I! Cleaner!-Chapter 1044 - 962: Using One’s Head

Tsk... I fell into a trap!

Amidst the terrified gazes of countless Dream Realm Creatures, Leon, who had fought his way from the deepest part of Paradise Lost back to his own body, abruptly opened his eyes and glared at Prince Vernon, who was sneaking up on him.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah!"

Startled by Leon's slightly annoyed look, Prince Vernon couldn't help but shiver. He hurriedly explained:

"I didn't... I just saw you suddenly fall, so I wanted to help you up..."

"..."

"Sorry."

Looking at the middle-aged man before him with fear in his eyes, Leon fell momentarily silent. He apologized for his baseless anger, then gently comforted Queen Aerial, who was on the verge of tears, and reactivated the effect of the Soft Rice emblem.

Previously, he had said as much as he could, but the chief refused to disclose her plans. This indicated that what she intended to do was bound to be rather troublesome, possibly even quite "taboo."

It's likely that not only would the Zodiac Branch Office not approve of this, but the chief herself figured that Leon wouldn't be on her side. That's why she was desperately concealing, hiding, and using tricks to shake him off.

As for what exactly she was doing, to the point that she would stop at nothing, even risking standing against the Zodiac Branch Office... It could only be related to the Slaughter Blood Hair and the East Carleighwen Kingdom.

Given that the Ophidian director, taken down by the Zodiac Branch Office, could be resurrected, it's likely that the citizens of the East Carleighwen Kingdom, replaced by the Crimson Blood, were not completely "dead." They still had a chance of being successfully resurrected. This must be the tantalizing possibility that led the chief to "betray"!

"Um..."

Just as Leon started searching for the Ophidian director's trail, resolved to deal a heavy blow and capture him this time, Prince Vernon hesitated for a while before cautiously speaking:

"Sir Leon, may I ask you a question?"

A question for me?

Leon was slightly taken aback and then asked in confusion:

"What do you want to ask?"

"I want to ask about Olivia!"

Seeing that Leon did not outright refuse, Prince Vernon was overjoyed and quickly inquired:

"I don't know much about the Zodiac Branch Office, but she's considered high-ranking there... right?"

"Yes."

Leon nodded, replying while still searching for the Ophidian director's whereabouts:

"Although she is not a director, she is the chief of the Zodiac Branch Office and holds a high position there."

"So if she's caught colluding with that Ophidian director, what kind of consequences would she face due to her status in your Zodiac Branch Office?"

"Hard to say."

Leon pondered for a moment, then shook his head:

"It really depends on the impact. If I can stop her in time, the punishment will be light, but if... wait a minute."

After locking onto the position of the Ophidian director, Leon immediately paused his conversation with Prince Vernon, closed his eyes, and once again projected his consciousness.

Perceiving the strange feeling of being "watched" by everything, the Ophidian director, who had escaped outside of Lily City, couldn't help but feel a chill, quickly ducking into his shadow and moving into the only black-painted building in the outer city.

Is that... the Luminous Church?

Seeing the crowds lining up outside the church awaiting baptism, Leon attempted to control the building, finding that the place was unexpectedly unaffected. Inside, there were many people he couldn't "control," and he immediately understood.

Since he was currently consuming the Soft Rice of the Western Kalavin Kingdom, and although the Luminous Church was built in Lily City of the Western Kalavin Kingdom, the church itself belonged to the East Carleighwen Kingdom.

Thus, the church's building and people weren't directly subordinate to the Western Kalavin Kingdom, likely enjoying certain "extraterritorial rights," and were not part of the Soft Rice's influence.

After hiding in the church for a while and realizing not only was he not apprehended again or displaced, but the feeling of being globally watched also vanished, the Ophidian director couldn't help but feel elated.

Olivia's suggestion was indeed correct!

All his efforts to escape before had been futile under the grip of the Food God, but this blind escape somehow freed him from his grasp. This was truly...

Should I perhaps not try to think?

After a moment of self-doubt and silence, the Ophidian director vigorously shook his head to dispel the strange notion, then took out the compound eye of the Omnia Cicada and inspected the outside.

To his delight, the world displayed through the compound eye was still filled with the Food God's likeness, but within the boundaries of the Luminous Church, the Food God was absent.

The rusty and moss-covered dark blue threshold at the church's gate seemed to act as a barrier between the church and the outside, keeping the ubiquitous Food God outside Lily City... or perhaps it's not the threshold?

After looking at the long line of people waiting to enter the sanctuary for baptism, the Ophidian director astonishingly realized that most of the people waiting outside were "clean," with no trace of the Food God in their bodies.

This is intriguing.

Gazing at those untainted followers, and seeing their predominantly dark hair, a look of contemplation appeared in the Ophidian director's eyes.

The terrifying ability displayed by the Food God earlier, able to manipulate almost everything, was unreasonably overpowering. Even someone like him, with a Leon Value approaching seventy, was like a ragdoll in his hands, tossed wherever he pleased. This was certainly not normal!

According to his understanding of abnormal objects, no matter how powerful an abnormal object may be, it is impossible for its effects, consumption, and limitations to be all-encompassing. Either the effect isn't potent enough, the consumption too great, or it can only affect specific targets.

Given the way the Food God indulgently used the effects without scruple when activating the abnormal object, its consumption must be extremely low. Therefore, it can be presumed that the effect range of this abnormal object is extremely restricted.

As for the effect range...

Looking at the Luminous Church, which blocked the Food God, and the Luminous followers outside untainted by his influence, the corner of the Ophidian director's mouth slightly curved into a smug smile.

...

"Boom!"

A deafening roar resounded, momentarily puzzling Leon, who had been urging Prince Vernon to amend the law and confiscate the Luminous Church. He looked towards the church in astonishment.

"Food God!"

The tall church built of basalt rose from the ground. As Leon's countless faces exhibited surprised expressions, the Ophidian director, who had completely lost his human form and merged entirely into the Luminous Church, burst into laughter.

"I've seen through your secret! You've already lost!"