"Thank you... It's all thanks to you."

After sincerely thanking Leon, the Aquarius Director, who was covered in cold sweat from the lingering fear, raised his hand to beckon the black-haired woman, who had "fainted" in the distance.

As the Aquarius Director made his gesture, the animal skin band on his sleeve fluttered slightly, and a team of stone rabbits appeared beneath the black-haired woman, bouncing along as they transported her over.

"This is one of the abnormal objects I often use."

Although eager to verify the "authenticity" of the black-haired woman, upon noticing Leon's curious gaze, the Aquarius Director still explained:

"Just like how Director Olivia is called the Scarlet Hair Lady and Director Edward is known as the Puppet Master, I also have my own nickname. Cleaners of my generation all call me the 'Mud Sculptor.'

Mud Sculptor... Is it because of the Mud Mason Hand? So, that thing is your core abnormal object?

Hearing this, Leon couldn't help but glance curiously at the Aquarius Director's hand.

The Mud Mason Hand's demonstrated effect was indeed powerful, almost instantly eliminating that disguised "false snow," but at its core, it's just an abnormal object with 8 points of Contamination Value. As a core abnormal object for a Zodiac Bureau director, it seemed somewhat lacking?

"Sorry, I want to go check it out first!"

If it were any other time, the Aquarius Director would have voluntarily explained his abilities, but with the female Cleaner's mother possibly still alive, he was eager to verify everything and really had no mood to say more.

Before the stone rabbits could make it over, the Aquarius Director quickly rushed over, trembling as he reached to touch the black-haired woman's cheek.

But just as his hand was about to touch the black-haired woman's face, the woman's dormant soul suddenly "layered," and another presence hidden deep within abruptly took over her dormant soul, seizing control of her body.

"Die!!!"

Although he hadn't heard the conversation between Leon and the Aquarius Director, the false snow, lurking deep within the black-haired woman's soul, vaguely understood through the Director's reactions that his plans had been seen through. Thus, he directly manipulated the woman's body, launching a desperate strike.

But in the face of the aged right hand of the Aquarius Director, the false snow's suddenly burgeoning Authority was as if made of mud, disintegrating before it could take effect. The multitude of unrealized illusions instantly collapsed into mush, turning into an unrecognizable mess.

And as the Aquarius Director's right hand descended, touching the black-haired woman's cheek, the false snow's soul scattered and spilled like rotten mud, issuing a confused and terrified scream before hastily withdrawing to the depths of the black-haired woman's soul.

It's real! It's truly real!

Ignoring the false snow's intentions altogether, the Aquarius Director, holding the black-haired woman's cheeks, gazed repeatedly, sensing that familiar vitality and soul rhythm, and couldn't help but shed old tears in overwhelming emotion.

His elder brother and his sister-in-law had both died early, and their son was almost raised by him. Shiphe, too, was an orphan he adopted. These two children were practically his offspring.

Yet, after that mission ten years ago, not only did he lose his "daughter," his "son" lost his wife, Melly and Harvey also lost their mother, leaving an unshakeable shadow over everyone's heart.

And since the day Harvey, holding the crying Melly, glared at him with resentment, all his remaining hopes in life shattered instantly, falling into a state of disarray, leaving behind nothing but pain.

But now all of this seems to have arrived at... No! Can't continue thinking this!

...

Feeling the violent trembling of his Heart Lake, the Aquarius Director couldn't help but take a deep breath, forcing himself not to think about these matters, then reached out to caress the black-haired woman's forehead, and called out hoarsely:

"Shiphe!"

"Wake up!"

"Look at me!"

However, no matter how he called, the black-haired woman remained with eyes tightly closed, lying straight in his arms without any response.

"She can't wake up!"

After taking a slight breath, the false snow, with half of its soul grabbed into mud, allocated part of its Will to control the black-haired woman's face, hatefully saying with eyes full of malice:

"Ten years ago, I devoured her whole; now she has completely become a part of me! No matter what you do, you can't separate her from me! She is me! I am her! As long as I don't allow it, she can never wake up!"

"?!"

Listening to the false snow's words, the Aquarius Director's anxious and hopeful expression froze instantly. Upon checking Shiphe's condition and finding it exactly as described, the light in his eyes dimmed rapidly.

Yes! Just like this! Just like this!

Seeing the Aquarius Director's transition from immense joy to deep sorrow, his Heart Lake trembling fiercely, the false snow couldn't help but be filled with ecstasy.

I haven't lost yet! I haven't lost yet!

Though paying the price of a damaged soul, the Heart Lake of the Aquarius Director is reaching the point of collapse! As long as I gently push him a little further, making him completely... what's the commotion?

Both the physical ears and the depths of the soul heard a familiar barking sound simultaneously, prompting the false snow to subconsciously tilt its head slightly and follow the sound in reality. It then discovered with extreme astonishment that a very familiar three-headed black dog had somehow appeared beside Leon.

Therefore, people should always strive to be a bit diligent; get things ready just in case, because who knows when they might come in handy?

After smiling at the false snow, whose eyes had suddenly widened, Leon controlled the three-headed black dog to vomit out the bald man harboring part of the false snow's Will, then supported his head with the forced Dreaming crown, gently touching the bald man's shiny forehead.

The crown once belonging to the King of Nightmares flickered. In a string of gray mirrored surfaces surrounding the jeweled top, the false snow's terrified face was simultaneously reflected.

Under the Nightmare Power erosion of "Leon," a Zodiac Bureau level power, the portion of the false snow's Will residing in the bald man had no resistance, being dragged into the deepest and darkest nightmare instantly.

"No! No, no!!!"

Simultaneously, the false snow controlling the black-haired woman's body let out only an empty cry before being dragged into the nightmare crafted for him by "Leon," along with the Will connecting to its origin.

Farewell!

Under the intense gaze of ecstatic joy of the Aquarius Director, Leon removed the slightly trembling mirrored crown atop his head and waved at the false snow snarling from the mirror, bidding a farewell.

Since the souls can't be separated, then don't separate them at all.

Though your souls are one, the Wills are not. As long as the part of the Will that belongs to you is dragged into an eternal nightmare, ensuring it never wakes up, what difference does it make if the soul is separated or not?

"No! You will regret it! You will definitely regret it! I haven't lost yet! I haven't lost yet!"

While the false snow in the mirrored crown roared as it was dragged away by countless gray misty hands, beginning to experience the endless nightmare, the black-haired woman in the Aquarius Director's arms trembled slightly, then opened her eyes in a daze.

"Ungh..."

"Shiphe! Shiphe... Shiphe!"

Seeing her truly awaken, not even bothering to thank Leon, the Aquarius Director, his old tears flowing down, seemed to lose his language ability, repeating her name over and over, unable to say anything else.

Though uncertain of the entanglements within the Aquarius Director's family, Leon still stepped back a bit, not interrupting, seeing his tearful, emotional face.

The old man probably had a hard time over the past ten years, now giving him some time to calm down is good too.

However, sadly, before the black-haired woman could speak, the large and small Molten Magma Pools within the earth's core rippled violently and then simultaneously hardened and parted.

A series of faces resembling human features but with smooth scales on their cheeks emerged from the hardened pools with expressions full of joy.

What made Leon's pupils contract was the face of the leading black-haired woman among these Earth seedlings entering the earth's core, which looked exactly the same as Shiphe in the Aquarius Director's arms!