Chapter 667: Rising Steadily

"Hmph? Truly as expected of you!"

After reading the report on the "Abnormal Incident Clearance at the Central Cross Theater" on his desk, the Red-haired Director couldn't help but smile approvingly, then looked at Li Ang with clear admiration.

"In just over two days since I left, you've not only uncovered the Water-Bearer Director's hidden moves in the Capital, but also casually eliminated an out-of-control abnormality while watching the show… Excellent work!"

"Heh, we've already resolved so many issues at the start of the year—this is definitely a good omen. It seems our bureau's performance this year will be rising steadily!"

Rising steadily…

"I hope so…"

Upon hearing this poorly chosen phrase for an omen, Li Ang's lips twitched slightly, then he deliberately shifted the topic and asked:

"By the way, Director, how did your meetings go these past two days? Has the General Bureau decided how to handle the Water-Bearer Director?"

"We've more or less decided…"

Upon hearing this, the Red-haired Director couldn't help but sneer, then muttered with slight frustration:

"After consulting among themselves, the three Directors decided to deploy two numbered abnormalities against him: No. 017, the 【List of Instructions】, and No. 049, the 【Streetlamp of the Death Realm】.

The former is a paper list; once a person's name is written on it, the list is mailed to them, and the named individual must perform the exact action specified at the designated time and location.

The latter is a streetlamp that connects to the Death Realm—anyone standing under its light for an entire night will have their soul forcibly ripped away and sent to the Death Realm the moment the sun rises and the lamp extinguishes, regardless of how much life they have left."

"…"

Damn, that's downright sneaky…

After hearing the Red-haired Director's explanation, Li Ang thought for a moment and immediately understood the three Directors' plan.

Judging by the effects of these two abnormalities, they intend to write the Water-Bearer Director's name on the 【List of Instructions】, then compel him to appear at a fixed time to be exposed to the 【Streetlamp of the Death Realm】, sending him straight to the Death Realm in one fell swoop.

"Isn't that perfect?"

Seeing the clearly displeased Red-haired Director, Li Ang couldn't help asking:

"If the three Directors have decided on this, they must believe these two abnormalities can permanently eliminate the Water-Bearer Director. Why not just kill him outright?"

"If we could just kill him so easily, I wouldn't be worrying…" He gestured toward the sofa in the office and motioned for Li Ang to sit.

Then he took a sip from the bottle on his desk and pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing helplessly:

"The combination of No. 017 and No. 049 is indeed terrifying—especially when the three Directors jointly activate the 【List of Instructions】, it's more than enough to force a dozen True Gods to commit suicide. Even our strongest, the Aries Director, couldn't withstand it—he'd just have to wait helplessly under the 【Streetlamp of the Death Realm】.

But when it comes to the Water-Bearer Director, I just don't feel confident. His power isn't particularly strong—even weaker than some Zodiac Bureau Chiefs—but over the past decades, he's created countless abnormalities, and his arsenal of bizarre tricks is endless. It's just… unsettling."

Here, the Red-haired Director took another deep sip of alcohol, frowning at Li Ang:

"No. 017 and No. 049 are a commonly paired set of abnormalities, so the Water-Bearer Director certainly knows about them. And since the 【List of Instructions】 is a directive-type abnormality, it must be delivered into his hands and complete the 'issuance' process before it activates.

So if he's prepared, like he was during the interrogation, and has crafted counter-abnormalities—say, 'Absolute Non-Receipt of Mail,' 'Invisible Message Content,' or 'Cannot Read'—then even if the 【List of Instructions】 somehow forces him to act, its effect would be severely weakened, and it might not truly eliminate him."

You can even do that?

After hearing the Red-haired Director's concerns, Li Ang pondered briefly, then nodded in agreement.

"True—the Water-Bearer Director has too many tricks, and after decades of preparation to seize the Watch Palace, who knows what other cards he's hiding…"

"Uh, Director, if you don't mind… could you…"

"I know what you're going to say, but that won't work."

Glancing at Li Ang's hesitant expression, the Red-haired Director's gaze dimmed slightly, then he shook his head:

"You want me to go upstairs, open the 【Twelve Ant Nests】, find the ant that corresponds to the Water-Bearer Director among the ones linked to every human, and crush it to kill him, right?

Frankly, I've considered it myself—but although I'm the holder of the 【Twelve Ant Nests】, I don't have the authority to use it alone. I need approval from the Directors to open it.

And even if I got permission, to kill him directly with it, I'd need twice his power to suppress the resistance of his corresponding ant—and I can't do that alone."

So… we're just gambling that the Water-Bearer Director has no countermeasures and will obediently walk into his death under the 【List of Instructions】?

…

"Alright, though the General Bureau's plan isn't foolproof, don't dwell on it too much."

Seeing Li Ang's furrowed brow, the Red-haired Director comforted him:

"The Water-Bearer Director was most dangerous when the General Bureau didn't know he planned to seize the Watch Palace. Now that we know his goal, he can't possibly succeed."

The General Bureau's alertness is at its peak; for the six months before the Ascension, the Taurus Lord won't leave the Bureau at all, and the other two Directors will remain, fully activating the Bureau's abnormality-shielding capabilities.

Under these conditions, even if the Water-Bearer Director were ten times stronger, he couldn't reach the General Bureau—and unless he meets the Taurus Lord face-to-face, he can never replace him as the Ascension Candidate."

Here, the Red-haired Director sighed:

"Honestly, now that I think about it, the three Directors made the right choice. For the General Bureau and all humanity, what truly matters isn't eliminating the Water-Bearer Director, but ensuring the stable operation of the Watch Palace.

So rather than risking ambush or traps while chasing him across the world, it's better for the three of them to guard the Bureau, wait for the Taurus Lord's safe Ascension, and deal with him later.

It's only six months. As long as we deny the Water-Bearer Director any chance to act during this time, and let the Taurus Lord ascend safely, we'll have plenty of time afterward to handle him properly."

"…"

Even though that's what they're saying, for some reason, this cautious decision from the Bureau feels just as unreliable as your earlier claim that our branch's performance this year will be rising steadily?

(End of Chapter)