I! Cleaner!-Chapter 979 - 898: Release

"It's me."

Faced with the inquiry of the third-generation old man, the six Overlords of the Dead Realm in the sky nodded in unison, as if they were one person, and then bowed slightly toward the third-generation director, speaking in a nearly impassive tone:

"I didn't expect after so long, you could still remember me."

"What's so hard about remembering you?"

The third-generation old man rolled his eyes at these words.

"I just died, I didn't get senile... Speaking of which, didn't you jump off a cliff? How come you're back now, and turned from one into six?"

"That's something I have to thank you for."

With a blank expression, the carver holding a small knife answered:

"Back then, out of respect for the First Deceased, you didn't kill me but placed a restriction on my soul, preventing me from stepping into the living world ever again. I could only stay in this boring world, serving you humans forever.

I didn't want to live through such endless torment, so I chose to jump off the Cliff of the End, wanting to end it all and put a total stop to that mind-numbing existence.

But unexpectedly, the restriction you left was unimaginably stronger than I thought. Even when my soul was shattered by the Cliff of the End, the remnants that fell to the bottom couldn't return to the living world and were forcefully confined to the Realm of the Dead, scattered within the power I once wielded.

And when the six death authorities I once held were inherited by new deceased souls, my will was divided into six, merging slowly with the inheritors of my powers, making me both the Six-faced Elephant Deer and the six Overlords of the Dead Realm who inherited its will."

"Ah... now I see."

Ignoring the hateful gaze of the six Overlords, the third-generation director scratched the side of his square head, nodded knowingly, and then analyzed with interest:

"I should have thought of it earlier. These six Overlords of Death have indeed each inherited a part of your power. Let me see...

The Faceless Man's Black and White Bridge must be your 'Reflecting Face', mirroring the memories of the deceased when they were alive; the Concealing Master's Corridor of the Deceased is probably 'Concealing Face', the part for funeral and burial; while Grandma Crow-eye is likely 'Guiding Face', still responsible for leading the deceased;

As for the remaining 'Judging', 'Purifying', and 'Commemorating' faces, they are precisely for engraving stones and judging life and death, digging springs and cleansing sins, commemorating plaques and recalling obstacles... Although they've changed quite a bit compared to you back then, upon closer examination, they indeed came from those things of yours.

Hmm... Six-faced Elephant Deer, no wonder, ha ha ha!"

After analyzing the situation of the six Overlords, the third-generation old man continued stirring his big pot, then said with a chuckle:

"I wonder why the Realm of the Dead has been so restless, even causing the First Deceased, who was like a clay man, to die. Turns out it was your handiwork... So what are your plans? Are you going to take revenge for back then?"

"..."

Faced with the third-generation old man's inquiry, the six Overlords... or rather, the divided Six-faced Elephant Deer remained silent for a while before collectively staring at the third-generation director below and speaking in varied tones:

"What if I say yes?"

"Then I'll just die."

"?!?!?!"

Under the stunned gaze of everyone, the third-generation director stopped stirring the strange substance forming in the pot, spread his hands with a rather helpless expression, and said:

"You are extremely powerful now, while I, the old man, have been dead for who knows how many years. All that's left is a bit of an obsession; what else can I do but wait to die?"

"Lord Taurus!"

Hearing this, Taurus, who was healing her hands on the side, couldn't help but interject:

"You don't have to say such things! Even if we have to fight to the death..."

"Don't fight, there's no point in fighting."

Cutting off Taurus, the third-generation old man raised his hand and pointed upward, saying with a sigh:

"These beings have risen to prominence, from the looks of them, they must have devoured the corpse the First Deceased left behind, absorbing the essence accumulated in the Realm of the Dead over the years, becoming even more powerful than the First Deceased at his peak.

Faced with such troublesome opponents, even if I were in my prime, winning would have been extremely taxing. You're too weak or too old or too sick to stand a chance against these creatures; just stay here obediently with me!"

"..."

Looking up at the silent Six-faced Elephant Deer, realizing that the third-generation director's assessment might be correct, Taurus couldn't help but feel a wrenching ache in her heart, yet she still gritted her teeth and said:

"We have no retreat left! It's a life-and-death struggle for us, so..."

"Even life-and-death struggles can be negotiated; it doesn't necessarily have to result in a fight, at least not immediately."

Placing a hand on Taurus's shoulder to signal her not to act rashly, the third-generation old man squinted at the Six-faced Elephant Deer above and insinuated:

"So what do you say? Are you more inclined to come down and take revenge, or would you rather first visit the living world?"

"Lord Third Generation?!!!"

Hearing the third-generation director's words, the Cleaners couldn't help but stir.

The Overlords of the Dead Realm are the embodiments of death itself, and no matter how they restrain their powers, their presence inevitably brings vast amounts of death. With the Six-faced Elephant Deer's current state, allowing it into the living world would result in an unimaginable toll in lives!

"Don't forget, this is the Realm of the Dead, their home turf."

Facing the angry and shocked glances from the directors and board, the third-generation director shrugged helplessly, pointing at the Six-faced Elephant Deer above, reminding them:

"This being has consumed all the other Overlords of the Dead Realm except itself, mastering at least ninety percent of the death authorities, equating to a fully-powered pillar god, with an astoundingly deep 'pocket', not only unafraid of depletion but able to infinitely regenerate.

You might technically be able to fight a bit, but as long as it remains in the Dead Realm, you can only delay and cannot win. Victory is utterly impossible, but if it goes to the living world, it would be like a fish out of water, severing its support from the Dead Realm's rules.

Moreover, the sun and the living in the real world will significantly weaken its power. Once in the living world, you can gain strength from the Star Palace, flipping the situation to make defeating it nearly effortless.

So, I'd say, instead of being at a bloody all-out fight here, it'd be better to let it have a stroll in the living world..."

"But that..."

"But that would surely lead to casualties, and many would die, but what other choice do you have?"

Continuing to stir the contents of the pot, the third-generation old man responded in a calm tone:

"If you don't let it into the living world, all of you, including myself, will die; none will be left. Without the Clearing Bureau's protection, even if by some miracle you win, surviving in the future will be more painful than death given the state of the living world.

But by letting it into the living world, although many will die, at worst even half the population might be lost, you can survive and in turn eliminate it. As for those who die..."

When he got to this point, the third-generation director paused slightly, then said expressionlessly:

"There will always be new humans born, right?"