I! Cleaner!

'What if all six watch hands started moving?'

The middle-aged man's body trembled uncontrollably after witnessing the wristwatch's six pointers violently spring up simultaneously, only to settle steadily at the far-right end of the dial.

'If the six pointers... then it's a painful past, a great future... destined to change the world!'

'For people like us... following them means a slim chance of survival... standing against them means certain death...'

'Don't do anything unnecessary! Stay as far away as you can!'

*The few words exchanged with the Aquarius Director during the day rapidly replayed in his mind countless times, until they were stripped down, leaving only a final piece of advice.*

Stay as far away as you can!

*The middle-aged man knew very well his own limitations; even possessing a rare abnormal ability, the Aquarius Director of the Purification Bureau was still an untouchable force for him.*

*Someone like that, someone even he wasn't willing to provoke, the best choice was to heed the advice and leave immediately upon discovery.*

But Young Baskin was, after all, "one of us," and might not necessarily conflict with him. Even during the day, he hadn't met the standard; he might have just completed his "shedding," perhaps not yet reaching a level that required immediate avoidance, and besides...

There really wasn't much time left for him and the Kingdom.

He glanced toward the northwest and saw the towering silhouette illuminated by countless lights, still guiding the approaching Sky Clippers, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

The scouts sent by the Crolock Kingdom should've already detected the Kingdom's special mineral deposits. If he couldn't destroy the Boarding Tower and kill those scouts carrying the mineral data, an invasion many times fiercer than six years ago would be inevitable!

And the thousand Rebel members in the valley, along with the weapons accumulated over these years, were his means to assault the Boarding Tower, kill the scouts, and thus secure the Kingdom's most critical card!

If he chose to withdraw immediately to avoid being implicated by Young Baskin, what could a lone person even do, despite knowing the future?

*Would he sacrifice all his remaining life span to deliver a message to Joshua about the future? By that wretched existence, even with knowledge of the future, what good would it do?*

Damn it! Why! Young Baskin! Why did you have to appear at this moment?

...

It worked! It actually worked!

Seeing all the pointers leap to the far right after swallowing Young Baskin's hair, the chubby uncle was overjoyed and looked excitedly at the Rebel leader, eager to seize the moment and speak a few good words for Young Baskin.

However, on the middle-aged man's face at this moment, there was no sign of joy. Instead, there was shock and a hint of struggling menace.

"Leader... sir?"

"Hmm?"

Snapped back to awareness by the chubby uncle's call, the middle-aged man's eyes cleared, and he once again displayed a friendly smile, gently patting the chubby uncle's shoulder and praising him,

"Very good! Owen, very good! Not only is Young Baskin's talent good, but you did well too! If it wasn't for you, I would have missed such a promising youngster!"

Upon seeing the middle-aged man return to normal, showering both him and Young Baskin with praise, the chubby uncle breathed a sigh of relief, his chubby red face revealing a simple smile.

"This is what I should do. Without your protection, most people in this valley would find it hard to live a normal life. Young Baskin surely thinks the same. Knowing he can help you, he should be very happy!"

"Haha, this time it's not just good news; once he gains a special ability, his burden will also increase significantly.

"Right, I'm planning to have a meeting to discuss our future actions. Bring him to see me directly tomorrow morning!"

"Yes, leader! I will definitely inform him by tomorrow!"

"Go on, go on."

With the middle-aged man smiling, the chubby uncle, still a bit tipsy, left with a joyous expression, staggering back toward his home.

But just reaching the end of the small path, out of the middle-aged man's sight, the chubby uncle, full of earlier joy, immediately stopped and slapped himself twice, then ran toward Young Baskin's house with gritted teeth!

Bad news!

*Although the leader quickly regained his composure, his initial expression was definitely not right! This test is more likely a curse than a blessing! Bringing Young Baskin's hair might have put the child in danger instead!*

"Bang!"

He kicked open the flimsy wooden door of Young Baskin's house, which was barred, and seeing Young Baskin at the table under an old oil lamp, drawing something, the chubby uncle, whom sweat had sobered, urged breathlessly,

"Quick! Pack your things! Something's wrong!"

Something's wrong?

*Without any change in expression, Leon quietly put away his hand-drawn map of the valley and somewhat puzzled, asked,*

"Uncle Owen... what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"

*How could I not be anxious? The leader might want to kill you!*

After quickly explaining the situation and his recent discovery, the sweaty-faced chubby uncle stomped his foot in frustration,

"Young Baskin! It seems that the more the needle moves on the dial, the worse it is. Before taking you tomorrow morning, the leader's expression was very off; he probably means harm!

"Damn it! It's all my fault! If I hadn't taken your hair to ask for another test, maybe nothing would have happened... Anyway, you have to go quickly! It might be too late if you delay any longer!"

So... you took my hair to test again? Did I just pluck out a whole bunch of dog fur for nothing?

*Recalling Young Ha's bald patch on its butt, Leon, unexpectedly betrayed, could only shake his head helplessly, giving up all hope in his dogshit luck.*

Fine, sudden misfortune or whatever, I've grown a bit used to it. Every time I plan to do something, unexpected events are almost certain.

"Uncle Owen, don't worry yet; maybe it's not as bad as you think."

After reassuring the chubby uncle for a bit, although the news indeed caught him off guard, Leon felt confident because of the Heart of Ambition to protect him. He calmly assessed the current situation, then asked,

"Then what about you? If I just leave now, what will you do? What about Aunt Fanny?"

"We can't leave."

On the way here, having already pondered over this issue, the chubby uncle replied with a face full of bitterness,

"Even if Fanny and I could get out, what about Nicole?"