Chapter 620: News and the Star Palace

"Olivia!"

Seeing that the Red-haired Woman seemed ready to give up, Bevili couldn't help glaring:

"He's clearly lying! Aside from him, there's simply no…"

"Enough. It's useless."

After giving her a look to stay calm, the Red-haired Woman communicated through mental link:

I know you're unwilling to accept this, but our Cleanup Bureau is a relatively loose organization. Although our rules are strict, enforcement lacks real authority. Whether we can bring Water Bottle in to extract memories doesn't depend on who's right or wrong, but on how many people are willing to stand with us.

After glancing at the various expressions of the division directors in the hall, the Red-haired Woman sneered:

"But now it's different. Though everyone knows Water Bottle is likely lying, he has offered a plausible explanation. Among the other division directors, far more value his ability to create anomalies than his past casualties."

Also, over these two days, Water Bottle has met many people and likely promised them countless favors. When real interests are at stake, even if they know Water Bottle probably broke the rules, many will still side with him during a vote.

"If we could have crushed Water Bottle outright, these people wouldn't say a word. But now that he's provided a plausible excuse, he's given them room to maneuver. Even if we insist, it'll just turn into endless bickering."

"As for the Director—if his physical body were here, he'd likely forcibly remove Water Bottle to uphold bureau rules. But now he's stuck in the Old Land and can't return. He'll prioritize stability here over enforcing bureau rules."

"Knowing him, the Director will probably step forward first to mediate, ensuring no chaos breaks out in the bureau, then record this incident and deal with Water Bottle later… For now, just endure it. No matter what Water Bottle does later, today we've already lost."

Based on my understanding of him, the Director will likely step forward first to mediate and prevent chaos within the Bureau, then log the incident and wait until we return to find a way to settle accounts with Aquarius... Just endure it for now; no matter what Aquarius does later, we've already lost today.

"In my view… this matter needs further deliberation."

The subsequent developments matched the Red-haired Woman's predictions almost exactly. After scanning the expressions of the division directors, the Director, understanding the situation, gave Water Bottle a meaningful glance, then stepped forward to mediate:

"Water Bottle's 'replica' caused many problems, but ultimately it was to prevent greater destruction from the 【Twin Mirror Lake】. His merits and faults cancel out—there's no need to mention his removal."

"Though all twelve Directors have authority to handle anomalies independently, they must report when unable to resolve them. Those who conceal such incidents must be punished… Water Bottle, do you object?"

Hearing the Cleanup Bureau Director's words, Bevili clenched her fists and glared furiously at Water Bottle, who sat calmly across from her.

Object? What objection could he possibly have? Compared to being dragged to have a god-tier Brain-Eater lick his brain grooves, this punishment is nothing!

Objections... What objection could he possibly have? Compared to being dragged off to have a God-tier Brain-Eater lick his brain grooves, this punishment is nothing!

Smiling at the Lion Division Director who glared at him, Water Bottle bowed slightly toward the central shadow:

"Your judgment is most appropriate. Also, please don't be too harsh on the division directors."

"Though they questioned me directly without clarifying the truth, their actions were rash, yet not entirely baseless. Do they really need to face bureau punishment?"

Although they questioned me directly without clarifying the truth, which was reckless, it wasn't entirely baseless—so they don't need to be punished by the Bureau, do they?"

With a subtle maneuver from years ago, he casually dismantled the entire inquiry's foundation, then twisted truth and falsehood, and even pretended to show mercy by pleading for the dismissal of a punishment that never existed.

Facing this supreme humiliation, only the Gemini Division Director remained unmoved. The other five directors who had spoken up bristled with rage—even the Red-haired Woman narrowed her eyes. Too bad, Olivia's mind was sharp, but her tactics were still too naive; Water Bottle had exploited her.

With a regretful glance at the Red-haired Woman, and wishing to pacify the situation, the Cleanup Bureau Director nodded:

"Agreed. Then let's set this matter aside for now… hmm… wait."

Just as the Director was about to declare the inquiry over and Water Bottle safe, the stone slab beside him trembled slightly, then revealed a column of writhing, strange symbols.

After stroking the symbols a few times and deciphering their meaning, the Cleanup Bureau Director frowned.

It was a complaint delivered via the 【Same Script Stone Tablet】. Nine-tenths of its content accused the Virgo Division's cleaner of disrespect, breaking into Wang Gong and assaulting the Prince, demanding punishment from the Cleanup Bureau.

But after detailing how the cleaner named Li Ang had beaten him multiple times, the Prince—apparently under coercion—added a few messages meant for the headquarters:

However, after denouncing the cleaner named Li Ang for repeatedly assaulting him, the assaulted prince seemed coerced into passing along some messages to Headquarters on his behalf...

"Water Bottle!"

After decoding all the symbols, the Cleanup Bureau Director spun around, eyes locked on Water Bottle seated in the eleventh seat, speaking almost word by word:

After deciphering the meaning of all the symbols, the Director of the Cleanup Bureau whirled around, his eyes locking fiercely onto the Director of Aquarius seated in the eleventh seat, and asked, nearly word by word:

Noticing the subtle shift in the Director's expression, Water Bottle's brow twitched slightly, then nodded:

"I know him. He's the leader of the rebels, and apparently had contact with my other self."

"Yes. He had contact with 'your other self.'"

Emphasizing "your other self," the Cleanup Bureau Director repeated the ambiguous phrase, then narrowed his eyes:

"Water Bottle, while you were coming here for the year-end review, a cleaner from Virgo Division captured the rebel leader and obtained some intriguing information."

"After reading his report, I believe this information could greatly aid in capturing 'your other self.' Would you be willing to help? Let's gather all twelve Star Palaces and teleport Nathan and the two cleaners here?"

So… Nathan didn't escape? He was captured by the Virgo Division cleaner? And he exposed something damaging to me?

Hearing the Cleanup Bureau Director's request, Water Bottle frowned. Something felt off.

To maximally protect its stored dangerous artifacts, the core of the Cleanup Bureau headquarters was deliberately built on an asteroid over seventy thousand kilometers above ground, orbiting the world like the moon.

Even the most advanced airship from the Mechanical Capital, Kolok, could only fly at eight or nine kilometers. The highest unmanned probe never exceeded four hundred kilometers—barely a speck compared to seventy thousand.

Thus, except for high-ranking Cleanup Bureau members who could use Star Palaces to teleport, and a tiny number who possessed special anomalies, no one could reach here quickly.

The only exception: gathering all twelve Zodiac Division Directors or Directors, combining the partial Solar Authority of the Zodiac Star Palaces, and forcibly refracting someone up from seventy thousand kilometers via sunlight.

Even then, the person could only remain for a single day. When the headquarters rotated to the opposite side of the world and Solar Authority weakened, they'd instantly be expelled back to their original location…

So… what exactly did that message say? Why would the Director propose gathering all twelve Star Palaces just to teleport someone here for direct confrontation?

So what exactly did the message say? What could have made the Director propose gathering all Twelve Zodiacs to bring someone up here to confront me face-to-face?

(End of Chapter)