"Since there is no more intelligence to share, let’s part ways for now."
When Prince Andre put on his mask and began seeking support from the Slaughter King Association, the Director of Scorpio, who was his target, nodded amiably at Leon and then extended his right hand to the stern-faced female reporter.
"In the next few days, I’d appreciate it if Miss Nicole could accompany me and assist our Scorpio Branch in continuing the investigation."
After hearing the words of the Scorpio Director, the female reporter, who was full of frustration, pursed her lips, although she stepped away from Leon’s side and stood next to the Scorpio Director, she ignored his extended hand.
The Scorpio Director, who was left hanging, did not get angry. He shrugged it off with a smile, and then, with a kind look, said to Leon:
"Leon, Alger is one of the elites of our Scorpio Branch. In terms of strength, he might be slightly inferior to your Virgin Branch’s Executioner Emma, but among all the Level 1 Cleaners in the bureau, he is quite reputable.
I believe with his strength, he should be able to protect you and Princess Feiliya. Also, if you wish to do anything, you might as well discuss it with him. His abilities might be of help to you."
Help me? I fear he’ll be monitoring me more than helping.
Understanding the Scorpio Director’s barely concealed intentions, Leon smiled, already knowing their plan, and extended his hand to the tall, slightly uneasy man standing before him, as if unaware of anything.
"I shall trouble you, Sir Alger."
"No trouble at all, nothing to worry about."
After a somewhat awkward smile, under the constant hints from the Scorpio Director, the clearly reluctant tall man had no choice but to muster up his courage and shake Leon’s extended right hand.
[Name: Skin Thread (Degeneration, Threads, Seizure)]
[Appearance: A complete set of normal male human skin, composed of countless decomposable threads, the male is approximately 190 cm in height and weighs around 230 pounds, seemingly has a long-standing habit of exercising, with smooth and strong muscle lines]
[Ability: Demon Disguise, Thread Skin, Skin Seizure]
[Cost: Requires peeling off one’s own original skin and completely replacing it with the ’Skin Thread’ to use it effortlessly]
[File: One of the works of the great demon "Dissolver" Angolophis, forming a set with similar abnormal objects like ’Blood Flesh Threads’, ’Bone Threads’, ’Nerve Threads’, ’Organ Threads’, displayed in Angolophis’ bedroom, often appreciated.
However, during a joint operation by the Scorpio Branch and the Aquarius Branch, the Dissolver Angolophis was captured and killed. This piece of artwork he was particularly fond of was partially neutralized and stored in the Scorpio Branch’s warehouse.
Years later, Alger Bentley, a Level 2 Cleaner from the Scorpio Branch, damaged severely in muscles, skin, and bones in a sacrificial capture by a prehistoric race and unable to restore them, applied for this abnormal object, and has used it till now...]
[Evaluation: Not outstanding in destructive power, but quite practical for an abnormal object, possibly delivering surprising effects if its thread strength is temporarily enhanced with body-strengthening abnormal objects.]
[Contamination Value: 5]
Turned entirely into threads? So this is what a "thread man" is.
Hmm... and it’s an abnormal object marked with a degeneration tag? Seems like my Devil’s Badge will be useful once again.
After reading the detailed information about the [Skin Thread], Leon’s eyes flashed with a look of understanding, and without saying anything more, the tall man who shook his hand felt a slight stiffness throughout his body, as if all the threads composing his body were about to escape him.
Is this the true weight of the former ’Demon Scholar’ and now ’Food God’ of the Clean-up Bureau?
Feeling the eerie premonition of his flesh seemingly being temporarily suspended, the thread-man Alger couldn’t help but shudder, then he obediently positioned himself beside Leon, observing the proprieties.
Even after a little thought, he took a step back, leaving a space behind Leon, feeling slightly better.
What are you doing, Alger?
Seeing Alger, who crossed his hands in front of his lower abdomen, unconsciously slouched his back, despite his over 1.9-meter height, resembling a meek little wife, the corners of the Scorpio Director’s mouth twitched twice, suddenly having a strange premonition of having entrusted the task to the wrong person.
Although he’s relatively strong among the Level 1 Cleaners, just a step behind elites like Executioner Emma and Dice King Tom, Alger truly lacks courage, making him responsible for "monitoring" Leon seems not the best choice.
It’s just... the others seem even less reliable, don’t they?
After glancing at the few others beside him, the Scorpio Director couldn’t help but inwardly sigh, regretting not bringing more people along.
For this investigation mission, he had only dispatched four cleaners: ’Thread Man’ Alger, ’Flower Fairy’ Ruben, ’Old Fisherman’ Frankie, and ’Smooth Path Ahead’ Mona.
Among them, Mona’s abilities are supportive, and only with her help could they navigate freely through the all-metal and concrete city without destroying walls, so it’s naturally impossible for her to monitor Leon.
Ruben and Frankie’s abilities are not bad, but he’ll still need them in the upcoming investigation, so only Alger could be sent for the task, now he just hopes Alger can be brave for once, making sure to step in and stop Leon if he tries to stir up trouble.
Hmm... perhaps I’m overthinking. After all, Leon has been kicked out of this mission; he shouldn’t have an opportunity to cause any commotion... right?
After a glance at Leon, who was smiling at him, the Scorpio Director, who had been smiling all along, suddenly felt a chill, unable to smile anymore, beginning to second-guess whether he had made the wrong decision, but then...
"Then I shall take my leave."
Unaware of the Scorpio Director’s inner hesitation, Leon signaled to the female reporter to avoid sulking, prioritizing task completion, and bid farewell to the Scorpio Director with a nod:
"I need to return to the embassy to pick up the people left there, so I won’t stay any longer. I wish you all the best for your investigation."
"Uh... thank you, I hope everything goes well on your side too."
Feeling inexplicably uneasy, though unable to pinpoint the issue, the Scorpio Director could only nod to Leon, watching him and Alger depart.
And once Leon and Alger were at a distance, the still stern-faced female reporter asked:
"Lord Edward, how do you plan to continue the investigation?"
As for the next step...
"Let’s check out the Gemini Branch first!"
After glancing at the [Restricted Fishing Net] containing two bundled Gemini Branch cleaners, the Scorpio Director suppressed his internal doubts for the time being, spoke with ardent eyes:
"Since royal family members have already been seized, our presence can’t be concealed.
And at this time, the most important thing to do is to first neutralize the opposition’s ability to resist. No matter what happens to the Crolock royal family, controlling those Gemini Branch cleaners can’t be wrong!"