Chapter 984: 0581 Better Off Just Dying

At the headquarters of the Cleanup Bureau, in a small meeting hall named Sunshade Chamber.

“Everyone, I’ve called you here with Director Archer for several urgent matters that require immediate notification.”

The main seat was vacant; sitting in the second seat, the Taurus Director surveyed the eighty-odd virtual shadows summoned here and announced with a complex expression:

“First, after investigation by the Scorpio Branch, the Gemini Branch in the Kingdom of Krok has been completely annihilated. Nearly half its members were killed or imprisoned; the rest were enslaved at the soul level. Only one former Level-One Cleanup Agent, Nicole Kroman, survived.”

“?!!”

Though everyone knew that summoning all branch directors remotely during the headquarters’ self-imposed lockdown meant something enormous had happened, no one expected such a shock right at the start.

Faced with this staggering news, all branch directors of the Cleanup Bureau—though their physical bodies were absent and thus unable to whisper among themselves—still shot startled glances everywhere, and some had already secretly initiated private chats.

“Everyone, keep quiet!”

Slapping his hands hard to forcibly cut off all private chats between branch directors, the Taurus Director spoke with an unpleasant expression:

“You may discuss this matter among yourselves after the meeting. Right now, we must decide what to do about the vacant Gemini Branch!”

What to do about the vacant Gemini Branch?

Upon hearing the Taurus Director’s words, a hunched shadow in the Zodiac Twelve Branch seat coughed twice, then raised a hand:

“Director Taurus, Boris, Director of the Furnace Branch, surpassed 60 Leon Points twenty years ago—he can directly fill the vacancy and take charge of rebuilding the Gemini Branch.”

Hearing the hunched shadow’s words, all the virtual shadows suddenly understood and immediately raised their arms, one after another, recommending:

“Director Taurus, I recommend Anduin, Director of the Cup Branch!”

“I also recommend Boris of the Furnace Branch!”

“Director Taurus! The Compass Branch nominates itself!”

“Silence!”

Slapping his hands again to cut off the recommendations, the Taurus Director glanced briefly at the Virgo Branch seat, then spoke:

“This situation is more complicated than simply selecting someone to fill the vacancy.

Though many Gemini Branch agents were rescued, many of them participated in the Aquarius Director’s rebellion and committed numerous violations—all require careful review and accountability.

Moreover, it’s not just the Gemini Branch that’s compromised. Prince Andre of the Kingdom of Krok colluded with the Aquarius Director and killed nearly all royal family members… Never mind. Edward!”

Calling out the Scorpio Director’s name, the Taurus Director pressed his hand to his forehead, looking weary:

“You led this investigation. You explain the situation in the Kingdom of Krok.”

“Understood…”

After replying, the Scorpio Director’s shadow stood up, hesitated slightly, then spoke plainly:

“Everyone, the Kingdom of Krok is gone.”

“?!!”

At the Scorpio Director’s bombshell, every virtual shadow in the room trembled. Opposite him, the Red-haired Director involuntarily widened her eyes, a deep sense of dread surging in her chest.

“Director Edward?”

After a long silence, the hunched shadow who had first proposed a replacement broke the quiet, his voice filled with shock:

“Could you clarify? What exactly happened to the Kingdom of Krok?”

“The Kingdom of Krok… has been utterly destroyed.”

The Scorpio Director bowed his head slightly:

“Though 1.3 million citizens still live, over 99% of the territory has been completely burned to ash. Nearly all royal family members are dead. The sole surviving princess has no intention of inheriting the throne and has surrendered the Krok royal line to others. The Kingdom of Krok no longer exists.”

“This…”

Though they had braced themselves, everyone still drew a sharp breath at the fate of the Kingdom of Krok. The hunched shadow who had spoken first stared in disbelief and pressed:

“Director Edward! Please explain—how, with you leading the operation, could the Kingdom of Krok have been completely destroyed?”

“...”

Because I was careless, got ambushed and nearly died, then was forcibly controlled and fought against my own surviving agents, barely rescued and immediately passed out—when I woke up, the Kingdom of Krok was already gone. I did nothing but cause chaos the whole time…

If I explained it like that, I’d rather have just died in the Kingdom of Krok!

At that moment, the Scorpio Director’s robe was tugged; a shadow stepped out from behind him.

“All branch directors, Director Edward’s injuries have not yet healed. I will explain the rest.”

After bowing half a bow to the senior directors, Leon, brought into the meeting by the Scorpio Director, spoke:

“I was also part of this investigation team. The mission was extremely dangerous—we faced not only the King-Slaying Society targeting royal houses, but even the royal families themselves, whom we were meant to protect.

Director Edward sensed the anomaly early and split the team: he assigned me to protect Princess Philia, who had been rescued, and left Senior Level-One Agent Alger behind, while he personally led a high-risk reconnaissance mission.

After being ambushed and attacked, he barely resisted the control, buying time for me and Agent Alger. He keenly identified the nature of the control method and, relying on our Moqi , skillfully broke free from the enemy’s hold.

Even when he discovered his soul had been tampered with, he chose to endure permanent soul damage and willingly let me absorb his soul—providing the crucial power that allowed me and others to escape and turn the tide…”

Those who reached branch director rank were generally intelligent. After hearing Leon’s full account, dozens of branch directors exchanged glances and each saw understanding dawn on the others’ faces.

So… reckless ambition, got ambushed, got controlled, passed out till the end?

No matter how hard this newcomer tried to defend him, the facts were clear: in this mission, Edward was clearly the liability. The one who actually carried the burden was probably this boy he brought along.

“I see…”

After glancing at Leon, who had retreated behind the Scorpio Director, the hunched shadow—realizing he’d likely have fared no better if he’d been in Edward’s place—chose to spare the Scorpio Director’s face, nodded, and said:

“It’s not Edward’s fault. The enemy was too formidable. To prevent the Watch Palace from being affected, burning the Kingdom of Krok was unavoidable… Edward.”

Calling the Scorpio Director’s name, the hunched shadow studied the shadow behind him—whose face was hard to make out—and asked curiously:

“The one who just spoke—is he one of your Scorpio Branch agents? He seems to have contributed greatly. Could you introduce him to us?”