I! Cleaner!

*So, does this mean I've been repaying kindness with vengeance?*

After hearing the Red-haired Director's words, Leon couldn't help but look a bit embarrassed.

If things were really like that, perhaps "Leon Laine" would have ceased to exist six years ago, and he himself wouldn't exist now.

So, even though that Leonard was a complete jerk, by disrupting the summoning ritual, he was, theoretically, indeed the savior of more than half of the Capital City's residents, including Leon himself.

By that calculation, he had really done something wrong, and he ought to thank him before killing him.

...

"Director,"

After inwardly thanking Leonard, Leon asked with slight hesitation in his eyes,

"By your guess, which one of the Overlords of the Dead Realm was trying to descend six years ago?"

"Why are you asking this?"

The Red-haired Director squinted his eyes upon hearing this, and asked warily,

"You're not planning to take on the Overlords of the Dead Realm like you did this time, are you?"

"How could I..."

Leon uttered speechlessly,

"Those are Overlords who've lived for who knows how many years in the Dead Realm. I'm just a little Third-Class Cleanser, how could I possibly have thoughts about such entities? I'm just asking to have a general idea."

"You'd better keep it that way!"

The Red-haired Director snorted at his words, then frowned and warned,

"If it's someone like the Goddess of Fortune, then eliminating them doesn't cause much of an issue, but the Overlords of the Dead Realm are different. Beings worthy of the title 'Overlord of an entire realm' provide indispensable help for the normal functioning of the world.

For example, the [Road of No Return], which guides dead souls back to the world, was created by 'the First Deceased' of the Dead Realm. It's due to this accomplishment that he became one of the Overlords of the Dead Realm.

Among the other Overlords, 'Grandma Crow-eye' created the Nest of Crows of Death Report, and the Mortician's Corridor for announcing death; 'Wailing Puppet' established the City of Regret and Ghostly Mire; 'Faceless Man' created the Black and White Bridge and..."

After briefly explaining the titles and achievements of several Overlords of the Dead Realm, the Red-haired Director said with a cold expression,

"As for the one who attempted to descend six years ago, it was likely the 'Beast of Flesh' among the Overlords of the Dead Realm. The locations where Emma stayed, such as [Burial Garment Mirror Lake], and the ones I took you through like [Corpse Soil Black Forest] and [Baigu Palace], were all created by it.

That... that Overlord of the Dead Realm is responsible for stripping the false flesh attire from the deceased after they come to terms with their deaths, allowing them to become pure, naked souls, significantly contributing to the return of the souls of the dead to the world.

So, we cannot truly eliminate it. Even if it had successfully descended six years ago and caused significant deaths in the Capital City, the Bureau could only force it back to the Dead Realm, and make it enter slumber; we couldn't actually kill it.

Otherwise, the three locations it created would quickly collapse, and before new corresponding rules are generated, a large number of dead souls would remain stuck on the Road of No Return, unable to return to the world, causing chaos in the operations of the Dead Realm."

*So, I can't avenge Senior Emma then?*

Leon asked a bit unwillingly upon hearing this,

"If a large number of dead souls are stranded, what would happen?"

"The problem would be severe."

The Red-haired Director sighed and said,

"When the Third Generation Director was still alive, the Bureau once eliminated an Overlord of the Dead Realm, which caused the Oblivion Spirit Valley, responsible for erasing the excess intelligence of the dead, to collapse. Consequently, a large number of souls were stuck in front of the City of Regret.

For the following fifteen years, even without a large-scale war, the number of new souls born worldwide dropped by about one-twentieth, without even considering the further decreasing trend.

With no other choice, the Bureau had to station a large number of Cleaners permanently in the Dead Realm, burying those overly intelligent souls to let them decompose unconsciously, until new rules were formed... That place became known as the Sage's Cemetery, and the coffin of the Third Generation Director is buried there."

"..."

*What a mess... So you really did it once, huh?*

Listening to the Red-haired Director recount the mess the Purification Bureau got into in the past, Leon couldn't help but hold his forehead, lamenting how this world felt like a shoddy troupe, and that every seemingly absurd "regulation" probably meant a huge accident had occurred behind it once...

"So now you understand why I didn't want to tell Emma the truth, right?"

The Red-haired Director said helplessly,

"I understand how you feel, but many things in this world are like this, destined never to have a perfect ending. For Emma, perhaps this is the best outcome now.

Sigh... Anyway, if you're really determined to have something happen with Emma, I definitely won't stop you. But the situation with her and Ellie is really too special, and you have to be mentally prepared.

Especially Ellie, I suspect she was the chosen vessel for the Beast of Flesh to descend into back then. Although the descent ritual was interrupted, once she recovers her body, even if that Beast can't descend through her, it might seize the opportunity to do something.

These damned guys never end, you finish one and another comes up the very next moment. If you're even slightly negligent, they'll sneak into the house like rats and wreck havoc, it's just exasperating... Oh right, I'm planning to grab a drink after work, you in?"

"Huh?"

Still pondering with a solemn expression, Leon was caught off guard by the Director's abrupt shift in topic, and upon realizing what she was talking about, his face fell instantly, and he shook his head without hesitation,

"No way! I've quit drinking! Besides, Director, you should also drink less, don't you remember what you promised Taurus His Excellency?"

"Tsk... no fun!"

The kind invitation to relax was immediately met with Leon's stern refusal along with a serious reminder, causing the Red-haired Director to purse her lips,

"Then I'll go by myself!

Really... I've been down there squatting for several days, even had a big fight with Aquarius, wouldn't you call that hard work? I just want to have a little relaxation, is that too much?"

"It's not about not relaxing... but drinking really causes trouble!"

Still preoccupied with the Beast of Flesh's conspiracy, Leon couldn't help but remind her,

"When you're sober, your abilities are unquestionably impeccable, but when you're drunk, you're utterly full of flaws. If someone were to invade while you're passed out..."

"Then here comes the question, I am indeed easy to handle when passed out drunk, but how would they know if I'm drunk or not?"

"?"

The Red-haired Director, already walking to the door, turned back and said with a sly smile,

"Remember, when someone has a weakness that everyone knows about, you better be careful."

Giving Leon a meaningful look, she continued with a smile as Leon watched, somewhat surprised,

"An individual who is flawless at all times cannot remain vigilant at all times, even if they're careful, there's always a chance of slipping up.

But someone who is flawless when sober and full of faults when drunk... any sane adversary will choose to make their move when she's drunk... Do you get what I'm saying?"

"..."

*So, that means just guarding carefully when drunk and being slightly more relaxed usually? And... are you perhaps not actually drunk every time? Mostly fishing all along?*

Seeing Leon, with eyes slightly widened in disbelief, the Red-haired Director couldn't help but smile proudly and blink her charming fox-like eyes.

"Learn from this, Little Lyon~

Though you have good talent, when it comes to mind games with your opponents, you are still too green, indeed~"