CHAPTER 518: CHAPTER 453: DON’T ASK—IT’S ALL AQUARIUS’S CONSPIRACY

Commentators News: "Outrageous! Numerous members suspected to be kidnapped, the police department accused of serious misconduct!"

Daily News: "Palace attacked! His Majesty frightened and resting, plans for the princess’s early accession"

Royal Mail News: "Duke of Lionheart loyally saves the day, His Majesty praises: Pillar of the nation, my worthy son-in-law"

Corner Alley News: "Two major military and political bills simultaneously passed, upper echelons of the Kingdom may face a major reshuffle"

The Sun News: "Exclusive Interview - Finance Minister: I blinked my eyes, click! The throne was gone!"

The Sun News: "Correction, coup is a rumor, former Finance Minister: I was just jealous for a moment, will publicly apologize soon"

"..."

After reading the headlines of newspapers accumulated during the few days he was on a business trip to the dream realm, the red-haired director couldn’t help but suspiciously pull open the drawer and glance at the calendar inside.

Good heavens... was I really gone for just a week? Not a month? How could so much have happened in these few days?

"Leon!"

Slamming the desk hard, the red-haired director squinted and shouted:

"About what happened these days, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?"

"Uh..."

Noticing that the director seemed genuinely a bit angry, Leon, standing at the desk, hesitated for a moment, then tentatively explained:

"These past few days... should be considered a good thing, right?

Director, look, an unknown organization took advantage of your absence to attack the palace intending to slaughter the royal family. This is a serious provocation against you, our Virgo branch, and even the entire Clean-up Bureau!

And I, representing our Virgo branch, arrived just in time, and after a tough battle, not only saved the royal family but also ensured no casualties throughout the process. The royal family even wrote a letter of thanks to the main bureau, isn’t that great?"

"Stop pretending with me!"

Amused by Leon’s answer, the red-haired director lowered his voice, gritting his teeth as he said:

"You might fool the main bureau with this, but not me!

Who exactly do the remaining abnormal entity holders among the rebels listen to, you know it very well yourself! If you ask me, you damn sure led them to kidnap parliament members first, and then led the group to attack the palace to help the princess seize the throne!

As for this so-called unknown organization, either you discovered their plot in advance but didn’t report it, or you knew nothing about their existence and just happened to run into them during your operation! Am I right?"

"..."

Good heavens, and you say you can’t read minds?

"Ahem, no, director, you really misunderstood."

Seeing the anger about to overflow from his own director’s pretty fox eyes, Leon couldn’t help but blink, then vigorously denied:

"They’re rebels, wanting them to take risks with me, of course, requires negotiation, and their condition was having me help kidnap the parliament members. If you don’t believe me, ask them, they truly demanded so.

The main issue was the shortage of staff in the bureau at the time, and the situation was incredibly urgent. On one side was the palace being attacked, with the royal family about to be killed, and on the other just kidnapping a few parliament members, I didn’t really have a choice, did I?"

"Then how did you know the royal family would have issues?"

"My ability is forced intelligence acquisition, obtained from those influenced by my ability."

"And how do you explain leading people to attack the palace?"

"No choice, that thing’s ability controls those in the Kingdom with lower status than herself, only rebels could avoid being controlled by her."

"What about the abnormal entity that released the ability?"

"It was silenced by the other side."

"The remains?"

"Just ashes left, I have them in a can, if the bureau wants to see, they can take it anytime."

"The princess and the old King over there..."

"Fatherly love, filial piety, very good relationship, any investigator can ask, ensuring the old king genuinely wants to abdicate."

"..."

Good heavens, you’re something else!

Having asked all the suspicious points he could think of, only to find them all tightly covered, the red-haired director couldn’t help but roll his eyes, then said with a bad mood:

"Fine, I’ll consider it my misjudgment! When the bureau’s investigator comes down, remember to say the same, otherwise, if you’re exposed, don’t come to me asking for help!"

"Sure thing~"

"And also!"

Seeing Leon slightly relax after finishing the account, the red-haired director frowned and couldn’t help but remind:

"Make sure this doesn’t happen again! You were purely lucky this time! If you hadn’t encountered that abnormal entity, or if it was beyond your ability to handle, what would you do then?"

"If it was unsolvable, I would instantly come back to call for help or find the things you left, director. I have a double Undying Body; I could probably still survive. As for if I hadn’t encountered the abnormal entity this time..."

Realizing that his words could deceive the main bureau but not the director, Leon thought for a moment, then admitted frankly:

"Then I wouldn’t act, would I? It was the rebels kidnapping parliament members and attacking the royal family; what does it have to do with me, a third-level Cleaner? Besides, there’s no need to worry about them being dealt with afterward either.

Once the princess takes power, she certainly won’t pursue it, and by regulations in the bureau, criminals who have committed serious offenses can join the Clean-up Bureau, working off their crimes by clearing abnormal entities, isn’t this a win-win?"

"You sure have thought it through."

With a somewhat dissatisfied hum, the red-haired director snorted and said:

"What if I report to the upper levels, or if someone in the main bureau insists on thoroughly investigating the abnormal entity holders among the rebels, what will you do then?"

"That would be an Aquarius conspiracy!"

Upon hearing the red-haired director’s question, Leon, who already had an excuse prepared before acting, immediately replied decisively:

"They didn’t get their abnormal entities from me; it was all orchestrated by Aquarius Director, so I can’t be blamed. Moreover, a few nights ago, Aquarius Director even attacked Prince Joshua’s dream, which I managed to fend off, and that has also been reported.

By linking these two matters, we have every reason to conclude that Aquarius Director, having regained power, has become increasingly cruel, even planning to target the royal family!

Fortunately, director, you were ahead of the game, sending me to infiltrate the rebels early, gaining the trust of many rebel members and guiding them onto the right path, bringing a number of talents to our bureau.

As for the palace attack, that was purely to lure Aquarius Director out, to rid the bureau of a major threat. However, Aquarius Director was too cunning, sensing something was amiss and not taking the bait."

"..."

Good heavens... If I’m willing to cooperate, this explanation might just barely make sense...

"And also."

Seeing the red-haired director seemingly lost in thought, Leon couldn’t resist continuing:

"As for whether the old king’s abdication will raise suspicion within the bureau, actually there’s no need to worry. After all, he surely won’t hold an abdication ceremony anytime soon; he definitely needs time to recuperate, so a coup is out of the question.

Moreover, he’s been vigorously supporting the princess’s reforms for over six years, the previous trend was always about the princess’s accession. How could it suddenly shift to the prince’s accession? Besides, Joshua couldn’t handle the king’s duties even if he wanted to, there’s clearly an issue!

Considering the fact that Aquarius Director infiltrated Joshua’s dreams, we have reasonable suspicion that Aquarius Director isn’t doing this for the first time, the old king might’ve been influenced by Aquarius Director without realizing it, so we’re merely righting the wrongs, it can’t be deemed as against the rules."

"..."

You truly are a talent! Even if the main bureau went insane and forcibly opened the headquarters’ lockdown, bringing out the abnormal entity capable of reversing time, it might not even convict you.

Based on your reasoning, no amount of evidence would matter; if asked, you could just profess your unwavering loyalty, whereas the true intentions behind your actions would only be known to your own internal worm.

"By the way, director."

Seeing the red-haired director’s mouth twitch slightly, appearing speechless, Leon cautiously opened his mouth to remind:

"Not only did we preemptively thwart Aquarius’ plot, but we also uncovered a nefarious organization plotting maliciously, completely neutralized a True God level abnormal entity, ensured the royal family members’ safety, and even recruited quite a few talents into the bureau.

So no matter how you look at it, we must firmly request commendations from the bureau!"