Seeing the red-haired director seem ready to give up, Beverly couldn't help but glare and said,
"He's clearly talking nonsense! Besides him, there's no one else who could..."
'Stop it, it's useless.'
After giving her a look to stay calm, the red-haired director communicated mentally,
'I know you're unwilling, but our Purification Bureau is a relatively loose organization. Although the rules are very strict, the enforcement power is insufficient. Ultimately, whether we can drag Aquarius to read his memory isn't about who's right or wrong, but about how many people are willing to stand on our side.
Over the years, Aquarius has befriended many branch directors, and he has quite a few supporters. Previously, no one spoke out for him because Taurus His Excellency, who's about to be promoted, is on our side, and Aquarius's suspicion is indeed significant. They don't want to get burned.'
After glancing at the branch directors with varied expressions in the meeting hall, the red-haired director sneered,
'But now it's different. Although those with discerning eyes know Aquarius is likely talking nonsense, he indeed provided an explanation that can be justified. Among the other branch directors, those who value his ability to create anomalous objects are evidently more than those who care about the casualties he caused over the years.
Furthermore, Aquarius has met many people in the past two days and most likely privately promised numerous benefits. Faced with tangible interests, even if they know in their hearts that Aquarius most likely broke the rules, if a vote is initiated, there will indeed be quite a few standing on his side.'
'If we could take Aquarius down in one fell swoop, these people wouldn't say anything. But now that Aquarius has provided an excuse that can be justified, it's equivalent to giving them room to maneuver. Even if we persist, it will merely result in endless arguments.
As for the director, if his true form were here, he would most likely forcibly take down Aquarius to uphold the bureau's rules. But now, he's stranded on Old Soil and can't return. Rather than upholding the bureau's rules, he would prioritize the stability of the current situation.
Based on my understanding of him, the director will likely first step out to smooth things over to ensure there's no chaos in the bureau, record this matter, and deal with Aquarius when he returns... Let's endure this first. Regardless of what happens to Aquarius in the future, today we've indeed lost.'
"In my opinion... this matter needs careful consideration."
The subsequent development indeed didn't differ much from the red-haired director's prediction. After glancing at the expressions of the branch directors, the director, who had a good understanding of the situation, gave Aquarius a meaningful look and then took the initiative to smooth things over,
"'The duplicate' of Aquarius Director, though it caused many problems, ultimately aimed to prevent greater damage from the Twin Mirrored Lakes. The merits offset the demerits, so let's not mention stepping down.
However, although the Twelve Directors have the authority to handle abnormal events independently, they should report them when unable to resolve them. Those who conceal must be punished... Aquarius Director, do you have any objections?"
Hearing the Director of the Purification Bureau's words, Beverly couldn't help but clench her fists, glaring furiously at Aquarius Director on the opposite side.
Objections... what objections could he have? Compared to being forced to read memories and having a God Tier Brain-Eating Demon lick one's brain groove with its Tongue, this punishment was nothing!
"I have no objections."
After smiling at the Lion Bureau Director who was glaring at him, Aquarius Director slightly bowed to the hologram in the center,
"Your judgment is very appropriate, and also, please don't be too harsh on the branch directors.
Though their direct inquiry of me without knowing the truth was reckless, it wasn't entirely without reason, so they shouldn't be punished by the bureau, right?"
Leaning on past arrangements, Aquarius Director casually dismantled the foundation of the entire inquiry. After forcefully reversing black and white, he even seemingly generously interceded for the opposition, proposing to waive the punishment that was unlikely to happen in the first place.
Faced with this plea, which could be considered a top-level humiliation, except for the Gemini Sub-bureau Director remaining unmoved, the other five branch directors who stood out couldn't help but burst out in anger. Even the red-haired director squinted his eyes.
Unfortunately, while Olivia's mind was clear, her methods were slightly immature, giving Aquarius an opening.
After giving the red-haired director a regretful glance and to keep the peace, the Director of the Purification Bureau nodded,
"Alright, let's put this matter... uh... on hold."
Just as he was about to announce the end of the inquiry, allowing Aquarius Director to pass safely, the slate beside the Purification Bureau Director slightly trembled, revealing a row of wriggling strange symbols.
After rubbing the symbols with his fingers and interpreting their meaning, the Director of the Purification Bureau couldn't help but frown.
It was a complaint message delivered via Syllabic Stele, with ninety percent of the content complaining about the Virgin Branch cleaner's disregard for hierarchy and trespassing into the Royal Palace to assault the Prince, demanding punishment from the Purification Bureau.
However, after accusing the cleaner named Leon of repeated assaults, the prince who was beaten seemed to have been coerced, thus having to convey some messages to the headquarters on his behalf...
After interpreting all the symbols, the Director of the Purification Bureau suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed on Aquarius Director in the eleventh seat, asking almost word by word,
"Nathan... do you know this person?"
Noticing the subtle change in the director's expression, Aquarius Director's eyebrows slightly arched, then he nodded,
"I know, he's the leader of the rebels, and he seems to have had contact with another me."
"Yes, he had contact with 'another you'."
Emphasizing 'another you,' he repeated this phrase with ambiguous meaning and said, the Director of the Purification Bureau squinted slightly,
"Aquarius Director, during the end-of-year review you attended, a cleaner from the Virgin Branch successfully captured the rebel leader and obtained some interesting information.
After reading the message he conveyed, I believe these details could significantly help in capturing 'another you'. I wonder if you'd be willing to pitch in and gather the Twelve Star Palaces to shift Nathan and those two cleaners over here?"
So... did Nathan fail to escape and get caught by a Virgin Branch cleaner? And did he expose some unfavorable information about me?
After hearing the Purification Bureau Director's request, Aquarius Director couldn't help but frown, feeling that something seemed off.
To maximize protection for the dangerous items stored inside, apart from rejecting most anomalies, the core part of the Purification Bureau's headquarters was purposely placed on an asteroid more than seventy thousand kilometers from the surface, orbiting the world like the moon throughout the year.
Even the most advanced Sky Clipper from Croak, the City of Machinery, could only fly up to eight or nine thousand meters, and the highest unmanned probes wouldn't exceed 400 kilometers. Compared to the 70,000 km distance, it was insignificant.
Hence, it could be said that apart from the higher-ups of the Purification Bureau, who could use the Star Palace Shift, and the very few holding Special Anomalous Objects, no one could quickly reach here.
The only exception was to gather the twelve directors or branch directors of the Zodiac Branch Office, using the partial solar power patched together by the Zodiac Star Palace to forcibly reflect people up from 70,000 kilometers away via sunlight.
Even so, the people who came up could only stay for one day. When the Purification Bureau Headquarters rotated to the other side of the world, weakening the solar power's influence, they would instantaneously be expelled back by the headquarters' repulsive force...
So what exactly was written in the message just now? Enough to make the director propose gathering the twelve Star Palaces to bring people up here to confront me directly?"