Chapter 119

Harry… Spike… Tom… Jerry… looks like this is the place.

Glancing at the nameplate that read “Jerry Beck (Level 2 Crisis Handler),” Leon confirmed he hadn’t come to the wrong spot. Just as he was about to knock, a sudden awkwardness washed over him, feeling as though he were standing on a high platform, being stared at by countless eyes.

“Screech!”

Seeing Leon suddenly turn his head toward them, the rats lurking in the shadows couldn’t help but jump in fright, screaming before fleeing. A small team of ants that had quietly crept up to Leon’s feet bolted away like they’d spotted an anteater. Even a pair of flies perched on the corridor above Leon’s head took off for some distant corner before he could even look their way…

So… these are his “friends,” huh?

As Leon watched these creatures hastily retreat, sensing the gazes still upon him, he blinked thoughtfully, forming some guesses about Senior Jerry’s abilities.

Just then, behind the office window glass, a golden retriever suddenly popped its head out. After curiously inspecting Leon through the glass, the dog quickly withdrew, and the door before Leon opened with a click. A short man hurriedly dashed out of the office.

“You’re finally back.”

Before Leon could say anything, the short man grabbed him, warmly dragging him inside the office. With glowing eyes, he began chatting:

“Hehe, actually, when you were on your mission earlier, I happened to be free and thought about helping you out, but the director said it was just a survey task, nothing serious, so he didn’t let me go. Who knew it would take so many days…”

“By the way, did the director tell you about my matter? Then I’ll leave it to you. And no matter what the final result is, the reward will definitely satisfy you!”

“…”

???”

Seeing Leon’s puzzled expression, the short man’s demeanor stiffened slightly.

“The director didn’t tell you?”

“No…”

Leon replied, confused:

“The director assigned me a few tasks, one of which was to rescue someone at Rose Manor, and I need your help to guide the way. As for other matters, she didn’t mention anything to me.”

“Hmm… never mind, if she didn’t say it, then discussing it with you is fine too.”

After silently cursing the unreliability of his director, the short man led Leon to sit on the sofa in the office. He then tapped the glass plate on the desk, clicked his tongue twice against his palate, making a sound akin to “tsk tsk.”

“Woof!”

With a bark, the big golden retriever that had peeked at Leon through the window earlier appeared under—or rather, inside—the glass plate on the coffee table.

After eyeing Leon with surprise, the hefty dog, weighing around thirty kilos, nudged the short man’s hand with its nose through the glass and even licked him once.

“I’m not here to play! I need something!”

In Leon’s astonished gaze, the golden retriever inside the glass nodded as if understanding the short man’s “dog talk.” It stood up and walked to one side of the glass plate, disappearing from their sight.

A few seconds later, it reappeared, dragging a sturdy-looking net bag with difficulty. Turning its head, it gave a forceful toss!

“Clatter, clang!”

With a series of metallic sounds against the glass, the entire contents of the net spilled onto the table—dancing shoes stained with blood, fish jerky filled with a pungent smell, a notebook with an eye on its cover, several strangely spinning coins, a palm-sized model bed bound with chains, a Christmas hat riddled with holes… Altogether, there were probably thirty to fifty odd items.

Staring dumbfounded at this pile of strange objects, Leon couldn’t help but ask incredulously:

“Are these… anomalous items?”

“More or less.”

Rubbing his hands together eagerly, the short man chuckled:

“Since you’ll find out sooner or later, I won’t hide it from you. I have a bit of… um… kleptomania, so my first anomalous item has something to do with thievery. This heap is my collection over the years.

Don’t worry; I may be a thief, but I have principles—I only steal from strangers, not acquaintances. Since you’ve joined our Bureau Six, you’re family now. I definitely can’t steal from you.”

“…”

Can’t “really” steal from me, meaning you might “pretend” to steal when you can’t resist? Noting this senior’s “quirk” and adding extra caution, Leon cautiously asked: “So, Senior, you called me because you know I have the ability to forcibly obtain information about anomalous items, and you want me to check these things for you?”

“Exactly!”

Seeing Leon’s expression wasn’t hostile, the short man couldn’t contain his excitement. He promised enthusiastically: “These past years, I’ve gotten quite a few good things, but anomalous items aren’t like others. Without knowing their functions and costs, I really don’t dare touch them, so I’ve just been stacking them up. Even though I have more anomalous items than Emma does, I’m still stuck at level two.

When I heard about your ability from the director the other day, I was almost ecstatic! If you can identify these items for me and give me a few usable ones, you’ll be doing me a huge favor. In return, any anomalous items I don’t need that catch your eye, you can just take!”

Identify these items for him and pick one randomly?

After hearing this task issued by the “NPC senior,” Leon raised an eyebrow slightly. Checking his badge panel, sure enough, the [Relation Badge] was flashing continuously.

(The [Bronze Hidden Badge “Relation”] has been activated. You’ve received internal organizational resource support. Complete the conditions set by the resource provider to claim the resource.) So this is the effect after the hidden badge [Relation] triggered before going to the Lane Family. Truly worthy of being a hidden badge—just touching a few times can get you an anomalous item. This trade is genuinely quite favorable.

After closing the badge panel, Leon didn’t hesitate, pulled out his paper and pen, and smiled.

“Then I thank you for your generosity, Senior.”

(End of Chapter)