Lyon's hair turned white?!
Hearing Amienne's words, the red-haired director couldn't help but pause slightly. He quickly took the file and examined it carefully, and sure enough, he saw a small strand of white hair on Lyon's head.
What's going on?
The red-haired director frowned, touching the portrait on the file to confirm that there were no issues.
Although this portrait isn't a photograph, it's a mental image drawn by a 【Painting Idol】. It's a pattern directly extracted from the "painter's" memory, so there's absolutely no way it could be wrong.
So Lyon's hair... Could it be because of the soul that was pushed off the Edge of the Abyss? Because the soul's damage wasn't completely repaired, the body's "extremities," like hair, had problems due to a lack of soul "filling"?
"It shouldn't be a soul problem."
Amienne came closer to examine Lyon's portrait carefully and shook her head, denying the red-haired director's guess. Then, she pointed to the Taurus Director next to Lyon.
"I understand the human body quite well. If it were white hair caused by soul damage that prevented perfect control of the physical body, it would be like Taurus's hair—a somewhat withered, slightly gray-tinged silver-white.
But Lyon's hair hasn't lost its luster, nor is it withered and gray. It's a very vibrant white, not like the result of life force loss. It's more like... hmm... Have you ever seen puppies?"
"Puppies?"
"Like mixed-breed puppies."
After thinking for a moment, Amienne blinked and gave an example:
"Some breeds that are more... complex might be one color when they're born but another color when they grow up. I feel like Lyon's current state is a little like that."
"..."
You're really being subtle... but I think I understand what you mean.
Staring at the small strand of "highlighted" white hair on Lyon's forehead for a while, the red-haired director seemed to understand something. He closed his eyes slightly and nodded calmly.
"Maybe that's the case... Amienne, you'll definitely get a spot for this study trip to the Underworld. Is there anything else?"
"No."
For working people, the so-called "Is there anything else?" can basically be taken as "I have something to do; you can leave." Amienne naturally understood this, so she nodded and left the director's office.
After she left, the red-haired director reached to the side of his ear, lifted a strand of bright red hair, gently rubbed it between his fingers, and sighed softly.
Lyon... Lumen White, Abyss Black... I understand.
...
"Understood! Ahahaha! I understand!"
Just as Lyon passed through the icy gray mist outside the Gates of Hell and was once again bathed in the cold sunlight of the mortal world, the Black Goat's head suddenly popped out of his cuff, laughing with delight.
"From advocating for war with the Death Realm to sending parts of the soul deep into the Death Realm, then allowing the Cleansing Bureau and the Death Realm to suffer mutual losses, and specifically saving the Taurus Director who supports you the most... These are all part of your plan, right?"
"..."
"..."
"Who are you?"
"?!!!"
Unexpectedly, Lyon's first sentence was this. The Black Goat's mind went blank, and its eyes instantly turned red. Its nostrils suddenly dilated to the extreme, panting like bellows.
Seeing that the Black Goat was overheating so quickly, looking like it might explode on the spot, Lyon waved his hand and explained with a smile as he walked:
"Don't worry, I'm just kidding... You're just a little outdated, it's not like you accidentally died. How could I forget you?"
You better be!
Although it didn't know what "outdated" meant, seeing that Lyon was taking the initiative to ease the atmosphere, the Black Goat, whose defenses had been broken by a single sentence, could only pant heavily a few times before saying with a dark face:
"Lyon! You kid..."
"Hmm?"
"You..."
"Hmm?"
"Y-You..."
"Hmm."
Damn it!
Feeling Lyon's True God-level aura with an Imbuement Value as high as 60, the Black Goat, whose Imbuement Value was only 59 at its peak, swallowed its anger and changed its form of address. While cursing Lyon's ancestors in its heart, it tried its best to force a smile and asked tentatively:
"I've been following... you around for a while now, and I've made some guesses in my heart. If you don't mind, can you listen to my analysis and see if it makes sense?"
"Speak."
"..."
Facing Lyon, who had become arrogant after his rise and was now spitting out words one by one, the Black Goat couldn't help but grind its teeth in resentment. Then, with a face full of smiles, it probed:
"Your goal is to completely control the mortal world and make the entire world operate according to your will. However, the Cleansing Bureau, which is bent on maintaining the status quo, will never allow you to realize your wish, so the Cleansing Bureau has actually become the biggest obstacle in your path."
"Maybe."
What do you mean, maybe? Definitely!
After glancing at Lyon's indifferent expression, the Black Goat couldn't help but curl its lips. Then, it craned its neck and continued:
"But although the Cleansing Bureau is corrupt and muddle-headed, it still possesses humanity's most powerful force. It's not something that an ordinary person or even a country can contend with, and you haven't grown to the point where you can forcibly suppress all dissenters.
So you changed your path, using the Thrush Kingdom as your foundation, binding the various kingdoms to gain support, while also actively approaching the Cleansing Bureau to seek promotion, trying to become a high-level official and meddle in decision-making power."
"That's hard to say."
Still pretending!
After clicking its tongue in contempt in its heart, the Black Goat narrowed its eyes and said with certainty:
"After the events in the Death Realm, you immediately saw the opportunity. By encouraging the Cleansing Bureau to take the initiative to attack, you tricked them out of the blessing of the Star Palace and the protection of the Watchkeep Palace, making them fight the dead in the disadvantageous Death Realm.
In addition, because you were worried that the Death Realm would fear the Cleansing Bureau and choose to negotiate, you deliberately went down in advance, killed a Death Realm Overlord as cruelly as possible, and expressed your disgust and hostility towards the Death Realm, letting them understand the consequences of surrender and forcing them to join forces with the Cleansing Bureau in a life-or-death battle."
"Heh heh."
Hearing this, Lyon, who was focused on his journey, couldn't help but smile, saying with some helplessness:
"You really dare to think..."
What do you mean, I dare to think? I'm just thinking, but you're really doing it!
Not believing a single word of Lyon's words, the Black Goat recalled what it had seen recently and smacked its lips, then continued with a look of certainty:
"In short, after fighting the Death Realm, Director Capricorn took six Zodiac Directors to Mount Paradise and won't be back for a while. As for Director Sagittarius, who was very wary of you in the past and could influence Taurus's decisions, he was temporarily left at the bottom of the Edge of the Abyss.
The remaining Director Taurus trusts you to a very high degree, and without Director Sagittarius's reminders, he basically does whatever you say. Director Cancer doesn't have many thoughts and is nearing the end of his life, so in the future, he will be busy imparting secret techniques to the next director and won't have the energy to keep an eye on you.
So now the Cleansing Bureau only has your voice. You are currently the only brain of the Cleansing Bureau. Before Director Capricorn returns with the Zodiac Directors, no one can object to whatever you want to do.
The Death Realm, which the Cleansing Bureau almost completely destroyed to conquer, has become a branch of the Underworld in your hands. In addition, with the Thrush Kingdom's technology for replicating bodies, as long as you control these two things, you will also control the support of most Cleansers.
The current Cleansing Bureau is completely yours!"
