https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-212-The-Secret-of-Aquarius-Part-2-/12969847/
Chapter 213: My Big Heart
Chapter 213: My Big Heart
"No... Don't..."
In a luxurious bedroom, a young prince with freckles on his face suddenly woke up in a redwood bed draped with velvet canopies, kicking off the covers and sitting up abruptly.
"No! No! No!!!"
Looking around the familiar, elegantly decorated chamber, and inhaling the faint scent of incense lit by his maid before bed, Joshua, dressed in silk nightwear, sighed in relief as he leaned back against the headboard, listening to the crackling of firewood in the fireplace.
It was just a dream...
Leaning against the headboard to catch his breath, he calmed his racing heart. The freckled prince, whose sleepwear was soaked with cold sweat, rubbed his eyes, feeling a bit tired. He got out of bed and walked towards the armchair across from the fireplace, sitting down and staring intently at the dancing flames.
Even though it was just a dream, it felt so real, as if there was another version of himself who had experienced an incredibly tragic future.
In the dream, the kingdom failed to resist the invasion of the Corlok Kingdom, losing two counties. Then, neighboring kingdoms took advantage of the situation, invading and causing the capital to fall, leading to a rebellion. The mother was deposed, the father died of illness, and the sister was killed. The kingdom was on the brink of destruction. Although he survived, he lacked the talent to turn the tide, so he had to sell everything he could to barely preserve the royal family from complete annihilation. Every day, he drowned his endless regrets and guilt in alcohol...
No! It won't happen! These are just dreams! They're not real! It's that rogue gang trying to influence me through nightmares!
Grabbing a biography from the side table, he slammed it towards the fireplace. The freckled prince's face, now slightly haggard, showed a burning anger.
Damn the Guardian Bureau! Especially that scoundrel who got lucky and took over the Lionheart Duke's position! According to the agreement with the royal family, the divisions must prioritize the safety of the royal families. But the damn Virgin Division, with their allocated resources, did nothing to ensure the safety of the royal family, and even tolerated the scoundrel beating him!
After rubbing his face, which had been slapped several times, the freckled prince clenched his fists in anger.
When I inherit the throne in a few years, I'll make them pay...
"Knock, knock, knock."
As the freckled prince was silently seething, a gentle knock came from outside the door.
The maid who took care of his daily needs asked softly from outside, "Are you well-rested, Your Highness?"
Taking a deep breath to calm his anger, Joshua responded, "What is it?"
"There are two visitors who wish to see you. They have identification from the Guardian Bureau and say they're here to resolve the issue you mentioned last time."
Two people from the Guardian Bureau... The issue from last time?
Upon hearing the maid's report, Joshua's heart skipped a beat as he remembered the brutal mixed doubles match from a few days ago.
"Are they a man and a woman? Is the man dark-haired, wearing an old overcoat, and slightly thin?"
"No, they're two men."
Noticing the prince's slightly trembling voice, the maid, aware of what had happened a few days ago, quickly added, "Your Highness, I specifically checked, and these two visitors are not the same people from the other day. Their faces and builds don't match."
Relieved that it wasn't them, the prince took a deep breath.
The hellish experience of being beaten and treated while barely conscious a few days ago had left a deep psychological scar on Joshua. Hearing that it wasn't the same disrespectful pair, he sighed in relief and instructed, "Have them wait in the reception room. I'll change and be there shortly."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After the maid's footsteps faded, Joshua, with dark circles under his eyes, got up and left the fireplace area, changing out of his sweat-soaked sleepwear. He immediately headed towards the reception room, pushing the door open.
The people from the Virgin Division of the Guardian Bureau were despicable, and the nightmares had made it hard for him to sleep these past few days. He couldn't take it anymore!
Tormented by nightmares, Joshua hurried to the reception room, waving away the maid who wanted to open the door for him. Eager to open the door himself, he saw two unfamiliar men, one tall and the other short, sitting on the sofa. He nodded in satisfaction and asked, "Can you solve my nightmares?"
"Yes."
Lyon, with the face of "Little Binks", nodded and stood up, addressing the prince, "Your Highness Joshua, may I ask you..."
"No manners!"
Seeing the man from the Purification Bureau, who once again failed to show him the proper respect, the Freckled Prince's eyes narrowed with a familiar coldness as he scolded, "Who gave you the right to address me by my name? Moreover, your Virgin Division has seriously neglected your duty, allowing my safety to be threatened. How dare you not..."
Joshua's eyes widened in shock as he watched the man's features contort, transforming into the very "devil" with black hair and eyes that he could never forget. He shuddered and, without hesitation, turned and ran.
Unfortunately, the Freckled Prince was far too slow in both reaction and physical ability.
Before he could even take a step, he was grabbed by the collar and pulled back forcefully.
"Relax, I won't hit you this time. I just need your help with something."
Lyon twitched his right hand that was itching to strike, resisting the urge to slap the prince. Amidst the screams of the maid outside, he negotiated, "Tell me, does the Royal Family have a direct means of contacting the Central Agency?"
...
Due to the highly secretive location of the Central Agency, even Jerry, a Level 2 Crisis Handler, was unaware of how to reach them. Thus, Lyon naturally turned his attention to the Royal Family.
The reason for this was that the last time Lyon and Senior Emma had a mixed doubles encounter with Joshua, the Central Agency received a complaint letter from the King that very day, and the Director was promptly reprimanded.
Consequently, the Royal Family must possess a swift means of contacting the Central Agency.
With this in mind, Lyon, fearing a change in the inquiry, immediately brought Senior Jerry along for a second visit to the Freckled Prince. They intended to use the Royal Family's channels to report the Water Bottle Director's scheme.
However, it seemed that the prince was not very cooperative.
"You... Let go of me!"
Joshua waited with his eyes closed, trembling, but when the expected slap didn't land on his face, he finally regained some of his lost courage. For the first time, he faced Lyon without being struck, and with a stiff neck, he warned, "This time is different from the last. Don't even think about using some excuse like helping me break free from control! If you dare to hit me again, I'll make sure..."
"Enough, I already said I won't hit you!"
Lyon, eager to report to the Central Agency and completely neutralize the Water Bottle Director, had no patience for Joshua's resistance. He urged, "I have urgent business to report to the Central Agency, and I must use your Royal Family's contact method. Take me there immediately!"
"..."
So... this scoundrel wants something from me?
Hearing Lyon's words, the Freckled Prince paused momentarily, then his eyes suddenly lit up with a strange brilliance. Despite looking somewhat haggard from his nightmares, he now seemed invigorated.
"Let go!"
Joshua pulled his collar free from Lyon's grasp and, as his feet finally touched the ground, he straightened his crumpled collar while smirking, "You want my help? You're really..."
Glancing at Lyon's narrowed eyes and his instinctively raised right hand, Joshua, having learned his lesson from two beatings, swallowed back the words "delusional" that were on the tip of his tongue.
"Using the Royal Family's channel to contact the Purification Bureau isn't entirely impossible."
Joshua rationally adjusted his words, crossing his arms and looking up at Lyon, who was significantly taller. With a proud expression, he instructed, "But first, you must apologize, then bow, and then..."
"I'm sorry, it was my fault before."
Without waiting for Joshua to finish, Lyon, eager to resolve the issue with the Water Bottle Director, made a perfunctory apology, not bothering to argue. He narrowed his eyes and warned, "Your Highness Joshua, know when to stop."
Know when to stop? Do you take me for a fool?
Hearing Lyon's warning, the Freckled Prince couldn't help but scoff.
Finally, he had the chance to turn the tables. If he didn't take full advantage of this opportunity, who knew when the next one would come?
"I haven't finished speaking yet."
Looking at Leon, who was pleading with him for the first time, being so subservient due to his request, Joseph felt a sense of satisfaction and then arrogantly commanded, "If you want my help, you must kneel and kowtow to me! Then slap yourself in the face! At least five..."
"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!"
I told you to know when to stop.
Raising his hand, he gave his brother-in-law, Joseph, five hard slaps, one after the other, and watched as Joseph, dazed, fell to the ground. Leon smirked and asked, "According to your request, I've given you five slaps. Have you received my apology?"
"..."
Is this how you approach people?
Feeling the all-too-familiar pain on his face, Joseph's eyes cleared, and he began to feel relieved that he had only said "five" before being slapped to the ground. If he had continued with "ten," the number of slaps would have increased tenfold, given his usual style...
Wait... what? Brother-in-law?
Suddenly, Joseph's mind was filled with strange thoughts. As he lay on the ground, the freckled prince tried to recall what had just happened.
This is wrong! I'm an only child, aren't I? I don't even have a sister, so how could I have... Hmm? But I do have a sister... that woman... Veronica?!
"Hmm?"
Just as the freckled prince in the palace was piecing together his lost memories, an old man with narrow eyes and a slightly downward-slanted mouth and eyebrows raised his eyebrows in surprise.
[The Lost Past] has been unlocked? Did Nathan change his mind? Or...
At this thought, the old man lowered his head slightly and looked down at the empty seat below the Virgin Director. He glanced at a woman with lustrous red hair and received a brilliant smile in return.
"..."
So that's how it is...
Seeing the smile on the red-haired director's face, the Water Bottle Director's eyes revealed a moment of understanding.
She had planned to take advantage of Olivia's inquiry to leave the Virgin Division. She had asked Nathan to bring the photograph, and the red-haired director probably had a similar plan.
Most likely, while she was attending the inquiry, the Virgin Division's Purification Bureau had located the hideout of the rogue gang and found a way to neutralize Phoebe's ability.
Well, it seems they had the same idea.
Shaking her head slightly, the Water Bottle Director withdrew her gaze and sat in her seat on the Board of Directors, pondering expressionlessly.
The Purification Bureau's headquarters was set up on a hollowed-out asteroid, and its current linear distance from the ground was over 70,000 kilometers. Even if she had noticed something amiss, it would be too late by the time she returned. This was a great opportunity she had found.
Hmm... I hope Nathan can evacuate in time; otherwise, I might be in trouble.
...
Well done!
The red-haired director, also sensing the change in memories, looked across at the Water Bottle Director and silently praised Leon. She had given Little Leon two weeks, but in less than three days, he had resolved the princess's issue and completed a third of his task. It seemed his undercover operation was going smoothly.
Additionally, removing this memory ability would undoubtedly alert the future Prince Joseph. With Leon's cautious nature, he would not act rashly unless he discovered the prince's identity or confirmed that he lacked the ability to capture him.
Now that the memory ability has been removed, the future Prince Joseph might have been captured. Even if he hasn't been caught, there should be some significant discoveries. Leon's operation is likely nearing its conclusion.
More importantly, the entire undercover operation, from start to finish, took only two days. In such a short time, Little Leon couldn't have done much, so I don't have to worry about him becoming the leader of the rogue gang.
'Olivia?'
Seemingly noticing her joy, a faint psychic ripple emanated from the seat belonging to the Lion Division on the side.
Looking at her smiling best friend, Beverly, the Lion Division's director, secretly stuffed small cookies into her mouth and curiously asked through her thoughts, 'Your division came last in the annual evaluation, and the director scolded you so harshly. How can you still smile?'
(End of Chapter)
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