[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-the-cleanup-crew":3,"chapter-i-m-the-cleanup-crew-i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-265":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm the Cleanup Crew!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2286101,4472,"Chapter 265","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-265",265,"\u003Cp>“Hmph? Truly as expected of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the report titled “Incident Report on Anomalous Cleanup at the Central Cross Theater,” the Red-haired Director couldn’t help but smile approvingly, then looked at Li Ang with clear admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In just over two days since I left, you’ve not only uncovered the Water-Bearer Director’s hidden assets in the Capital, but also casually dealt with an out-of-control anomalous object while watching the show… Excellent work!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, only the start of the year, and we’ve already resolved so many issues—this is an excellent omen. It seems our bureau’s performance this year will be rising steadily!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rising steadily…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope so…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this poorly chosen omen, Li Ang’s lips twitched slightly, then he deliberately shifted the topic, asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Director, how did your meetings go these past two days? Has the General Headquarters decided how to handle the Water-Bearer Director?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve more or less decided…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, the Red-haired Director couldn’t help but sneer, then said with a hint of frustration:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After some discussion, the three Directors decided to deploy two numbered anomalous objects against him: No. 017, the [List of Instructions], and No. 049, the [Dead World Streetlamp].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former is a paper list; once a person’s name is written on it, the list is mailed to them, and the named individual must perform the exact action specified at the designated time and location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter is a streetlamp that connects to the Death World; anyone standing under its light for an entire night will have their soul forcibly ripped away and sent to the Death World the moment the sun rises and the lamp extinguishes—regardless of how much life they have left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, that’s really cheap…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the Red-haired Director’s explanation, Li Ang thought for a moment and immediately understood the three Directors’ plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the effects of these two anomalous objects, they intend to write the Water-Bearer Director’s name on the [List of Instructions], then compel him to appear at a fixed time to be exposed to the [Dead World Streetlamp], wiping him out in one go and sending him straight to that Death World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that fine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the clearly displeased Red-haired Director, Li Ang couldn’t help asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the three Directors have decided on this, they must believe these two anomalous objects can permanently eliminate the Water-Bearer Director. Isn’t that ideal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it were truly that simple to eliminate the Water-Bearer Director, I wouldn’t be worrying…” He gestured toward the sofa in the office, signaling Li Ang to sit, then took a sip from the bottle on his desk and pinched the bridge of his nose wearily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The combination of No. 017 and No. 049 is indeed terrifying—especially when the three Directors jointly activate the [List of Instructions], which under normal circumstances could force a dozen True Gods to commit suicide. Even our strongest Aries Director couldn’t withstand it and would have to wait helplessly under the [Dead World Streetlamp] for death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when it comes to the Water-Bearer Director, I just don’t feel confident. His power isn’t particularly strong—even weaker than some Zodiac Bureau Chiefs—but over the past decades, he’s created countless anomalous objects, and the sheer number of bizarre tricks he’s amassed makes me deeply uneasy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, the Red-haired Director took another gulp of liquor, frowning at Li Ang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. 017 and No. 049 are a commonly paired set of anomalous objects, so the Water-Bearer Director certainly knows about them. And since the [List of Instructions] is a directive-type anomalous object, it must be physically delivered into his hands and complete the ‘issuance’ process before it activates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if, as he did during his previous interrogation, he prepared in advance by crafting targeted anomalous objects—like ‘Absolute Non-Receipt of Mail,’ ‘Invisible Letter Content,’ or ‘Cannot Read’—then even if the [List of Instructions] somehow forced its effect on him, its power would be drastically weakened, and it might not truly eliminate him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if he, as he did during previous interrogations, prepared in advance and created targeted anomalies such as “absolutely cannot receive letters,” “cannot see the letter’s content,” or “cannot read,” then even if the [Instruction List] forcibly activates on him, its effect would certainly be greatly diminished, and it might not truly eliminate him entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can even do that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the Red-haired Director’s concerns, Li Ang pondered briefly, then nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True—the Water-Bearer Director has too many tricks, and after decades of preparation to seize the Watch Palace, no one knows what hidden cards he still holds…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way, Director—if you don’t mind—I was wondering if…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know what you’re going to say, but that won’t work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at Li Ang’s hesitant expression, the Red-haired Director’s gaze dimmed slightly, then he shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want me to go upstairs, open the [Twelve Ant Nests], find the ant corresponding to the Water-Bearer Director among those linked one-to-one with every human, and crush it to death, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frankly, I’ve considered it myself—but although I’m the holder of the [Twelve Ant Nests], I don’t have independent authority to use it. I need approval from the Directors to even open it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even if I received permission, to kill the Water-Bearer Director directly through this device, I’d need twice his power to suppress the resistance of his corresponding ant—something I simply can’t do alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So… we’re just gambling that the Water-Bearer Director has no countermeasures and will obediently walk into his death under the [List of Instructions]?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So… we can only bet that Water Bearer has no hidden cards, and will obediently walk to his death under the [Instruction List]’s effect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, though the General Headquarters’ plan isn’t foolproof, you don’t need to dwell on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Ang’s furrowed brow, the Red-haired Director comforted him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Water-Bearer Director was most dangerous when the General Headquarters didn’t know he intended to seize the Watch Palace. Now that they know his goal, he can’t possibly succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The General Headquarters’ vigilance is at its peak; for the six months before the Ascension, the Taurus Lord will not leave the Headquarters at all, and the other two Directors will remain as well, fully activating the Headquarters’ anomalous shielding capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these conditions, even if the Water-Bearer Director were ten times stronger, he could never reach the Headquarters—and as long as he never meets the Taurus Lord face-to-face, he can never replace him as the Ascension Candidate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, even if Director Water Bearer were ten times stronger, he could never ascend to the General Headquarters; and as long as he never meets Lord Taurus, he naturally cannot replace Lord Taurus as the Ascender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Honestly, thinking back now, the three Directors’ choice is correct. For the Headquarters and all humanity, what truly matters isn’t eliminating the Water-Bearer Director, but ensuring the stable operation of the Watch Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So rather than risking ambush or traps by chasing him across the world, it’s far better for the three of them to guard the Headquarters tightly and wait until the Taurus Lord ascends safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s only six months. As long as we deny the Water-Bearer Director any opportunity to act during this time and let the Taurus Lord ascend peacefully, we’ll have plenty of time afterward to deal with him slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s only half a year anyway; as long as we deny Director Water Bearer any chance to act during these six months, allowing Lord Taurus to ascend safely to the Watchtower Palace, later when we have the freedom to act, we’ll have plenty of time to deal with him slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though that’s what they said, for some reason, this cautious decision by the Bureau feels just as unreliable as your earlier claim that our branch’s performance this year will be rising steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though that’s what they said, for some reason, the bureau’s cautious decision felt just as implausible as your earlier claim that our branch’s performance this year would soar.\u003C\u002Fp>",1327,"2026-06-20T03:18:31.831Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1946c9da6bbe1357ac7f202cf37048de42f950c2721d3f84fed3ce66aefa3337","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-266","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-264",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-the-cleanup-crew-cover.jpg"]