"'So... you want me to help you "steal" from him to see if we can pilfer that anomalous object called the "Beyond the Gate"?'
Returning to the bureau after completing the task and hearing Leon's request, Jerry hesitated as he looked at the middle-aged man tied up on the sofa in his office,
'This might be slightly difficult. It's not that it can't be done, but... we might be in a bit of danger...'
Facing Leon's somewhat puzzled expression, Jerry organized his thoughts and explained,
'My "Cunning Hand of Fate" has a very high hierarchy, but overall, it still falls within the realm of "human." To use the analogy of the "Leon Value" you summarized, it can effectively work on targets with a Leon Value below sixty points.
According to our director's estimates, sixty points in Leon Value is roughly the boundary between human and god. Once this line is crossed, intelligent life forms more resemble some kind of humanoid anomaly compared to humans. Not only can they resist part of the effects, but if the power gap is too large, they can trace back along the source of the anomalous effects.
And the Aquarius Director's Leon Value has surely exceeded sixty points. So, if that "Beyond the Gate" is truly from the Aquarius Director given to this person, then when I use the "Cunning Hand of Fate" on him, he'll most likely be able to locate us, and might come directly.'
So that's how it is...
*After listening to Jerry's explanation, Leon pondered for a moment, then said,*
'We're not afraid of alerting the Aquarius Director. Before leaving, the director promised Senior Emma and me that regardless of whether or not the questioning succeeds, he will definitely keep the Aquarius Director tied up at the main bureau, to facilitate our actions here.
We can't guarantee too much time, but for at least a week or two, even if he knows what we're doing, he definitely won't be able to come back... Jerry, what's your success rate of stealing the "Beyond the Gate"?'
'That, actually, is quite high.'
Jerry thought for a moment before responding,
'If I directly used it on the Aquarius Director, I reckon I could only steal a few fragments. But since this person's anomalous object was given by the Aquarius Director, an intermediary's in between, the "Cunning Hand of Fate" should still work normally.'
'Then let's steal it!'
After hearing Jerry's words, Leon weighed the pros and cons and the potential outcomes, then decisively made the call,
'Even though our director initiated the questioning, its success rate isn't actually high. He just wants to catch a slip-up by the Aquarius Director to force him to accept memory reading by the bureau.
If we can get the "Beyond the Gate" out as evidence and present it to the main bureau— even if the person who created this thing is the future Aquarius Director and not his current self— it would still be enough to trouble him immensely!'
*That's a valid point...*
*After hearing Leon's analysis, Jerry thought for a bit, and nodded in agreement.*
*If they could prove the future Aquarius Director dared to target the royal family, it would indirectly increase the suspicion that the current Aquarius Director is also breaking the rules, helping the director confirm his accusation of privately mass-producing anomalous objects.*
*As for offending the Aquarius Director over this...*
*The director had long since made an enemy of the Aquarius Director, and if it weren't for the director's protection over the years, his life wouldn't be nearly as comfortable as it is now. So both emotionally and rationally, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.*
*Moreover, with such hard evidence thrown into his face and with several directors and bureau chiefs surrounding him, even if the Aquarius Director had an Undying Body, he might be pummeled to death by those fierce individuals. And, really, what is there to fear from offending a director who was about to be dealt with?*
*Having dispelled his doubts through the discussion with Leon, Jerry first took a deep breath and flexed the fingers of his right hand. Then he extended his hand toward the midriff of the unconscious middle-aged Joshua, gently flicking at his heart.*
*As if the whole person turned into a clear lake, the fabric near mid-aged Joshua's heart slightly swayed, silently rippling out in concentric circles. And as the ripples quickly spread, two blurred shadows gradually emerged from beneath the waves.*
*Strange, why are there two things that impact his fate the most?*
Seeing the shadows under the lines of fate, Jerry couldn't help but frown slightly and turned to look at Leon.
"Leon, could you take a look, which of these two things seems more like the "Beyond the Gate" given to him by the Aquarius Director?"
Moving closer to Jerry, Leon tried to discern the two emerged shadows, and his brow furrowed as well.
The two colorless shadows, with the one on the left having an extremely irregular shape, and pulsating slightly as if sentient, were completely unrecognizable as any particular object.
The one on the right was slightly more regular, with a faintly discernible outline, resembling a hand with fingers slightly spread, but nothing else was visible.
Neither of these things seemed related to a "gate," did they?
"Can it be any clearer?"
Having a hard time determining what the two things were, Leon couldn't help but ask,
'At least have a more distinct outline, or perhaps some color, or can't you just take both?'
'That's not possible.'
Jerry shook his head at these words,
'This matter, after all, involves a director. Achieving this level is already extremely difficult. As for taking both, it's even less possible. The super-high hierarchy of "Cunning Hand of Fate" comes at the cost of the fewest possible actions. It's effective only on the first use for the same target.'
"Then, Senior, just pick one!"
Fully aware that his own luck was mostly terrible, Leon simply delegated the choice back, saying to Jerry,
'I have a vague notion of the "Beyond the Gate," but neither of these things seems quite a fit to me, so I can't tell which one is right. Just pick any one, Senior.
If you choose correctly, all the better, but if not, no matter; we can find a way to the main bureau and deliver this unconscious Joshua ourselves. The effect should be the same.'
"Alright, I'll make a selection and see."
*Thinking that Leon's argument made sense, Jerry nodded and accepted the responsibility of choosing. After contemplating the two shadows for a bit, perhaps finding the indistinct substance on the left somewhat unsettling, he reached toward the safer-looking "hand" on the right.*
When Jerry's hand touched the shadow of the hand, apart from Joshua, who was still unconscious, the other two in the room both shivered in unison.
Jerry was surprised to find that he seemed to actually grasp a living person's hand, even faintly perceiving that warm touch, while Leon, on the other hand, was shocked to feel as if his right hand had just been tugged by someone.