Chapter 480: Watchtower Palace

The contamination value is actually 48 points?

After reading the information provided by 【Materialism】, Li Ang couldn't help but pause, his gaze turning toward the Red-haired Woman.

Wasn't it said that even choosing the first option would yield only 45 contamination points, and the third option a maximum of 42? How did it jump so high now?

"…"

Why are you staring at me? Go thank her right away!

After meeting Li Ang's gaze, the Red-haired Woman couldn't help but glare at him again, then slipped her hands behind her back and subtly curled her finger toward his neck.

"Huh?"

As his neck was tugged slightly downward by his hair, Li Ang instantly understood the Red-haired Woman's hint, bowing deeply with sincere gratitude:

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your teachings. I will not disappoint the Director's expectations, nor will I betray this anomaly you crafted with your own hands!"

"Why so formal again… Sigh…"

Seeing through the Red-haired Woman's little trick, the Silver-haired Old Lady glared at her, then chuckled helplessly:

"Really… If I'd known it would turn out like this, I should've applied for identity confidentiality long ago. Now I'm plagued everywhere—bowing, greetings, the whole thing…"

"The bows and greetings are all voluntary, born of genuine respect for you."

Hearing the Silver-haired Old Lady's words, the usually irreverent Red-haired Woman straightened her posture instantly, her expression solemn:

"Director Taurus, whether for your past achievements or the choices you will make in the future, this respect is yours to deserve."

"Perhaps… but it's truly inconvenient…"

With a listless reply, the Silver-haired Old Lady rose from the sofa and said her farewell:

"Then that's settled, Olivia. I came today just to deliver this item and check on your Sixth Bureau's condition. Since everything's normal, I won't disturb you further."

"You're too kind."

The Red-haired Woman bowed respectfully, then tugged Li Ang gently, pulling him back with her. Meanwhile, the Director Taurus—looking no different from an ordinary old woman—bent her back and walked toward the second-floor window, then vanished without warning, as if stepping into another world.

"…"

No wonder I didn't see any footprints—you guys don't even use the stairs…

A look of sudden understanding crossed his eyes. With the high-ranking Director gone, Li Ang, who had been holding back a flood of questions, finally spoke up:

"Just now… that woman…"

"She is one of the Twelve Directors, the current Taurus Director, and also the Bureau's greatest master in crafting anomalies."

After briefly explaining the old woman's identity, the Red-haired Woman sighed with admiration:

"I thought it'd be enough just to have one Grand Artisan oversee the forging. I never expected Director Taurus would have time to take it on herself—not only did she forge it, she even delivered it personally. You're truly lucky."

So… is that why the contamination value is so much higher than expected, because this Master forged it?

Nodding with understanding, Li Ang stole a glance at her expression, then asked:

"Director, how strong are the Twelve Directors? How do they compare to you?"

"You misunderstand."

Glancing at Li Ang, the Red-haired Woman shook her head:

"I asked you to show her respect not because her power is great or her status high, but because of genuine admiration.

In no more than a year, Director Taurus will voluntarily abandon her physical form and become part of 【Watchtower Palace】." "Watchtower Palace?"

"It's an anomaly crafted by the Cleanup Bureau, suspended beyond our world. Its function, as its name suggests, is to serve as the watchful guardian of all humanity—the strongest and final barrier protecting this world."

After briefly explaining 【Watchtower Palace】's function, the Red-haired Woman's gaze grew complex:

"Only those who truly love humanity from the depths of their hearts can be chosen by the Watchtower Palace. Once they accept the calling, their bodies and nearly all emotions are stripped away, leaving only the purest will to watch over humanity, drawn into the Watchtower Palace.

Director Taurus has already accepted the calling. Within a year, she will depart beyond the world to take her post in the Watchtower Palace, watching for cataclysms that threaten humanity, sitting in silent vigil across the dead void—until even her last fragment of will is utterly ground away by merciless time."

Is this watching? Or is it just a disguised life sentence?

After hearing the Red-haired Woman's explanation, Li Ang imagined it for a moment—and felt a heavy ache in his chest.

To leave behind the colorful world and the loved ones who stand beside you, to sit alone in the dead void for an endless eternity, until even your will is swallowed whole by loneliness—this is a cruel torture for any sentient being.

"Must it be this painful?"

Thinking of the Silver-haired Old Lady's gentle, kind face, unable to bear what awaited her, Li Ang asked:

"This anomaly was made by the Bureau, right? Could you modify it slightly—send people in shifts to guard the Watchtower Palace? At least rotate the duty."

"No."

The Red-haired Woman sighed:

"Only extremes are remembered. Only obsession dares to press forward. Only madness can comprehend greatness… That's a saying widely passed through the Bureau.

I understand it this way: whether it's positive love or reverence, or negative hatred or resentment—only these most extreme, most pure emotions can truly affect the world and give birth to corresponding 'anomalies.'"

Here, the Red-haired Woman paused, then lifted her gaze to the sky outside the window, her voice soft and distant:

"The existence of 【Watchtower Palace】 follows this rule. Its calling is entirely voluntary—even before entering, there's a full ten-year preparation period, during which you may withdraw at any time, and no one will remember you were ever chosen.

Most in the Bureau believe these ten years are merely a cooling-off period for the chosen. But I think—whether it's the eternal agony of watchful vigil afterward, or these ten years of weighing and reflection—they are all part of 【Watchtower Palace】's process of gathering power: a selection and purification of the will to watch."

Only a pure will, one that knowingly chooses to walk into despair despite having the safe option to walk away, can give birth to the boundless, transcendent power that guards all humanity across past and future."

So that's how it is…

Finally understanding why the usually reckless Director had behaved so "well-behaved" today, Li Ang involuntarily took a deep breath, his eyes filled with profound reverence.

Even setting aside her role in crafting his anomaly, as one of humanity protected by 【Watchtower Palace】, the Silver-haired Old Lady deserved his respect.

Hmm… Watchtower Palace… I never imagined the Cleanup Bureau held something so great…

"Zzz…"

【By attentively listening to the related account, you have acquired extensive information regarding "Watchtower Palace." The Chromatic Badge "Materialist Soul (Crimson)" has activated.

Having learned of "Watchtower Palace"'s existence, understood its source of power, and grasped part of its operational rules, your resistance to its influence has greatly increased—you can now block ordinary-level effects.】

"…"

???

(End of Chapter)