Chapter 346: This Isn't Fair
Chapter 346: This Isn't Fair
Upon hearing Emma's question, Leon couldn't help but sigh deeply.
If I were in your shoes, there's no doubt that one of us wouldn't have made it to the present. A grudge this deep leaves no room for reconciliation.
Moreover, I finally understand why even the all-powerful Director has no solution for your situation.
"Senior Emma."
Looking at the half-abandoned garden, where three children were chased away by a nesting mother bird, Leon asked softly, "Have you been unable to take revenge because of the agency's regulations?"
"Hmm..."
Emma, also observing the children, replied with a slight pout, "Unlike those who actively join the Purification Bureau, we who enter through the 'Pardon Decree' must abide by a special Spirit Art restriction. We promise not to use the acquired anomalies to seek revenge on our former 'enemies.'
If it weren't for the special circumstances of the Virgin Bureau and Olivia's assurance, a cleaner like me with a high likelihood of seeking revenge would be forcibly transferred away from their homeland, never to return to their country of origin.
This is one of the conditions for the various kingdoms to cooperate with the Purification Bureau, providing full financial and intelligence support, and even agreeing to grant temporary military command. Even a Level 1 cleaner must adhere to this rule."
"I see..."
After hearing Emma's response, Leon's eyebrows furrowed slightly without him noticing.
The reason why the Purification Bureau, with its formidable power, would set such a "compromising" rule is not hard to guess.
Considering that most anomalies are born out of extremism and suffering, and cleaners who are constantly exposed to them have inherently unstable mental states. When they acquire sufficient power, the possibility of them seeking revenge is almost certain.
Taking Senior Emma as an example, without this rule, neither the royal family nor the Marquis Golden Falcon would have allowed her to gradually grow stronger within the Purification Bureau, only to turn against them later. They would have likely taken action to eliminate her as soon as they discovered her anomaly.
Immortality is a rare and special anomaly, and most cleaners' bodies are only slightly more robust than ordinary people. Without a unique protective anomaly, a shot to the vital spot would still result in instant death.
If not for this seemingly absurd rule, many cleaners with great potential and anomalies might have been eliminated before they could grow, leading to a significant reduction in the Purification Bureau's available personnel.
It's even more likely that in the past, when the rules were less mature, numerous cases of 'cutting off the problem at the root' had already occurred, resulting in severe consequences. This might have prompted the Purification Bureau to establish such a rule to ensure its normal continuation.
However, conversely, this restriction has likely protected numerous scoundrels as well.
After recalling the file of Treasure Flower's Sin and the record of Little Ellie's 'accidental drowning,' Leon's eyes narrowed slightly, and his heart felt a slight burning sensation.
"Senior Emma."
Leon couldn't help but ask after touching the cufflink that held his sniper rifle, "Even with your long-range anomaly, you still practice with sniper firearms. Are you planning to..."
"Yes, just as you thought."
Looking at her daughter, whose skirt was covered in dirt, her body adorned with grass leaves, transformed from a delicate porcelain doll into a dirty monkey, but smiling exceptionally happily, Emma stood at the garden entrance, her eyes filled with affection. "Due to the constraints of the Spirit Art, I can't use my anomaly against that person. So, I specifically practiced using firearms. I wanted to ask for your help earlier, hoping to lock onto that person's position through soul vision and put an end to everything. But Olivia temporarily stopped me.
I'm sorry, Leon. I shouldn't have dragged you into this.
If I had gone through with it, you would likely have been subjected to an investigation as well. Olivia was right; at that time, I was blinded by hatred."
"It's okay; after all, none of that happened..."
Leon shook his head slightly and looked at the three children in the garden, his expression complex as he spoke softly, "Senior Emma, if you were to complete your revenge, what would be the price?"
"I'd probably be stripped of all anomalies and forcibly sent to the Dead Realm.
"Emma calmly stated:
"According to the relevant regulations, if one violates this ordinance, a deputy director-level purifier can still perform three consecutive high-risk purification missions. However, if the purifier is below the deputy director level, they would be executed."
Deputy Director?
Upon hearing this, Leon's expression shifted slightly, and he asked:
"So, are you planning to wait until you become a deputy director before taking revenge, to avoid being executed directly?"
Emma maintained her composure and replied:
"I did consider that path, or rather, I always intended to do so, except for the period when I realized that Ellie wasn't my daughter but merely a reflection of my wish.
Although Ellie isn't truly alive, she does have my daughter's soul, and I really don't want to lose her again. I'm willing to endure for her sake, but..."
Emma glanced back at the direction of the main mansion and couldn't help but laugh at herself.
"I guess I'm not as good at enduring as I thought."
...
Is that... the Golden Cuckoo's family emblem?!
Following Emma's gaze, Leon saw the emerald-colored golden cuckoo emblem on the second-floor curtain wall and workers dismantling the wall adorned with Treasure Flower decorations. He was utterly shocked.
In theory, the Golden Cuckoo family and the Treasure Flower family had close ties, with frequent intermarriages over the past two centuries. Even the Marquis of the Golden Cuckoo himself gained control of the northern trade route through these family connections.
Given that the nobles close to the Treasure Flower family were either killed or exiled, Leon, being related by blood, was indeed eligible to inherit the Treasure Flower Estate, and his succession rank was on par with Senior Emma.
But if the Golden Cuckoo family was indeed the primary culprit in the Treasure Flower family's destruction, as Senior Emma claimed, how dare they move in here?
And... aren't you just asking for trouble?
Leon noticed Emma's palm turning slightly cold, and her usually gentle eyes filled with a chilling intent to kill. He couldn't help but close his eyes, feeling his scalp tingle at the audacity of the Golden Cuckoo family.
If the Golden Cuckoo family hadn't appeared, Senior Emma might have continued enduring for Ellie's sake, waiting until the day she became a deputy director.
But now, with the Golden Cuckoo family seemingly planning to usurp the Treasure Flower family's estate and move in with their entire family, it was truly... The enemy who destroyed their home and family was not only in sight but also blatantly occupying their residence. No one could swallow such an insult!
If Senior Emma weren't bound by Spirit Art and unable to use the anomaly, even the cockroaches in your cabinet would face punishment!
"I can drive them out!"
Golden Cuckoo family occupying the estate = Senior Emma unable to resist revenge = violating the Purification Bureau's regulations = Senior Emma facing execution!
The moment this equation formed in his mind, Leon immediately suggested:
"Senior Emma, just wait a little longer. I'll go find the King..."
"No need."
Before Leon could finish, Emma rejected his proposal, her expression calm.
"Leon, for Ellie's sake, I've endured for six whole years, but now I truly can't endure any longer."
"But you're already a Level 1 Purifier. As long as there's a vacancy in any bureau..."
"Headquarters is currently sealed, and without the appointment of a director, even if there's a vacancy, I can't take over. And even if there is, it doesn't mean it will be my turn."
Emma glanced lovingly at her daughter, who was holding Melanie's hand and taking her to see the flowers she had planted. She spoke softly:
"Besides, this estate holds no real value for me. Those beautiful memories of the past, when I think of their eventual outcome, only become tormented recollections.
The reason I stayed here is because Ellie can't leave this place. She can only exist in this estate filled with my memories. Otherwise, I would have moved long ago."
Hearing this, Leon took a deep breath and emphasized with a hint of annoyance:
"I said, I can drive them out! You can still live here with Ellie. Just wait until headquarters reopen in half a year..."
"Leon, that's not the point."
Emma gently squeezed Leon's unconsciously clenched palm and said:
"When I first discovered that the Golden Cuckoo family was moving in, I also considered driving them out and pretending nothing happened, continuing to wait like before. But after thinking about it for a day, I've made up my mind.
"There are many Level 1 Purifiers with similar abilities to mine and even more senior than me. Even if a vacancy arises, it's highly unlikely that I'll be the one to fill it. So, although it seems like I'm just one step away, the chance of truly getting an opportunity for revenge might take two to three decades or even longer."
"Leon, I really can't wait any longer."
Gazing at the Golden Cuckoo emblem on the main building's curtain wall, Emma seemed to have made a firm decision. Her eyes, shimmering with light, finally settled down.
"Do you remember the only Death Raven that would come near me? The one that belonged to my sister? She was a little older than Ellie is now, but she was born with deficiencies and was very small for her age, looking almost the same age as Ellie."
Turning to look at the three children playing in the half-abandoned garden, Emma recalled the little girl who used to run happily towards her on the pebble path in the garden. Her voice softened as she spoke,
"My mother was often bedridden due to poor health since I was young, and my father was a very traditional and hard-to-approach person. So, she liked to stick by my side.
Before that incident, I often spent time with her in this garden. The small greenhouse in front of the garden was built by me for her, and it was her favorite place.
She was much more lively than Ellie usually is, and she was very similar to Ellie today. She also liked birds and flowers and liked to draw with crayons, creating colorful but somewhat ugly paintings. Perhaps Ellie would like these drawings because they come from my longing for her..."
At this point, Emma paused briefly, then continued,
"But she's dead. She was strangled before me, and her body lay beside my mother. And in less than two weeks, it would have been her tenth birthday."
"..."
"She was just a nine-year-old girl who had never done anything wrong, but her life stopped on that day, and there will never be a future for her.
Yet, the one who truly did wrong can live on without guilt, move into her home, tear down her house, and completely erase her existence.
Even the one who truly deserves to die can live on for another two to three decades, only facing judgment when they grow old and forget what they had done."
After withdrawing her gaze from the emerald-green Golden Cuckoo emblem on the wall, Emma's every move, some with sympathy, some with curiosity, and some with a hint of fear.
"This is unfair!" Emma said calmly and firmly, turning to face Leon.
"..."
In the midst of Leon's speechless silence, Emma withdrew her gaze, her expression calm.
"Perhaps I've always known that Ellie isn't the real Ellie, but I've been deceiving myself for six years, using patience as an excuse, and being cowardly.
But now, I'm going to do what I should have done six years ago.
As a daughter, I will kill him for my parents! As a mother, I will kill him for Ellie, who was drowned! As the last Treasure Flower, I will kill him for the clan members whose deaths could have been avoided!"
"..."
...
How could he possibly dissuade her? Seeing Emma's eyes no longer filled with anger but with newfound calm, Leon felt a chill in his heart.
If Senior Emma was merely angered by the Golden Cuckoo Clan's actions and was acting on impulse, Leon might have been able to persuade her to endure a little longer for Ellie's sake.
But looking at Senior Emma's demeanor, she had calmed down after a day of anger. She had truly made up her mind, and there was no stopping her now.
"What about Ellie?"
Holding onto a glimmer of hope, Leon tried to remind her, "You said Ellie will grow up. So, can you wait a little longer? At least until she's a bit older, so she won't have any regrets on her birthday?"
"Leon, you said you would respect my decision."
"..."
"I know you're right. Under better circumstances, I might not have needed to do this. But I've already waited for six years, and I truly don't want to wait any longer."
After a gentle smile towards Leon, Emma reached out and caressed his furrowed brows, softly requesting, "Let's leave these troubling thoughts aside for now. Let's help Ellie have a birthday without regrets, okay?"
(End of Chapter)
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