CHAPTER 387: 0329 DIRECTOR’S CONSPIRACY_1

"What’s wrong?"

Seeing Leon standing in a daze after touching the Serpent Skin Scroll without saying a word for quite a while, the Red-haired Director couldn’t help but curiously ask,

"What ability does this serpent skin have exactly? Why did you fall silent after just one glance?"

"This serpent skin..."

Leon snapped back to reality, smacking his lips and speaking with a complicated look in his eyes,

"It’s called the [Unfair Snake Pact]. Once I write both my name and another person’s name on it, we can forcibly engage in a contract to exchange whatever we are currently holding, including any anomalous objects. If the value of the exchanged items is not completely equal, I’ll need to use my power to make up the difference."

*A forced exchange?*

After hearing Leon’s explanation, the Red-haired Director pondered for a moment, then asked with a puzzled expression,

"I can understand why it’s called a ’Snake Pact,’ given its power derives from the [Trading] authority of that snake and the [Contract] authority of the Goddess of Fortune. The name makes sense. But why is the prefix ’unfair’? Based on your description, the transaction process sounds quite fair, doesn’t it?"

"..."

*The transaction process is indeed fair at first glance, but considering the ’goods’ I have for the trade, it seems quite unfair...*

"Do you mean that the items you’ve crafted can also be used to exchange someone else’s anomalous objects?"

Directly interpreting the answer from Leon’s expression, the Red-haired Director asked, her eyes filled with a hint of surprise,

"Leon, how do you calculate the value of the items you’ve crafted? How many Leon Value anomalous objects can they exchange for?"

"The value of the anomalous objects I forged should be calculated according to the materials and the power they contain. The [Foot of Fitness] made from Baiyan Holy Spirit is 49, the [Demon Register] containing a Great Demon is 42, the [Wolf Witch Magic Potion Bottle] is 32, the [Noontime Mirror] is 41, and the [Album of Gastronomic Memory] is 51."

"..."

*So someone’s anomalous object with a Leon Value of thirty to fifty can be traded for by you just writing its name on the [Unfair Snake Pact], swapping it for these... leftovers... these anomalous items with quite subtle effects?*

"Then the name is indeed aptly chosen."

Nodding in considerable agreement, the Red-haired Director excitedly asked,

"How many? How many people can you sign a contract with at most? How many times can each person sign?"

"Well... although you can erase and rewrite it, there is only one contract, so it should only be signed once."

"Ah, I see..."

The Red-haired Director replied somewhat disappointedly,

"If there’s only one chance, it can’t be used as a routine measure and must be reserved as a key trump card. It’s a pity—if you were able to contract freely, just the two of us together might have been enough to capture the Aquarius Director outright with your forced exchange. It’s just too... ugh... wait a moment!"

Suddenly remembering something, the Red-haired Director’s expression turned a bit excited as she suggested,

"Isn’t the Goddess of Fortune interested in collaborating with you? Once she’s recovered from her injuries, arrange a meeting and let’s take another piece of her tail!"

"Huh?"

"What do you mean ’huh’? She not only ambushed you but nearly killed Senior Emma!"

Thinking of her unconscious best friend and those nearly completely emerald arms, the Red-haired Director’s charming fox-like eyes slightly narrowed, her tone tinged with a chill,

"The Scales Gold Sect... heh, if it weren’t for the business with Aquarius and Watcher’s Palace forcing Taurus His Excellency to seal himself at headquarters, I’d go file a report right now requesting permission for a joint operation with the Lion Bureau to take down the Goddess of Fortune directly!"

*Such a commanding presence, my Director~*

Observing the normally witty and sly Director, who always wore a smiling expression, become truly angry for once and reveal a commanding aura befitting the position of Director of Zodiac, Leon couldn’t help but give her a thumbs-up.

"Exactly! We definitely need to settle this score! Also, we can call Senior Emma to join us then, let her vent her anger too!"

"Of course!"

Casting an approving glance at Leon, who shared her determination for revenge, the Red-haired Director softened her gaze and said with a cheerful smile,

"After we settle the score, if we manage to create a second [Unfair Snake Pact], then it’s yours to use again. This object demands a great deal of intelligence, matching perfectly with your ability."

*A second one for me to use?*

Hearing the Red-haired Director’s promise, Leon blinked slightly, feeling somewhat touched,

"Director, I... "

"No need for thanks! Mainly because this item suits you best. Likely only you can collect so many ’special’ anomalous objects."

Making a hand gesture to say ’stop,’ the Red-haired Director somehow produced a small bottle from nowhere and said with a sly smile,

"If you really want to thank me, just fulfill my birthday wish as we agreed before, all right?"

"Sure!"

Hearing the Red-haired Director’s request, Leon, full of gratitude, nodded without hesitation, then curiously asked,

"Director, your second wish was to help me acquire suitable anomalous objects. What was your first wish? Is it difficult to achieve?"

"Not difficult at all, very simple."

Handing over the small bottle in her hand, the Red-haired Director said with a face full of anticipation,

"Just take a big sip of this and close your eyes!"

"???"

*What kind of strange wish is this?*

Glancing at the familiar small bottle in his hand and then at the Director, who was smiling like a little fox, Leon’s brows furrowed slightly. He unscrewed the bottle but didn’t immediately comply, instead cautiously sniffing it.

The scent of blackberry, cedar, spices, and blood orange—a complex and rich aroma, yet unmistakably fresh and invigorating—rushed into his nose, subtly spicy, flowing seamlessly and inextricably into his lungs.

It mixed with his breath, mingled with his blood, sending that mysterious fragrance flowing throughout his body, making Leon’s mind slightly light-headed, as if lying on a velvet cushion, invoking a sensation akin to a mild intoxication.

"..."

*Wine?*

Moreover, this taste... isn’t it the only bottle of ’Intoxicating Brew’ grade wine from the ones sent by the Taurus Director? Didn’t I store it in the warehouse on the first floor of the Virgo Bureau? How did it end up in your hands?

Shaking his head vigorously to dismiss the peculiar sense of intoxication, Leon asked, puzzled,

"Director? Isn’t this that bottle..."

"Oh, never mind what it is! Just drink a big sip already. I wouldn’t harm you!"

"..."

*While you may not intend to harm me, something’s clearly off with this request!*

Watching the Red-haired Director, full of expectation and urging him to drink, Leon’s eyes instinctively narrowed.

For a Director who loves wine to the point of obsession, seeing him drink the only bottle of good wine right before her eyes was akin to an act of provocation—something she surely wouldn’t tolerate.

Yet, this batch of wine had been enchanted by the Taurus Director with a Word Spirit secret technique, tasting like wine only in his mouth, while to others it tasted merely like... wait, only in his mouth?

Suddenly realizing a possibility, Leon looked at the Red-haired Director, whose eyes slightly evaded him, and exclaimed, full of shock,

"Director, are you planning... to snatch the wine directly from my mouth?"