Chapter 108

What? Little Leon’s already been taken away by someone?

As she listened to the gentle beauty in front of her recounting the situation, the Red-haired Bureau Director’s fox-like eyes subconsciously narrowed. With an unpleasant expression, she asked, “How could it be so fast? For a case of this level, shouldn’t it generally take at least two or three weeks of investigation first?”

“I also find it strange.”

Emma frowned, having gone with the Red-haired Bureau Director’s order to fetch Leon but finding no one there: “Leaving the dungeon is indeed good news, but the identity of the person who took Leon is probably very special. No matter how I asked, the people over there refused to tell me anything.”

“That’s not hard to guess.”

After thinking for a moment with her eyes closed, the Red-haired Bureau Director, who was familiar with the capital city’s situation, spoke up:

“The Lionheart Duke is the deputy speaker of the Upper Parliament. Although the Lionheart family has declined significantly in the past few decades, they are still considered the face of the old nobility. So, this case is indeed quite troublesome.

To interfere with a case of this level and take someone away before the investigation is complete, apart from us, only the Speaker of the Upper Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Princess representing the King’s will can do that.”

At this point, the Red-haired Bureau Director glanced lightly at Emma, looked at her expression, and then continued to explain:

“Because of the coup six years ago, the seat of the Speaker of the Upper Parliament has been vacant temporarily. The Prime Minister’s response couldn’t possibly be this fast, so the person who took him away must be that Princess.”

“I see.”

Hearing this, Emma nodded and said calmly, “If he was taken by that Princess, then Leon’s safety should be fine… Should I go over there and bring him back?”

“No need. The less we interfere with normal society, the stronger the suppression effect of the Watchtower Palace will be, and the lower the intensity of abnormalities within the range will be.

Moreover, if the Princess takes him away, it might actually be the best result. As long as the Princess can suppress the Prime Minister and the Business Federation, Leon will come back on his own. But if things don’t go well, he might be locked up for ten days or half a month.”

After rejecting Emma’s request, the Red-haired Bureau Director looked at her peaceful eyes, which were calm like a mirror lake, and couldn’t help but sigh.

“Emma, because I didn’t agree to help with that favor six years ago, are you…”

“Director, let’s not talk about the past.”

Interrupting the Red-haired Bureau Director’s words, Emma slightly lowered her eyebrows and said calmly,

“At that time, I was naive and didn’t understand your difficulties. You’ve already had a hard time sheltering me despite the pressure. It was wrong of me to make such an excessive request.”

“…”

“But you haven’t given up, have you?”

Looking at her good friend who avoided her gaze, the Red-haired Bureau Director rubbed her temples forcefully and said with a tired look,

“With your skill level, you no longer need to practice firearms, but in the past two years, you’ve specifically practiced sniping, and you even made an agreement with Little Leon to use that sheep’s soul vision to help you once…”

“Shouldn’t this violate any rules from the Bureau?”

Interrupting the Red-haired Bureau Director again, Emma said calmly, “I won’t use any anomalous items, and Leon won’t know anything. Everything will have nothing to do with the Bureau.

Even after completing my revenge, I don’t plan to run away. I’ll turn myself in immediately. Isn’t exchanging one life for another acceptable?”

“Alright, sure…”

Seeing her eyes, harder than stone, knowing there’s absolutely no way to persuade her, the Red-haired Bureau Director could only helplessly nod and said with a last hope, “Then what about your daughter? Is she ready?”

After hearing the Red-haired Bureau Director’s words, Emma fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject, saying, “There are already nine hundred ninety-seven people surnamed Alman buried under the red cedar tree in front of my house. We’re not making any difference.”

Catching the fleeting hesitation in her eyes, the Red-haired Bureau Director quickly said,

“But can’t we wait a little longer?”

“I’ve waited for six years…”

“Since you’ve already waited for six years, why not wait a bit more? Not too long, just one more month.”

Gently pulling Emma’s arm to stop her from leaving, the Red-haired Bureau Director said softly,

“Think about your daughter. Her birthday is coming up soon. I don’t have the right to stop your revenge, but why not wait one more month, celebrate her last birthday, and then go, okay?”

“…”

“I… I’ll think about it…”

“Then you keep thinking. When you’ve decided, remember to inform me beforehand.”

Letting go of Emma’s arm, watching her leave her office, the Red-haired Bureau Director leaned against her seat full of melancholy, wishing she could get drunk and never wake up.

Following her ace employee and good friend, who had endured for six years, finally prepared to abandon everything in the near future to avenge her clan betrayed during the coup and executed entirely.

And aside from these two matters, she also had to keep a close eye on the nobles colluding with the Scale Gold Religion, guard against the True God behind the Red Brick Road Hospital incident, warn and handle the obviously overstepped Scale Gold Religion, investigate several abnormal situations recently appearing in the capital city, and launch an investigation into the Aquarius Director…

“Ah!!!”

Sighing heavily, feeling somewhat frazzled, the Red-haired Bureau Director picked up a bottle of alcohol, drank a big gulp of tea water, then grabbed a discarded file and listed down all the things she needed to solve on the back, followed by pondering anxiously.

Originally, Little Leon’s matter was the most urgent, but since he’s been taken out of the dungeon by the Princess, there’s no immediate worry. She just needs to prepare for the subsequent investigation by the Bureau.

Although Emma’s matter is more pressing, she currently doesn’t have a good solution, so she can only delay using her daughter’s birthday as leverage. A day delayed is a day gained; let’s see what can be done later.

As for the rest… Investigating the Aquarius Director requires time for confirmation. The few abnormal situations in the capital city can be assigned to other cleaners first. There hasn’t been much movement from the True God behind the Red Brick Road Hospital.

After the Scale Gold Religion caused trouble, fearing retaliation from her, they’ve hidden themselves away, almost stopping all activities. They’re impossible to catch, and even the nobles colluding with the Scale Gold Religion…

…

“Knock knock knock.”

No mistake, one after another, content inside 69 book bar!

Just as she was looking at the list on the table, worrying about where to start, the door to the office was suddenly knocked on.

“Come in.”

After receiving the Red-haired Bureau Director’s response, the office door opened, and a dark-skinned, honest-looking little old man with bloodshot eyes walked in briskly, carrying a bag of stuff.

“Who are you?”

Facing the Red-haired Bureau Director’s surprised inquiry, the little old man didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he placed the cloth bag on her desk before speaking,

“I’m the boss of Chal Department Store. This is the branch of the Clearing Bureau in the capital city, right?”

After briefly introducing himself, Old Chaer untied the cloth bag and took out four locked metal small boxes, placing them sequentially on the table.

“In these four boxes is something you call ‘anomalous item.’ When encountering unsolvable troubles, as long as its conditions are met, it will answer and help me solve a problem.”

This… is a delivered anomalous item? Covering the list on the table to avoid being seen, the Red-haired Bureau Director first nodded, then slightly narrowed her eyes and said, “This is indeed the Clearing Bureau, and we do deal with anomalous items, but we usually don’t accept employment, and our existence itself is confidential.

So can you please tell me where you learned about us and why you want to give us this anomalous item?”

Looks like I came to the right place.

Upon hearing the Red-haired Bureau Director’s words, the extremely haggard Old Chaer couldn’t help but relax a bit, then pointed at the box on the table and excitedly said,

“It told me!”

“A few days ago, my daughter was kidnapped and hasn’t returned yet, so I asked it a question. It said that as long as I bring it here and hand it over to you, you can save my daughter!”

Daughter kidnapped? Catching the keyword, the Red-haired Bureau Director’s eyebrows couldn’t help but slightly raise, recalling the situation probed by Jerry’s rat friends and Leon’s report on the Holy Spirit descent event.

Lionheart Lane, Rose Marseilles, Tower Shield York.

These three noble families failed in their joint operation against Chal Department Store, instead forcing themselves onto a “dead end.” The Holy Spirit they invited to cause trouble was cleared by Leon…

“Agreed!”

Immediately accepting Old Chaer’s request, the Red-haired Bureau Director picked up the four small boxes on the table and put them in her drawer, then glanced at the relieved little old man in front of her, somewhat awkwardly saying, “But although we can save your daughter, you may have to wait a bit longer, sorry…”

Wait a bit longer? Upon hearing the Red-haired Bureau Director’s words, Old Chaer’s relaxed expression couldn’t help but tighten slightly, hurriedly asking, “Why do we have to wait? Can’t we find her as soon as possible?”

“Normally, we could.”

Sighing semi-factually, the Red-haired Bureau Director’s expression became rather complicated as she said, “But we lack employees skilled in finding people, and the one most suitable for this job encountered a little trouble a few days ago.”

Pinching her thumb and forefinger of her right hand, making a “billion points” gesture, the Red-haired Bureau Director wore a face of “helplessness” as she said, “He got involved in the Lane family’s incident and was falsely accused of being the murderer of ‘Lane Blood Night.’ Although the Princess wants to protect him, many senators behind him are big merchants from the Business Federation, so the Prime Minister and the Lower Parliament haven’t reached a conclusion yet…”

“Tell me that person’s name!”

Though tormented by the kidnapping of his daughter Amy, the seasoned businessman Old Chaer still caught the implication in the Red-haired Bureau Director’s words and directly promised,

“I am the vice president of the Business Federation. As long as you can guarantee my daughter’s safety, I can get your person out in at most two days!”