"You’re really out of your mind..."
Unaware of what happened outside, Leon, who had entered the dog’s belly first, caught the female journalist falling from another esophagus and then, with a speechless expression, complained:
"It even said you could go back, so why didn’t you just go back obediently? What are you blindly meddling for? Wouldn’t it have been better to go back and call for reinforcements? At the very least, you could have sent a message back, told the director how I died, and let her avenge me.
Now look, you’ve poked your nose in and ended up with a buy-one-get-one-free deal, feeding the dog along with me. This mutt got a full belly for nothing!"
After listening to Leon’s complaint, the female journalist fell silent.
It seems... that’s indeed the case... but...
She touched the blood-red antler mark on her forehead, and her eyes dimmed slightly, visibly lowering in mood.
It felt like the reason she acted so impulsively, aside from feeling truly indebted to the other party, might also have something to do with this mark.
When caught by the Scarlet Hair Lady in the Dream Realm, she was genuinely prepared to use her life to repay the director’s nurturing, but the director had left a backup in her soul. If she ever wanted to leak secrets, her soul would immediately be sent into the Dream Realm.
He simply didn’t trust her... well... but it wasn’t wrong that he didn’t trust her; after all, she was indeed on the verge of letting out some information due to guilt. He let her down, but she also let him down.
"Alright, stop zoning out."
Seeing the female journalist almost having the words "mentally closed-off" written on her face, Leon shook his head speechlessly and urged:
"While we haven’t been fully digested yet, hurry up and think if there’s any way out!
The majority of my abnormal objects are ’physical,’ and they’re all with my body, so I can’t bring them over. Do you have any that can take effect with the soul and be carried along? If so, quickly report it, and I’ll see if we can hold on a bit longer!"
"You haven’t given up yet?"
Upon hearing Leon’s words, the female journalist raised her head, bewildered, and said:
"We’ve already been swallowed by the Canine Deity. Even if it’s the weakest True God level, its level of life is different from ours, and we can’t resist. Even if we get out, we still won’t be its match."
"But shouldn’t you at least try before giving up?"
Seeing the female journalist once again adopting a "ready to die" attitude, Leon couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on, and he had to forcefully persuade:
"Stay optimistic, we might not necessarily die just yet.
Think about it, if the director notices something unusual and checks on the situation, she will definitely find out our souls are missing, and as long as she comes looking, it’ll be this damned dog’s turn to suffer."
"Sorry, that’s unlikely."
The female journalist shook her head and said:
"[Slaughter Blood Hair] occupied too much of the Scarlet Hair Lady’s energy, and she’s not skilled in soul-related matters. Even if she notices our souls disappearing, she might not immediately link it to the Realm of the Dead, so she can’t come that quickly."
"Furthermore, even if there’s someone in your bureau who is very sensitive to matters of the soul and detects traces from the Realm of the Dead, they wouldn’t immediately attribute it to the Death Guard Dog and would instead directly enter the Realm of the Dead."
Pointing to the antler mark on her forehead, the female journalist explained with some dejection:
"This is the mark of power from [Flesh Female Deer], and anyone who can sense traces of the Realm of the Dead can also perceive this.
Even if the Scarlet Hair Lady manages to find the Realm of the Dead, she would first head to [Corpse Soil Black Forest] and [Burial Garment Mirror Lake] to directly demand people from [Flesh Female Deer], not lingering here at the Gate of the Deceased and Canine Deity Angsi, and certainly not thinking that we’ve already been eaten."
"Sorry, I know you’re unwilling, but in this situation, struggling just lacks meaning."
Seeing Leon, who had been completely silenced by her analysis, the female journalist said apologetically:
"If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have such a painful past, wouldn’t have ended up joining the Clean-up Bureau, and wouldn’t have been dragged into the Realm of the Dead. This is all my fault; I am the one who let you down."
Can’t we not bring up that ’painful past’? This is so awkward, okay...
Feeling uncomfortable by the female journalist’s overly sincere apology, Leon remained silent for a moment before finally speaking up:
"Think of it this way, since we’re all going to die anyway, rather than being digested little by little, why not take advantage of being not entirely dead yet and stir things up a bit! Even if it only means making this damn dog uncomfortable for a while, we shouldn’t just let it have it easy!"
Seeing Leon, who hadn’t given up even at this point and was contemplating a last stand, a hint of admiration flickered in the female journalist’s eyes, and she said:
"Most of my abnormal objects also have ’physical forms,’ and they were confiscated when caught by the Scarlet Hair Lady. Only two are exceptions, one of which is my hands."
Raising her hands, which glowed with a pure white light, the female journalist explained:
"This thing is called [Untouchable Hand], its ability is..."
"It can touch anything below the True God level, or in other words, it looks like it’s ’touching’ with hands but never makes substantial contact, always a tiny bit off, so it doesn’t cause harm no matter what is touched... right?"
"I shook hands with you before."
"And as soon as I touch an abnormal object, I can know relevant information... What’s the second one, the second abnormal object you brought?"
"The second abnormal object..."
Upon hearing this, the female journalist hesitated for a moment, then looked into Leon’s eyes and said:
"My name is Nicole... long time no see, do you still remember me?"
What’s with the ’long time no see.’ Are you crazy?
Upon hearing the female journalist’s question, Leon was taken aback, but before he could inquire, scattered fragments of memory quietly awakened from the depths of his mind.
Before he moved out of Old Soldier Alley, there seemed to be such a girl living next door, who took care of him for Anna when he was bedridden;
When he was working hard in the deep winter, breaking ice and pulling haul, fainted from the icy water and brought home with purple lips, Anna happened to be out buying bread, and it was also her who revived him and cooked him a hot soup;
And even later, when Anna suddenly became critically ill, he entrusted William and Melanie to her, took Anna to the hospital, and even borrowed some money from her to pay for the bed fee at Red Brick Road Hospital...
Wait! Isn’t there something off?