Chapter 466: Parental Love
Chapter 466: Parental Love
Indeed, the Crimson-Haired Princess arrived incredibly fast. If she had been any later, they might have been completely digested.
Upon hearing Leon's words, the female journalist nodded and prepared to follow behind him, retracing their steps through the Dog God's massive maw. However, before they had gone far, Lyon stumbled, and with a thud, he fell to the ground.
Damn it...
Realizing something was amiss, Lyon looked down at his legs and noticed, with a sense of helplessness, that they had almost entirely turned transparent and could no longer support the "weight" of his body.
It made sense.
When the Dog God was still alive, its pitch-black stomach walls constantly secreted digestive fluids that could erode souls. After Lyon had punched the stomach walls twice with his right hand, it had become more than half transparent.
And since being swallowed by the Dog God, Lyon's legs had been in constant contact with those secretions. It was no wonder that they had become transparent much faster, and it was already impressive that he could still support his body.
"I'll go first."
After pulling Lyon up from the ground and seeing his entire soul had turned transparent, the journalist couldn't help but shake her head. "My soul has been digested by almost thirty percent. Your soul strength is far weaker than mine, and I estimate that the Dog God has digested sixty to seventy percent of your soul. With your current soul strength, even a scratch from its teeth could cause it to disintegrate instantly."
"Alright..."
Hearing the journalist's words, Lyon couldn't help but nod helplessly and followed behind her, crawling into the Dog God's spacious esophagus.
However, just as he was about to exit through the Dog God's throat, the journalist in front of him suddenly went crazy. She forcefully kicked backward with her right foot, sending Lyon flying back inside.
Huh?
What the hell? Lyon's anger rose as he was kicked for no apparent reason. Just as he was about to ask her what she was doing, he heard the journalist outside scream in horror:
"Aquarius? What... what are you doing here?!"
Aquarius?
Upon hearing the journalist's shout, Lyon's mind went blank, and his thoughts became completely jumbled.
So, the one who came to rescue them wasn't my director but your director?
...
"Nicole..."
Unaware of what had transpired inside the Dog God's stomach, Aquarius, the director, sighed as he looked at the journalist, who was staring at him with guarded eyes.
"You won't even call me 'Director' anymore?"
"..."
After hearing Aquarius' question, the journalist's lips trembled slightly, but she quickly clenched her jaw and remained silent.
"Never mind, then. Don't call me if you don't want to."
Seeing the journalist's demeanor, which was no longer familiar but filled with wariness and caution, Aquarius sighed again. With a hint of fatigue, he instructed:
"I'm leaving. When the Crimson-Haired Princess comes looking for you, just say you don't know anything. Tell them I used other means to kill it, and the Purification Bureau's investigators won't be able to trace it back to me."
"..."
"Also, you don't need to hide any information about me.
When the investigators from the Virgo Branch ask you, just tell them the truth. Don't worry about the information affecting me because, ever since I asked you to infiltrate the Capital City, all the information you know has been false.
But the places those false pieces of information point to, along with the safe houses and laboratories you know about, I've left some clues. If the Purification Bureau's investigators follow those leads, they'll find that I just left, and they'll even have some 'key' findings. No one will suspect that you provided false information."
"Why?"
After listening to Aquarius' somewhat incoherent instructions, the journalist touched the deer horn mark on her head and couldn't help but ask:
"Director... you didn't do anything to my soul to ensure secrecy, did you? You didn't make it so that if I spoke, I'd be sent to the Realm of Death? Then why did you arrange all this?"
"..."
Aquarius fell silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly. "Nicole, you're an excellent purifier, but your talent lies in dealing with anomalies. When it comes to dealing with people, your mind is truly below average!
Not to mention, if it were the Tier Three Purifier from the Virgo Branch, he'd probably guess most of it just by seeing me here, even if I didn't say a word."
"..."
"If you're talking about Leon... then he's right here, less than two meters away, and he can even hear our conversation..."
"Forget it, I'll explain it to you."
Seeing the female journalist still full of confusion, the Aquarius Director sighed, fearing she might blurt everything out to the Crimson-Haired Princess and get them both into trouble.
"To put it bluntly, being sent to the Netherworld doesn't necessarily mean death. This trip is dangerous, but it's actually a blessing in disguise for you. According to my plan, if it weren't for the sudden awakening of the Tricephalic Dog Deity, who knows why it decided to eat you, you would only be pulled to the vicinity of the Burial Robe Mirror Lake and stop there. You wouldn't be sent all the way to the deepest part of the Netherworld.
And when the Crimson-Haired Princess comes looking for you, because you betrayed me and I had to take action, you would be 'just a little' short of dying. Only then can you truly sever ties with me and avoid being executed as a traitor by the Purification Bureau... Do you understand what I mean?"
So... the Director didn't actually plan to kill me?
"You really are..."
Seeing that she seemed to understand something, but her eyes still filled with doubt, the Aquarius Director had no choice but to further remind her:
"My goal is to replace the Bull Director and ascend to the Watchtower Palace. What do you think your fate would be once I succeed? Have you ever thought about that?"
"I..."
"Don't think about it. I'm not asking you a question. Whether you've thought about it or not doesn't matter. When the time comes, your fate is death, and it might even be worse than death."
Shaking his head in exasperation, the Aquarius Director continued:
"Consider this a favor for our twenty years of friendship. I can't bear to see you die so foolishly, so I arranged a way out for you. I want to ensure that even after I ascend to the palace, you can continue living your silly life.
When it comes to matters concerning the Watchtower Palace, nothing is insignificant. If you want to avoid being held accountable for my actions, someone of the rank of Director Zodiac or higher must plead for you. Otherwise, your fate will be grim."
At this point, the Aquarius Director paused, then spoke with a hint of annoyance:
"Although the Crimson-Haired Princess ruined my plan, I have to admit she's a good person. Among those who are qualified to plead for you, only she would stand up for you for such a simple reason as 'you're a good person.'
Similarly, although your record is clean, the fact that you followed me in rebelling against the Bureau is a stain. Only she and her eccentric Virgin Branch might be willing to accept a traitor like you... Do you understand now?"
"I think I do..."
"Then hurry back, and remember, bite your tongue and pretend you know nothing and saw nothing! The more you talk, the more trouble you'll get yourself into at a time like this!"
Pointing at the corpse of the Dog Deity, the Aquarius Director rubbed his temples, a headache brewing.
"The Crimson-Haired Princess is cunning, and that Tier Three Purifier sometimes has more thoughts than her. With your brain, I don't expect you to keep it hidden forever, but just hold out until I ascend to the palace."
"But they're not that hard to deal with. Remember, as long as you keep being a good person, even if they sense something amiss, they definitely won't harm you. They might even choose to help you cover it up."
"Okay..."
"Then I'll take my leave. Remember my words!"
Seeing the female journalist finally understanding his arrangement, her expression becoming complex, the Aquarius Director shook his head. He gave her a final piece of advice before turning to leave.
But just before he departed, he seemed to remember something. He turned back, fixing his gaze on the journalist who had just breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, there should be another soul who entered the Netherworld with you. Whose soul is it?"
(End of Chapter)
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