Chapter 792: Cooperative Partner

"I indeed had that intention."

Facing the cold, sharp question from the King of Nightmares, the Water Bearer Director chuckled and openly admitted:

"Though I've now defected from the Cleanup Bureau, I was once its director."

"I've opposed you for so many years—suddenly letting you in myself, I couldn't help feeling uneasy, so I took the chance to harm you a little as penance. Too bad you saw through it."

"Not entirely."

The blurred face faded from the small boat, returning to its original position; the gray mist, soaked through with black river water, clung like a drenched greatcoat to the King of Nightmares' body, sharply outlining his emaciated form.

After wringing out his robe, saturated with countless nightmares, the King of Nightmares extended his bony arm to adjust the mirror-like crown upon his head, then looked down at the two on the boat and spoke in a hollow tone:

"I'm genuinely curious now—what makes this Level Three Cleanup Agent, who forced you to cooperate with me, so special? But you thinking to use his hand to kill me? Absolutely impossible."

"I am immortal within the Abyss of Fallen Souls. Without you, Water Bearer Director, even if all eleven remaining directors of your Cleanup Bureau came here, they could not kill me."

"Mm, good that you're confident."

Smiling ambiguously, the Water Bearer Director said:

"Enough idle talk. Let's get to work—repair my soul. Where should I sleep? On this boat?"

"As long as you can sleep, you may sleep anywhere. But…"

Glancing at the Water Bearer Director, the King of Nightmares tore off a corner of his robe, spread it flat upon the black river below, then smiled with faint mockery:

"To achieve the perfect effect—to fall completely asleep and wake fully restored from reality—you'd best sleep on my robe… Will you come over?"

"Why not?"

To the astonishment of the female journalist and the King of Nightmares, the Water Bearer Director deliberately stepped off the small boat and walked toward the gray robe spread upon the river.

"No! Don't!"

Seeing he was serious, the female journalist cried out in alarm:

"The King of Nightmares' robe is part of his body! If you sleep on it, when you wake in reality, the robe will become part of you! Even if you're not fully controlled, you'll still be influenced by him!"

"It's fine—we're partners, after all!"

Under the King of Nightmares' silent gaze, the Water Bearer Director lay down on the gray robe with utter relaxation and smiled:

"My goal is to repair my soul—I naturally want the most complete effect. If sleeping on his robe works better, then of course I'll try it."

"…"

Damn it… No wonder he's a director of the Cleanup Bureau!

Watching the Water Bearer Director, who left no hidden moves and simply relaxed upon his robe, the King of Nightmares' eyes hidden within the gray mist lost their certainty, replaced by a deep wariness.

The entire process of repairing the damaged soul—exchanging dreams and reality—is entirely under my control. Facing this director who walked right into my grasp, as the one in charge, I naturally planned to leave some tricks behind.

But the Water Bearer Director clearly knew this. Knowing manipulation was inevitable, he refused to even bother guarding himself—he opened his soul completely and let me do as I pleased.

Had he not done this, I would have secretly planted traps during the repair—leaving a few flaws designed to cause his soul to collapse rapidly, forcing him to pledge loyalty to me.

But now that he willingly opens his soul and lets me imprint upon it, those tricks are unnecessary. To ensure this "tool" of mine remains stable and functional, I'll even work harder to repair his soul more completely. But someone like him will never truly submit to me, never become a servant.

The only reason he'd open his soul and let me manipulate it… is because he's certain he won't survive—he's certain the Cleanup Bureau will eliminate him.

After all, if I die, then whether or not my imprint remains in his soul becomes irrelevant, doesn't it?

In an instant, the gray mist giant's thoughts raced—he vaguely guessed the Water Bearer Director's intent, and let out a cold snort.

His flesh-draped-over-bone hand gripped the air, and the gray robe beneath the Water Bearer Director suddenly flipped, wrapping him entirely before sinking into the black river, flowing with endless nightmares.

At the spot where the Water Bearer Director sank, a dark, blood-stained dream slowly surfaced upon the night-black river.

Faith, resolve, death, remorse, wailing, doubt, collapse, madness—emotions so intense, so pure, they startled even the King of Nightmares, boiling a vast stretch of the black river.

Then, a slightly yellow hand—much younger than the Water Bearer Director's, skin smooth and taut, free of age spots—emerged from the blood-red dream, gripping the boiling river surface firmly.

"Excellent."

A young man, clad in a water-blue robe stained with blood, his face caught between tears and laughter, his form seeming to drift, climbed up from the blood-red dream and stepped calmly onto the small boat, under the complex gaze of the female journalist.

"I haven't felt this light in years."

Stretching his now-younger body and gazing at his faintly translucent palms, the Water Bearer Director, now appearing barely over forty, nodded with deep satisfaction, then smiled at the gray mist giant:

"In return for helping me regain my youth, I'll give you an extra piece of information… Based on my knowledge of the Cleanup Bureau, the director of the Scorpio Branch is likely to be sent here."

"What?!"

Hearing the Water Bearer Director's words, the King of Nightmares' gray mist surged violently, and he roared in fury:

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? If two Zodiac directors join forces, even I might not break free!"

"Don't worry—his relationship with the Blood-Haired Lady is terrible. If forced to come here as support, he won't risk his life. Dealing with him will be easy."

Settling into the wooden boat and lightly tapping the stern, the Water Bearer Director chuckled:

"They won't act together—they'll move separately. Just send a few servants who look similar to him, and trap him in some troublesome dream."

"Given his nature, once he realizes escaping the dream requires a cost—or even risks his life—he'll willingly stay trapped by you."

"…"

"One last thing before you go… Remember to bring the Abyss of Fallen Souls into reality first, then act against the Cleanup Bureau agents."

Waving to the gray mist giant, the Water Bearer Director on the boat said earnestly:

"Don't die too soon—if you get killed by Li Ang before I wake in reality, I'll have a real problem."

"…"

Kill him! I'll kill him the moment I see him!

(End of Chapter)