Chapter 819

Invincible in the present world...

Upon hearing the Water Bearer Director's evaluation of the Red-haired Director, the female journalist couldn't help but show a flicker of doubt in her eyes.

Although the Blood-Haired Witch's record is terrifying, it's merely pure physical damage; many anomalous objects possess abilities so bizarre they need not even show their faces to control or kill their targets.

Just from what I know, there's the 【Dead Realm Streetlamp】 and the 【Servant's List】, which killed half the Director's soul; the 【Secret Word Knife】 from the Archer Branch that can disable anomalous objects; the 【Royal Pilgrimage】 from the Lion Branch that suppresses souls; the 【Peacock's Veil】 from the Peacock Branch that destroys vision.

Not to mention the Time Trilogy crafted from the remnants of the King of Time in the Director's possession, the 【Reflection Lake Evil Moon】 from the Pisces Branch that forcibly alters consciousness, the 【Hunt of the Dead Sparrow】 from the Crow Branch, and countless others.

Even if the Blood-Haired Witch could drill through the moon in three days, what could she do against things that harm her directly without ever appearing before her?

"What? You don't believe me?"

After glancing at the female journalist's skeptical expression, the Water Bearer Director chuckled.

"Heh, I know what you're thinking—you figure you can avoid direct combat and use stealthy methods against her."

But don't forget, the Virgo Branch holds Anomalous Object No. 004, the 【Twelve Ant Nests】, which can kill nearly all humans in one go—its importance ranks second only to the 【Watchtower Palace】 and the 【Starry Compass】, making it one of the most dangerous items in the Bureau."

So have you ever wondered why such a lethal object isn't kept in the Main Bureau, but instead stored in the Virgo Branch?"

"?!"

As the female journalist's expression sharply changed, the Water Bearer Director's smile vanished, his face turning serious.

"It's because every Director who made this decision—including myself—agreed unanimously that this object is safer in Olivia's hands than it would be in the Main Bureau."

"..."

"Nicole, although her nickname is Blood-Haired Witch, she doesn't possess only the 【Murderous Blood Hair】 as her anomalous object."

The Water Bearer Director sat cross-legged, gazing at the sun rising beyond the horizon, his tone tinged with nostalgia.

"The Taurus Director got along with her perfectly, treating her like his own daughter, and gave her no shortage of good equipment."

Moreover, to protect the 【Twelve Ant Nests】, the Taurus Director went all out—even asked me to assist him in forging a complete set of protective anomalous objects for her."

Flesh Constancy, Soul Revival, Cognitive Enhancement, Memory Purge, Mental Reset, Danger Precognition... virtually every technique you can imagine is included; at least, I can't conceive of any method that could bypass those defenses to take her down."

And once she senses danger or suffers any injury, these anomalous objects immediately activate, erasing every state classified as 'anomalous'..."

Hmm... now that I think about it, I've basically shot myself in the foot. If I'd known this day would come, I should've secretly left a backdoor."

"..."

In the female journalist's expression of utter helplessness, the slightly regretful Water Bearer Director summed up:

"In short, Olivia may not be the strongest Clearance Officer, but she's unquestionably the one with the fewest weaknesses."

Even if twenty True Gods descended at once, they'd have to endure the deadly 【Murderous Blood Hair】, risking being torn apart at any moment, and fight her to exhaustion—until she collapses completely."

But the problem is, during that prolonged stalemate, if the on-duty Director notices anything amiss and judges the 【Twelve Ant Nests】 to be in danger, within no more than half an hour, a quarter of the sun will fall directly on your head—I wouldn't even dream of ambushing her, not even if I were stuffed to bursting."

After all, someone wrapped in a shell like her is precisely the kind of opponent I'm worst at handling—that's why I had you steal her wallet."

"..."

So... why exactly did you make me steal her wallet? Does having no money somehow make an invincible person reveal a flaw?

"Heh, don't ask about the wallet—I won't tell you."

Before the female journalist could speak, the Water Bearer Director cut her off with a smile.

"I trust you won't betray me to the Clearance Bureau, but you're too soft-hearted—I still have to guard against you. If you learn my plan and secretly tip off the Blood-Haired Witch, I'll be in deep trouble."

"..."

"By the way, since we've talked this far, let me say one last thing."

Looking at the female journalist, whose expression was somewhat gloomy yet slightly relieved, the Water Bearer Director—with his youthful face—spoke with a gentle, paternal air:

"Nicole, about this plan, I don't have full confidence it will succeed."

So remember—if I fail in the end, if I don't replace the Taurus Director on the throne but get killed by Olivia or that Li Ang, don't think about avenging me. Just live well."

"..."

Hearing the Water Bearer Director's final words, the female journalist raised her head to meet his gaze. When she saw his kind eyes, a pang of sorrow rose in her chest.

The Director may not be a good man, but without him, I'd have rotted away on some lawless privateer ship, never had the chance to kill those pirates and avenge my murdered parents myself."

Since I was seven, he's kept me by his side, taught me to read and write whenever he had time; as I grew older, I joined him on countless missions, protecting others just as he once saved me."

All these years, though I still call him Director, in my heart he's long replaced my parents—whose faces I can barely remember—becoming my bloodless family. That's why, even though I know he's wrong, I've never been able to truly turn away from him..."

"Understood."

Mumbling her reply, the female journalist turned her head slightly, her face stiff.

"Director, your face may be young now, but you're still as old as ever—rambling on like this. Any other business? If not, I'm heading to the Dream Realm."

"None left. Go in peace!"

With a wave to urge her on, the Water Bearer Director, who had sat by the bell tower all night, rose in the sunlight, stretched his stiff body, and smiled.

"My evil soul was destroyed in the Dead Realm and returned to the world's origin. My reconstituted soul now leans mostly on the remaining good soul, so I'm barely half a good man now—hardly capable of evil thoughts unless something extraordinary happens."

That's true...

Watching the Water Bearer Director bathed in the first rays of dawn, his demeanor now brighter and gentler, less gloomy and stern, the female journalist nodded in relief, lifting her Dream Lantern and stepping into the Dream Realm.

Once she had fully departed, the Water Bearer Director, standing beside the bell tower and overlooking the capital, smiled, then pulled out a worn wooden box.

"Tap, tap, tap."

After politely tapping the lid three times, he watched as a small blue figure inside pushed open the lid and stood up, then smiled and said:

"Help me out—find the elite nightmare controlled by the Blood-Haired Witch, and tell her Nicole's whereabouts and objective. Thank you!"