Chapter 358: 358 Flesh-Bearing Doe

So if that's the case… I'm the one repaying kindness with enmity, then?

After hearing the red-haired director's words, Li Ang's expression twitched slightly in embarrassment.

If things really were that way, "Li Ang Lyne" would have been gone six years ago, and I wouldn't exist at all.

So even though Renard is an absolute bastard, he disrupted the descent ritual—and technically, he's the savior of most of the capital's residents, including me.

If I count it up like that, I really messed up—I should've thanked him first, then killed him.

…

"Director."

After silently thanking Renard in his heart, Li Ang spoke with a flicker of hesitation:

"Based on your guess, which of the Death Realm Sovereigns was trying to descend six years ago?"

"Why are you asking that?"

The red-haired director narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp with suspicion:

"You're not planning to kill the Death Realm Sovereigns too, like you did this time, are you?"

"How could I possibly…"

Li Ang groaned in exasperation:

"Those Sovereigns have lived for countless years. I'm just a lowly Level Three Cleaner—how could I ever have thoughts about such beings? I'm just asking to get a sense of things."

"You'd better think that way!"

The red-haired director snorted, then frowned in warning:

"If it were something like the Goddess of Wealth, killing her wouldn't matter much—but the Death Realm Sovereigns are different. Those who bear the title 'Sovereign of a Realm' all provide indispensable aid to the normal functioning of the entire world.

For example, the Path of No Return, which guides souls back into the world, was created by the First Dead—one of the Sovereigns, who earned his position precisely through this deed.

The other Sovereigns: the Crow-Eyed Granny created the Crows of Foretelling and the Funeral Corridor of Announcements; the Wailing Doll established the City of Regret and the Mist of Phantom Souls; the Faceless One forged the Black-and-White Bridge and…"

After briefly listing the names and deeds of the Death Realm Sovereigns, the red-haired director's gaze turned cold:

"As for the one who tried to descend six years ago, it was almost certainly the Flesh-Bearing Doe. The Burial Robe Mirror Lake where Emma stayed, the Corpse Soil Black Forest I took you through, and the Bone Palace—all three were created by her.

That… that Sovereign ensures that after a soul understands its own death, it sheds its false fleshly garments, becoming a naked, pure spirit—and she's made a significant contribution to the return of souls to the world.

So we can't truly kill her. Even if she had succeeded in descending six years ago and caused massive deaths in the capital, our Bureau could only drive her back to the Death Realm and forcibly force her into slumber—we can't strike her down.

Otherwise, the three places she created would collapse rapidly. Before new corresponding rules form, countless dead would be stranded on the Path of No Return, unable to return to the world normally, causing chaos in the Death Realm's operation."

So Emma's vengeance can't be avenged, then?

Hearing this, Li Ang said with reluctant frustration:

"What problems would arise if too many souls were stranded?"

"Problems would be severe."

The red-haired director sighed:

"When the third director was still alive, he led a team to kill a Death Realm Sovereign, causing the Veiled Soul Valley, responsible for erasing excess soul wisdom, to collapse—leaving countless souls stranded before the City of Regret.

In the fifteen years that followed, with no large-scale wars occurring, the world's newborn souls decreased by nearly one-twentieth, and the decline continues.

We had no choice but to station large numbers of Cleaners permanently in the Death Realm, burying those overly intelligent souls and slowly dissolving them unconsciously until new rules formed… That place later became known as the Graveyard of the Wise. The third director's coffin is buried there."

"…"

Unreal… so you guys actually did that before?

After hearing the director recount past disasters caused by the Bureau, Li Ang couldn't help but press his palm to his forehead, marveling at how this world was a shoddy operation—and how every seemingly absurd "rule" likely stemmed from a past catastrophe.

"Now do you understand why I didn't want to tell Emma the truth?"

The red-haired director said helplessly:

"I understand how you feel, but many things in this world are like this—they're destined to have no perfect ending. For Emma, perhaps this is already the best outcome.

Sigh… anyway, if you truly insist on something happening between you and Emma, I won't stop you—but her and Elly's situation is too unusual. You need to prepare yourself mentally.

Especially Elly—I suspect she was the Flesh-Bearing Doe's chosen vessel for descent. Even though the ritual was interrupted, once she recovers her body, that doe might not be able to descend through her, but she could still exploit the opportunity to cause trouble.

These damned bastards never end—kill one, another pops up. If you're not careful, they'll sneak in like rats and wreak havoc. It's exhausting… Oh, by the way, after work I'm going to have a drink. You coming?"

"Huh?"

Li Ang, who had been listening with a solemn expression, was thrown off guard by the sudden shift. When he realized what she meant, his face fell, and he shook his head without hesitation:

"No! I've quit drinking! And you should drink less too! Don't you remember what you promised the Golden Ox?"

"Tch… boring!"

The red-haired director pouted at Li Ang's blunt refusal and stern reminder:

"Fine, I'll go alone!"

"Seriously... I've been crouching for days and just fought a battle with Aquarius—I'm exhausted! Can't I even take a break?"

"It's not that relaxing is bad… but drinking really causes trouble!"

Still preoccupied with the Flesh-Bearing Doe's scheme, Li Ang couldn't help but warn:

"When you're sober, your abilities are unquestionable—but when you're drunk, your weaknesses are glaring. What if someone invades while you're passed out?"

"Then here's the question: my drunk self is easy to deal with—but how would they know I'm drunk?"

"?"

The red-haired director turned back at the door, smiling sweetly:

"Remember this: when someone has a weakness everyone knows, you have to be careful."

Giving Li Ang a meaningful look, the red-haired director smiled warmly:

"A person who's flawless at all times can't stay alert forever—even if they're always cautious, they'll still slip up eventually.

But a person who's flawless when sober and riddled with flaws when drunk? If their opponent isn't an idiot, they'll strike when she's drunk… Do you understand what I mean?"

"…"

So I just need to be extra careful when she's drunk, and can relax a little otherwise? Or… you're not always really drunk? Most of the time, you're just fishing?

Watching Li Ang's eyes widen in disbelief, the red-haired director smirked, giving a playful blink of her fox-like eyes.

"Learn from me, little Li Ang."

"Your talent's decent, but when it comes to outmaneuvering opponents, you're still green as spring water."