I! Cleaner!-Chapter 452 - 390: The Beginning

"Achoo!!!"

After sneezing loudly for the third time, Leon couldn’t help but vigorously rub his nose.

Strange, what’s going on today? Why is my nose always itchy?

After blowing his nose hard, he still felt uncomfortable. While waiting in the guest area of the dock, Leon frowned and looked at the tall chimneys lining both sides of the river. Just as he was about to find a tissue to blow his nose, someone lightly tapped him on the back.

"We meet again."

A tall, thin middle-aged man, holding a large suitcase in his right hand, quietly appeared behind Leon without even startling the black goat.

After looking at Leon’s face to confirm he hadn’t approached the wrong person, the tall, thin man lifted his hat slightly with his free left hand, smiled, and greeted:

"Sorry, the ferry was queued on the other side of the river, two hours later than the schedule... Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long?"

"No, Mr. Edward."

Looking at the "Scorpion Pushing a Dung Ball" emblem on the man’s suitcase, Leon, who had arrived two hours late as suggested by the red-haired director, nodded politely and honestly replied:

"I just arrived as well, haven’t waited long."

"Hehe, that’s good."

Not questioning why the red-haired director didn’t come to meet him personally, the tall, thin man who came to support them modestly started walking with the crowd towards the guest area’s exit. As he walked, he turned to Leon, who quickly caught up, and explained:

"I didn’t keep you waiting on purpose. Back when I was a Level 1 Cleaner, I went on a mission with the former director to clean up those past souls who escaped normal timelines. One careless moment, and a small piece of my soul was bitten off.

Since then, my timing’s been off, always two hours behind everyone else.

So, if there’s any situation and you need me to arrive on time, you must account for a two-hour buffer when informing me of the time. If you want to meet at eight, you have to tell me six, otherwise, you’ll have to wait two hours."

"Understood."

Following closely behind, Leon nodded and handed over a pocket watch that had been adjusted in advance, saying:

"Before I came, the director already informed me and asked me to adjust the watch for you according to the capital’s time."

"Not bad, very considerate~"

Looking satisfied, the Scorpio Branch Director took the pocket watch, replaced the old one hanging on his lapel, and for some reason seemed very pleased, carefully observing Leon’s expression before smiling and saying:

"The watch is nice, and so are you.

Even though you are just a Level 3 Cleaner, knowing that facing the King of Nightmares means permanent enslavement upon failure, you still chose to stay and fight alongside Olivia.

Setting aside skills, the courage and boldness a cleaner needs are there, and I admire you... Want to join our Scorpio Branch like your predecessors did?"

"..."

The familiar recruitment offer again...

Looking at the tall, thin man extending another olive branch after only exchanging a few words, Leon couldn’t help but twitch his cheeks slightly.

On his last headquarters visit, this Scorpio Branch’s Director Edward had already tried to poach him in front of the red-haired director.

According to him, almost all the cleaners who left the Virgo Branch went to him, which was a major source of his conflict with his own director.

"Sorry, I don’t plan on switching jobs recently."

Slightly shaking his head, Leon didn’t embarrass him this time like last, but instead respectfully reminded:

"Also, when the hands on your watch reach around half past nine, it will be night here in the capital, which will coincide with the time when the Demonic Soul Abyss and reality start to overlap. Please be ready then."

"Hmm, I know."

Hearing Leon mention "business," the Scorpio Director’s smile slightly faded, and he adjusted his hat before holding up the pocket watch hanging from his lapel, glancing at the hands.

"A little over half an hour left... Have you heard about the arrangements post-Demonic Soul Abyss arrival? Did Olivia mention them?"

"Yes, she did."

Seeing the clasped finger unlocking the suitcase, understanding that he was indeed prepared, Leon felt slightly relieved and answered:

"The director and the three board members at headquarters have applied for support. When the Demonic Soul Abyss aligns with reality, the board members will relocate the headquarters to an appropriate place and project a quarter of the sun for three seconds, scorching the Dream Realm and Demonic Soul Abyss.

Once the sun burns a gap in the Dream Realm, the director will enter the Dream Realm and fully unleash [Slaughter Blood Hair] to intercept the Dream Realm creatures rushing with nightmares into reality, minimizing the impact of the King of Nightmares’ arrival. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

You, on the other hand, will primarily defend reality, hunt the Dream Realm creatures she misses, and find the King of Nightmares after arrival, tying it up as much as possible. I’ll inform the director to come over and assist you in intercepting the King of Nightmares."

"Ha, simple and straightforward plan... but it’s not bad. I wouldn’t want to venture into the Dream Realm with her either."

After hearing Leon’s explanation, the tall, slim man snorted dismissively and then looked sideways at Leon, asking with interest:

"And from the sound of it, you mainly stay by my side to relay messages to her?"

"Yes."

Slightly tilting his head to show the red hair wrapped around his shoulder, Leon cautiously replied:

"The director gave me a strand of [Slaughter Blood Hair]. If you successfully stop the King of Nightmares’ arrival, she will sense the aura here and come over directly to join you in ambushing the King of Nightmares."

"I see, then you better be careful."

After hearing Leon’s words, the pupil in the right eye socket of the tall, thin man, similar to Leon’s in its deep black, eerily moved twice, then quickly lost color, turning pure white like the eyeball.

Glaringly rolling his eyes at Leon, checking his body and soul, the tall, thin man couldn’t suppress a smile, saying:

"According to the bureau’s latest classification, a Level 3 Cleaner’s ’Leon Value’ ranges from 1-10 points, a Level 2 Cleaner’s from 11-30 points, and yours is around 7-8 points.

For a Level 3 Cleaner, your skill level is decent, but to go further upward, it’s insignificant. In front of the King of Nightmares, who exceeds 63 Leon Value, you’re no different from an ant on the roadside. Staying here is pointless."

"..."

"Heed my advice: give me Olivia’s hair, and go where you need to go."

Extending his right hand to Leon, the tall, thin man calmly stated:

"Considering you’ve only been dealing with anomalies for a few months and are in a high-speed transformation phase, at your current absorption rate, you could surpass 30 Leon Value in one to two years, and surpassing 31 is Level 1 Cleaner territory.

If you had no prospects, then death wouldn’t matter, but you’re still a talent with potential. Dying before fully developing would be a waste... Come on, hand over Olivia’s hair!"

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