Chapter 622: The Real Interrogation (Part 2)

He actually managed to use the Thief's Art to steal all the way up to the Enlightener God's head… If I'd known this would happen, I should've given Nathan more life-saving anomalies to begin with.

Looking at the "old friend" who had served his lineage for fifteen generations, the Aquarius Director couldn't help but shake his head, then outright ignored Li Ang and Jerry, lifting his gaze instead to the Director of the Cleanup Bureau with sincere expression.

"The Enlightener God has been imprisoned by my Aquarius lineage for two thousand years, and I alone have drained its flesh and true spirit over a thousand times.

No matter how deep a grudge one might hold, it could never match even a fraction of its hatred toward me—would you truly doubt a director who has served this Bureau for nearly a century, based solely on the word of an outer god?"

"I'm sorry, this isn't about whether I believe you."

After her pale purple eyes flickered slightly, the Director of the Cleanup Bureau answered calmly:

"Unlike the private creation of anomalies just now, this matter concerns the safety of the Watch Palace—there is no room for negotiation.

Whether you, another director, or even I as Director, anyone accused and presented with credible evidence must immediately prove their innocence.

If you cannot prove your innocence, you must undergo memory extraction… Aquarius Director, do you have any defense against these accusations?"

"None."

After glancing at Li Ang beside the Director of the Cleanup Bureau, the Aquarius Director spoke calmly:

"Bring the Divine Brain-Eater. I choose to undergo memory extraction immediately… Also, I'm curious—why has the Virgo Branch taken such intense interest in me?

Not only did they coordinate six branch directors to initiate this inquiry against me, but they even risked releasing a imprisoned god by forcibly contacting this material used for the Anomaly Creation Ritual…"

"I am the Enlightener God! You miserable human are the material! Let me out and…"

With a slight press of his interlocked fingers—some unknown method silenced the Enlightener God—the Aquarius Director gazed at the red-haired Director with deep meaning:

"Olivia, if memory extraction proves I did nothing, could you also submit to memory extraction? And beyond you…"

"Why?"

Hearing the Aquarius Director's words, before he could finish, the Leo Branch Director, Beverly, rose in anger:

"This second inquiry, even if you didn't do it, is still tied to you. The first directly involves the Watch Palace, and Olivia has done nothing suspicious—why should she be subjected to memory extraction?"

"If we're talking about suspicious actions, she has indeed committed them—more than one."

Glancing at Beverly, the Aquarius Director's face remained expressionless:

"The Bao Hua family, which attempted to overthrow the royal house, should have been executed in full under kingdom law—but Emma Alman, who clearly didn't meet the standards, was taken in by her Virgo Branch, allowed to secretly plot revenge, and shielded repeatedly.

Furthermore, last month she took in Li Ang Lyne, who likewise failed the Cleanup Bureau's hiring criteria but held a title of nobility, and assigned him to investigate the Lyne Estate.

The result of that investigation was the Lyne Blood Night, in which nearly all high-ranking members of the Lionheart family perished, the ducal title became unclaimed, and through a string of coincidences, it was this very third-grade cleanup officer, granted special admission by her, who inherited it."

Here, the Aquarius Director paused slightly, then added with deliberate meaning, as the branch directors exchanged thoughtful glances:

"Also, Tom Lynas, the Virgo Branch's Level One Hazard Handler with a record of single-handedly expelling a true god, vanished briefly from the Bureau's surveillance after completing the cleanup mission at Blood Pine Ridge.

And Tom Lynas's strongest anomaly ability happens to be a pair of dice that create coincidences, giving every impossible event a sixty percent chance of occurring—and his disappearance from surveillance precisely coincided with the moment Li Ang Lyne claimed the ducal title."

After finishing, the Aquarius Director gazed at the red-haired Director, whose brow was tightly furrowed, and continued:

"I discovered all these issues while tracking my own clone. In recent years, my clone has repeatedly appeared in the capital, cultivating a faction called the Rebels, aiming to completely overthrow the royal house—while you, it seems, have been deliberately gathering heirs of the old nobility.

Therefore, I have reason to suspect you once contacted my clone, received some benefit from him, or even formed an extremely dangerous alliance—which explains why you're so determined to accuse me, and why you always produce evidence I cannot refute."

Under the Director of the Cleanup Bureau's suddenly sharp gaze, the Aquarius Director spoke calmly:

"Olivia, are these points I've raised sufficient grounds for you to also undergo memory extraction?"

"…."

…

Strange… why is the Aquarius Director bringing these up? Is he merely desperate, or does he truly have a trump card, confident he can survive memory extraction?

Glancing toward the Director of the Cleanup Bureau and noticing the shift in her expression, the red-haired Director rubbed her furrowed brow, and though still uncertain of the Aquarius Director's intent, gave a slight nod:

"Fine, I agree to memory extraction.

But my turn must come after yours—if it's proven no clone exists, or that you truly conspire against the Watch Palace, then my memory extraction must be canceled!"

"Not just you. This third-grade hazard handler must also undergo memory extraction."

Pointing toward Li Ang, the Aquarius Director smiled at the troublesome man he'd once ignored but who, in two days, had captured Nathan and delivered crucial evidence:

"Given your close relationship, if I'm proven innocent, he must undergo memory extraction as well."

"I object—this has nothing to do with Li Ang!" the red-haired Director snapped in response:

"He's only been in the Virgo Branch for a month. If memory extraction is necessary, I'm enough.

Besides, apart from the Lyne Blood Night, every mission Li Ang has undertaken has been carried out with diligence and excellence—he even has a record of slaying a Holy Spirit.

And being subjected to memory extraction by a Divine Brain-Eater is equivalent to forced contamination by a true god—it will inevitably destabilize his mind. For a cleanup officer with such potential, this is undoubtedly a…"

"His mind doesn't need contamination—it's already extremely unstable."

Interrupting the red-haired Director, the Aquarius Director said coolly:

"I reviewed his dossier thoroughly. After the Lyne Blood Night, the two investigators sent by the Bureau gave him a remarkably telling assessment.

They unanimously deemed him extremely dangerous, possessing an obsessive, near-insane mindset, and harboring numerous dangerous secrets—recommending strict surveillance by the Bureau.

Furthermore, to find evidence to bring me down, he made contact with the Enlightener God, making him susceptible to control or even parasitism by it. Subjecting him to memory extraction alongside you might even be a form of protection…"

Protection your mother!

Watching the massive cage slowly rise from the floor of the chamber, and inside it, the Brain-Eater—uglier than a lamprey—Li Ang's scalp prickled at the thought of having his brain grooves licked by its tongue.

If this counts as protection, then I wish you were protected by the Cleanup Bureau for the rest of your life!

…

Worse still, despite the red-haired Director's persistent arguments, after hearing the Aquarius Director's proposal, the Director of the Cleanup Bureau showed signs of being swayed—especially upon hearing the possibility that Li Ang had been controlled by the Enlightener God, her eyes narrowed unconsciously.

On one side was the risk of the Enlightener God escaping; on the other, a third-grade cleanup officer whose potential was merely "alleged." For a Director who desired the Bureau's stability above all, these two carried no comparable weight.

Had the objecting party not been Olivia, who possessed two numbered anomalies and ranked among the top directors in combat strength, he might already have made the decision outright.

"Taurus Sir!"

Seeing the Director of the Cleanup Bureau seemingly convinced, the red-haired Director turned to the hesitant Taurus Director, seeking help:

"You've met Li Ang—you even crafted an anomaly for him yourself. You know his potential. Subjecting him to true god-level contamination this early will damage his mind. If memory extraction is truly necessary, I'll do it!"

"Indeed…"

After a moment's hesitation, the Taurus Director nodded:

"That boy's potential is outstanding—he's steady-minded and intelligent. He'll likely become a Level One cleanup officer, even replace a branch director and become a protector of humanity. Subjecting him to memory extraction now would be a tragic waste.

Not to mention, the 【Holy Spirit Pendant】 I crafted for him would inevitably be affected after exposure to a true god-level demon—its effectiveness would likely drop by over half, effectively severing his future."

"Even if you sever his future, what then?"

After the Taurus Director finished, the Aquarius Director's eyebrows dipped slightly, his tone cold:

"Taurus Sir, on one side is the risk of the Enlightener God escaping; on the other, merely a third-grade cleanup officer whose potential remains unfulfilled. I see no comparison."

"But…"

"Enough. Say no more."

His form twisted slightly, and the Director of the Cleanup Bureau spoke slowly:

"My time flow is slowing—my window to communicate with you is nearly closed. The most urgent matter now is the safety of the Watch Palace. I will decide directly.

First, Aquarius Director will undergo memory extraction. If he is guilty, no further discussion. If he is innocent, then Olivia must undergo extraction.

And if Olivia is also proven innocent, then this cleanup officer named Li Ang will be exempted from memory extraction… Aquarius Director, proceed!"

(End of Chapter)