Chapter 389: 389 Partner

"I indeed had that intention."

Facing the chilling question from the King of Nightmares, the Aquarius Director chuckled, openly admitting:

"Though I've now defected from the Cleanup Bureau, I was once its director."

"I've opposed you for so many years—suddenly letting you in myself, I couldn't help feeling uneasy, so I took the chance to harm you a little as penance. Too bad you saw through it."

"Not entirely."

The blurred face faded from the small boat, returning to its original position; the gray mist soaked in black riverwater clung like a drenched greatcoat to the King of Nightmares' body, sharply outlining his gaunt frame.

After wringing out his gray robe, saturated with countless nightmares, the King of Nightmares extended his bony arm, adjusting the mirror-like crown upon his head, then looked down at the two on the boat and spoke in a hollow tone:

"I'm genuinely curious now—what's so special about this Level Three Cleanup Agent who forced you to cooperate with me? But you thinking you can use him to kill me? Absolutely impossible."

"I am immortal within the Abyss of Fallen Souls. Without you, Aquarius Director, even if all eleven remaining directors of your Cleanup Bureau came here, they still couldn't kill me."

"Mm, good that you're confident."

Smiling ambiguously, the Aquarius Director said:

"Enough idle talk. Let's get to work—repair my soul. Where should I sleep? On this boat?"

"As long as you can sleep, you can sleep anywhere. But…"

Glancing at the Aquarius Director, the King of Nightmares tore off a corner of his robe, laid it flat upon the black river below, then smiled with mild mockery:

"To achieve the perfect effect—to fall completely asleep and wake fully restored from reality—you'd best sleep on my robe… Will you come over?"

"Why not?"

To the astonishment of the female journalist and the King of Nightmares, the Aquarius Director deliberately stepped off the small boat and walked toward the gray robe spread upon the river.

"No! Don't!"

Seeing he was serious, the female journalist cried out in alarm:

"The King of Nightmares' robe is part of his body! If you sleep on it, when you wake in reality, that robe will become part of you! Even if you're not fully controlled, you'll be influenced by him!"

"It's fine—we're partners, after all!"

Under the King of Nightmares' silent gaze, the Aquarius Director lay down on the gray robe with utter relaxation and smiled:

"My goal is to repair my soul—I naturally want the most complete effect. If sleeping on his robe works better, then of course I'll try it."

"…"

Damn it… No wonder he's a Cleanup Bureau director!

Watching the Aquarius Director, who left no hidden moves and simply relaxed onto his robe, the King of Nightmares' eyes hidden within the gray mist lost their certainty, replaced by a deep wariness.

The entire process of repairing the damaged soul—exchanging dreams and reality—is entirely under my control. Facing this willing target, as the one in charge, I naturally planned to leave some tricks behind.

But the Aquarius Director clearly knew this. Knowing manipulation was inevitable, he refused to even bother guarding himself—he opened his soul completely and let me do as I pleased.

Had he not done this, I would've slipped in hidden marks during the repair—tiny flaws designed to cause his soul to collapse rapidly, forcing him to pledge loyalty to me.

But now that he's willingly opened himself, letting me imprint upon him, those tricks are unnecessary. To ensure this "tool" of mine remains stable and functional, I'll actually work harder to repair his soul more completely.

Yet someone like him will never truly submit to me, never become a servant.

The only reason he'd open his soul to my manipulation… is because he's certain he won't survive—he's certain the Cleanup Bureau will eliminate him.

After all, if I die leaving my mark, then whether his soul carries my mark or not… doesn't matter, does it?

In an instant, the gray mist giant's thoughts raced—he vaguely guessed the Aquarius Director's intent, and let out a cold snort.

His flesh-thin hands, barely clinging to his bones, reached out and grasped the air—the gray robe beneath the Aquarius Director suddenly flipped, wrapping him entirely, then sinking into the black river flowing with endless nightmares.

At the spot where the Aquarius Director sank, a dark, blood-stained dream slowly surfaced upon the night-black river.

Faith, resolve, death, remorse, wailing, doubt, collapse, madness—emotions so intense, so pure, they startled even the King of Nightmares, boiling a vast stretch of the black river.

Then, a slightly younger hand—smooth, taut skin, free of age spots, faintly yellow—emerged from the blood-red dream, gripping the boiling river's surface firmly.

"Excellent."

A young man, clad in a blue robe stained with blood, his face caught between tears and laughter, his form seeming to drift, climbed out of the blood-red dream and stepped calmly onto the small boat, under the complex gaze of the female journalist.

"I haven't felt this light in years."

He stretched his newly youthful body, gazed at his faintly transparent palms, then nodded with deep satisfaction, smiling at the gray mist giant:

"Since you helped me regain my youth, I'll return the favor with a piece of information… Based on my knowledge of the Cleanup Bureau, the director of the Scorpio Branch is likely to be sent here."

"What?!"

Hearing the Aquarius Director's words, the King of Nightmares' gray mist surged violently, and he roared in fury:

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? If both Zodiac directors join forces, even I might not escape!"

"Don't worry—he hates the Blood-Haired Witch. If forced to come here for support, he won't risk his life. Dealing with him will be easy."

Settling into the wooden boat, the Aquarius Director tapped gently on the stern and grinned:

"They won't act together—they'll move separately. Just send a few similar-looking servants to trap him in some troublesome dream."

"Given his nature, once he realizes escaping the dream requires a price—even risk—he'll willingly stay trapped by you."

"…"

"One last thing before you go… Remember to bring the Abyss of Fallen Souls into reality first, then move against the Cleanup Bureau agents."

Waving to the gray mist giant, the Aquarius Director on the boat said seriously:

"Don't die too soon—if you get killed by Li Ang before I wake in reality, I'll be in real trouble."

"…"

Kill him! I'll kill him the moment I see him!