I! Cleaner!-Chapter 1046 - 964: The Scales

"Just wait a bit longer."

Unaware of the abnormality behind him, Leon was fully focused on dealing with the Serpent Board member. With his right arm loosely around Queen Aerial's waist, he said without turning his head:

"I haven't finished here yet, you first..."

As he spoke halfway, he seemed to notice something was wrong. Leon's back suddenly tensed, and he instinctively jerked his head around.

However, even though he reacted, it was ultimately a step too late. The bronze throat whistle from the red-haired director's mouth sounded first, and the dreamlike whistling threads trickled into Leon's ears, dragging his will into the dream realm for the second time.

It's done!

Watching Leon's eyes rapidly close in fury and surprise, "Prince Vernon" couldn't help but let out a long breath and promptly fell straight back.

In the astonished gaze of the old King and Queen Aerial, a delicate and curvaceous blurry silhouette emerged from Prince Vernon's body. It wavered slightly before solidifying into a face not entirely unfamiliar, one that had been seen before in portraits.

"Aunt..."

"Auntie..."

"Don't call me that! I've long been cast out from the royal family!"

After glaring at the little queen who wanted to call her auntie, the red-haired director tugged at the unconscious Leon, attempting to pry his hand off Queen Aerial's waist. Yet, even though Leon had lost consciousness, his arm was like an iron hoop on a wooden barrel, unyielding no matter how much she tugged.

Never mind...

Judging that using more force might injure Leon's arm, the red-haired director shook her head helplessly. Then, just as Leon's eyes flickered wildly, about to wake, she preemptively pried open his mouth and poured in a suspiciously colored potion.

"Cough..."

Having been sent there once before, Leon's second dream journey that day was surprisingly short. He rushed back the moment he landed, knowing the way by heart.

Spitting out the residual potion that tasted like pickled mustard greens, Leon looked at the red-haired director before him. Helpless and unable to move, he couldn't help but turn grim in expression.

"Reflective Mirror? The thing that can swap places with a reflection?"

"Yes~"

The light and shadows on the red-haired director were somewhat odd, with shadows slightly out of harmony with the surroundings. Now wearing a different outfit, she nodded and smiled:

"Although I left that mirror in the storeroom and didn't bring it along, I made sure to take a look in the storeroom before setting off, leaving behind this reflection, and then brought it along... don't move!"

After patiently answering Leon's question, the red-haired director moved in closer. She poured the remaining potion from the bottle into her palm and began smearing it on Leon's face.

"What is that stuff you're smearing on me?"

"A separation potion I got from Amien before coming here."

Shaking the suspicious little bottle in her hand, the red-haired director, looking quite pleased, smiled:

"The purpose of this thing is to prevent consciousness from controlling the body. It's useless to you in a normal state, but when your consciousness temporarily leaves your body, this will have an effect. After using up this bottle, it should keep your consciousness and body separated for two or three days."

"..."

Well, you've prepared better than I have!

Sniffing the suspicious liquid on his face that smelled like expired durian, Leon couldn't help but question with a dark expression:

"So you planned from the start to use this stuff against me?"

"I don't possess any prophetic anomalies, so how could I know what you'd fall for? These were just precautions I left on a whim."

The red-haired director shook her head, then smiled slightly at the others in the room. Both the old King and the other princesses were momentarily stunned by her radiant smile, and, one after another, followed in Prince Vernon's footsteps with their eyes losing focus and slumped to the floor.

After incapacitating everyone, the red-haired director turned back to Leon and said:

"I always knew you were a tough one, but I didn't expect you to be this tough... If I hadn't left this reflection on Vernon beforehand and moved my main body over when I sent you into the dream realm the first time, I might not have been able to subdue you."

"..."

Well, I should thank you for the compliment then!

Rolling his eyes at the red-haired director, Leon said irritably:

"Since you prepared a way to deal with me from the start, why didn't you act immediately and wait until now?"

"You're giving me too much credit. It's not that easy to deal with you..."

The red-haired director blinked at this and then, still looking a bit troubled, said:

"Your suspicion is off the charts. Ever since you got off the Sky Clipper, you've been maintaining the [Heart Lake] authority. Everyone who approaches you gets thoroughly checked. In the face of your precaution, I can't confidently subdue you.

Besides, winning against you and capturing you are two entirely different things, especially with all those bizarre trump cards of yours. I still haven't figured them all out. Who knows what kind of method you might use to escape if I act rashly?

I've thoroughly studied every mission report you've submitted. Countless people have demonstrated what happens when you escape after realizing something's wrong. How could I act without confidence?"

Pausing slightly, the red-haired director then smiled: