Aren't you... determined to do what you said?

Looking at the Sun Flame Crown on Leon's head, which originally belonged to the Cleaner Bureau Chief, everyone present, including the chief himself, was stunned. Then they all turned their heads in shock to look at the now dumbfounded chief.

Just now, Joan demanded the Cleaner Bureau Chief: "No coercion! No threats! No deception! No reckless actions!"

Feeling his character questioned, the chief angrily vowed that if he didn't follow the rules, he would step down immediately and let Aquarius take over as the next chief.

As soon as the chief's confident words had fallen, the crown, representing the chief's position, suddenly switched to Leon's head without hesitation.

Known ("Taurus demands A" + "Chief vows B") multiplied by "Chief's actions X on Old Soil," equals "Chief's vow leading to Leon's ascension C," plus the time difference between Old Soil and the present world, then...

What exactly did the chief do on Old Soil?

"It wasn't me! I'm innocent!"

Receiving Taurus's furious and shocked gaze, the Cleaner Bureau Chief snapped out of his shock, trembling all over, and quickly waved his hands:

"I spoke with genuine intent just now! Since the vote is out and none of you support my plan, what am I holding onto without help? I... wait!"

Realizing something seemed off, the Cleaner Bureau Chief touched the top of his head and then looked at Leon's, suddenly hissed sharply, and a complex expression flashed across his eyes.

Once shaken by the surprise of the chief position swapping spontaneously, including Leon, the other directors also began to react, their eyes subconsciously darting between Leon... and the two chief positions, all showing deep concern.

Although everyone is "face-to-face" communicating, the time and space on Old Soil are chaotic, and the chief's current time should be the "past" of the present world, currently on the way to the plane where Old Soil's remnant inhabitants reside.

If we move the time benchmark to the present world, then in your current time, the chief and Aries have likely already reached their destination and... possibly encountered some deadly dangers, which is why the chief would voluntarily step down, handing the crown symbolizing the chief's identity to Leon!

"No!"

After sorting out the logic behind the chief's crown, Scorpio Director couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"There's danger over there! You can't go!"

"It's useless."

The Cleaner Bureau Chief, who understood this point earlier, had calmed down by now. After a familiar glance at the crown on Leon's head, he shook his head with a complex expression and said:

"I voluntarily stepped down and handed over the crown, and in your timeline, this has already become an established fact, which cannot be changed now. Even if I turn back now, the result won't change."

"But if you continue forward, you are really likely to die..."

As he looked at the crown on Leon's head, Taurus Director furrowed his brows and reminded:

"The crown on Leon's head wasn't given by Star Palace, but directly 'designated' by you, the former chief! You should know what this means."

"It means I probably encountered a certain-death scenario, recognized that escape was impossible, so I temporarily appointed Aquarius as successor."

Finishing Taurus Director's judgment, the Cleaner Bureau Chief shook his head and said:

"But heading back is also useless, in a certain sense, the time on Old Soil is an irreversible fate.

Since the 'ending' is already set on your side, no matter if I move forward or backward, I will inevitably reach the same future, and even my choice to change the route might become the cause leading to the 'ending.' What I do now is no longer important.

"..."

Indeed, since the ending is already set, the choice itself has lost its meaning. If the chief continues forward, danger lies ahead, if he turns back, then danger will wait behind him.

What's more troubling is, with the chief's stubborn habit, allowing him to completely give up and voluntarily step down must mean a certain-death situation...

"Looks like my road is coming to an end!"

Looking at a group of directors who went silent, the Cleaner Bureau Chief, well aware of his stubborn nature and already knowing he's likely doomed, smiled regretfully:

"Too bad, been away from the present world for so many years, I originally wanted to take a look before dying, but now it seems too late... well... but this is also good, dying on the path fighting for humanity's future is a pretty decent ending for a Cleaner."

"..."

Watching the Cleaner Bureau Chief's carefree yet resigned expression, the directors fell silent again, surrounded by the dank, gloomy environment of the Sage's Cemetery, coupled with the skewed tombstones, creating a funeral-like, somber atmosphere.

"I think we can still struggle a bit more."

Looking at his newly acquired identity badge, Leon broke the dead silence and thoughtfully said:

"The 'result' we know now isn't the chief dying on Old Soil, but rather him facing a crisis at some future point, handing over the chief position to me... So if he transfers the position to me now without waiting for that future, would he still face a certain-death situation?"