[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-the-cleanup-crew":3,"chapter-i-m-the-cleanup-crew-i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-902":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm the Cleanup Crew!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2286738,4472,"Chapter 902: 499 Trumpet Flower","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-902",902,"\u003Cp>Is the Twin Branch still operating normally?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the middle-aged Flower Man’s words, Li Ang couldn’t help but pause slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the fate of the Twin Branch, he and Nicole had imagined many scenarios—partial escape, total capture, even total annihilation—but never once had they considered the Twin Branch might still be operating normally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Atifi-01 had directly launched an “attack” on the Twin Branch and was suspected of controlling the royal family of the Krook Kingdom; it was practically an open declaration of war against the Cleanup Bureau. So why keep those cleanup agents alive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are the Twin Branch agents under control?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After frowning in thought for a moment, Li Ang could only think of one possibility and cautiously asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like having strange devices implanted in their brains, or their wills influenced by some anomaly, or perhaps their loved ones were Krook Kingdom residents and had been captured outright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unclear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Flower Men shook their heads in unison, then the older one spoke up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Edward once considered capturing someone from the Twin Branch for questioning, but none of us here are skilled in interrogation, nor do we have the ability to erase memories afterward—doing so would surely alert them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given that we still don’t know the royal family’s condition, Director Edward temporarily abandoned the idea and shifted focus to confirming the royal family’s status and locating Atifi-01’s true body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you made any progress? Have you confirmed the royal family’s condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um… not yet…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two Flower Men exchanged glances, then sighed helplessly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Krook Kingdom’s terrain is too complex—over eight hundred districts, and they frequently shift. Mona’s ability drains her heavily; Director and the others have spent days just investigating thirty-some districts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, in a few days, the Krook Kingdom will hold a grand celebration, during which nearly all districts will relocate and reorganize entirely. The thirty districts we’ve already checked will likely be rendered useless once they’re moved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So you’ve been chasing shadows, then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After shaking his head in utter disbelief, Li Ang carefully inquired about Director Scorpio’s progress, then frowned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seniors, if Director Edward continues like this, it’ll take far too long—and even then, success will mostly depend on luck. If luck runs out, we might be stuck in this limbo indefinitely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Edward has said similar things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged Flower Man nodded, then sighed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But after discussing it, we realized we have no better option. Since the royal family may already be under Atifi-01’s control, we dare not provoke it and risk harming them—we can only proceed slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Save it. With your investigation method—pure guesswork—you’ll be digging until the Watch Palace crumbles from neglect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seniors, I may sound harsh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the two Flower Men’s tense expressions, Li Ang frowned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this approach won’t work. I even suspect the enemy already knows you’re here and is deliberately stalling you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I ask you to help me contact Director Edward—I’d like to discuss whether I can try my own method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… that could work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging glances, the middle-aged Flower Man gripped the petals on either side and climbed out from the bulb-like green onion, then dug a small hole in the flowerpot and placed a tiny seed inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He covered the soil back over it, then pulled out a miniature spray bottle from somewhere and lightly watered the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint, barely audible sound echoed as the plant, its roots and tender stems covered in short, soft hairs, quietly pushed through the soil above. Then, under Li Ang’s surprised gaze, it curled twice along the pot’s rim and unfurled buds toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is… a trumpet flower?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the plant complete its entire growth and bloom cycle in under two seconds—sprouting a dozen vivid, trumpet-shaped blossoms in pink, red, and purple—Li Ang blinked in astonishment. Then, at the middle-aged Flower Man’s gesture, he leaned down and cautiously spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Edward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few seconds of “delay,” the trumpet flower closest to Li Ang suddenly emitted Director Scorpio’s surprised voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So not only can you shrink and hide inside flowers, but you can grow a trumpet flower and use it as a communicator? What an interesting ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing curiously at the middle-aged Flower Man clad in leafy attire, Li Ang replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I know it’s you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Scorpio’s voice crackled from the trumpet flower, puzzled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But weren’t you just disembarking from the airship, arguing with the Foreign Minister? Why are you contacting me now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve sent the Foreign Minister packing, and I’ve just been…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Li Ang glanced briefly at the two Flower Men, then continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talking with these two seniors, and I feel something’s off—I’d like to discuss switching investigation methods with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Switch investigation methods?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening, Director Scorpio fell silent for several seconds, then spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give me a reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason? We’ve likely been exposed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the common knowledge about the Krook Kingdom he’d learned from the female journalist, Li Ang frowned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just now, these two seniors told me your investigation is painfully slow because Krook’s districts shift constantly—but in reality, while Krook’s districts do shift, they shouldn’t shift this frequently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elaborate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be precise: among Krook’s six district types—residential, administrative, scientific, and lifestyle—these four have relatively stable populations and no need for frequent relocation, so they rarely move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only production and military-industrial districts, which require constant exchange of raw materials and finished goods with ports and other zones, need frequent repositioning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other districts don’t move often?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Li Ang’s words, Director Scorpio recalled the districts they’d investigated these past days—and his brow tightened involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If districts that normally never moved had suddenly begun shifting frequently, the only possible reason was to slow down his investigation—meaning his supposedly covert operation had likely been spotted all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand your point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After deducing from Li Ang’s information that he’d almost certainly been exposed, Director Scorpio paused briefly, then declared decisively:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s your plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I plan to secure a ‘safety net’ first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ang thought for a moment, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know the Bureau can’t tolerate the worst-case scenario: the Krook royal family wiped out, weakening the Watch Palace’s authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And right now, we have the official status of envoys—we can legitimately approach Krook’s royal members. So let’s eliminate the worst outcome first: grab ten or eight princes or princesses while we can.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1060,"2026-06-20T03:18:35.371Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b92afea39f6c410e460e13e9f83e7ef155c2b06ec6109f7331e9e1f463221d8a","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-903","i-m-the-cleanup-crew-chapter-901",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-the-cleanup-crew-cover.jpg"]