CHAPTER 379: 0321 YORK DUO_1

"Ugh... you just love those useless little tricks!"

After glancing back at his coffin kicked into the distance, the square-headed old man, who aside from his inverted black and white eyes looked no different from a living human, grumbled with a displeased look on his face,

"I’ve already crawled out of the coffin and accepted the materials you brought. How could I crawl back without finishing the job?"

"Hmm hmm, you’re right."

The red-haired director, unfazed by the old man’s complaint, cheerfully pushed the square-headed old man to the forge, helped set up a big black iron pot, and then began discussing recent happenings.

"Third Generation, don’t underestimate Leon because he’s a rookie. He’s been with our branch for less than a year, but he’s already completed many dangerous tasks. He even uncovered the Aquarius Director’s plot..."

If the forging had already started... then I should make my move!

Glancing at the old man who was chatting with the director while tossing a snake tail and half a trident into the pot and stirring vigorously, Leon confirmed that he had fully captured his attention. Leon then stealthily took two steps back, grabbed the coffin on the ground, and dashed off!

...

Rewind time a bit.

"Leon, the person we’re about to meet is the second-best Anomalous Object Forge Master in the world and also the third director of the Purification Bureau."

Pointing to the somewhat dilapidated cemetery in the distance, the red-haired director, carrying a big shovel, warned with a serious expression,

"The Third Generation can mark a person’s soul just by their voice. Once he’s spoken to you, no matter where you are, you can’t escape his perception. So once we go in, no matter what he says to you, do not respond. If it gets too difficult, just smile and pretend you’re mute."

"Okay..."

Leon, also carrying a shovel, nodded and couldn’t help but ask,

"Director, it’s been a long time since the Third Generation Director of the Purification Bureau passed away, right? How can he still help us forge Anomalous Objects? Could you or I be like him after we die?"

"We certainly couldn’t, and neither could the Third Generation Director, in fact."

The red-haired director shook his head and said,

"The real Third Generation has long been dead. The situation of this Third Generation Director inside is somewhat similar to the ’Drama King’ you and the princess caught at the Central Cross Theater—it’s a manifestation of the Third Generation’s obsession with Abnormal Forging.

Back then, he learned the Taurus Secret Arts better than anyone else and was poised to become the new Taurus Director. But, due to his extraordinary talent, he was temporarily appointed as the Third Generation Director, narrowly missing his beloved Taurus Secret Arts, which left him regretful for life."

With a bang, the red-haired director kicked open the cemetery gate. While counting the locations of the graves, he continued narrating,

"You know, obsessions, regrets, those things are naturally prone to triggering anomalies. Plus, the Third Generation Himself was powerful, and his forging skills indeed top-notch, increasing the odds significantly.

In short, after the Third Generation died, his yearning for the Taurus Secret Arts and not becoming the best Anomalous Object Forge Master transformed into an anomaly capable of forging Anomalous Objects, preserving all his extraordinary forging skills."

"Of course, the bureau was delighted about the emergence of such a high-level Forge Master, but even though the Third Generation’s forging skills were superb, he never truly mastered Taurus Star Palace. Once a new Taurus Director appeared, he’d always remain the second-best Anomalous Object Forge Master.

No matter how much less adept each Taurus Director might be in forging, with the Taurus Star Palace’s support, they exceed him by a hair’s breadth, a competition he can never win... Leon, go dig up that grave. The Third Generation wasn’t buried here; he might have moved."

Pointing to the grave opposite him, the red-haired director switched to another grave and continued digging while saying,

"Initially, the Third Generation could endure it, but after several generations, his competitive nature couldn’t bear always being the second-best. Hence, he asked to be sent into the Realm of the Dead, claiming to be the best Forge Master among the dead.

And whenever a Taurus Director died, losing the soul supported by Taurus Star Palace, he’d challenge them in a forging skill contest to prove who the strongest Forge Master truly is.

However, the current Taurus Director chose ascension, preventing his soul from reaching the Realm of the Dead. He lost the chance to challenge a non-Taurus Palace-supported Taurus Excellency, to prove who the strongest Forge Master truly is. Frustrated, he buried himself in his coffin... Hmm, this should be it!"

After digging seven or eight graves, they finally found the coffin. The red-haired director nodded in satisfaction and called Leon over to help dig the coffin out from underground, which was tightly capped with a large iron pot.

"Remember, whatever you do, don’t talk to him."

After reiterating, the red-haired director tossed aside the shovel and pointed to the coffin covered by the big pot, saying,

"The forge is right next to the cemetery. I’ll help set up the pot. Once the Third Generation starts forging, you go and steal his coffin!"

"What?"

"Don’t what. Just touch it, and you’ll understand."

After pressing Leon’s hand on the coffin, the red-haired director explained,

"Although you can release Emma from the ’Dream of Verdant Green,’ she’s died over three hundred times in there, with many parts of her body turning into emerald, even her soul infused with some of the Dream of Verdant Green’s power.

While there are many Anomalous Objects that could help Emma, most of such caliber are stored at headquarters. Only the Third Generation’s coffin remains outside, so we have to steal his coffin."

"..."

Staring at the blackened pot and the dusty coffin before him, Leon hesitated and asked,

"Director, why do we have to steal his coffin? Can’t we just directly borrow it?"

"If he was willing to lend it, do you think I’d need to plan to steal it?"

Giving Leon an impatient look, the red-haired director urged,

"A living Third Generation would surely have lent us his coffin, but the deceased Third Generation, no matter how human-like he seems, is merely an obsession now. To him, being the strongest Forge Master is paramount.

Once someone else lays in that coffin, the maintained form of the dead would gradually interrupt, reverting him from the strongest Forge Master among the dead to the second strongest among the living, so he definitely wouldn’t lend it...

Oh well, just listen to me. I’ll find a way to distract him; you’re in charge of stealing his coffin. Then place Emma inside and seal it for a while. Once Emma’s injuries are healed, discreetly return the coffin, and everything will be fine! Got it?"