Chapter 384

Has the arrival of the King of Nightmares become inevitable?

After hearing the Red-haired Director's judgment, Li Ang's eyes widened instantly.

Of course, the intelligence regarding the location of the Black Cult of Nightmares' base came from the Water Bearer Director—his involvement isn't just highly likely, it's one hundred percent!

I remember Senior Emma once told me that when the Abyss of Fallen Souls merges with reality, the connection between body and soul weakens, dream-world creatures and related abilities surge dramatically, and the King of Nightmares seizes the chance to invade reality.

If the King of Nightmares truly succeeds in descending, ordinary people affected won't die outright, but will be haunted by nightmares for the rest of their lives, while cleaners like myself will most likely be forcibly captured and dragged into the dream world, transformed into dream-world creatures under its control, enslaved forever.

"Director! Quickly request reinforcements from headquarters!"

After realizing what would happen within three days, Li Ang couldn't help but exclaim urgently:

"Senior Emma told me the King of Nightmares has no physical form and can move freely through dreams—it's not a type you're skilled at handling. Couldn't we ask a Director who specializes in countering it, or another branch's Director, for help?"

"I've already requested reinforcements, but it's unlikely they'll arrive in time."

Pointing to the cabinet beside the desk, the Red-haired Director gestured for Li Ang to look at the faintly flickering Celestial Sphere Mirror before rubbing his temples:

"The Li Ang value of the King of Nightmares is around 63 points. Directors from non-Zodiac branches have only about 50–59 points, and even with the Star Palace's enhancement, they can only reach 60."

Though the difference seems small, you know that 60 Li Ang points mark the boundary between human and divine. Even if a branch Director arrived, facing the Abyss of Fallen Souls-enhanced King of Nightmares, they'd be of little help."

"What about Directors from other Zodiac branches?"

"If they could come, they might help—if two or more arrived, we might even try to kill the King of Nightmares. But none of them can come…"

The Red-haired Director sighed:

"Headquarters is currently in self-imposed lockdown. Except for the three Directors, all other personnel's Star Palace teleportation abilities have been temporarily banned. Only those from the Leo Branch and Scorpio Branch might arrive within two days."

"The Scorpio Branch Director is at odds with me—he's unlikely to drop everything and rush over immediately. As for Beverly from the Leo Branch, though she's close to me, after you exposed the Water Bearer's conspiracy, she requested a reward: a month's stay in the Sweet God's divine realm eating desserts. She's not even in this world right now—how could she possibly arrive?"

"Then…"

"I'm already contacting the Directors."

Pointing to the two fish-shaped emblems circling a sphere atop the Celestial Sphere Mirror, the Red-haired Director said:

"The Pisces Director excels in dreams and souls. If he's willing to act, the two of us could directly penetrate the Abyss of Fallen Souls and forcibly trap the King of Nightmares within the dream world. But I suspect he's currently…"

"Zzz…"

As if echoing the Red-haired Director's words, the two fish emblems above the Celestial Sphere Mirror stabilized, and a little girl with a face full of delight appeared inside the mirror.

"Olivia~ Are you here to play with me?"

"He's currently in a state where he can't act."

After finishing his sentence, the Red-haired Director, seeing Li Ang's bewildered expression, scratched his messy hair and said helplessly:

"Play another time, Your Excellency Pisces. I'm busy now… Are the Taurus and Sagittarius Excellencies beside you?"

"Alright then…"

After being rejected, the little girl pouted in disappointment but obediently nodded, then ran off from the mirror, her squeaky little shoes echoing.

"I'll go call them for you!"

"Thank you."

"…"

"That child just now was Mimi—she's roughly one-quarter of the Pisces Director."

After the little girl vanished beyond the Celestial Sphere Mirror, the Red-haired Director turned to Li Ang, who wore a look of astonishment, and explained:

"The Pisces Director's situation is unusual. His soul has been split by an anomaly into four parts: a boy, a girl, an old man, and a middle-aged woman—specifically, a six- or seven-year-old girl, a twenty-three- or twenty-four-year-old young man, a forty-five- or fifty-six-year-old woman, and an octogenarian."

"His body is controlled in rotation by these four souls, from youngest to oldest. Though all four souls, originating from the same source, are recognized by the Pisces Star Palace, only the octogenarian possesses Director-level power."

"…"

So the Pisces Director only has Director-level combat ability one-quarter of the time?

Watching the six-year-old Pisces Director leave, Li Ang, staring at the pink wooden rocking horse placed before the mirror, couldn't hold back his question:

"With so many anomalies at headquarters, isn't there any way to swap out the eighty-year-old Pisces Director in advance?"

"Impossible."

The Red-haired Director shook his head:

"About twenty to thirty years ago, before he defected, the Water Bearer Director teamed up with the Taurus Director to create an anomaly targeting souls, aiming to resolve the Pisces Director's soul fragmentation."

"Even combining two secret arts, they failed. They merely stabilized the previously random soul rotations into a fixed sequence: youngest to oldest."

"The octogenarian Pisces Director you saw when you exposed the Water Bearer's conspiracy at headquarters just emerged—he'll now cycle back from oldest to youngest. He won't appear again for over a month."

Wait another month… by then, it'll be too late by a hundredfold!

With a deeper realization that the Cleaning Bureau was nothing but a ragtag makeshift outfit, Li Ang was about to ask again when urgent footsteps echoed from the other side of the 【Celestial Sphere Mirror】. The six-year-old Pisces returned, dragging two people in with eager excitement.

"Olivia! I brought them back for you! Next time you come…"

"Next time you come, I'll make sure she brings you more interesting toys."

Interrupting her, the slightly weary Taurus Director gently patted the girl's head and said softly:

"Mimi, we have matters to discuss. Why don't you go play over there for now, alright?"

"Oh…"

Sensing the serious expressions of the Taurus Director and the Red-haired Director, the girl blinked, pouted, and obediently trudged off in her squeaky shoes. The Taurus Director then took her place across the Celestial Sphere Mirror.

"Olivia, I have something important to tell you."

Before the Red-haired Director could mention that the Water Bearer Director was still alive, the grave-faced Taurus Director spoke first, sighing with anxiety:

"The Watchtower Palace… may have a problem."