Chapter 144

Leon was standing outside the Bureau Director’s office, ready to report on the day’s events and casually greet the Red-haired Bureau Director, telling her he planned to sleep at the bureau that night. But then…

“Knock knock knock”

“Wh-who is it?”

“Director, it’s me.”

“You… who are you?”

“It’s Leon!”

“Leon… who’s that?”

“…”

Hearing the illogical reply from inside, Leon couldn’t help but pause for a moment in silence before asking with some exasperation:

“Director, have you been drinking?”

“Drinking… who?”

No doubt about it, she’d definitely been drinking, and quite a lot too…

“Director, I’m coming in, don’t attack me!”

As Leon spoke, he cautiously pushed the door open just a crack, but before he could even see what was going on inside, a strong wave of alcohol fumes hit him straight in the face, making his vision go black.

My goodness, you really can drink!

Looking at the mountain of empty bottles piled higher than a person beside the desk, and the red-haired beauty sprawled across it, giggling foolishly at him, Leon couldn’t help but shake his head in amazement while also feeling a headache coming on.

Because he realized he was being targeted by rebels, Leon had originally intended to ask the Red-haired Bureau Director for help, hoping she could transfer the “protective fur” hanging around his neck, which had never been activated, to Anna. He also wanted to try getting two more for William and Melanie.

After all, since he got into trouble due to official business, protecting the families of employees should be the responsibility of the Clearing Bureau. If it wasn’t convenient, he could exchange it for an anomalous item or something else; the “ghost hand under the bed” given by Jerry Senior wasn’t really useful to him anyway, so why not trade it for protective charms for his younger siblings?

But seeing the director in this state akin to “What-horse-Mei,” he estimated that even if he asked all night, he probably wouldn’t get any clear answers. Maybe he should just forget it today and wait until tomorrow when she sobers up.

Anyway, the Secret Investigation Bureau was about to start a major search, and the rebels would definitely be preoccupied in the short term. Anna and the others were protected by Happiness Apartments, and as long as they said hello to Administrator Matron whenever they went out, they could gain a safety boost. It didn’t matter waiting another day or two…

“Little Leon~ Is that you, Little Leon?”

Just as Leon was hesitating whether to leave, the drunken Red-haired Bureau Director suddenly slapped her forehead and sat up on the table, grinning foolishly: “You’re too late! Hahaha, I’ve already drunk it all! You can’t mooch off my booze anymore!”

“…”

This idiotic woman! It was hard to associate the alcohol-soaked brain currently in front of him with the “wise and mighty” director when she was sober. Leon couldn’t help but sigh in frustration.

“I’m not trying to drink with you… Anyway, weren’t you fine earlier? How did you end up drinking so much?”

“Because we got paid~”

After shaking her head forcefully, she seemed to regain a bit of clarity, and logic returned to her words as she grinned foolishly:

“I owed so much money from last time when I invited you for drinks that I didn’t have enough money to buy alcohol for a while. Now that I finally have a bit more, if I don’t drink properly, the little critters in my stomach will die of thirst!”

“…”

To be honest, if those things actually existed, it’d be better to let them die of thirst. However… did inviting me to drink last time really make you owe a lot of money? After looking at the shining 【Martyr of Liquor】on the panel, Leon scratched his head awkwardly and said somewhat embarrassedly: “Um, may I ask how much you owed roughly last time?”

“Wahh… I really owed a lot…”

Upon hearing Leon’s question, the previously cheerful expression of the Red-haired Bureau Director immediately fell. She blinked her seductive fox-like eyes, tears welling up as she counted on her fingers:

“Considering what I paid at the bar, there’s still over three hundred Golden Wheels left on the bill sent over. And after spending so much money, you drank even more than me, leaving me with almost nothing…”

“…”

Over three hundred Golden Wheels… Goodness, that day we drank away half a year’s salary? “This… is really quite a lot, I’m truly sorry…”

“Director, maybe I…”

“Help me pay the bill?”

“Uh… no, it’s not about the bill. What I mean is, shall I take you home? You might catch a cold sleeping here…”

“…”

She slightly turned her head, avoiding the stunned gaze of the Red-haired Bureau Director, then stiffly walked over and lifted her drunken self off the table.

It’s impossible to pay the bill, absolutely impossible in this lifetime. The director was so generous to invite me for drinks, if I rushed to pay, wouldn’t that be disrespectful? Besides, there’s Anna’s medicine, rent at home, tuition for the younger brother and sister… Hmm… Moreover, the director drinks excessively anyway, less alcohol would be better for her health. If I paid the bill, giving her more money to buy alcohol would only harm her!

After finding a bunch of excuses shamelessly, Leon coughed dryly and said to the red-haired director glaring at him in his arms:

“Director, where do you live?”

“I don’t have a home.”

Not missing a single content from 69 Book Bar!

“Hmm… Where do you usually sleep then?”

“At the inn’s suite downstairs, or… or the meeting room upstairs…”

“…”

“Do you pity me?”

“…”

Before Leon could figure out how to respond, a white, delicate arm reached out, pinching his chin and turning his head toward her.

Staring into Leon’s eyes, which revealed a hint of tenderness, the Red-haired Bureau Director wrinkled her nose, her rosy lips slightly parted, mixing the scent of gardenia with alcohol as she sprayed it onto his face, saying rather imperiously: “I’m perfectly fine alone! Don’t dare pity me! I don’t need your pity!”

“Okay.”

“Do you not believe me?”

Apparently feeling her “dignity as director” challenged, the Red-haired Bureau Director raised her neck and glared fiercely at Leon, kicking him lightly with her foot.

“I’m very strong! Whether it’s betrayal, hostility, or estrangement, I haven’t cried! Even when everyone in the bureau ran away, I’ve never been afraid of being alone! I’m not scared!”

“…”

So unfamiliar… Is she really the same person as the director from earlier? Watching the small woman curling into his chest while claiming she wasn’t afraid, subconsciously grabbing his sleeve, Leon hesitated briefly before suggesting:

“Director, you should rest. How about I take you upstairs first?”

“I don’t want to…”

Upon hearing Leon’s words, the Red-haired Bureau Director suddenly grabbed his collar, tearfully saying: “There are so many people upstairs yelling at me, I don’t dare go up when I’m awake…”

Are there really people upstairs yelling at you?

Hearing this, Leon couldn’t help but be slightly surprised, then curiously countered:

“Aren’t there no one upstairs? Isn’t it always empty?”

“There are! They’ve always been there!”

Seeing that even Little Leon didn’t believe her, the Red-haired Bureau Director pouted, arguing with a sulky face:

“I’ve counted carefully, from the fifth floor to the top, there are one hundred twenty-nine million six hundred thousand people cursing me, and they’ve never stopped for all these years. Don’t believe me? Listen!”

(End of Chapter)