Swearing on the wine...

After listening to the red-haired director, Emma couldn't help but bite her lip slightly. Her chest heaved twice violently, then she slowly released her clenched fists.

If Olivia had sworn on her virtue, not a word could be trusted. But since she swore on wine, well, it might carry a bit of credibility.

"So... what kind of future did that damned crystal ball reveal?"

"A very important, very important future!"

Seeing her close friend seemed to be considering letting her off the hook, the red-haired director secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly explained:

"According to that nasty woman from the Pisces Branch, if Leon's marriage partner were Queen Veronica, he would gain an extremely significant special ability that could benefit the human race for hundreds, thousands, or even more years.

Because of restrictions, she couldn't go into specifics, but it appears to be a miraculous power that, once conditions are met, could turn deserts into oases, transform glaciers into fertile land, and turn ravines into thoroughfares, a future of blessing for all humankind."

"..."

Is it really that exaggerated?

Although she had some vague guesses in her heart, after hearing the red-haired director's extremely exaggerated description, Emma couldn't help but furrow her brow in doubt, and then she asked:

"Are you sure this is true?"

"It should be true."

Seeing Emma calming down, the red-haired director hurriedly raised her hand to swear an oath:

"The cost of revealing the future is great, that nasty woman from the Pisces Branch almost lost her life to share this information, she probably wouldn't lie about it.

If you don't believe it, think back to the previous joint task. Didn't she always stay out of sight? Actually, at that time, she had already half lost her life and was taken back to headquarters to recuperate."

But... even if it's for the future of the entire race, for the good of all humankind, you can't... you mustn't...

Actually, maybe you can...

After all, the importance on the scales seems to be on entirely different levels, and compared to the possible marriage between Leon and myself, it's clear that the welfare of all humankind is much more important.

The creamy white fists clenched and clenched again, the rosy lips bit and bit again. Finding herself speechless, the tall beauty finally sat back in her chair, a bit defeated, and asked:

"So, if I don't leave and end up with Leon... what will our future be like?"

"The future of your marriage..."

Seeing her close friend's extremely depressed emotions, the red-haired director hesitated for a moment, then replied helplessly:

"You'll die, both of you will die."

"?!!!"

Under Emma's wide-open eyes, the red-haired director lowered her voice and explained:

"The specific process is unclear, but if you marry Leon, there's a high probability that both of you will, due to certain matters, prematurely leave this world and enter the Realm of the Dead.

Although you won't actually die, Leon will linger at the entrance of the Realm of the Dead due to authority issues, while you will be left deeper inside, probably somewhere between the [Burial Garment Mirror Lake] and [Corpse Soil Black Forest], and it'll be many, many years before you can see each other again."

"How could this be..."

Upon hearing such a tragic result, the tall beauty couldn't help but lift her head, and with a slightly panicked expression, asked:

"Olivia! Are you lying to me again? Is everything you said really true?"

"Although I don't know the details, the outcome should be as I said."

"..."

Seeing her close friend looking somewhat lost and forlorn, the red-haired director sighed inwardly.

Honestly, yours isn't even the worst—mine clearly is, isn't it?

If something really happened between Leon and me, and I lose my mind at the last moment, wearing a wedding dress and stepping into the hall with him, I would be forced to give up drinking!

That would mean giving up alcohol!

Although you might not think it's all that tragic, for me, there's no more unacceptable outcome than that...

Recalling the miserable future she'd heard about if she married Leon, the red-haired director couldn't help but take a gulp of wine, and at that moment, the two close friends in the room both sighed over the same man.

...

In a short while, it was still the red-haired director, who loved wine more than men, who first shook off the gloomy mood. She took out a task sheet from the drawer and handed it to Emma opposite her, tentatively asking:

"Why don't... you do another task?"

"?!!!"

Looking at the task sheet pushed in front of her, Emma was slightly taken aback, then gazed incredulously at the red-haired director.

I just missed... because of a task... and you still want me to take on another one? Are you even human?! You... do you really think I wouldn't strangle you!!!

"Um... I mean, since you don't know how to face Leon right now, you might as well go out on a task to change your mood?"

Seeing her best friend's rising expression of anger, the red-haired director blinked her eyes and cautiously explained:

"You know, there have been major issues recently over at the Thousand Sails Maritime Country. Anyone entering the Moon-shielding Sea King Ship's range will 'die' completely after a day and night, and not even the board members can escape this rule.

So, the branch is under pressure and has issued a dire order to us directors, forcing us to conscript all the Cleaners with an Undying Body to investigate the situation at the Moon-shielding Sea.

Um...actually, Leon was also initially within the conscription range, but he seems to have a new task recently, and it looks like it's a designated one, so... Emma, are you going?"

"I..."

Upon hearing the red-haired director's inquiry, Emma couldn't help but recall the recent situation, remembering Leon's smile that was still close but started to maintain a subconscious distance, causing a sharp pain in her heart.

"I should go..."

Covering her chest with her hand, the tall beauty nodded slightly and then said, with somewhat lowered emotions:

"Olivia, could you take care of Ellie for me? Now... now things are different from before. It's not appropriate for Ellie to continue staying at Leon's place, please look after her for me!"

"Um... but I'm not very good at taking care of children."

Hearing Emma's words, the red-haired director's face stiffened slightly, then she gripped the bottle on the desk tightly, blinking her eyes and saying:

"My thought is, it's best for kids not to change their environment too often, so let's keep things separate. You and Leon didn't end up together, but that doesn't stop Ellie from staying at his place, right?"

"How could it not affect..."

"It could, it could!"

After giving two affirmative responses, the red-haired director watched Emma's expression and tentatively suggested:

"Why don't... you let Ellie call him godfather?"

"Ah?!"