Chapter 889: 486 A Two-Way Rush

If you can't react, then don't react; wait for the opponent to crash into you themselves?

After hearing the Red-haired Director's words, Li Ang pondered briefly, then reached out to touch the 【Heart-Stealing Nail】 and the 【Flesh-Cutting Silver Dagger】.

【Name: Heart-Stealing Nail - Left (Open Heart)】

【Appearance: A ruby earring that can only be worn on the left ear, styled as half a cracked heart; when the wearer is attacked, it will glow with a lustrous, pearl-like sheen.】

【Ability: Piercing the Heart's Chamber】

【Cost: The more heartbeats you overhear, the harder it becomes to speak your own heart's truth while wearing this earring.】

【Archive: Among the Merfolk, a legend circulates of the "Open-Heart Gem," said to grant knowledge of all sentient minds to whoever holds it in their hand...

During a joint operation, a Merfolk priest leading a tribal invasion of Haigang was killed; the "Open-Heart Gem" he held was shattered by the Pisces Branch, and its fragments were obtained by Beverly, Director of the Leo Branch.

The fragments of the "Open-Heart Gem" were forged using the Taurus Secret Art into two earrings, one left and one right. Since no one from the Leo Branch claimed them, they were turned over to Headquarters and ultimately acquired by Olivia, Director of the Virgo Branch.】

【Evaluation: A highly practical Anomaly, very suitable for users with immortality, though the style is slightly too feminine.】

【Corruption Value: 3.3】

【...】

【Name: Flesh-Cutting Silver Dagger (Cutting, Severing)】

【Appearance: A silver cutting knife with a pure, bright blade and a light, soft feel; its handle is made of black elderwood, hard and smooth to the touch with no thorns. One side of the blade is stamped with a line of ancient, lost script meaning "The Pure Blade That Cuts Life and Severs Death."】

【Ability: Those Cut Shall Live; Those Severed Shall Die】

【Cost: When using this blade, one must maintain inner purity and focus; one may be unconstrained by good or evil, but must be honest in heart.】

【Archive: One of the six special Anomalies held by the deceased Ruler of the Dead World, the "Six-Faced Elephant Deer," responsible for cutting the list of the dead generated by the "Register of Dead Souls," thus tainted with some of the authority to cut life and sever death.

After the "Six-Faced Elephant Deer," disgusted by his own endless work, chose to jump from the Cliff of Endings, the "Flesh-Cutting Silver Dagger" and the other five Anomalies were scattered across the Dead World and obtained by the then Director of the Gemini Branch...】

【Evaluation: A remarkably powerful Anomaly; when activating the "Cut" effect, it can slice anything the blade touches that is "alive" cleanly and decisively in two;

When activating the "Sever" effect, it can forcibly cut a portion of something away from its "main body" and immediately bestow upon it an unyieldable death.】

【Corruption Value: 0.1 (Cut), 60 (Sever)】

You really must admit, this combination actually seems to work.

After reading the descriptions of the 【Heart-Stealing Nail】 and the 【Flesh-Cutting Silver Dagger】, Li Ang's eyebrows twitched slightly upward.

For someone like himself with immortality, as long as the attack isn't specifically targeted, he won't die no matter how many times he's hit; but if his opponent gets slashed by the 【Flesh-Cutting Silver Dagger】, it might just cost them their life.

Even if the 【Heart-Stealing Nail】 doesn't trigger one hundred percent of the time, and even if it does trigger, it might not hear a suitable heartbeat, after thirty or fifty hits, it should succeed at least once; and if this set succeeds even once, it will be enough to give his opponent a serious lesson.

The only slight drawback is that the combination of the 【Heart-Stealing Nail】 and 【Flesh-Cutting Silver Dagger】 is only suitable for dealing with close-range opponents, lacking means for long-distance combat.

But with the Soul Vision of 【Heishanyang】, supplemented by the Silver-grade 【Sharpshooter】 badge, the effect isn't inferior to ordinary long-range Anomalies; even if it falls slightly short in defeating the enemy, it is more than sufficient as a supplementary tactic.

"Judging by your expression, you seem to think my suggestion isn't bad."

Seeing the satisfaction in Li Ang's eyes, the Red-haired Director couldn't help but smile, then spoke with a serious expression to instruct:

"However, even with a new primary combat Anomaly, you'd best remain as cautious as possible. Setting aside the controlled Cleaners from the Gemini Branch, the conventional firearms of the Crook Kingdom itself are already dangerously unpredictable.

In this joint investigation mission with the Scorpio Branch, my greatest requirement for you is to ensure your own safety. If you encounter trouble you can't solve, do not show off or worry about losing face; go straight to Edward for help.

Although my relationship with Edward is very poor, he is still barely trustworthy; at the very least, he won't leave someone to die. If he is also tied up, then try to stick with Nicole; her survival methods are not bad either...

In short, whether the mission succeeds or fails is unimportant; your safety is the most important. Do you understand?"

"Mm, I've remembered."

Hearing the Red-haired Director's sincere admonition, Li Ang felt a slight warmth in his heart.

His own Director, though somewhat stingy in personality and extremely unreliable when drunk, is mostly dependable; moreover, his personal charm is not bad, he takes very good care of Li Ang, and is a good leader.

"Additionally..."

Just as Li Ang was moved by the Red-haired Director's thoughtful admonition, she gave a slight dry cough, then unconsciously shifted her gaze, her eyes slightly wandering as she said:

"If you cause... if you cause a big commotion again this time, like accidentally blowing up the City of Machinery or nearly wiping out the Crook Royal Family or something, remember to say Edward gave the orders, okay?"

"..."

"Remember, your two's top priority is not to investigate the situation in the Crook Kingdom, but to keep that Li Ang under tight control; absolutely do not let him run wild!"

Looking at the two Cleaners in front of him who first exchanged confused glances and then looked at him with puzzled expressions, the Scorpio Director couldn't help but rub his temples, then continued to instruct with a headache-stricken face:

"In short, you two don't need to worry about anything else; during this joint investigation mission, if you two can just keep him under control and prevent any major disasters, then you two will have the top merit! Do you understand?"

"Understood."

"Yes, Director!"

Facing the Scorpio Director's solemn admonition, although their hearts were full of doubts, the two Cleaners, one old and one middle-aged, could only nod in turn, promising to keep Li Ang under tight watch.

However, although they agreed on the surface, facing the Scorpio Director's behavior as if facing a great enemy, the two Scorpio Branch Cleaners couldn't help but harbor some inner criticism in their hearts, even feeling their own Director was somewhat making a mountain out of a molehill.

After all, while powerful Anomalies can be obtained quickly, the degree to which Cleaners are corrupted by Anomalies still needs time to grind away; that Li Ang has only been with the Cleaner Bureau for three months at most, and he could have accumulated five or six points of Li Ang Value at the very most.

And the two of us are both veteran Level Two Cleaners; having joined the Cleaner Bureau for over five years, our Li Ang Values are almost touching the thirty-point mark; purely in terms of "paper" strength, we probably have five or six times his power, maybe even more.

You must know, this Li Ang Value brought about by long-term Anomaly corruption allows a Cleaner's body to gradually transform into something "non-human"; once reaching the level of a Level One Cleaner, one can even dodge bullets fired from a distance purely through physical reaction.

With such a huge gap between 30 points and 5 points, if we two get close to that Li Ang, he probably won't even have the chance to use his Anomalies; we two watching one of him, could anything possibly go wrong? Is it really necessary to remind us so repeatedly?