him.

Finally... finally...

Looking beyond the door at his own secret base, the Aquarius Director, who had prepared everything perfectly but had failed at every step, was on the verge of tears.

Just as he threw the middle-aged Joshua inside and turned to hurl some threats, Leon swung the crimson weight—the size of a watermelon—and smashed it squarely against the back of his skull with a loud thud.

This is the power of Maghe's first five chapters!

A devastating blow from XX-ism knocked the gravely wounded Aquarius Director flat. Fearing he might be dragged through the door, Leon didn't press his advantage—he turned and ran without hesitation.

The Aquarius Director, who had just realized what happened, barely missed—his grasp snagged only a corner of Leon's coat, tearing it loose.

Tsk… slippery little brat!

Seeing the 【Time Gap】 about to dissolve, the Aquarius Director dared not pursue. He shot Leon a venomous glare, then turned and retreated through the Door to the Other Side, hastily fleeing the Clearance Bureau's headquarters.

What the Aquarius Director didn't notice was that the blow Leon had landed on his skull wasn't mere rage—hidden in that moment, a long, vivid strand of red hair had been slipped silently into his collar.