I! Cleaner!

"..."

In this Atifie 00's calculation, does Andre Prince still have a seventy percent chance of winning?

After glancing at Atifie 00, who was speaking through the Cleaner's head, it was hard to tell if it was true or just boasting. Leon pondered slightly, then squinted and said:

"Let's assume everything you're saying is true. Then, since you and Andre Prince aren't on the same page and don't want him to win, how do you plan on helping us? Will you turn against him as soon as I charge into the Number One Research Zone?"

"That's impossible~"

The sixth Cleaner's head shook and said:

"During the Soul Code experiment, to gain Fein's support, I had to add a top-priority command to the underlying soul code of all 'Atifie', requiring all soul code receptors not to defy the commands of the 'Scepter of Time Division' holder."

"Scepter of Time Division?"

"The Scepter of Time Division is a pair of abnormal objects passed down in our Crolock Kingdom, possessing the unique ability to confuse time perception."

Atifie 00 explained:

"The person chosen by the Scepter of Time will have their one hour feel as short as a minute, while the person chosen by the Scepter of Division will have their one minute feel as long as an hour."

"Time-based abnormal object?!"

"That's not what it means. For example, the Scepter of Time held by every King only makes one hour 'seem like' a minute, and doesn't actually turn one hour into a minute.

Simply put, the Scepter of Time Division confuses time perception, increasing personal reaction speed sixty times over and locking onto opponents with that sixtyfold response, reducing their reaction speed to one-sixtieth of what it originally was, but it can't truly manipulate time."

Even if it's not a time-based abnormal object, isn't that still insane?

Imagining the consequences of his reaction speed slowing sixty times while his opponent's reaction speed increased sixty times, not only did three second-level Cleaners' hearts skip a beat, but even Leon couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Sixty times sixty equals a staggering three-thousand-six-hundred-fold difference in reaction speed. If speed could match reaction, it could let a common ant catch up to a high-speed train.

No wonder Atifie 00 said Andre's odds were still seventy percent. With such a monstrous abnormal object in hand, even thirty percent winning odds seem generously given.

"Rest assured, the Scepter of Time Division isn't that formidable."

Seeing Leon's silence and seemingly worried about losing the confidence to confront Andre, the seventh Cleaner's head quickly comforted:

"These two scepters can only be used by members of the Crolock royal family, and they consume a lot of energy, approximately one Leon Value per minute of effect.

If someone with one Leon Value uses it, it can only make someone's one minute into fifty-nine seconds, with an amplifying effect of merely one-sixtieth. Even someone with ten Leon Values using it can only increase their reaction speed by ten percent."

After listening to Atifie 00, Leon hesitated slightly, then squinted his eyes.

Though that's true, if this falls into the hands of someone with thirty Contamination Values, it can widen the reaction speed gap fourfold. If it crosses the difference between man and god, a Cleaner with sixty Contamination Values can still produce a three-thousand-six-hundred-fold enemy reaction speed difference.

So, no matter how you view it, this is a terrifying "late-stage divine artifact"!

After noting down information about the [Scepter of Time Division], Leon frowned deeply and said:

"Why are you telling us such important information? Aren't you afraid of being shut down for betraying Andre?"

"It's no problem~ this information isn't important~"

Atifie 00 smiled gleefully and said:

"Andre is not a Cleaner and lacks the Cleaners' unique Leon Values, so the Scepter of Time Division in his hands has no effect, acting only as two tokens to control me.

Also, because these two scepters have the highest authority over all 'Atifie', he can't hand them to others either. Moreover, only the recognized royal family members can use them, and the royal family has long been killed by him, so he can't give them if he wanted to."

I see.

Leon nodded slightly and continued questioning:

"So back to the previous question, how do you plan on helping us deal with Andre?"

"I've already mentioned this before; I won't help you deal with Andre."

Atifie 00 blinked and said:

"Currently, his odds of winning are higher, so I'm just hedging my bets, selling you a favor just in case~"

Your fence-sitting is rather blatant...

With a somewhat speechless shake of the head, Leon asked:

"So what are you planning to sell me?"

"The whereabouts of your captured companion, is that enough?"

The eighth Cleaner's head lifted up with a smile and said:

"That Cleaner named Nicole from the former Gemini branch wasn't killed in the previous ambush. Instead, she was captured by Andre and is being held in the basement of the Number Three Military Zone.'

"Oh."

Leon nodded upon hearing this.

"I see. What else?"

"Isn't that enough?"

Atifie was slightly stunned by those words and somewhat perplexed as she asked:

"Aren't you companions? Aren't you going to rescue her immediately?"

"Why rescue her?"

Rubbing his temples to clear the haze of alcohol, Leon shook his head and asked in return:

"Are you going to kill her?"

"Uh... no..."

"So are you torturing her? Subjecting her to punishment?"

"This... is also not happening..."

"Then what am I rushing for? Let her stay with you!"

Glancing at Atifie 00, Leon calmly said:

"Besides, since you can't betray Andre, you can't help us, and you can't even reveal Andre's other cards, you naturally can't specifically help us increase our fighting power at this time.

So, if I'm not mistaken, Nicole must be under control now, or her abnormal objects have been sealed. Even if we rescue her, she can't do anything, right?"

"..."

"Looks like I'm right."

In Atifie 00's wordless silence, Leon summarized:

"If I don't rescue Nicole, not only will we not be in danger, you'll also have to feed her well and guard her, and other than lacking freedom and having bad meals, she won't face any hardship;

But if I go to rescue her, first, we'll be in danger, secondly, she won't be able to help, and with her abnormal objects sealed, she'll be stumbling along with us, slowing us down and hindering our actions. It's better to let her stay captured by you."

"..."

Sounds like...that's indeed the case...

"So if you want to cooperate with us, and avoid being held accountable after we defeat Andre, you'd better offer something more practical."

Leon calmly said while threading fishing lines to bind the dismembered Cleaners together:

"Since you can communicate with me through them, I won't knock these guys unconscious for now, but if you want something from us, you'd better think about what you can offer us... I'm leaving first, I'll wait for your good news."

"..."

In Atifie 00's silent contemplation, Leon turned and entered the Crolock palace with its door blown up, then sternly said:

"Three Seniors, we should probably prepare to confront Director Edward."