Chapter 630: Traditional Face-Slapping

"It's not treason—the Twin Branch Director's body contains the Aquarius Director's brain."

Without directly asking Li Ang to answer, the Red-haired Director, who had already questioned him beforehand and understood the general reason, spoke up:

"To prevent the Divine-Class Brain-Eating Demon from reading his memories, Aquarius replicated his own brain, then paired it with his original body, emotions, and a severed sliver of his soul, creating a flawless counterfeit."

The brain inside the counterfeit remains half-sealed at all times; Aquarius's true brain, hidden within the Twin Branch Director's body, uses the soul fragment to simultaneously control both bodies. Only before and after memory extraction does the counterfeit's brain temporarily unseal."

"As for just now, he activated 【Time Gap】 to accelerate his own time, reclaimed the soul fragment, and then used an anomaly called 【Gate to the Other Side】…"

"So that's how it is…"

After hearing the Red-haired Director's explanation and understanding why Aquarius was confident he could deceive memory extraction, the Clearance Bureau Director frowned:

"Even the brain can be swapped… Has the medical technology of the Krook Kingdom really advanced to this level?"

"We don't know."

The Red-haired Director shook his head:

"The Krook Kingdom is highly isolated. Aside from purchasing minerals and energy, it has little external contact. Only those in the Twin Branch know what's happening there."

Twin Branch… The Twin Branch Director is Aquarius himself, or at the very least under his control. The entire Twin Branch is now untrustworthy.

After slightly shaking his head, the Clearance Bureau Director was about to ask more, when a tall, thin man stood up and asked pointedly:

"Olivia, the person accelerated by 【Time Gap】 wasn't you, was it? Why are you relaying the details instead of letting that Level Three Clearance Officer speak for himself?"

"Is there a problem?"

The Red-haired Director's fox-like eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at the man, her expression hostile:

"Edward! If you have something to say, just say it outright—no need for roundabout hints!"

"I mean nothing by it. I'm just curious."

The tall, thin man raised an eyebrow:

"Everyone just saw it—the person accelerated by 【Time Gap】 wasn't just Aquarius, but also one of your bureau's Level Three Clearance Officers. And they were alone together for a long time."

"So could you explain how this Level Three Incident Handler, who only recently joined the Clearance Bureau, managed to survive so long under Aquarius's control without being eliminated?"

"The means that kept Li Ang alive were given to him by me. As for the specifics, it's none of your concern."

Anticipating this exact scenario, the Red-haired Director shot back without hesitation.

"Moreover, Li Ang was the first to discover Aquarius's treachery. And when the interrogation hit a deadlock, it was he who brought the key evidence, forcing Aquarius to submit to memory extraction."

"If you suspect him of colluding with Aquarius, I suggest you start by carving open your own skull and checking whether your brain has rotted completely!"

After the Red-haired Director finished, Bevili of the Lion Bureau stood up, glaring:

"Edward! Mind your own business and stop trying to stir up trouble at a time like this!"

"I'm merely raising reasonable doubts. Is such an extreme reaction really necessary?"

The man named Edward, though publicly shamed, showed no anger. He waved his hand to indicate he meant no harm, then smiled and snapped his fingers.

As the snap echoed, Li Ang felt a slight swelling in his palm—a resin card depicting a scorpion pushing a dung ball had been mysteriously inserted into his hand.

"This is the Scorpion Branch's credential. Once stamped with my seal, it will allow you to join the Scorpion Branch directly, just like others who left the Virgin Branch."

After explaining the card's significance, the tall, thin man smiled as he watched Li Ang inspecting it:

"Young man, I have high hopes for you. If you, like those former Virgin Branch members, can't tolerate Olivia, take this and transfer to the Scorpion Branch—we welcome you. I can't promise you much, but at least we have enough personnel so new recruits don't have to take on such dangerous work… or be used as bait to capture Aquarius…"

I can't guarantee anything, but at least our Scorpio Bureau has enough personnel—we don't make new recruits take on such dangerous work, let alone use them as bait to capture the Aquarius Director... "What are you talking about?!"

Bevili snapped:

"We never used Li Ang as bait! The Twin Branch Director *is* Aquarius—we didn't know that at the time! Li Ang facing him alone was purely accidental!"

"Oh? So you didn't know he'd be targeted by Aquarius next?"

Edward of the Scorpion Branch raised an eyebrow, his expression curious:

"Then it's strange. If you didn't foresee this, why did Olivia give him a survival method? Are powerful means capable of surviving a Director's grasp so common that they can be handed out freely?"

"You—"

"Why are you always so quick to react?"

The tall man smiled amiably:

"This matter involves the Watch Palace. I'm only raising reasonable doubts. If I turn out to be wrong, I'll apologize to you."

…

This guy… daring to step forward and cause trouble now? He must be the Director's archenemy.

And from his tone, many who left the Virgin Branch probably went to the Scorpion Branch—there's clearly deep animosity between them.

Watching the man who had left the Lion Bureau Director speechless with two sarcastic remarks, Li Ang simply pried open the resin card and glanced at the name stamped on it, then said thoughtfully:

"Edward Carson… That name sounds familiar…"

"Oh? You've heard of me before?"

The tall man raised his eyebrows, smiling as he replied:

"Your Director hates me—she wouldn't have mentioned my name to you. So… did you hear it from former Virgin Branch members?"

"No."

Li Ang shook his head:

"When 【Time Gap】 activated, Aquarius mentioned a list of people in the Clearance Bureau who were colluding with him. I think I heard it then."

"…"

Caught off guard by Li Ang's words, the tall man's smile froze, then he snarled:

"Think carefully before you speak! How could Aquarius possibly reveal something this critical to a Level Three Clearance Officer? And even if he did, he's a traitor—his words mean nothing!"

"Normally, it's unlikely."

Li Ang nodded in agreement, then blinked and said:

"But he pulled out an object called the Truth Scale. He revealed several secrets himself, then used the object's power to force me to reveal corresponding secrets. Under its effect, both he and I could only speak the truth."

"Then you—"

"I had no choice. I was forced to reveal many critical secrets, leaking information vital to the Virgin Branch. I'm especially sorry to our Director… but at least I got the traitor list."

After nodding apologetically to the Red-haired Director, whose lips had unconsciously curled upward, Li Ang turned back to the slightly uneasy tall man and said sincerely:

"Honestly, I can't guarantee you're a traitor, but your name does sound familiar, and given this involves the Watch Palace… why don't you go to that Brain-Eating Demon first and let it lick you twice? If you're proven innocent, I'll apologize to you."

"…"

(End of Chapter)