Chapter 30

【Demon’s Friend (Silver): By conducting ten extreme evil sacrifices and consecutively offering tributes filled with human hatred and blood, the deep-seated ambition within your soul has fortunately caught the profound affection of a high-ranking demon】

【Wearing Effect: Greatly increased affinity with items marked as “Fallen,” reducing usage costs while significantly enhancing effects】

【Advancement Path: Continue the agreed-upon evil sacrifices until the incarnation of this demon is fully resurrected, at which point this badge will automatically ascend to the Gold Badge “I Am the Devil”】

【Additionally, for every sinful human soul offered, the demon’s resurrection speed will increase accordingly. Current resurrection value stands at 5%.】

【Hidden Trait (No need to wear): After prolonged interaction, your soul has been tainted by demonic evil aura, making you more likely to attract certain malevolent beings】

【Your Taint Value has increased】

【Current Taint Value: 0.4】

Taint Value…

Looking at this strange number that appeared again, Leon, crouching in an alley near the Public Security Bureau while giving Black Goat a cigarette, couldn’t help but subconsciously narrow his eyes.

He had privately asked Black Goat, but there seemed to be no mention of taint values in the Clearing Bureau, so the significance of this data could only be deduced on his own.

And if he hadn’t misremembered, this thing called taint value had shown up four times so far.

The first time was when he touched Black Goat, and through the effect of [Materialist Soul], learned its taint value was 0.1;

The second time was when he gained Black Goat’s approval, receiving its usage rights, raising his own taint value to 0.1;

The third time was learning about Red-haired Bureau Director’s [Memoryless Love] information, finding out that thing’s taint value was 7;

The fourth time was after touching the door handle of Happiness Apartment, discovering in the popped-up message that [Parasitic Shelter]’s taint value was also 0.1.

So currently, it can basically be confirmed that anything with a taint value should be a unique characteristic of anomalous items.

Also, from the start of Black Goat’s revival, his own taint value also increased, indicating that after gaining the usage rights of an anomalous item, the user’s taint value would rise by the same amount.

Thinking about this, Leon couldn’t help but reach out and pet Black Goat’s head a couple of times.

【Name: Demon Horn (Fallen, Knowledge, Whisper) (Reviving)】

【Appearance: ……】

【……】

【Taint Value: 0.4】

As expected, the value matches mine.

Seeing Black Goat’s taint value had become 0.4, a flash of understanding passed through Leon’s eyes, and he also guessed why the middle-aged nurse wasn’t erased by the Brain of the Elder God.

According to the “Usage Cost” of [Parasitic Shelter], these residents who greet Administrator Matron daily are using this anomalous item, so their taint values should all be 0.1.

And the way the Clearing Bureau controls the Brain of the Elder God, distinguishing between ordinary people and Clearing Bureau employees, probably involves checking for taint values, hence treating them as “relevant personnel” without memory processing.

If my guess is correct, then this should be the truth behind the Clearing Bureau’s understanding that anyone who has used an anomalous item won’t have their memories erased by the Brain of the Elder God.

However, aside from that, there’s another question: what exactly does the amount of taint value represent? The most plausible theory currently is that it represents the strength of anomalous items.

Since the strength of [Demon Horn] and [Parasitic Shelter] are the same, both being 0.1, Black Goat could withstand Old Man Yang’s scissor strike, though its horns were just scratched.

Hmm… I haven’t encountered enough anomalous items yet; not enough intel… But it seems like I can try again.

Thinking about this, Leon couldn’t help but glance at the panel floating above Black Goat’s head again, looking at its increased taint value of 0.4, pondering thoughtfully as he petted Black Goat’s head once more.

If taint value really represents item strength, then 0.4 > 0.1, meaning Black Goat’s current strength exceeds [Parasitic Shelter].

So later, when I’m stronger, I can visit Happiness Apartment again and try using Black Goat to block Grandpa’s scissors. If it doesn’t get dented this time…

…

“What do you keep fondling our head for? Are you petting a dog or something!”

Unaware that Leon planned to use him as an experiment, Black Goat irritably shook off Leon’s wandering hand after taking a puff of his cigarette, exhaling a smoky circle lazily:

“Kid! Since you’re being so generous, we’ll let the knife-blocking incident slide. As long as you keep feeding me, we’ll still be good partners!”

“Hmm.”

After perfunctorily responding twice, now increasingly craving power after a series of events, Leon lit up seven or eight cigarettes, shoving them into Black Goat’s mouth while testing the waters:

“I’ve carefully observed that everyone in our bureau seems to have extraordinary constitutions! Emma Senior can leave handprints on metal cabinets, and the Director can drink over a hundred bottles of strong liquor and only turn slightly red-faced.

And the Harry Senior who just returned and was sent out again—boxes I can barely drag, he carries as easily as a water cup…”

After finishing his observations, Leon stared intently at Black Goat, asking without blinking:

“If it were just one or two people, it might be due to the effects of anomalous items, but everyone in the bureau is like this—it must be for some reason! Can you tell me what I need to do to achieve their level of physical strength?”

“Tsk… You observe pretty closely, but this can’t be rushed!”

After inhaling a big puff of smoke, Black Goat lazily said with smoke coming out of his ears: “Let me explain it this way… When you use my abilities, don’t you feel utterly exhausted afterward, like your spirit and body have been drained?”

“Do I?”

“…”

Damn… Forgot this kid has exceptional compatibility with demons…

Speechlessly looking at Leon, Black Goat moved his thick lips a bit, holding the cigarette in his mouth to the sides before saying with ill intent: “My ability isn’t observing souls, it’s stirring up the darker side of others’ hearts! You’ve been using me like a telescope and half a mind-reading tool, never properly using me! Of course, you won’t feel any consumption!”

“Oh…”

“In short, each use of an anomalous item requires satisfying its inherent rules while paying a certain amount of physical strength and willpower as a cost. The more powerful the effect, the more physical and mental strength required.

For example, the strongest anomalous item in your bureau held by Harry is an endless roll of tape that can stick not only physical objects but even conceptual things.”

“Conceptual things… like what?”

“Like souls, bonds, broken beliefs… Anyway, watch out for him. If one day you suddenly find yourself liking him, chances are you’ve been stuck by him. Slap yourself to wake up!”

(End of Chapter)