I! Cleaner!
Chapter 269 - 269: 0227 Traditional Face Jumping_1

"Not a betrayal, the body of the director of the Gemini Sub-bureau housed the brain of the Aquarius Director."

Rather than letting Leon answer the question directly, the Red-haired Director, who had already inquired and learned the general story, answered,

"To prevent the God Tier Brain-Eating Demon from reading his memories, Aquarius duplicated his brain, along with the original body, emotions, and a small fraction of his soul, creating an incredibly convincing fake body. The fake body's brain was usually semi-closed, while the real brain hidden within the body of the Gemini Director controlled both bodies using soul fragments, temporarily unlocking the brain in the fake body before and after memory reading. As for just now, he utilized the [Temporal Rift] to accelerate his own time, reclaim the soul fragments, and then used an Anomalous Object called the [Gate of the Other World]..."

"So that's how it is..."

After listening to the explanation from the Red-haired Director, and understanding why the Aquarius Director was confident in hiding from memory reading, the director of the Purification Bureau frowned,

"They can even replace brains… Has medical advancement in the Crolock Kingdom developed to such an extent?"

"I'm not sure about that."

The Red-haired Director shook his head,

"The Crolock Kingdom is quite closed off, engaging minimally with the outside world except for purchasing minerals and energy. Only people from the Gemini Sub-bureau would know the situation there."

The Gemini Sub-bureau... The director was the Aquarius Director; even if it wasn't, the Aquarius Director likely had control over it, making the entire Gemini Sub-bureau now untrustworthy.

After shaking his head slightly, the director of the Purification Bureau wanted to ask more, but saw a tall, thin man stand up and pointedly ask,

"Olivia, you weren't the one accelerated by the [Temporal Rift], were you? Why relay the situation through you rather than letting that Level Three Cleanser speak for himself?"

"Is there a problem?"

With her fox-like eyes slightly narrowed, after glancing at the man who asked, the Red-haired Director replied with a displeased expression,

"Edward! If you have something to say, just say it and don't beat around the bush!"

"I mean nothing by it; I'm merely curious."

The tall, thin man raised an eyebrow,

"Everyone saw just now that not only Aquarius was accelerated by the [Temporal Rift] but also this Third-Class Cleanser from your bureau, and they seemed to be alone together for quite some time. So could you please explain how this new accident handler in the Purification Bureau managed to persist for so long under Aquarius Director without being dealt with?"

"The survival techniques given to Leon were from me. There's no need for you to be concerned about the specifics."

Having foreseen such a situation occurring, the Red-haired Director unhesitatingly retorted.

"Additionally, it was Leon who first suspected an issue with Aquarius and brought critical evidence during the stalemate in questioning, forcing Aquarius to undergo memory reading. If you suggest he conspired with Aquarius, I suggest you crack open your own brain first to see if it's already rotted beyond redemption!"

After the Red-haired Director finished speaking, Beverly from the Lion Bureau also stood up, glaring as she said,

"Edward! Just focus on your own affairs! Don't cause trouble at a time like this!"

"I'm only bringing up reasonable doubts; there's no need to react so aggressively, is there?"

The man named Edward, although disgraced, didn't get angry. He waved his hand to show he meant no harm, then cheerfully snapped his fingers.

When the snap resounded, Leon felt a slight swell in his palm, and a resin card painted with a dung-rolling scorpion was strangely placed into his palm.

"This is the Scorpio Branch identification, which you can use to join our Scorpio Bureau directly once I stamp it."

After explaining the significance of the item, the tall, thin man smiled at Leon, who was inspecting the card,

"Young man, I see potential in you. If, like your predecessors from the Virgo Branch, you can't stand Olivia, you can bring this to us and transfer over; Scorpio Bureau welcomes you. I can't guarantee anything, but at least in Scorpio Bureau, with plenty of staff, newcomers aren't subjected to such hazardous duties or used as bait to capture the Aquarius Director..."

"What nonsense are you talking?!"

Beverly exclaimed angrily,

"We didn't use Leon as bait! The director of the Gemini Sub-bureau is Aquarius Director; no one knew Leon would face him alone—it was an accident!"

"Oh? So you didn't know he'd be targeted by Aquarius soon after," Edward from the Scorpio Branch raised an eyebrow, curiously saying,

"That's odd. If this was unknown, why did Olivia provide him with survival techniques? Could powerful methods to survive under the hand of an Aquarius Director be so widespread that they're given out casually?"

"You!"

"Why are you always so impatient?"

The thin man cheerfully said,

"This case involves the Watcher's Palace. I'm just raising reasonable doubts; if proven wrong, I can apologize to you."

*This guy... Daring to stand out at this time and cause trouble means he must be our boss's nemesis.* *And judging by his words, it seems many people who left the Virgo Branch have gone to Scorpio, indicating a deep grudge between the two sides?*

*Watching those two sarcastic comments that left the Lion Bureau Director glaring, Leon decided to break open the resin card in his hand.* *Seeing the name on the imprint, he said thoughtfully, "Edward Carson... This name sounds a bit familiar..."*

"Oh? You've heard of me already?"

The tall, thin man raised an eyebrow and, with a smile, replied,

"Your director really dislikes me, likely never mentioning my name, so... did you hear it from those predecessors who left the Virgo Branch?"

"No."

Leon shook his head,

"During the activation of the Temporal Rift, the Aquarius Director mentioned a list of collaborators from the Purification Bureau. I might have heard it then."

"..."

Caught off guard by Leon's words, the grin on the thin man's face froze, and he sourly retorted,

"You should think clearly before speaking! How could the Aquarius Director divulge such crucial information to a mere Level Three Cleanser? And even if he did, as a traitor, his words hold no weight!"

"Normally, it wouldn't be likely."

Leon nodded in agreement and then blinked as he said,

"But he revealed secrets through an object called the Scale of Truth, compelled to reveal several secrets himself, and by its power, I had to share corresponding secrets. Under its effect, neither of us could lie."

"You mean..."

"I really had no choice but disclosed many critical secrets, leaking several pieces of crucial intelligence for the Virgo Branch. I feel particularly guilty toward my director… but obtaining the traitor list was worth it."

After apologizing with a nod to the Red-haired Director, whose mouth couldn't help but curve upwards, Leon turned back to look at the slightly uneasy expression on the thin man's face, sincerely suggesting,

"Honestly, while I can't guarantee you're a traitor, hearing that name rings a bell; besides, since this involves the Watcher's Palace... perhaps you should visit the Brain-Eating Demon over there and let it have a taste to confirm? If you're innocent, I'd be happy to apologize too."

"..."