I! Cleaner!
Chapter 259 - 259: 0219 The Real Inquiry (Part 2)_1

To think one could use the Cunning Hand of Fate and go so far as to steal from the God of Enlightenment... *Had I known this would happen, I should have left Nathan with a few more life-saving anomalous objects back then.*

Staring at the "old friend" who had served his lineage for fifteen generations, the Aquarius Director couldn't help but shake his head. He then ignored both Leon and Jerry, raising his head to sincerely gaze at the Director of the Purification Bureau and said,

"Director, the God of Enlightenment has been imprisoned by our Aquarius lineage for two thousand years, and I've alone extracted its flesh and True Spirit over a thousand times.

No matter how deep-seated a hatred might be, it couldn't compare to even a fraction of its hatred towards me. Are you truly going to suspect a director who has served in the Bureau for nearly a hundred years because of the testimony of an Outer God?"

"I'm sorry, it's not a matter of what I believe or not."

After the light purple eyes flickered slightly, the Director of the Purification Bureau replied calmly,

"Unlike the private creation of anomalies earlier, this time involves the safety of the Watcher's Palace, leaving no room for negotiation.

Whether it's you, other directors, or even myself as the Director, if accused and if the accuser presents valid evidence, one must immediately prove one's innocence.

If unable to prove innocence, one must directly undergo memory reading... Aquarius Director, do you have anything more to defend against this accusation?"

"No more."

Glancing at Leon standing beside the Director of the Purification Bureau, the Aquarius Director stated calmly,

"Bring the Brain-Eating Demon over; I choose to directly undergo memory reading... Also, I'm quite curious why the Virgo Branch is so focused on me.

Not only did they coordinate with six Branch Directors to question me, a Director, but they also risked releasing the imprisoned Evil God by forcibly contacting the materials used for the Abnormal Genesis Sorcery..."

"I am the God of Enlightenment! You damned human, you are the material! Just let me out..."

Interlocking his fingers and applying slight pressure, using some unknown method to silence the God of Enlightenment, the Aquarius Director gazed meaningfully at the Red-haired Director,

"Olivia, if after the memory reading it turns out that I did nothing, could you also undergo memory reading? And besides you..."

"On what grounds?"

Hearing the Aquarius Director's request, before he could finish, Beverly, the Director of the Lion Bureau, couldn't help but stand up and angrily refute,

"Even if you didn't do the first investigation today, you're still implicated, and the second involves the Watcher's Palace. Olivia has shown no suspicious behavior; why should she undergo memory reading?"

"Speaking of suspicious actions, she certainly has done some, and not just one."

Glancing at Beverly, the Aquarius Director stated nonchalantly,

"The Bauhinia Family, which once attempted to overthrow the royal family, should have been entirely executed according to the laws of the Kingdom. Yet, Emma Alman, who originally didn't meet the standard, was admitted to the Virgo Branch by her, allowing her to secretly plot revenge and covering for her several times.

Furthermore, last month, she brought Leon Laine, who also didn't meet the Purification Bureau's employment standards but had a right to noble inheritance, into the Virgo Branch and dispatched him to Ryan Manor to conduct an investigation.

The outcome of that investigation was the occurrence of an event called the Ryan Blood Night, wherein the top members of the Lionheart Family were nearly wiped out, with no one to inherit the duke's title. Through a series of coincidences, this position was then filled by a Third-Class Cleaner, whom she had hired exceptionally."

Pausing slightly here, the Aquarius Director continued with an insinuating tone amidst the contemplative expressions of several Branch Directors,

"Additionally, Tom Raines, a First-Level Catastrophe Handler from the Virgo Branch, who has a record of single-handedly expelling a True God, briefly disappeared from the main bureau's surveillance after completing the clearing task of the Blood Pine Ridge incident.

Coincidentally, his strongest abnormal ability is a pair of dice that can create coincidences, granting a 60% chance for all impossible things to become possible, and the time he went off the main bureau's radar coincides perfectly with when Leon Laine obtained the duke's position."

After finishing these statements, the Aquarius Director continued, gazing meaningfully at the frowning Red-haired Director,

"These issues were all discovered during my investigation of my own replicants. In recent years, my replicants have frequently appeared in the Capital City, cultivating a force named the Rebels to completely overthrow the royal family, while you seem to be deliberately gathering the heirs of the Old Nobility.

Therefore, I have reason to suspect that you have previously contacted my replicants and obtained certain benefits from them, or simply made some extremely dangerous cooperation, which is why you are so resolute in questioning me and can always present evidence that I find difficult to refute."

Under the suddenly sharp gaze of the Director of the Purification Bureau, the Aquarius Director leisurely stated,

"Olivia, are the doubts I've raised enough for you to also undergo memory reading?"

"..."

...

*Strange... why would the Aquarius Director still bring these up? Is he in his 'death throes,' or does he actually have some trump card that gives him the confidence to withstand the memory reading?*

Glancing towards the Director of the Purification Bureau and noticing the change in the director's expression, the Red-haired Director couldn't help but rub her furrowed brow. Though she was still uncertain of the Aquarius's intent, she could only nod slightly and agree,

"Yes, I agree to undergo memory reading.

However, the order must be after you. If it's proven that no replicants exist or that you are indeed plotting against the Watcher's Palace, then my memory reading must be canceled!"

"It's not just you; this Third-Class Incident Handler also needs to undergo memory reading."

Raising his hand in Leon's direction, the Aquarius Director, smiling at this troublesome fellow who had been overlooked but managed to capture Nathan within two days and promptly delivered key evidence, said,

"Considering the close relationship between him and you, if it proves that I'm not at fault, then he must also undergo memory reading."

"I object, this issue has nothing to do with Leon!"

At these words, the Red-haired Director's expression tightened as she voiced her opposition,

"He's only been with the Virgo Branch for a month. If a memory reading is truly necessary, let it be me.

Additionally, besides the Ryan Blood Night, Leon has been diligent and fielded outstanding results during every mission, even having a record of defeating a Holy Spirit.

Being subjected to memory reading by the Brain-Eating Demon equates to a forced True God level Corrosion, which would inevitably affect his mental stability. For such a promising Cleaner, it would undoubtedly be a..."

"His mind doesn't need Corrosion; it's already extremely unstable."

Interrupting the Red-haired Director, the Aquarius Director replied indifferently,

"I seriously reviewed his dossier. After the Ryan Blood Night, the two investigators sent by the main bureau gave him an interesting assessment.

They unanimously believed that this Third-Class Cleaner is extremely dangerous, possessing beliefs so rigid they border on madness, harboring numerous dangerous secrets in his heart, recommending tight main bureau surveillance.

Additionally, he had contact with the God of Enlightenment while searching for evidence against me, and there's the possibility of him being controlled or even parasitized by the God of Enlightenment. Undergoing memory reading with you might even be considered a form of protection..."

Protect you, my dear!

Gazing at the massive cage emerging from beneath the center of the venue and the Brain-Eating Demon within, which looked even more revolting than a hagfish, Leon couldn't help but shiver.

The mere thought of being subjected to memory reading meant having that thing's tongue slither across his brain's grooves made his scalp tingle uncontrollably.

If this could be considered protection, then I sincerely hope the Purification Bureau protects you for a lifetime!

...

Worse still, even though the Red-haired Director argued consistently and logically, the Director of the Purification Bureau showed signs of being persuaded after hearing the Aquarius Director's proposal, particularly squinting inadvertently when he heard the possibility of Leon being controlled by the God of Enlightenment.

One situation posed the risk of the God of Enlightenment escaping, while the other concerned a "supposedly" promising Third-Class Cleaner.

To a director hoping the Purification Bureau would remain as stable as possible, these two matters couldn't be weighed equally at all.

If the one voicing opposition wasn't Olivia, who possesses two Numbered Anomalous Objects and ranks among the top in combat strength among Directors, but some other Branch Director, he might have already resolutely made up his mind.

"Taurus His Excellency!"

Seeing that the Director of the Purification Bureau seemed swayed, the Red-haired Director could only look towards the hesitant Taurus Director, seeking some form of assistance and saying,

"You have met Leon and even personally helped craft an Anomalous Object for him; you should understand his potential. Receiving the Corrosion of a True God level entity so early would undoubtedly harm his psyche. If memory reading truly needs to be conducted, I should be the one to undergo it!"

"Indeed..."

After some hesitation, the Taurus Director nodded,

"The child's potential is remarkably excellent, with a steady disposition and intelligent mind. He is most likely to become a Level One Cleaner in the future and might even take over a Branch Director's position and become a force that protects humanity. Undergoing memory reading prematurely would be such a pity.

Setting aside other considerations, after suffering pollution from a True God level demon, the [Holy Spirit Pendant] I crafted for him would inevitably be affected, and its effectiveness might be reduced by more than half, effectively severing his future in advance."

"Yet what does it matter if his future is severed in advance?"

Once the Taurus Director finished speaking, the Aquarius Director's brows slightly drooped, speaking indifferently,

"Taurus His Excellency, one side poses the risk of the God of Enlightenment escaping, while the other is merely a Third-Class Cleaner whose potential hasn't even been realized. I don't see how this holds any comparison."

"But..."

"Alright, everyone stop talking."

With a slight distortion in his form, the Director of the Purification Bureau spoke slowly,

"The time flow on my side is beginning to slow, leaving us with little time to communicate, and the most important matter currently is the safety of the Watcher's Palace, so I will make the decision directly.

Next, let the Aquarius Director undergo memory reading first. If any issues arise, naturally, there is nothing more to say. If the reading shows no problem, then Olivia must undergo reading.

And if after Olivia undergoes reading and no issues come to light, then this Cleaner named Leon may skip the memory reading... Aquarius Director, please proceed!"