Chapter 23

“Alcohol Nation Martyr: Is this alcohol? It’s flowing cold fire, a fine remedy for forgetting worries, an oasis in the city, a cure for painful living, a river with warmth, and the boiling loneliness deep within during countless chilly nights.”

“Wearing Effect: The more alcohol in your body, the less influence fear, timidity, panic, and other negative emotions will have on you.

When there are 20 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 milliliters of blood, this effect reaches its maximum, directly immunizing against the impact of related negative emotions, but it will enter the special state ‘Drunk'”

“Drunk: Your reaction time increases by 50%, limb coordination decreases by 50%, perception of the surrounding environment decreases by 50%, courage increases by 300%”

“Advancement Route: After tasting one thousand kinds of ‘Fine Brewing’ grade or above, one hundred kinds of ‘Superior Wine’ grade or above, ten kinds of ‘Pure Brewing’ grade or above, one kind of ‘Drunken Brewing’ grade or above good wines, this badge will automatically advance to the colorful badge ‘Alcoholic Immortal’.

Current progress is respectively 117/1000, 7/100, 1/10, 0/1”

“Hidden Trait (No need to wear): After a hell-level binge drinking, your body has adapted to the ravages of alcohol and found a way to deal with it. Your alcohol metabolism rate has greatly increased.”

After drinking all night and sleeping all day, he got a gold-level badge… This… seems… not entirely unacceptable?

After looking at the specific effects of “Alcohol Nation Martyr,” Leon’s emotions finally slowly calmed down.

Worthy of a gold-level badge, the effect is indeed very powerful.

Although his own courage isn’t small, but that day when facing the hospital that would directly “eat people,” there was still some fear in his heart.

Especially the scene of hell in the first-floor hall, even just observing through the scope made him feel nervous.

To be honest, if he wasn’t hiding far away sniping, but instead holding a gun and going in with Emma Senior, under such an extremely terrifying scene, he probably wouldn’t even be able to shoot someone face-to-face.

But with this gold-level badge, as long as he carries a bottle of strong liquor with him, he can directly significantly reduce the influence of these negative emotions, allowing himself to calm down again. And for this kind of work that involves life-and-death situations, calmness and rationality can save lives at critical moments.

Also, according to Emma Senior’s words, although abilities like Black Goat’s that directly affect the soul aren’t common, they’re not impossible to encounter. With the Clearing Bureau’s terrifyingly large scope of work, he might run into something sooner or later.

And this “Alcohol Nation Martyr,” although limited in scope, can only immunize against negative emotions like fear, timidity, and panic, but if the opponent’s ability happens to fall within this range, it will completely counter them. Even though the scope is relatively narrow, it’s still an extremely powerful trump card.

It seems… there’s still a lot to explore in the badge system.

Looking at the four slots on the panel, and the three black iron, two bronze, one gold, and one colorful badges, Leon couldn’t help but ponder.

Among the seven badges he currently activated, “Unemployed Youth” not only has confusing abilities but also requires leaving the Clearing Bureau to upgrade, which isn’t something that can be upgraded just by effort, so it’s temporarily passed. The same goes for “Probationary Employee,” which can only upgrade after two months of employment.

The remaining “Trustworthy Brother” has no advancement route, “Materialist Soul” cannot be upgraded further, “Alcohol Nation Martyr” could potentially go higher, but since he doesn’t know much about wine and doesn’t have the money to buy so much good wine, it can only be temporarily abandoned.

So the ones that can actively upgrade are only “Demon Servant” and “Shooting Novice.”

The former is the easiest; just buy a few packs of “Gaut” for Black Goat behind the Clearing Bureau’s back; the latter requires live-fire shooting, possibly needing to think of ways from the Military Department… Hmm… Wait, doesn’t the Public Security Bureau have a firing range?

Recalling seeing armed police in the cafeteria of the Public Security Bureau while freeloading food, Leon had the idea to approach the Public Security Bureau.

Although the Clearing Bureau is only affiliated with the Public Security Bureau, it nominally belongs to them. To them, he could be considered half-insider, so borrowing their training facilities… shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Hmm… practicing shooting to level up badges, investigating Water Power Corporation and Road Administration Department, visiting that middle-aged nurse named Hanna… Although he’s only been employed for two days, there’s already so much to do…

Holding his still slightly dizzy head, Leon, who looked pale, got up and rummaged around in the old table beside the bed.

After a series of clattering sounds, he found half a carbon rod and rough paper, recorded what he needed to do one by one, then carefully folded it and put it in his pocket along with his wallet.

“Big Brother! You’re awake!”

Perhaps hearing the sound of rummaging, a boy who looked seven-tenths similar to Leon but appeared somewhat foolish peeked through the door crack.

Seeing that Leon was already up, he immediately rushed in with joy, tightly hugging his thigh, and said with reddened eyes:

“Sister coughed so loudly the day before yesterday, her handkerchief was all red, and she hasn’t returned yet. After you came back, I couldn’t wake you up no matter what… I… I thought…”

“William! What are you doing!”

Seemingly hearing the commotion here, another girl about the same age, shaking her light golden hair, ran over, grabbed the boy’s sleeve angrily and said, “That sister with tomato-like hair didn’t say it clearly? Big Brother is just drunk! Drunk, you understand?

It’s like having a cold, sleep for a bit and you’ll be fine, you won’t die! If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll hit you!”

After scolding the boy who was taller than her by half a head, the girl with the same hair color as Anna hesitated for a moment, then hugged Leon’s other leg, lowered her head with red-rimmed eyes and asked,

“Big Brother, how is Sister?”

“Anna is fine, she’s already out of danger.”

Looking at the two children tightly hugging his legs left and right, Leon couldn’t help but feel a flash of guilt in his eyes.

Two nights ago, Anna suddenly started coughing up blood. He hastily entrusted these younger siblings to a neighbor without even saying a word, then carried Anna to the hospital, fussing for a whole day.

That night, he joined the Clearing Bureau, encountered abnormal events, and stayed up all night. Later, after solving the issue with the out-of-control infected person, he and Emma Senior revived the doctors and nurses together, changed Anna’s ward and medication, and it was already dawn. Exhausted, he couldn’t return home, so he slept on Anna’s bedside for a while.

When he woke up, he hurriedly went back to the Clearing Bureau to report the situation, specially requested leave afterward. Originally planning to confirm Anna’s condition and then go home, he heard intelligence about suspected anomalous items from the young employee of the gas company, so he had to return to the Clearing Bureau once again.

Ah… Having not slept well for two consecutive days and being too busy to think of asking someone to report home safely, he even went drinking heavily after work and slept soundly all day.

Really… With one adult sick and lying down, and not returning home for more than two days, they must have been scared out of their wits. He really isn’t a very qualified older brother…

…

Leon gently touched the heads of his younger siblings, sat them on the bed, bent down, and softly consoled them, “Don’t worry, I specifically asked the doctor yesterday. The doctor said Anna’s condition is stable, her illness is no longer a problem.”

Hearing Leon’s words, the foolish-looking William buried his head and remained silent, while the much livelier little girl immediately looked up, her face full of happiness, and said, “So the red-haired sister was telling the truth? Anna-nee will come home soon?”

“Uh-huh.”

Leon smiled and nodded, saying,

“The doctor said that she can return home after resting for two more days. As long as she takes her medicine on schedule afterward, she can fully recover within three months and won’t cough anymore.”

Upon hearing this good news, the two kids were overjoyed, their little faces filled with pure happiness.

Since they were infants, their parents, who were mechanics, sacrificed themselves in the national defense war several years ago. They don’t have clear memories of their parents, practically raised by Anna alone.

Therefore, although Anna herself is barely sixteen, in the hearts of these two younger siblings, the description of elder sister as mother is not exaggerated but rather a true depiction. Hearing that Anna is fine, they are undoubtedly happier than anyone else in the world.

Carefully examining the appearance and complexion of his younger siblings, confirming that they haven’t starved or frozen these past two days, Leon finally felt relieved and touched the little girl’s blonde hair, smiling and asking,

“What about the red-haired big sister? Melanie, tell me, when did she leave, and what did she say?”

“Ahh… let me think…”

Although the youngest of the family, compared to her somewhat naive twin brother, the little girl named Melanie is clearly much smarter.

After tilting her head and recalling for a while, she counted on her fingers seriously and recounted, “The red-haired big sister carried you back, gave our aunt a silver coin, and asked her to take care of us until you wake up.

Then she said to give you another day off today, and deal with the nurse thing tomorrow. Um… Also, she bought super sweet candy for me and William, and said she would give us new clothes…”

“But we didn’t take them!”

At this moment, the little boy who had been silently listening couldn’t help but interrupt, “Big Brother and Sister both said! Anyone who gives us candy or clothes is definitely a bad person, a child trafficker, absolutely don’t go with them.

So when I heard she wanted to buy us clothes, I immediately glared at her with all my strength and shouted that someone was trafficking children, scaring her away!”

“…”

(⊙_⊙)? In Leon’s expression of three parts speechless and seven parts stunned, the foolish-looking little William stood up abruptly, slapped his little chest forcefully, and proudly said with a proud look on his face, “Big Brother! I scared away the bad guy and protected Melanie! Did I do well?”

“Pfft! How dare you talk about it!”

Before Leon could speak, the angry blonde little girl immediately pounced, extending her little hands and hitting her twin brother’s forehead hard while yelling angrily, “Idiot! Fool! Big dumbhead! Stubborn fool! Wooden brain! Are you stupid? Can’t you use your brain? Our Big Brother was carried back by her, how could she be a bad person? Hurry up and compensate for my new clothes!

Also, if you really thought she was a bad person, then why did you eat the candy? Why did you fight me for it? You’re so annoying!”

“I… weren’t you the one who ate several pieces first?”

The foolish-looking little boy, while raising his skinny arm to protect his head from his sister’s attacks, argued earnestly, “I figured since you ate the candy and nothing happened, it proved the candy wasn’t poisoned. Why wouldn’t I eat non-poisonous candy?”

“…”

Good grief… Strong logic, but should I consider you a genius or a dunce? Watching his chasing and fleeing siblings making a mess of the house, Leon, who was just feeling guilty, instantly switched to the mode of increasingly disapproving parent, covering his head still dizzy from hangover, and weakly waved his hand, “Stop fooling around, ah… You two are truly… We’ll have money soon, once the salary comes, whatever candies or new clothes, Big Brother will buy them for you!”

After promising benefits worth two copper coins, he finally managed to calm down the quarreling siblings. Leon looked at the dark sky outside, struggled to get up, and prepared to find something to eat.

“Hungry, huh? Big Brother will cook for you.”

“No need, we’ve eaten!”

After glaring at her incredibly stupid twin brother, Melanie shook her two light golden braids happily and replied, “Even though that red-haired sister was driven away by the idiot William, she secretly came back later and placed a lot of food in our house, enough for our family to last for several days. We finished eating and came to see you.”

“That’s right!”

Apparently recalling the delicious taste, the foolish-looking William licked his lips and nodded repeatedly, “Especially fried fish and smoked sausages, they were particularly fragrant, we ate a lot!”

“Hmph! Didn’t you say she was a bad person? How could you eat her food? Aren’t you afraid of being taken away?”

“Not afraid, I waited until you finished eating first and saw nothing happened before I ate. Like the mashed potatoes you didn’t eat, I didn’t touch them at all. I’m very smart!”

“I… you’re killing me!”

“Alright, alright!”

Seeing them arguing again and about to start a new round of battles, Leon quickly grabbed each of them with one hand and shifted the topic with a headache,

“So then? Did you two thank the person properly after eating so much of their good food?”

“Of course we did!”

After glaring at her stupid twin brother, Melanie flicked her braid proudly and said,

“Anna-nee said, we may be poor, but we’re not orphaned children without parents. We must be polite! So I not only thanked the big sister but also forced William to say thank you by pressing his head! But… um… the big sister seemed unhappy. When I tried to hug her, she ran away directly…”

At this point, seeming to recall something incomprehensible, Melanie blinked her bright big eyes, confusedly pinching her little skirt and said, “She seemed to say… she doesn’t like children, saying that once children become familiar, they tend to regard others as mothers and then forget her…

Big Brother, I didn’t quite understand what the big sister said. Why would we forget her after becoming familiar with her?”

(End of Chapter)