Chapter 267

“Dear Little Leon,

Once again, I thank you for everything you’ve done for the Clearing Bureau and all of humanity. And through this opportunity, I send you my warmest regards, while also informing you of a few matters.

First, I must sincerely apologize to you. The bead of the Brewing God that I previously promised you will likely not be able to be delivered as agreed upon.

Originally, I had planned to personally bring it to you after promising you the use of the bead, but now I can’t leave the General Bureau. Knowing Olivia as I do, if someone else were to deliver the bead, she would undoubtedly resort to violence and forcibly take it.

To avoid such a situation, I asked the Twin Fish Director to use the secret arts of the Pisces lineage to calculate how many times you would use the bead once you obtained it, and accordingly prepared the pre-made alcohol in advance, sending it over directly. I hope this outcome satisfies you.

Secondly, although incomplete, you have indeed mastered the secret arts of both Taurus and Aquarius Palaces, which will require a great deal of materials for practice.

Therefore, along with the eleven hundred and eleven bottles of alcohol, I’ve sent some anomalous item materials for your practice, and a few notebooks I wrote when I was learning the secret art of Taurus. They should help you in your studies.

Lastly, I won’t bother with platitudes about hoping to meet again soon since you’ve probably already learned from Olivia about the decision made by myself and two other directors. Thus, the upcoming promotion ceremony has been canceled, and our meeting two days ago at the General Bureau will likely be our last.

In the near future, I will ascend directly from the General Bureau into the Watchtower Palace, lighting a torch with my soul to illuminate your path ahead.

Best wishes,

Taurus Director

P.S.: After finishing this letter, the Twin Fish Director reviewed your file and showed significant interest.

He believes your ability to forcefully obtain information on anomalous items closely resembles the ‘Abnormal Observation’ secret art of the Pisces lineage. Hence, he feels you might be recognized by the Star Palace of Pisces, qualifying you to fully study their secret arts. You may visit him after my ascension.”

…

Ah, I see…

After reading the letter that came with the alcohol, Leon couldn’t help but feel enlightened.

So that’s why the bead they promised turned into more than a thousand bottles of pre-soaked liquor. It was because the Taurus Director was worried that the Red-haired Bureau Director would “take desperate measures” and resort to violence.

Hmm… come to think of it, knowing the moral compass of the Bureau Director, there’s a good chance she’d actually do something like that. The Taurus Director really understands her well. Moreover, they’re so considerate, not only sending materials and notes but even helping me gain access to studying the Pisces secret arts… uh…

While Leon was holding the letter, marveling at the reliability and generosity of Honorable Taurus, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine. When he turned around in terror, he saw his Bureau Director holding a letter, glaring at him with eyes filled with murderous intent.

“Uh… Director, you don’t need to look at me like that.”

Leon’s throat moved nervously as he forced a smile: “I just taste the alcohol, taking only a small sip from each bottle. Please… stop glaring at me. I promise I’ll only drink a little, the rest is all yours, okay?”

“All mine… like I can even drink it!”

After hearing Leon’s words, the Red-haired Bureau Director bit her lips and suddenly her eyes reddened. She pointed at the mountainous pile of alcohol bottles nearby and said angrily:

“These wines are imbued with linguistic secret arts in advance. In your mouth, it tastes like wine, but in anyone else’s, it’s just water. Even if I drink it, it’s useless!”

…

After listening to the Bureau Director’s words, Leon could only click his tongue speechlessly and mentally gave Honorable Taurus a thumbs-up inside.

Just like how the Aquarius lineage specializes in auxiliary secret arts designed to suppress the True Gods’ physical forms to extract materials needed for “anomalous creation,” the Taurus lineage also has several auxiliary secret arts that complement the main art of “Anomalous Forging.”

The Bureau Director must have encountered the “Master Recognition Linguistic Art” of the Taurus lineage, which adds a “theft prevention lock” to anomalous items, making them unusable by those who don’t meet the conditions. The [Twelve Ant Nests] upstairs in the Virgo Subdivision building is locked by this secret art.

Using a secret art capable of locking numbered anomalous items to secure ordinary alcohol—Honorable Taurus truly went to extremes.

“Well… then I really can’t do anything…”

Not expecting the Director to go this far, Leon helplessly shrugged his shoulders, sympathetically glancing at the tearful Red-haired Bureau Director before hastily moving case after case of alcohol into the storage room on the first floor.

The Red-haired Bureau Director stood there dejectedly, staring at these beautiful wines she couldn’t drink, her stomach churning with envy.

Should I make things difficult for him? Or find a reason to dock his salary? Watching Leon, who resembled a hardworking little squirrel, continuously moving box after box of fine wine into the house, the Bureau Director’s gaze grew increasingly resentful—and dangerous.

Although it wasn’t Leon’s fault that she couldn’t drink these fine wines, she had treated him to countless drinks at the tavern, racking up long tabs, always thinking of this guy whenever she got something good. Now he gets to enjoy them all alone, drinking while she watches, getting drunk while she drools…

There’s no mistake here! One after another, nothing but content within!

If I don’t do something about this, I won’t be able to sleep well this month!

…

“That red-haired woman looks like she’s about to burst.”

After Leon finished moving all the alcohol and firmly locked the storage room door, Black Goat emerged from the light bulb glass of the storage room, cautioning him anxiously: “Listen up, kid. Although she treats people in your bureau nicely, she’s quite petty. You need to watch out these next couple of days!”

“…”

Indeed, having handled so much fine wine without being able to taste even a drop, the Bureau Director’s grudge has become almost tangible…

After hearing Black Goat’s warning, Leon helplessly nodded in agreement, acknowledging its judgment. Then, he unscrewed a bottle of wine and took a refined sip.

There’s nothing I can do. Although it feels a bit unfair to the director, after drinking these thousand bottles, my [Martyr of Liquor Nation] status will upgrade into the second unique badge [Immortal Drinker]. Besides, it’s not like I placed the linguistic enchantment myself, so it’s not that I’m being unrighteous… Hmm… worthy of the Brewing God’s bead, this wine is truly excellent.

With immense willpower, Leon resisted the urge to finish the bottle in one gulp. He quietly screwed the cap back on, opened the next bottle, and while trying his best to control his expression from showing too much joy, gulped down a large mouthful of wine behind the Bureau Director’s back, feeling guilty about enjoying it alone.

Yeah, it’s delicious.

(End of Chapter)”