Abyss Hundred Prisons... Alright.

Faced with Director Capricorn's persuasion, Leon hesitated slightly, then nodded.

Although he didn't quite agree with the Bureau's style of handling things, Leon still chose to heed the advice of a veteran director who had decades of experience.

Seeing him nod, Director Capricorn, who had been tense, couldn't help but relax a little and proactively asked:

"Aquarius, Jeanne needs ten more days to get everything ready. Are you planning to stay at headquarters these days, or do you want to return to the Virgin Subdivision?"

"I'll head back to the Virgin Subdivision."

Leon thought for a moment and replied:

"It's been more than half a month since I went to the Witch Kingdom. I'd like to go home and take a look first."

"Alright, then let me send you off."

Nodding to indicate he understood, Director Capricorn's blue eyes flickered slightly, giving off a faint white glow. The light beam belonging to the "Heavenly Path" in the Capricorn Palace flickered and then shifted position to land in front of Leon.

"I've adjusted the position."

Pointing at the white light beam with a raised hand, Director Capricorn said:

"All you need to do is walk inside, and you'll land right at the entrance of the Virgin Subdivision."

Wow, a global-level pinpoint teleportation? This is way too convenient!

Looking enviously at the light beam in front of him, Leon couldn't help but ask:

"Director Capricorn, how did you get this 'Heavenly Path'? Are there similar special objects in the Bureau?"

"Heh, this isn't just any special object."

Director Capricorn chuckled at the question, then explained:

"Strictly speaking, the 'Heavenly Path' is actually a special effect of the Heavenly Mountain dimension.

Just like entering the real world grants a corporeal body, and entering the Realm of the Dead leaves only the soul, the Heavenly Mountain also has its dimensional rules. It and the Abyss Hundred Prisons are two sides of the same coin, able to lock onto 'benevolent thoughts' and 'malevolent actions', calling to or enticing them.

During my years purifying the Heavenly Mountain, I intercepted a small portion of this 'calling' rule and changed the summoning drop-point from the foot of the Heavenly Mountain to myself, enabling me to forcibly summon anyone I perceive as having 'benevolent thoughts' directly to my side.

Sending you back to the Virgin Subdivision is just an inverse use of this ability."

"..."

Leon didn't quite grasp the technicalities, but it sounded impressive.

Nodding with a semblance of understanding, Leon bid farewell to Director Capricorn, then stepped into the range of the light beam. After a dizzying whirl, he found himself standing not in the Capricorn Palace's main hall but at the familiar entrance of the Virgin Subdivision.

"Hmm?"

Just as Leon landed, a window in the northeast corner of the first floor was suddenly pushed open, revealing a tousled red-haired head.

"I wondered who it was... turns out you're back."

Squinting to look him over, the red-haired director, who appeared rather sleepy, relaxed and smiled, waving to Leon at the entrance.

"Come on in, don't bother with the front door, just climb through the window!"

"Director."

Hearing that, Leon looked up at the dark night sky, figuring that Anna and the others were probably not awake yet, so instead of heading straight home, he turned towards the red-haired director's office and climbed in through the window.

"Leon."

Grabbing a bottle from the table and taking a swig, the silk-robed red-haired director plopped herself on the desk and, with some curiosity, asked:

"Why'd you come back by yourself? What about Lila and Joshua?"

"Director Capricorn summoned me to headquarters with the 'Heavenly Path'. After the board meeting, I returned. Lila and the others should still be on their way back."

"I see..."

The red-haired director nodded, taking another long swig, her expression slightly wistful as she looked up at Leon standing in front of her.

"Director... Heh... Though the Bureau's style has always promoted capability, your rise through the ranks is exceptionally fast. It's been less than half a year since you joined, and already I have to call you Director."

"Director is just a title. But you, Director..."

Glancing at the disheveled blanket on the sofa, Leon frowned at the bottle in the red-haired director's hand and couldn't help but ask:

"Were you sleeping? Why are you drinking right after waking up?"

"I didn't just wake up, it's just that I'm having a few more drinks to get ready for sleep... ugh..."

After downing the last of her drink, the red-haired director, a blush coloring her cheeks, gazed blearily at Leon, then teasingly said with a coy smile:

"Boy, being a director changes you, huh? Already starting to boss me around... Fancy a drink yourself?"

"..."

You boozy redhead...

As the red-haired director opened another bottle and offered it with a grin, Leon took it with some exasperation:

"Then you should get some sleep. I won't bother you anymore."

"Forget it, it's almost dawn already. What sleep?"

Checking the sky, now graying with the dawn light, the red-haired director popped a bottle of wine and lounged casually, crossing her legs on the desk as she cheerfully asked:

"So the board meeting was about the Realm of the Dead, right? Did you directors come to any conclusions?"

"I suppose we did."

After some thought, Leon replied:

"The Bureau plans to go to war with the Realm of the Dead."

"Hmm?!"

Startled mid-sip, the red-haired director coughed, spilling wine on the front of her white robe, creating a large, deep pink stain.

"Going directly to war with the Realm of the Dead? Those old-tim—er, those usually cautious folks chose decisiveness this time?"

"..."

Old-timers, right? You were going to say old-timers!

Watching the red-haired director as if she'd just encountered a scuttling cockroach, Leon nodded helplessly, confirming:

"Initially, the direction was to continue negotiations, but after Director Sagittarius laid out the Realm of the Dead's demands, I handed over those forty True God materials to Director Taurus to forge an object targeting the Overlords of the Dead Realm, so it pretty much passed with full support."

"I see..."

After hearing Leon's account, the red-haired director nodded knowingly:

"That sounds like the board meetings I know. If the Dead Realm's terms weren't too harsh and you hadn't made your intervention, the result would still have been continued talks. So who's going? Bet I'm left out again, huh."

"Correct."

Leon nodded:

"According to Director Taurus and others, this action will only mobilize the directors from the Zodiac Bureau, specifically Aries, Sagittarius... and the like. You, Director, must stay and watch over the 'Twelve Ant Nests' to ensure they're safe."

"I knew it..."

The red-haired director grumbled discontentedly, shifting her posture.

As she moved, the white of her nightgown and the paleness of her legs intertwined, their smoothness catching in the soft desk light more enchanting than the morning sky, drawing Leon's gaze involuntarily.

"Nice view?"

Seeing Leon's momentary distraction, the red-haired director's eyebrows twitched slightly. She dipped her finger into the spilled wine, tracing a seductive wine-red line along her soft thigh, suggestively proposing:

"How about a deal? Guard the house for me and I'll let you have a touch~"

"..."