Chapter 871: 468 Turning the Tables

To be honest, I'm not interested in this so-called deal, but right now the biggest problem is that I fucking can't afford to not be interested…

After feeling the sharp cutting sensation against his neck, Li Ang fell silent for a moment, then nodded firmly.

Although it's still uncertain whether the Aquarius Director's deal hides some hidden malice, the female journalist herself is genuinely a good person.

Even if her resume can be forged, her personality masked, and her reactions faked, all her responses and soul fluctuations align perfectly—she couldn't be faking it. And if someone like her were executed by the Clearance Bureau just because she was tied to Aquarius, it would feel deeply wrong.

"Good."

Upon hearing Li Ang's response, the paper cutter embedded in his neck finally stopped digging deeper and began to withdraw.

But the Aquarius Director never expected that just as the blade was about to fully leave Li Ang's neck, a hand suddenly reached up and shoved the paper cutter back into his throat.

"Wait!"

Li Ang, who had just walked through the gates of death, acted as if he hadn't nearly been killed—he gripped the paper cutter against his neck and, through the soul connection, yanked it backward without hesitation:

"Since you'd rather spare me than let Nicole die, are you willing to give up something more to ensure she's treated well in our Bureau?"

"…"

Watching the paper cutter held fast by Li Ang from afar, and hearing his question, the Aquarius Director—who had not left but hidden his form—fell into silence.

From a power standpoint, though the opponent had some peculiar traits, he was ultimately just a Level Three Clearance Officer; given the right opportunity, the Director could kill him dozens, even hundreds of times within a single breath.

Yet it was precisely this Level Three Clearance Officer who kept sabotaging his plans time and again—even when the Director held countless trump cards and had the upper hand, whenever he encountered Li Ang, things always slipped from his control, bit by bit, just like now…

"Speak."

Looking at the distant, gloomy female journalist, the Aquarius Director hesitated, then suppressed his urge to retract his offer and spoke through the 【Paper-Cutting Silver Dagger】:

"What do you want? Wealth and status—you've already got them within reach. Do you want powerful anomalies? Or lifespan beyond human limits?"

"Neither. I just want to ask you a few questions."

Hearing the Aquarius Director's reply, Li Ang secretly exhaled in relief, then kept pressing the back of the paper cutter and asked eagerly:

"Was the iron doll that attacked Wang Gong connected to you?"

"…"

"I just thought about it—the thing didn't move until the Director went to the Dream Realm. The only person besides me who could've known his whereabouts is you."

"…"

"Don't try to deny it—this was definitely your doing!"

Seeing the Aquarius Director remain silent and the paper cutter's blade beginning to pull away again, Li Ang quickly pressed it back and continued:

"Before you appeared, I only suspected. But now that you're here, I'm certain Nicole's capture was intentional."

"Besides giving her an escape route, you clearly intended to lure the Director away so the doll could attack Wang Gong. You're connected to that secret organization—and to the anomaly called 【Execution King Three】!"

"Sort of…"

Hearing Li Ang's firm conclusion, the Aquarius Director nodded reluctantly, then frowned:

"But I can't answer that. You saw how the doll died. When I joined them, I signed my name on a contract-type anomaly."

"If I betray them and reveal key information, the power of all other signatories will converge, using the bridge built by that anomaly to crush my body and soul completely!"

Reveal the truth and die?

Hearing the Aquarius Director's words, Li Ang's eyebrows shot up sharply.

So if I prepare an anomaly like a "Compulsory Truth Serum," I could trigger the anomaly's effect and kill the Aquarius Director—or other members of the organization?

"Also, don't think you can use something like the 【Scale of Truth】 to trigger that anomaly and kill me."

As Li Ang began scheming to exploit a loophole, the Aquarius Director, seemingly reading his mind, snorted coldly:

"Before I joined them, I used this exact method to kill two of their members. Now, following my advice, they've modified the anomaly's effect—【Scale of Truth】 and similar anomalies are useless."

"…"

You're a fucking hacker who just went offline and immediately patched the exploit—then went full snitch on the seeders?

Disappointed, Li Ang clicked his tongue inwardly but kept his expression calm as he lied:

"No, I'm barely keeping myself alive—why would I think of killing you?

I was just wondering: the deer horn symbol on Nicole's head—isn't that the mark of one of the Lords of the Death Realm, the Fleshly Doe? Could it also be a member of your organization?"

"I don't know. I'm not familiar with it. I've never even met it."

You're not familiar with it?

Hearing the Aquarius Director's reply, Li Ang blinked, instantly catching the subtext.

The Aquarius Director claimed he wasn't familiar with the Fleshly Doe, had never met it—but still trusted it enough to borrow its power. So the Fleshly Doe must be a member of the organization too.

Otherwise, how the hell did he even get in touch with it? Through WeChat's "Shake It"?

"I understand."

Nodding knowingly, Li Ang kept pressing the paper cutter and asked:

"Next question…"

"I've said enough already!"

The knife had been placed at Li Ang's throat to threaten him—but now he was holding the blade and grilling the Director. Even with the Aquarius Director's composure, he was growing irritated.

"Just these two pieces of information alone—if I took them to Blood-Hair Lady, they'd be enough to make her protect Nicole. Don't push your luck!"

"Last one. I swear it's the last one!"

Knowing the Aquarius Director's weakness, Li Ang quickly pressed the paper cutter back down and smiled apologetically:

"And I'm not asking for free. You know, though I'm just a Level Three Clearance Officer, because I exposed your secrets, the Bureau's high-ups see me as your mortal enemy.

So if even I, your sworn adversary, step forward to vouch that Nicole is completely innocent—that she was merely caught in your crossfire—then she's officially cleared. Isn't that right?"

(_)

"The last one…"