Chapter 793: Beginning

"Achoo!!!"

After the third loud sneeze, Li Ang couldn't help rubbing his nose hard.

Strange, what's going on today? Why is my nose always itchy?

After blowing his nose hard, he still felt uncomfortable. Standing in the dock's waiting area, Li Ang frowned at the tall chimneys lining both sides of the river, about to find some paper when someone lightly patted his back.

"We meet again."

A thin, tall middle-aged man, holding a large suitcase in his right hand, appeared silently behind Li Ang without even startling the black goat.

After checking Li Ang's face and confirming he had the right person, the thin man raised his hat slightly with his free left hand and smiled in greeting.

"Sorry, the ferry was queued up on the other side of the river—two hours late according to the schedule… Didn't keep you waiting too long?"

"No, Mr. Edward."

After glancing at the "scorpion rolling dung ball" emblem on the man's suitcase, Li Ang, who had arrived two hours late as advised by the red-haired director, nodded politely and answered honestly.

"I just got here myself—haven't waited long."

"Heh, good."

Without asking why the red-haired director hadn't come to meet him himself, the plain-spoken, thin man stepped forward, moving with the crowd toward the exit of the waiting area. As he walked, he turned his head toward Li Ang, who hurried to catch up, and explained:

"I didn't mean to make you wait. Back when I was a Level One Cleaner, I once went on a mission with the former director to clear out past ghosts that had escaped normal time. I slipped up—lost a little piece of my soul."

Since then, my time has been off—I'm always two hours behind everyone else.

So if you ever need me to arrive on time, you must account for those two hours in advance. If you want to meet at eight, tell me six. Otherwise, you'll wait two hours."

"Understood."

Walking closely behind him, Li Ang nodded and handed over a pocket watch he had pre-adjusted.

"Before I came, the director already told me, and had me adjust the watch to match the capital's time for you."

"Nice. Very thoughtful~"

With a satisfied expression, the Taurus Division director took the watch, swapped it for the old one hanging from his lapel, and—somehow in better spirits—studied Li Ang's expression before smiling warmly.

"Good watch. And you're good too."

Though you're only a Level Three Cleaner, you still chose to stay and fight alongside Olivia, even knowing you're facing the Nightmare King—and if you fail, you'll be enslaved forever."

Never mind your strength—what a Cleaner needs most is courage and grit, and you've passed that test. I admire you… How about following your predecessors and switching over to Taurus Division?"

"..."

Same old recruitment pitch...

Watching the thin man, who had spoken barely two sentences, once again extend an olive branch, Li Ang's cheek twitched slightly.

Last time he visited headquarters, this Taurus Division director had already tried to poach him right in front of the red-haired director—only to be outmaneuvered by Li Ang.

And according to him, nearly all Cleaners who left Virgo Division ended up here—he and his own director's biggest conflict stemmed from this very thing...

"Sorry, I have no plans to switch divisions right now."

Shaking his head slightly, Li Ang this time didn't embarrass the man as he had before, but respectfully reminded him: "Also, when your watch hand reaches half past nine, night will fall in the capital—that's precisely when the Abyss of Fallen Souls and reality begin to merge. Please prepare accordingly."

"Mm, I know."

Hearing Li Ang mention "business," the Taurus director's smile faded slightly. He adjusted his hat, lifted the pocket watch from his lapel, and glanced at the hands.

"Still over half an hour… What's the plan after the Abyss of Fallen Souls arrives? Has Olivia told you?"

"She has."

Seeing the man's finger unfasten the suitcase clasp, Li Ang realized he was truly ready and relaxed slightly before answering:

"The director and the three board members requested reinforcements. At the exact moment the Abyss merges with reality, the board will relocate headquarters to an optimal position and project a quarter of the sun's light for three seconds to burn the approaching Dream Realm and Abyss of Fallen Souls."

Once the sun burns a gap into the Dream Realm, the director will enter it herself, fully unleash the 【Blood-Soaked Killing Hair】, and block the dream creatures charging toward reality, minimizing the Nightmare King's impact."

You'll be responsible for holding the real world—hunting the dream creatures that slip through, and after the Nightmare King arrives, locating its position and holding it off as long as possible. I'll notify the director to come join you and intercept it together."

"Hah. Simple, brutal plan… but not bad. I have no intention of entering the Dream Realm with her."

After hearing Li Ang's summary, the thin man snorted, then turned his head toward him with interest.

"And from your tone, your main job is to stay by my side and relay messages to her?"

"Yes."

Li Ang tilted his head slightly, showing the man the red hair wrapped around his shoulder, then answered carefully:

"The director gave me a strand of 【Blood-Soaked Killing Hair】. If you successfully intercept the descending Nightmare King, she'll sense the aura here and come directly to join you and kill it together."

"Is that so? Then I'd better take a good look."

After hearing Li Ang, the thin man's right eye—its dark pupil like Li Ang's—moved strangely, then the iris rapidly faded to pure white.

He gave Li Ang a hard, exaggerated "side-eye," scanning his body and soul, then his lips curled into a faint smile as he assessed:

"According to the division's latest scale, Level Three Cleaners have a 'Li Ang Value' of 1–10, Level Two of 11–30. Yours is around 7–8."

You're decent for a Level Three, but beyond that, you're negligible. Before a Nightmare King with a Li Ang Value of 63+, you're no different from an ant on the street. Staying here is pointless."

"..."

"Listen to me—give me Olivia's hair, then go wherever you want."

Extending his right hand, the thin man spoke calmly:

"You've only been exposed to anomalies for a few months and are still in rapid transformation. At your current contamination rate, you might hit 30+ Li Ang Value in one or two years. From 31 upward, you're Level One Cleaner territory."

If you had no potential, dying would be fine. But you're a promising talent. Dying before you've grown would be a waste..."

"Come on. Hand over Olivia's hair. This mission won't change much with or without you. Better to save a future elite than let you die pointlessly."

(End of Chapter)