CHAPTER 389: 0331 THE MUTE AND THE PROMISE_1

We both tried to circumvent the Word Spirit of the Taurus Director, wanting the Red-haired Director to taste the good wine soaked with the God of Wine’s Bead, but we were caught by the Taurus Director on the spot. He turned the wine into chili oil, leaving our mouths swollen and burning...

How could we admit to that?

After hearing Emma’s inquiry, Leon’s first instinct was to look at the Red-haired Director beside him, hoping she would take on the responsibility of the director and blur over the issue of their swollen mouths. At the very least, he didn’t want Senior Emma to know that he had agreed to such a ridiculous request.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one hoping for this outcome.

Upon receiving Leon’s "shouldn’t you say something" look, the Red-haired Director unhesitatingly glared back, her fox-like eyes still wet with tears, clearly displaying her intention to shirk responsibility.

*According to the customary practices of Kingdom officials, the merits of subordinates belong to their superiors, and the responsibility of superiors falls on subordinates! Now is the time for you, the subordinate, to play your part, so hurry up and shoulder this burden for me!*

*No way! If I take this blame, and Senior Emma finds out I’m ditching my dignity with you, how will she see me in the future?*

*You can’t face her, but can I? If she finds out about this, do you know how long I’ll be scolded?*

"What on earth is going on here?"

After waiting a while and seeing Leon and the Red-haired Director exchanging looks without answering her question, Emma couldn’t help but urge them, "Are you going to speak or not? How did you end up with swollen mouths while returning a coffin?"

"..."

"..."

*Director, say something! Senior Emma is getting anxious!*

*I won’t! If you force me to speak, I’ll claim you forcibly kissed me!*

????

*Speak up! If you don’t, I’ll start talking!*

Noticing the determination in the Director’s eyes, Leon realized he had no choice. He braced himself and opened his mouth, desperately trying to come up with an explanation, but even after racking his brain, he couldn’t think of a good excuse.

After mumbling incoherently for a while, when he saw suspicion gradually replace concern in Senior Emma’s eyes, Leon suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He first pointed to his throat, then shook his head vigorously while waving his hands.

"Mmm! Mmm! Waa! Waa!"

*My throat is hoarse, I cannot speak, so don’t question me! Go ask the Director!*

????

*Wait... you can actually do that?*

Surprised by Leon’s temporary act of being mute, the Red-haired Director instinctively opened her mouth, trying to learn from his bold move, but Emma, noticing something amiss, had already narrowed her eyes and blocked her: "Olivia! Don’t tell me your throat is hoarse too!"

*It is! It really is! Both of us can’t speak! So...*

"If you’ve lost your voice too, then use your soul to speak!"

"..."

"What exactly happened? Speak up quickly!"

"I’ll say... I’ll say it’s all Leon’s fault!"

To Leon’s shock, the Red-haired Director, deciding to leave no stone unturned, actually lifted her hand to point at him, her face playing the victim as she exaggerated, "He forcibly kissed me, making my lips swell!"

"Nonsense! I didn’t—"

"Weren’t you mute just now? Mutes don’t speak! Shut your mouth!"

"..."

...

"The two of you... you’ve truly broadened my horizons!"

Accompanied by the evaluation of content strikingly similar to the Taurus Director’s, Emma, standing on the Crocodile God’s head, complained with annoyance, "For a bottle of wine, you’ve even resorted to this! Olivia, really... couldn’t you have survived without that sip?"

"Well... dear Emma, today is my birthday after all, can you ease up just a little with the scolding?"

"Don’t say it’s just your birthday; even if today were your death anniversary, I’d still say it!"

Usually gentle and mild, Senior Emma seemed genuinely upset, and after a rare reproach to the Red-haired Director, she turned to look at Leon, who was almost humiliated by guilt, and said in a tone of bitter steel, "And you too! Olivia misbehaving doesn’t surprise me, but I didn’t expect you to join in the nonsense alongside her! Do you remember what you promised Taurus His Excellency?

Leon, Olivia has no issues with her brains or abilities, only the flaw of drinking. If she doesn’t change, sooner or later, something will go wrong with this. Instead of helping Olivia correct her problem with drinking, you actually... accompanied her... did you two really?"

"Uh... I just thought since it was the Director’s birthday, and her only wish was for a sip, I went soft..."

After weakly explaining a few words, Leon recalled his promise to Taurus Director when requesting alcohol, and he couldn’t help but lower his head in shame, then solemnly assured, "Senior Emma, I promise this is the last time. I definitely won’t indulge in the Director’s antics in the future!"

"What do you mean by indulging in my antics?"

Hearing Leon’s words, the Red-haired Director, sitting on the Crocodile God’s head, turned around and argued discontentedly, "Besides Emma, this is my first time kissing someone else’s lips. Why do you make it sound like you were defiled? Be it looks or figure, wouldn’t you say you didn’t lose out from my kiss?"

"..."

*Honestly, by that measure, I really didn’t lose out, but only if during the kiss you didn’t lock hold of my neck! That sudden grip was too much; it almost made the wine spray out of my nose!*

*Also, what do you mean ’besides Emma, this is the first time kissing someone else’s lips’? From what I hear, it sounds like you two...*

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Feeling a bit embarrassed under Leon’s surprised and doubtful gaze, Emma glared at the Red-haired Director and then turned back to explain to Leon, "At that time Olivia was drunk, and I was dragging her to the second floor. She was muttering something like ’Emma, you’re so great’ and trying to hug and kiss my face. Just as I was about to turn my head to scold her, I accidentally brushed against her lips... It was just a touch, nothing else!"

"Oh..."

Nodding tentatively, Leon wisely refrained from pursuing more about the kissing incident as he noticed Emma’s slightly embarrassed demeanor and looked instead at her not-yet-fully-recovered right hand, expressing some concern, "Senior Emma, how much longer until your hand recovers? The day after is your daughter’s birthday."

*After going through so much in recent days, you still remember Ellie’s birthday?*

After casting Leon a surprised look, Emma’s expression warmed a bit, and then she smiled, "It’s fine, even though it won’t fully recover the day after, as long as I wrap it with a Serpent Bandage and avoid bumping into anything hard, it’ll be okay. It won’t stop me from celebrating Ellie’s birthday.

Oh, and Leon, about what I asked you to do..."

"Don’t worry, I’ve got it all noted down. On the 6th, 8 a.m., beneath the big tree at the entrance of Treasure Flower Manor on Redwood Avenue, I’ll definitely be there!"

"Thank you..."