The young man in a water-blue robe at the table seemed to notice something unusual and looked down at his left hand.
A golden ring imprinted with a red tongue pattern on the base of his left index finger silently blossomed into a myriad of cracks along the tongue’s tip, then suddenly split into two halves with a snap.
Gazing at the ring fragments on the table after it broke, the Aquarius Director fell into silence, a trace of reminiscence flickered in his eyes as he looked at the name engraved inside the ring.
He remembered finding the unconscious Nicole on a privateer ship of the Kingdom of Saio; back then, she was just a little girl not even as tall as the ship’s railing. Since she looked somewhat like his daughter in her childhood, he brought her back to the Bureau, which was about twenty years ago.
Hmph... although he’s lived over a hundred years, he was sold to traffickers at a very young age; other relatives either weren’t in contact much or died early. If truly counted, Nicole, whom he casually adopted, stayed by his side the longest, forming an unusually deep bond.
Unfortunately, this rare relationship seems to be coming to an end today.
After a heartfelt sigh, the Aquarius Director pocketed the ring fragments on the table, then looked up at the other phantoms around the table, smiled, and said:
"Sorry, there was a small issue... where were we?"
"We were still on the previous topic."
A woman across the long table, composed of some unknown creature’s bones and embodying a "villainous" style, wearing a black cat mask and topped with a pointed hat, spoke up:
"You mentioned that the Scarlet Hair Lady would be heading to the Dream Realm these days, the ’Executioner’ and the ’Dice Emperor’ are also tied up, unable to return soon; hence the Virgin Division is almost in an undefended state, so we agreed to let ’Number Three’ act in advance.
But as you also saw, ’Number Three,’ in whom we invested substantial resources, couldn’t hold out for even an hour before being settled by people from the Virgin Division... do you have anything to say about this?"
"I have nothing to say."
After smiling at the woman with the insinuating tone, the Aquarius Director glanced around before kindly reminding:
"I understand everyone is quite disappointed that this operation didn’t succeed, but let’s not forget that there was nothing wrong with my intel; all the elites from the Virgo Division were indeed diverted.
Even though I created the opportunity for this operation, and the intel about the Virgin Division being undefended was given by me, when someone suggested acting in advance, and everyone voted whether to activate Number Three, I was the first to vote against it."
"One opposing vote doesn’t prove anything."
As soon as the Aquarius Director finished speaking, another phantom, wearing a raven mask and somewhat ethereal, spoke up:
"Just the intel you provided was enough for most of us to make a judgment to act. Whether you voted for or against it wouldn’t have affected the result of the vote."
"So... you still suspect me?"
Glancing at the raven-masked phantom, the Aquarius Director said somewhat helplessly:
"Although my goals don’t entirely align with yours, and I’m not interested in the slaughter of the Thirteen Royal Families, ever since joining our ’Slaughter King Association,’ I’ve been diligently working.
If you count the Kingdom of Crolock, I’ve created a total of four great opportunities over these years, helping you control two of the Thirteen Royal Families, so in terms of ’performance,’ I seem to be first?"
"You have indeed done a lot, we acknowledge that."
After hearing the Aquarius Director’s words, the woman wearing the black cat mask spoke up:
"But to avoid alerting the Clean-up Bureau prematurely, we haven’t completely eradicated the corresponding royal families, leaving room for maneuver from the Bureau’s perspective, and given the irrationality of this operation’s failure, there’s still a possibility that you betrayed us."
"If you say so, there’s nothing I can do."
Spreading his hands helplessly, the Aquarius Director said:
"What you are trying to do, in this world, is something the vast majority don’t want to happen, akin to opposing the world’s will. Naturally, those who oppose the world will be despised by it. Unlucky incidents happen all the time; it’s perfectly normal.
In my opinion, the reason why your operation failed this time is because of sheer bad luck. If you can’t even accept this prospect and must find a traitor, then consider me the traitor!"
"We’re not trying to point fingers at a traitor, but there’s something suspicious about this whole incident."
After the Aquarius Director spoke, the raven-mask phantom spoke again with a somewhat unfriendly tone:
"You must know, although ’Number Three’ seems inconspicuous, it’s something we crafted from a demon god we captured, and countless people died to capture it; I’m still not healed from my injuries.
Given ’Number Three’s’ final stature, anyone below True God level, as long as they rank lower than it, couldn’t possibly defy its orders, yet it was dispatched by a mere third-level Cleaner under the circumstances of an undefended Virgin Division.
If it were you, how would you react to such an absurd outcome? Could you accept it?"
"Why wouldn’t I accept it?"
Hearing this, the Aquarius Director chuckled and pointed to himself, saying indifferently:
"My plan, prepared for nearly ninety years, was also foiled by that third-level Cleaner you speak of. As for how many of you died... haha, after being exposed by him, I was targeted by the Clean-up Bureau, and half of me is dead already!
I took the risk of perpetual enslavement to open my soul to the King of Nightmares to heal my soul injuries, all thanks to that ’mere’ person you spoke of! I’ve already accepted even more ridiculous outcomes than this."
"I’m telling you, when you lose, you must accept it!"
Seeing the raven-mask left speechless, the Aquarius Director solemnly rapped his knuckles on the table and emphasized:
"I had already stated the reason when I voted against it; despite the Virgin Division being undefended, that third-level Cleaner is very peculiar. If he hasn’t left the capital, there’s no guarantee your plan will succeed. I advised you to deal with him before proceeding.
At that time, I was doing my best to warn you, but what did you say? Hm?"
At this point, the Aquarius Director paused, then raised his voice slightly and exaggeratedly recited:
"Just a mere third-level Cleaner, no need to mind him!"
"Our resources are precious, and we’re not obliged to help you settle such meaningless personal vendettas."
"You’re overcautious; a third-level Cleaner is nothing compared to True God’s ’Number Three,’ like a worm!"
Looking around at the phantoms in masks who fell into silence, the Aquarius Director jubilantly questioned:
"What do you think now? Hm? Does anyone still think I was overcautious?"