*Did he have his own difficulties?*
Remembering that arrogant, overbearing, and irritating Prince Freckles, whose face practically screamed "I need a beating," Leon couldn't help but click his tongue inwardly.
Since he had his difficulties, I couldn't be too unsympathetic. The next time he ended up in my hands, I could slap him with a sympathetic look!
"Hmm, hold on a second!"
After pondering over how to deal with his nominal brother-in-law in the future, Leon carefully considered Senior Emma's words and found something didn't seem right, prompting him to voice his doubts,
"Shouldn't what the King of Nightmares makes people dream of be past regrets? But why did Joshua dream about future scenarios? Could it be that he simply had a nightmare?"
"I've considered that possibility too, but it's really low."
Emma shook her head and said,
"Simple dreams are very fragmented; they wouldn't be so smooth, continuous, and logically clear, nor could they cause such a huge impact on a person's mental state.
Moreover, he already lost his memories about the princess. He doesn't even know who Veronica is, so how could he dream about her?"
Nodding in agreement with Senior Emma's judgment, Leon couldn't help but frown along with her.
"So what's going on? Could it be that even the Authority controlled by an existence as powerful as the King of Nightmares could make mistakes?"
"Yeah, I can't figure it out either."
Emma shook her head and said,
"I really have limited knowledge about dreams, souls, minds, and such, so I plan to go back and ask the Director to see if she has any insights... By the way, Leon, are you planning to come back to the Bureau with me, or go home first?"
"I'll go home first."
After glancing at the sky, Leon touched the photo in his pocket, then smiled and said,
"Today is Wednesday, and Bridge Public School lets out earlier. If I calculate the time right, Anna should have already picked up the two little ones from school, and I'll get home just in time.
As for Prince Joshua's dream, I just heard about the King of Nightmares today. Even if I go back, I won't be of any help. I'll just wait for Senior Emma... um... for you and the Director to figure things out, and let me know what I can do then."
"Alright, I won't see you off then."
Emma waved at the two steam carriages waiting by the roadside and paid the fare before Leon, then hesitated slightly after boarding the carriage and poked her head out to ask,
"Leon, do you remember that I once asked you for a favor?"
"I remember! Of course I remember!"
Hearing this, Leon, who was about to get on the carriage, hesitated slightly and then promised with a serious face,
"Senior Emma, you not only taught me a lot of the knowledge needed for work at the Purification Bureau, but you also saved my sister's life during that incident at the hospital! As long as it's within my power, just ask whatever you want!"
"Why are you calling me 'Senior' again..."
Blinking somewhat helplessly, Emma smiled and said,
"Since you say so, I won't stand on ceremony.
Next month is my daughter's birthday, and I... although I'm her mother, have seldom been by her side, so I don't know much about what children like.
Leon, you have three younger siblings, so you should know a bit more about this than I do. Could you spare a day to help my daughter have a birthday with no regrets?"
You spoke so seriously, but it turns out just to spend a birthday with your daughter? Was this what you wanted me to help with before?
Hearing Senior Emma's request, Leon couldn't help but pause slightly, but since he couldn't find a reason to refuse and didn't want to reject it, he thought a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Sure, what day exactly? I'll definitely be there!"
"The 6th! Next month, the 6th!"
Hearing Leon agree to her request, Emma couldn't help but smile happily and waved farewell to him, saying,
"On the 6th, at 8 a.m., I'll be waiting with Ellie under the big tree at the entrance of Treasure Flower Manor on Redwood Avenue. You must come then!"
"Alright! I'll definitely be there!"
Having made arrangements with Senior Emma and watched her leave, Leon boarded his carriage and took out his pocket notebook, noting down the event on the latest page.
1. Observe Senior Tom's soul state a few more times to see if it was influenced by the Aquarius Director (currently everything is normal)
2. Talk with the Director about my luck issues (Director has no solution, shelved)
3. Infiltrate the Scales Gold Sect meeting and upgrade the Holy Spirit Badge to Gold (uncertain time, about three weeks later)
4. Go home to give my hair, then ask Anna about the photo, and confirm her sexual orientation. If there's danger, seek help from the Director (it probably isn't about sexual orientation)
5. Investigate the princess incident (no clue for now, but it surely involves the Aquarius Director—damn Aquarius Director! Always has to meddle everywhere!)
6. Senior Emma's daughter's birthday (Next month, 6th, 8 a.m., under the redwood tree at the entrance of Treasure Flower Manor, named Ellie)]
Hmm... these were probably the most important.
After looking over these six items, Leon nodded in satisfaction, just about to put away his notebook, but remembered something and marked a big question mark on the last item with his charcoal pencil.
Prince Freckles just said that Senior Emma was the last person in the Bao Hua Family, but she still had a daughter. Was she secretly kept safe by the Director? Or did Prince Freckles make a mistake?
Moreover, the entire Bao Hua Family... Senior Emma's whole family was executed... And with a daughter to care for, no wonder she was so cautious and unwilling to take any risk, even with an Undying Body.
Oh, and! Even though I don't know what Senior Emma originally wanted my help with, it definitely wasn't just for her daughter's birthday. I better pay attention to this too!
"Bridge Street, number thirty-five."
While Leon was musing over Senior Emma's matters and absentmindedly doodling circles in his notebook with the charcoal pencil, the coachman in front reminded him.
"Sir, it's time to get off."
Snapping back to reality, Leon put away his notebook, opened the carriage door, and got off, looking towards Happiness Apartment.
"Snip snip!" "Snip snip!"
Seeing the big old man carrying large scissors, who suddenly popped out from the garden bushes and began gesturing at him, Leon couldn't help but twitch slightly at the corners of his mouth before giving the man a sincere thumbs-up.
Old man, you're truly reliable. I just got off the carriage, and you're already here waiting with scissors, truly dedicated to a full twenty-four-hour surveillance of me, huh?
However, just as Leon planned to bypass the big old man and find the curly-haired old lady to deal with him so he could go home to see his siblings, he unexpectedly saw two familiar little heads popping out of the bushes right behind him.
Seeing Leon standing outside, the two little ones couldn't help but gleefully tap their feet on the fence and enthusiastically wave.
And Melanie, who had changed into a pretty little dress, exclaimed excitedly,
"Big brother! Sister-in-law has already moved in! When will you bring her home to marry?"
Sister-in-law... the princess?
Hearing Melanie's words, Leon couldn't help but blink in confusion.
*Strange, how did they know about this? And also, when did the princess move in? Last I left, she was still at the Purification Bureau.*