Chapter 153

This… is the photo Anna lost?

After identifying what it was through the gaps in his hair, Leon couldn’t help but widen his eyes in surprise.

“Director, how did this end up in your possession?”

“Well, you should ask your so-called ‘fine’ senior.”

Upon hearing this, the red-haired director smiled mischievously and said, “You don’t really think Jerry could resist his thievery instincts and not take something from you when he sees you, do you?”

“But… this thing should’ve been at my house, not on me!”

“That’s the effect of an anomalous item called [Fortunate Pickpocket]. When Jerry wants to steal something from you, it doesn’t matter if it’s just at home; even if it’s in another world, the result is the same.

As long as he gets near you, touches you once, the thing that has had the most impact on your life will be directly taken by him. This ability is such that even a True God cannot completely avoid it.”

After briefly explaining Jerry’s ability, the red-haired director smiled and asked:

“Although he did something not-so-good to you, I also made him compensate you doubly. Are you satisfied with his apology?”

“…”

Now I understand… that’s why Senior Jerry was so generous, insisting on a buy-one-get-one deal and directly giving me two anomalous items, not only teaching me quite a few tricks for using them but even gifting me an absurdly expensive bomb…

“I’m very satisfied. Senior Jerry helped me a great deal.”

Realizing the reason, Leon shook his head speechlessly and then thought about the evaluation the two investigators gave regarding the members of the Virgo Subdivision, unable to resist asking:

“By the way, Director, isn’t our Bureau’s reputation… pretty bad?”

“It’s indeed not good. In fact, one could say it’s absolutely terrible.”

After hearing Leon’s inquiry, the red-haired director nodded, frankly admitting the bad reputation of the Virgo Subdivision, then sighed and said:

“However, there’s nothing we can do about it. Everyone in our Bureau is a natural anomaly bearer, and behind these anomalies everyone carries are the curses they can’t shake off.

Jerry with the thief’s hands can’t help but steal, Emma with her indestructible body is extremely afraid of death, Tom with the dice can’t quit gambling, Harry who sticks to everything always loses everything… These all fall under this category. Everyone gains power while simultaneously having to pay the corresponding price.

Other subdivisions may have people like this too, but either their strength isn’t enough, leading to less extreme situations, or there are only one or two of them, not as many as us, so they haven’t caused any major problems.

On our side… although none of us are bad people, our bad habits are hard to change, and in the past, we’ve indeed caused quite a few issues. Plus, with me, the notorious executioner director around, our reputation naturally can’t be good.”

I see…

After hearing the red-haired director’s words, Leon couldn’t help but nod knowingly. Then, after glancing at him, the red-haired director couldn’t help but start pondering his situation.

Little Leon… forced intelligence acquisition, belongs to the type of cognitive-world abilities. Following this line of thinking, his “bad habit” wouldn’t be… excessive curiosity, would it?

No, that’s not right!

Recalling Leon’s usual behavior, he seemed to cherish knowledge, but far from reaching the level of a “bad habit.” The red-haired director couldn’t help but shake his head slightly, negating his own guess.

It seems Leon’s “bad habit” isn’t like Jerry’s “positive reinforcement” of anomalies, but more like Emma and Harry’s “conflicting opposition” types…

“Director?”

“I have no other questions to ask, so I’ll be going now!”

“Alright, go ahead!”

After Leon pushed the door open and left, the red-haired director crossed his fingers lazily leaned back in his chair, continuing to ponder the earlier question.

For a cleaner who becomes tainted, the most common “bad habits” fall into two categories.

Either it’s a positive reinforcement of anomalous objects, like the [Fortunate Pickpocket] and Jerry’s stealing addiction; or it’s a conflicting opposition to their abilities, like the [Indestructible Body] and Emma’s overly cautious nature against death.

Leon’s anomalous object ability falls under the category of recognizing the world. Since he hasn’t shown excessive curiosity, it wouldn’t be the first case, so it should be the second one, where his personality conflicts with the manifestation of his anomalous ability.

So, recognizing the world reversed… does Leon have a complete understanding of the rules of the world, and is it extremely solid, not easily changed?…

Unaware that his “underwear” has already been pulled down seven-tenths by the director, almost reaching his knees, Leon didn’t immediately start working after returning to his office but instead began checking the family portrait of his younger sister Anna and his parents.

[Name: A Warm Home (Under Repair, Unable to Use) (Wish Granting, Doll, Modification)]

Everything inside 69 Book Bar can be seen here!

[Appearance: A brand-new family portrait. There’s nothing abnormal when viewed from the front, but observing from the back reveals numerous unhealed cracks and dark brown burn marks, as if it had been repeatedly torn apart and burned with flames.]

[Ability: Obtain family, control family, modify the world]

[Cost: Updating, visible after repair completion]

[File: One of the many functional anomalous objects created by the Aquarius Director to fulfill a wish, temporarily numbered 0006.

This particularly unique anomalous object was born out of a child’s deepest longing for family, but what it brought wasn’t truly loving family members but rather puppets who obeyed every command.

After realizing this, its creator outright denied the significance of this anomalous object, tearing it apart completely and releasing control over “family,” which also caused irreparable damage.

But after years of mutual companionship, the creator and the family brought by this anomalous object slowly became real family members, and the significance of this anomalous object was acknowledged again, beginning a slow self-repair process.

Please note, after this repair is fully completed, its ability will undergo completely unknown changes based on the creator’s situation.]

[Assessment: Even flowers born from deception and malice, as long as nurtured with kindness and love, may bear warm and beautiful fruits.]

[Taint Value: ?]

So… the original me wasn’t really Anna’s biological brother but a fake family member “kidnapped” by this anomalous object?

Though he’d had similar suspicions before, after reading the file of this family portrait, Leon still couldn’t help but close his eyes and lean back in his chair, his mood becoming complex. However, this complex emotion didn’t last long before being rudely interrupted by a strong sense of crisis.

That Aquarius Director again!

Looking at the information related to the Aquarius Director that appeared again in the file of the family portrait, Leon’s eyebrows furrowed tightly.

Who would’ve thought Anna’s family portrait was also one of the anomalous objects he created to fulfill his wish… So what exactly is the wish of the Aquarius Director? And during his meticulous efforts to realize his wish, will Anna be harmed?

(End of Chapter)