In response to the Nightmare King’s cold and sharp questioning, the Aquarius Director chuckled with a carefree admission:
“Though I’ve defected from the Clearing Bureau now, I was once a director there.
After opposing you guys for so many years, letting you in this time feels a bit awkward, so I couldn’t help but sabotage you as a way to atone. Unfortunately, you saw through it.”
“It wasn’t entirely seen through.”
The blurry face faded from the small boat and returned to its original position. The gray mist soaked in pitch-black river water clung to the Nightmare King like a drenched cloak, clearly outlining its emaciated form.
After wringing out the gray robe soaked with countless nightmares, the Nightmare King extended its thin arm, adjusted the mirror-like crown on its head, and then looked down at the two people on the boat with an eerie voice: “I do admit I’m somewhat curious about the Level 3 Cleaner who forced you to cooperate with me. However, it’s absolutely impossible for you to kill me through him. In the Soulfall Black Abyss, I am indestructible. Even if all eleven remaining directors of your Clearing Bureau were here without you, they wouldn’t be able to kill me.”
“Hmm, good for you.”
With a noncommittal smile, the Aquarius Director said, “Enough chit-chat. Shouldn’t we start repairing my soul? Where should I sleep? On this boat?”
“As long as you can fall asleep, anywhere is fine. But…”
Glancing at the Aquarius Director, the Nightmare King tore off a piece of its robe and laid it flat on the black river beneath it. With a hint of mockery in its smile, it said, “For the best results, completely falling asleep and waking up intact in reality, it’s better to sleep on my robe… Will you come over?”
“Why not?”
To the surprise of the female journalist and the Nightmare King, the Aquarius Director actually stepped off the boat and walked towards the gray robe spread out on the river.
“No! It’s not allowed!”
Realizing he was serious, the female journalist urgently protested, “The Nightmare King’s robe is part of its body! If you sleep on its robe and wake up in reality, that robe will become part of you! Even if you’re not completely controlled, you’ll still be influenced by it!”
“Don’t worry, we’re partners!”
Under the silent gaze of the Nightmare King, the Aquarius Director lay down on the gray robe with extreme relaxation and smiled, saying, “My goal is to repair my soul, so naturally I want the best result. Since sleeping on its robe provides better effects, I might as well give it a try.”
“…”
Damn… No wonder you’re a director of the Clearing Bureau! Looking as if you left no backup plan, the Aquarius Director relaxed directly on my robe. The Nightmare King’s eyes hidden behind the gray mist lost their previous confidence, revealing a deep sense of caution.
The whole process of repairing the damaged soul through the exchange of dreams and reality is led by myself. Facing the delivered Aquarius Director, as the leader, I would naturally do some tricks.
The Aquarius Director obviously knew this. Understanding that being manipulated was unavoidable, they simply didn’t bother with any defense and directly opened their soul to let me act freely.
Without this, I probably would have secretly left some backdoors during the process of repairing his soul, creating flaws that could cause his soul to quickly collapse, using them to force him to pledge allegiance to me.
But now that he has willingly opened his soul and let me leave marks, these little tricks are unnecessary. Instead, to ensure the stability and usability of this “tool” belonging to me, I will put in extra effort to repair his soul more thoroughly.
And the reason why he lets me mess around inside his soul is probably only one… He’s sure I won’t survive and will definitely be completely wiped out by the Clearing Bureau!
After all, if I die while leaving those marks, whether or not my marks exist in his soul doesn’t matter anymore, right?
In an instant, thoughts raced. After roughly guessing the Aquarius Director’s intentions, the Entity couldn’t help but snort.
Its flesh loosely draped over its bones, its hand gripping the air, causing the gray robe under the Aquarius Director to suddenly flip over, wrapping him completely, sinking into the black river flowing with countless nightmares.
At the place where the Aquarius Director sank, a blood-red hazy dream slowly appeared on the night-sky-black river surface.
Faith, determination, death, repentance, wailing, doubt, collapse, madness… The intense emotions so pure that even the Nightmare King was startled directly boiled a large area of the black river.
Then, a much younger hand, smooth and tight without age spots, emerged from the blood-red dream, firmly grabbing onto the boiling river surface.
“Really nice.”
A young man in a blood-stained blue robe, with a face expression between crying and laughing, and a figure looking somewhat ethereal, climbed out of the blood-red dream. Under the complex gaze of the female journalist, he steadily boarded the boat.
“My body hasn’t felt this light for years.”
After moving his much younger body and looking at his slightly transparent hands, the Aquarius Director, now appearing to be just over forty, nodded very satisfied. Then, smiling, he said to the Entity: “Since you helped restore my youth, I’ll give you an extra piece of information… Based on my understanding of the Clearing Bureau, the Scorpio Division Director will likely be sent over.”
“What?!”
Hearing the Aquarius Director’s words, the Nightmare King’s gray mist surged violently, unable to suppress its anger: “Why didn’t you say this earlier? If two Yellow Path Directors join forces, even I might not be able to break through!”
“Don’t worry, his relationship with Blood-Haired Lady is bad. If he’s forcibly required to provide support, he won’t exert himself too much, making it easy to deal with.”
Sitting comfortably in the wooden boat and lightly tapping the boat’s tail, the Aquarius Director laughed and said, “They won’t act together; they will definitely move separately. At that time, send a few servants that look similar to trap him in a troublesome dream.
Given his character, as long as you make him understand that escaping from the dream requires a certain cost and may even be dangerous, he will obediently let you trap him.”
“…”
“One more thing before I go… Remember to bring the Soulfall Black Abyss into reality first before taking action against the Clearing Bureau members.”
Waving at the Entity, the Aquarius Director on the boat seriously said, “You must not die too early. If you get killed by Leon before I wake up in reality, I’d be quite troubled.”
“…”
Kill him! I’ll kill him as soon as I see him!
(End of Chapter)
