Chapter 1

“Here for a job interview, right? What’s your name?”

“Li Ang… Leon Lane.”

Lane?

Upon hearing this somewhat familiar surname, the bored female interviewer behind the desk raised an eyebrow and glanced up at the pale, thin young man sitting in front of her. With a slightly surprised tone, she asked:

“Lane… as in the Lionheart Duke’s Lane?”

“Not that one…”

The young job seeker seemed accustomed to being asked this question. He shook his head slightly and then explained proficiently:

“Though it sounds the same, the last name of the Lionheart King comes from the golden lion on their family crest ‘Lane,’ whereas my last name is derived from ‘Lane’ County. My ancestors were apparently commoners from there.”

“Oh… I thought so.”

The red-haired woman nodded knowingly, amused by her own sensitivity.

That detestable family, proud of their pure gold hair, has hardly produced any members with different hair colors. How could they possibly have a black-haired, dark-eyed descendant who would end up applying for a job here? After sizing up Leon’s attire and noticing his well-washed but worn-out coat revealing its lining, the red-haired woman seemed to lose interest in him and lowered her head again. She absentmindedly scribbled something on a form while saying: “Then fill in your family status as commoner. Also report your education level, religious beliefs, whether you’ve undergone cybernetic modifications, if you have any implanted differential machines under your skin, and what specific crime you committed.”

Hmm? Wait! What specific crime?

Hearing this, Leon couldn’t help but pause slightly before hesitantly asking:

“Excuse me, did you mean ‘criminal record’ just now?”

“Huh?”

Hearing Leon’s question, the red-haired woman frowned slightly and then tapped the table hard with her knuckles, rebuking him bluntly: “I advise you to be honest! This is the Clearing Bureau, not a courtroom! If you hadn’t committed a serious crime worthy of hanging, why would you come here for a job? Just tell me what you did; don’t try to outsmart me!”

What?! No… Why am I getting linked to a hanging?!

Tsk, hiding things, clearly up to no good!

Looking at Leon, who didn’t know how to respond, the red-haired woman let out a contemptuous humph and then knocked the table forcefully again, interrogating him like a criminal with a cold face:

“I’ll say this one last time: this is the Clearing Bureau, not a courtroom!

I neither have the authority nor the interest to judge you. The reason I’m asking what crime you committed is because I need to report your name to cancel the kingdom’s arrest warrant against you. So it’s best if you confess honestly! Don’t cause yourself trouble, understand?”

Arrest warrant? After processing the red-haired woman’s words, Leon’s pupils contracted slightly as he realized something was off. He cautiously confirmed: “Excuse me… Is this the First Cleaning Bureau of the Capital?”

“…”

Cleaning Bureau?

This time, it was the other person who was momentarily stunned. After pondering for a moment, the red-haired woman seemed to understand something. Looking at his emaciated frame due to long-term malnutrition, the previously disgusted red-haired woman fell silent for a moment. Then, sitting up straight, she pointed towards the window, lowering her voice and frowning as she reminded him:

“You’re at the wrong place. This is… the Sixth Anomaly Clearing Bureau, an extracurricular department under the Public Security Bureau. The cleaning bureau you’re looking for is under the Road Administration Department, which is in the building across the street where there’s a long queue.”

“Oh! Oh!”

Realizing he had come to the wrong place, Leon couldn’t help but exhale deeply.

Also, speaking of which, weren’t they only hiring ten people? Why is the line at the cleaning bureau so long? Even for a street sweeping job, there are so many people vying for it?

“Sorry for disturbing you.”

After politely apologizing, Leon looked through the window again at the long queue outside the opposite building. Then, inexplicably, he turned to look at the red-haired woman with hopeful eyes and softly asked:

“If… you’re short on staff here…”

“You’re not suitable.”

“…”

Seeing the sudden dimming expression of the young man who looked around sixteen or seventeen, the red-haired woman hesitated for a moment before explaining:

“Although the salary at the Clearing Bureau is decent, higher than regular municipal civil servants, there’s about an eight per thousand monthly fatality rate. So unless you’re truly desperate, you’d better not come here.”

Eight per thousand?

Upon hearing this rather chilling term “fatality rate,” instead of being scared off, Leon’s eyes even lit up with a hint of joy.

Joking, this is barely close to one percent!

If it were the previous life, that would be it. But in this strange world where steam carriages run all over the streets, workers doing jobs like furnace burning, mine working, mana infusion, purification of reagents, etc., already have an annual base fatality rate approaching two percent. And those disabled or poisoned by machine injuries and reagent evaporation are several times more numerous.

And considering their average “work age” of around thirty years, almost no workers can work a lifetime without illness or injury. This less-than-one-percent annual fatality rate is completely…

“I might not have been clear enough earlier.”

Seeing Leon’s interested expression, the red-haired woman shook her head and explained: “The fatality rate of the Clearing Bureau isn’t calculated annually but monthly.”

“…”

Calculated monthly… eight per thousand per month means nearly one-tenth annually?! This so-called Anomaly Clearing Bureau kills off about ten percent of its employees each year?! Seeing Leon’s shocked expression, the red-haired woman shook her head slightly and then waved him away:

“If you understand, leave. We only take those who have committed capital offenses or individuals carrying controllable ‘anomalies.’ Ordinary people like you can’t handle the work at the Clearing Bureau. It’s not suitable for you.”

“Then… sorry for disturbing you…”

With the gentle yet indisputable rejection from the red-haired woman, Leon felt a sharp pain in his temples, followed by an unbearably shrill buzzing in his ears.

[Due to the twentieth failed job application, you successfully activated the Black Iron Badge “Unemployed Youth”]

[Unemployed Youth: Young people temporarily unemployed due to insufficient education, lack of experience, or poor economic conditions]

[Wearing Effect: When your parents converse with peers, they will trigger the special state “Beating Around the Bush,” automatically avoiding topics about you]

[Advancement Route: If this badge is worn continuously for more than two months and employment remains unsuccessful, provided you live with your parents, the badge will automatically upgrade to the Bronze Badge “NEET”]

[Hidden Trait (No Need to Wear): When the “Unemployed Youth” badge is activated and the total family assets are below 200 Golden Wheels, the probability of obtaining a partner through blind dates decreases automatically by 80%]

“…”

(The chapter ends)