"Thirteen Ant Nests... After the disappearance of the East Carleighwen Kingdom, it should now be called the [Twelve Ant Nests], corresponding to the twelve kingdoms that remain. I shouldn't need to tell you its ability for you to guess.
"As for the East Carleighwen Kingdom... The current Carleighwen Kingdom, which was previously called the Western Carlay Wen Kingdom, is separated by a river from the ruins of the original East Carleighwen Kingdom.
"And the Ophiuchus Eroded Nation refers to a rebellion initiated by the Ophiuchus Sub-bureau of the East Carleighwen Kingdom. The director of the Ophiuchus Sub-bureau attempted to sacrifice the entire East Carleighwen Kingdom to ascend to godhood and transform half of the world into his divine country.
"As this outcome was unacceptable, the Twelve Directors conducted nine rounds of voting. Finally, with four abstentions and eight approvals, they decided to use the [Thirteen Ant Nests] to preemptively destroy the East Carleighwen Kingdom and forcibly thwart his plan. I was the executor in charge of taking action.
"From then on, the Thirteen Ant Nests became the Twelve Ant Nests, which I have been overseeing to this day. The number of sub-bureaus of the Purification Bureau also decreased from 88 to 87, and the investigation and control within have become increasingly stringent. Any slight transgression will be severely punished..."
Having listened to the Red-haired Director's words, Leon finally sorted out the general context, and with a rather complicated look, he said,
"So those people upstairs who curse you... they were the ones back then..."
"Just as you thought..."
Responding vaguely, the Red-haired Director avoided his gaze and then, looking somewhat dim, said,
"The people originally from the Virgin Branch also left after that incident. It's not their fault, after all, they had over a hundred million reasons... Hmm... Leon, if you can't accept this and want to leave, it's the same. I understand your feelings."
After getting up and sitting on the wide sofa, silently facing the Red-haired Director for a while, Leon didn't say whether he would leave but instead asked softly,
"Director, can I ask you a question?"
Upon hearing Leon's words, a hint of surprise flashed in the Red-haired Director's eyes, but he nodded and said,
"Suppose there is a train about to switch tracks..."
After briefly recalling, Leon spoke,
"Twelve people are tied to the track in front of the train, while one person is tied to another track. And you are holding the lever that changes the track. Would you pull the lever to let the train go to the other track and save the twelve people?"
Subconsciously clenching his fists, the Red-haired Director did not immediately answer this question but instead bit his lip and asked in return,
"Are you talking about my situation? But these two situations aren't the same..."
"So would you pull the lever to let it crash into the person who otherwise wouldn't die or leave it alone to let the train crash into those twelve people?"
Leon persisted in asking.
"Of course you don't know."
Leon nodded and kindly said,
"Because you're not really the one pulling the lever. The directors who voted are. You're just the lever they gripped."
"Thank you for your comfort..."
Noticing Leon's apparent attempt to console him, the Red-haired Director barely managed a smile before dimly saying,
"But these two matters are genuinely not the same. I'm not just a puppet following orders; I have the ability to refuse to pull the 'lever,' but I ultimately did not refuse and instead personally..."
"If you refused, you would merely be a passerby wielding a plunger, and someone else would simply grab a new lever and stand in your original position to send the train onto the track with just one person."
"Director, sometimes, one shouldn't think of oneself as too important."
After waiting for a while and noting that the Red-haired Director still kept his lips tightly sealed in silence, Leon shook his head and said,
"I'm not going to tell you that your choice was right or that those sacrificed would have died sooner or later and it's better they died by your hand to save others.
"Because if I were one of the East Carleighwen Kingdom's people, I would curse you just as harshly as those upstairs are, and probably harder, and even curse the entire Purification Bureau while hoping you get run over by a carriage tomorrow and rolled over seven or eight times on the spot.
"But now, since I was one of the twelve tied to the original track, who was genuinely saved by your choice, I don't have the right to curse you. Including those who left the bureau, they could choose to leave you, but they had no right to blame you."
"You really are... Others have comforted me before, but no one quite said it like you..."
With an odd expression, the Red-haired Director shook his head and looked at Leon, who appeared physically weak but seemed stronger inside somehow, and couldn't help but ask him,
"If it were you, what would you do? Would you let the train keep running toward the twelve people tied on the tracks?"
"I would first try to find the one who tied them and push his head into the train's boiler."
"You really... How can you cheat like that?"
"I'm not cheating; that's truly what I think."
Leon shook his head, meeting the Red-haired Director's slightly playful gaze with a serious look, he replied,
"Director, I am a person who lacks a sense of security. I confess that ever since I learned the truth about this world, I have longed for power, very, very much!
"And the main reason I pursue power is so that when faced with such dilemmas, I have the ability to eliminate that scoundrel tying the people and avoid facing such eternally unsolvable decisions."
"Then... What if you've done everything in your power but still encounter such problems?"
Upon hearing this, Leon hesitated a bit, then took something out from his coat and showed it to the Red-haired Director.
"Depending on which side my family is tied to, I would steer the train to the other side and then humbly endure the curse of a hundred million people and drink the way you do every day to fend off the painful clarity of being cursed."
Looking at the small flask in Leon's hand, the Red-haired Director couldn't help but shake his head speechlessly and said, half-amusedly,
"Isn't that just the same as me? You really..."
"It is indeed the same."
After unscrewing the cap and taking a sip, Leon helplessly smiled and said,
"Since I've tried my best but still can't solve the problem, what else can I do? Escape might be shameful, but it's very useful, right?"
"Yes! It's indeed very useful!"
Looking at the glittering small flask in Leon's hand, the Red-haired Director's eyes couldn't help but curve, laughing with him, his smile still carrying a trace of the wine's crimson hue, like a rhododendron blooming in a garden.
The curses in his ear remained madly shrill, the heavy press on his chest still like a dark cloud bearing down, and the profound guilt tormenting him still as cold and sharp as ever, piercing deeply into his flesh.
Yet somehow, his heart felt less afraid. If he had to name a reason, it was probably because there was someone who not only respected his choice, but also accepted his weakness and avoidance.
Yes... At a time , a drink certainly seemed appropriate!
Seizing the flask from Leon's grasp, the Red-haired Director tilted his slender neck back and downed it all. After licking the slightly spicy liquor off his lips, he flung the empty bottle away, and fueled by the alcohol's emboldening effect, boisterously announced,
"Just borrowed money from Emma today! Let's go! Drinks are on me! We'll have the most expensive ones!"
The people of the Virgin Branch are truly... outrageous!
After knocking on the door for ages without a response, and spotting through the window of the director's office the piles of empty bottles and the snoozing man and woman on the table wrapped in a blanket, the two investigators couldn't help but shake their heads. They then simultaneously pulled out their investigation sheets, jotted a few lines, and marked two big red crosses.
The director led in drinking! Indulging through the night! Suspected indiscretion within the bureau! Leaving aside this nightmare business on Ryan Blood Night, we must harshly downgrade their conduct and business ratings!