Chapter 234: 233 The Director

"Huh?"

As Li Ang was stunned by the distinction between the egg and the egg, he saw the man casually rub his hands in midair—completing material processing and even directly forging a Golden Bull Director-level anomaly—his eyes widening in shock.

Though his technique was crude beyond measure and the material handling was utterly grotesque, the overall direction was correct; Li Ang was not merely overestimating himself—he had genuinely entered the door.

And even more absurdly, he hadn't just entered the Golden Bull lineage's anomaly forging art—he had also, in his final selection method, unmistakably carried the flavor of the Aquarius lineage's "Anomaly Creation."

Without any prior practice, relying only on fragmented observational memories, he had self-taught himself two arts in rapid succession—and succeeded on his first attempt to forge an anomaly…

Could it be… this child wasn't overestimating himself, but possessed enough confidence in his own ability—even like the traitorous Aquarius Director—that he was a supreme genius in anomaly arts?

…

With hopeful eyes, the Golden Bull Director waved her hand, retrieving the transformed egg, examining its quality closely—and her smile deepened considerably.

"Not bad. I underestimated you."

Looking at the newborn anomaly—its technique still clumsy and rough, yet internally balanced, smoothly flowing, with no obvious flaws—the Golden Bull Director couldn't help but lavish praise:

"I originally thought that since you'd never touched anomaly arts before, merely completing material processing would be impressive—but you've forged a complete anomaly!

Let me see… hmm… this sensation—the cost is extremely low, clearly a basic physical exhaustion type, yet also the most stable for beginners. A wise choice.

As for its ability: flesh rules as primary, demon rules as secondary. So it's a dual-ability anomaly, and its activation is highly concealed… Excellent! Truly excellent!"

Thanks to her familiarity with anomalies, the Golden Bull Director merely held it in her hand and analyzed the 【Sharp-Eyed Egg】 to within a hair's breadth.

After finishing her inspection and returning it to Li Ang, the kind-faced old woman smiled warmly and asked:

"I won't guess the rest—tell me directly: what are the two abilities of this thing?"

"Uh…"

After a brief hesitation, Li Ang's gaze drifted as he answered:

"The first ability is corruption—it alters a person's aura, making them appear more demonic."

"I see…"

After pondering, the Golden Bull Director nodded:

"Though somewhat niche and with limited applications, as a secondary ability, it's better than nothing… What about the primary ability derived from flesh rules? What does it do?"

In front of this gentle "elder of the opposite sex," Li Ang couldn't bring himself to explain clearly, so he mumbled:

"The primary ability… as you said, is flesh enhancement—it makes certain organs more sensitive…"

"Be more specific."

Hearing this, the Golden Bull Director frowned, then spoke with solemn care:

"Li Ang, not everyone can gain anomaly intelligence just by touching it. If you ever become an anomaly craftsman and forge items for others, remember: your descriptions must be precise… Which organ exactly is enhanced?"

"The testicle… and only the left one…"

Testicle? What testicle?

At first confused, the Golden Bull Director was about to ask again—but seeing Li Ang's hesitant, embarrassed demeanor, she instantly understood the meaning of "testicle," and her kind smile froze on her face.

"That… one?"

"That one…"

"… "

"… "

The old woman and the young man stared at each other in silence for a long while—until finally, the Golden Bull Director broke it, turning her head away with an odd expression, barely able to look:

"Well… it's acceptable. Though the result is… unusually eccentric, I watched your process—it's unmistakably Golden Bull art.

Hmm… so your talent in anomaly arts is still excellent. Even if you never gain recognition from the Golden Bull Star Palace, you'll still become a top-tier forge craftsman.

Keep going! We elders are nearing retirement—the future of the Clearance Bureau rests with you young ones."

"Thank you for your kindness. I will work hard."

…

Carrying the egg away from the Golden Bull Director's seat and returning to his own director's chair, the red-haired director—who had just finished revising the achievement stele—curiously asked:

"Li Ang, what reward did the Golden Bull Director give you?"

"She broke protocol and taught me the full version of the Golden Bull art—since I wasn't chosen by the Star Palace."

Feeling slightly guilty for not bringing her along when he'd asked the Golden Bull Director for wine, Li Ang quickly changed the topic:

"Director, what about Aquarius? Did he notice the hair I secretly placed on him?"

"Not yet."

Hearing this, the red-haired director gave him an appreciative glance and replied softly:

"Though the distance is too great for me to control the hair, I can still faintly sense it moving toward the Kingdom of Koroak."

Once the bureau finishes its internal review and decides who will pursue Aquarius, that hair you planted will give him quite a surprise."

That's perfect!

Li Ang's heart leapt with joy.

In the past, he'd been nothing but an insignificant nobody in Aquarius's eyes—but after that verbal duel and nearly being drained dry by the True Word Scales, he was surely now marked in Aquarius's mind. The sooner Aquarius was captured, the safer his family would be.

"By the way, Li Ang."

As Li Ang was recalling the scene, pondering how to make Aquarius die faster, the red-haired director seemed to remember something and said:

"The sun is about to set. You, Jerry, and Prince Joshua will be sent back to the capital at the exact moment the sun disappears."

I still need two or three days to finish here. Emma has cleared her suspicion, but returning will take a day or two—tomorrow, the bureau will only have you and Jerry."

"I understand, Director."

Hearing this, Li Ang's expression hardened, and he nodded solemnly:

"I'll cooperate fully with Senior Jerry. I'll maintain order in the bureau and ensure nothing goes wrong before you return."

"Uh… your determination is admirable, but that's not what I meant…"

Seeing Li Ang's bewildered expression, the red-haired director looked slightly embarrassed:

"My newspapers and magazines are billed every two weeks—tomorrow's the final payment date. So… could you go to the post office across from the Sun Newspaper and fill out my subscription form?"

"Okay…"

Defeated by this shockingly mundane request, the great hero Li Ang—who had just thwarted Aquarius's conspiracy and saved the world—could only sigh and nod, agreeing to run this errand for his director.

Soon after, as the sun set, the Clearance Bureau headquarters shifted into the world's shadow side. Without sunlight's support, Li Ang and the others' forms twisted slightly, then dissolved into countless tiny specks of light, vanishing from the bureau's headquarters.

Simultaneously, in the royal palace's secret chamber housing the 【Identical Script Tablet】, the three figures who had vanished for half a day reappeared—falling head over heels onto the wool carpet.

…

"Finally back…"

With the best physical condition, Jerry rose first, then helped Li Ang—who was still dizzy—up, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Incredible, Li Ang! You didn't just deliver the key evidence and force Aquarius to accept memory extraction—you survived his gaze and escaped unscathed!

Honestly, I have a feeling you'll become someone monumental. Maybe even in my lifetime, I'll see you seated on the Director's bench!"

"Ugh… just luck…"

Closing his eyes to recover, shaking off the disorienting inversion, Li Ang shook his head:

"The real hero was your 【Steal Fortune's Skill】—you found the key evidence. I just caught Prince Joshua, who returned from the future.

Escaping Aquarius unharmed? Pure luck. One misstep and I'd have been ground to dust. By the way, what's wrong with that idiot prince? Why hasn't he said a word?"

"Let me check…"

Hearing Li Ang's question, Jerry released the now-steady Li Ang and examined the freckled prince on the carpet. Though he appeared normal, his eyes were utterly despondent—as if he'd suffered an unspeakable blow.

Am I… really worthless?

Earlier, when Li Ang recounted the events to the director, he hadn't deliberately hidden anything from Prince Joshua. Though the prince didn't fully grasp the details—"palace," "god," "star"—he'd understood enough.

His dreams were real events from another future. In that future, his clownish self, having lost nearly everything, was lured by Aquarius Director, used the Gate to return to the past, founded a rebellion to change fate—and became nothing but Aquarius's puppet, manipulated at will.

And beside him, this brute who'd repeatedly beaten him—was entrusted by his sister Veronica: he'd captured his future self, restored erased memories, and thwarted Aquarius's plot—his very antithesis.

Worse still, he was apparently his nominal brother-in-law—and might even marry Veronica, truly becoming royalty…

Damn it! Why him?

Suddenly sitting up, the freckled prince tore himself from self-doubt, glaring at Li Ang:

"You, you…"

Seeing Li Ang's right hand twitch slightly—Jerry's signature fighting stance—Joshua instinctively swallowed his curse, pushed himself back on his palms, and weakly blustered:

"The Clearance Bureau and all kingdoms have an agreement: members can't interfere in internal affairs! So your proposal to Veronica means nothing! If I file a few more complaints, they'll stop you!"

"… "

You've improved. Learned to back down.

After considering his words, Li Ang judged the tone was rude but not warranting a beating—he sighed in disappointment, turned away, and prepared to leave the chamber.

But then, behind him, the freckled prince suddenly spoke:

"Hey… want to collaborate?"???

What the hell? Did Joshua just say that? Did he get replaced in seconds?

…

Stay calm. Judge rationally. Cultivate those with ability. Exchange benefits based on what each person values most. Even enemies can be dealt with when necessary…

Watching Li Ang turn back in surprise, the freckled prince—who had grown through his ordeal—recalled past teachings he'd once scorned, forcibly suppressed his old grudge, and spoke calmly:

"You sided with Veronica because you wanted power, wealth, or beauty—I can give you all those, and more than she can!

And unlike Veronica, I have one advantage she absolutely doesn't: I know what happens in the future!"

Seeing Li Ang hadn't left but was now studying him with surprise, Joshua—the first time he'd ever led the conversation—smiled confidently.

I can do this.

Even if in the original future I was just a powerless, arrogant fool, nothing has happened yet! Now that I have memories of the future, if I start working hard from this moment, I will surely change it!

As for this guy in front of me, apart from his Clearance Bureau background, he's nothing but a lucky fool wearing a duke's shell.

In the past, I only wanted to kick him away, so of course he bit me hard twice—but if I throw him a few greasy bones, he'll wag his tail at me like a…

"You didn't say anything, and I nearly forgot."

Looking at the freckled prince before him, Li Ang couldn't help but smile warmly, then took out paper and pen from his pocket mirror and handed them over with a beaming smile:

"Come on! Write down everything you know about the future! Especially all the intelligence on the Krook Kingdom—leave not a single detail out!"

For example: what mineral data have Krook Kingdom's scouts gathered? Why are they invading the kingdom? When did they invade? And what exactly did the Clearance Bureau's Aquarius Director do in the future… Write down every scrap of this critical intelligence you know—leave not a single line out!"

"You?!!!"

"What do you mean 'you'?"

After checking Joshua's soul and confirming no replacement had occurred, Li Ang's expression turned stern. Under the prince's shocked and furious gaze, he first pointed at the paper and pen in his hand, then waved his right hand.

"Either write that, or take this—choose for yourself!"