Chapter 514

“Wait for me a sec.”

Just as Algernon began to reflect, thinking his bureau director had gone too far, Leon found a route-guidance machine by the roadside and stood beside it. Not long after, a harried citizen approached and instinctively reached toward his trouser pocket.

Him.

Leon glanced at the citizen’s pocket, spotting a bulge similar in size to an identity card, then immediately stepped forward. He pulled out the [Silver Knife] and swiftly cut a small slit in the bottom of the man’s pocket.

Before the citizen could fish out his ID card, Leon deftly slipped his pinky inside, flicked it out, and retrieved the card. Then, with a light swipe on the pants’ cut edge, he magically mended the “living” tear, restoring it to its original pristine state.

“Huh?”

Unaware of Leon hidden by the [Secret Tail], the seemingly preoccupied citizen fumbled into his pocket only to find his ID card missing. His expression turned frantic as he instinctively glanced back the way he came, but there was no trace of the card.

Oh no, oh no, why now of all times…

As the hurried citizen stomped his foot in frustration and turned around to go back, a hand suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

“Excuse me, sir.”

To the traveler’s delighted surprise, Leon, having already finished checking the route, smiled and handed back the identity card he’d just “borrowed.”

“Your thing fell.”

“Ah! Thank you! Thank you!”

After saying thanks twice, the traveler gratefully took his identity card and excitedly said, “If it weren’t for you, my business would have been delayed. I’m truly very grateful.”

“No need to thank me, it was nothing.”

Nodding to the grateful traveler, Leon walked over to where Algernon waited nearby and said:

“I’ve just checked. To return to the embassy, we need to first pass through Research Zones 8 and 9, reach Residential Zone 17, wait forty minutes for the partial swap of some upper and lower city blocks, enter the lower area, then turn right onto the next street to arrive at Administrative Zone 3 where the embassy is located.”

“Ah, understood.”

Surprisingly nodding, the nearly two-meter-tall Algernon followed Leon directly onto the tram bound for Research Zone 8 without paying, then couldn’t help but curiously ask: “Mr. Leon, this ability that makes people overlook you—does it come from some Great Demon?”

“Yes, this thing is called [Secret Tail]. Its function is to erase presence and reduce awareness. When facing targets with significantly lower taint values than yourself, it can even make them completely unable to detect you.”

After briefly explaining the function of the [Secret Tail], Leon asked somewhat surprisedly:

“Senior Algernon, how did you know it comes from a Great Demon?”

“Because it feels kind of like…”

Recalling briefly, Algernon uncertainly said: “In our Alleson Kingdom, there’s a very annoying organization called the Derivative Sect. They worship everything related to reproduction and sex, often hosting extremely… chaotic gatherings.

Among the sacred relics they venerate, there’s one… uh… submerged in a jar, which is the Great Demon’s… you know what. The aura matches your anomalous item quite closely. Though not entirely sure, it seems likely to be of the same origin.”

The Great Demon’s… could it be something Black Goat blew up back in the day…

Unexpectedly learning the whereabouts of one of those stray items from Algernon, Leon’s eyebrows twitched slightly, ready to inquire further.

“Hold still!”

After shoving the suddenly popping-out Black Goat back inside, Leon apologized with a smile to Algernon and asked with interest:

“Senior Algernon, as it just said, that thing should indeed be part of my anomalous set. What happened to it?”

“It was purified.”

“Eh?”

“The Derivative Sect made too much noise last month and was wiped out by our Scorpio Division. All their so-called sacred relics were confiscated by the Bureau.”

After recounting the Derivative Sect’s fate, Algernon recalled for a moment and said with a slightly strange expression: “We also have a Level 1 Cleaner in the Bureau nicknamed ‘Purifier Maiden.’ Those… sacred relics were all taken away by her and purified one by one. Although the objects themselves weren’t destroyed, their abilities were completely altered.

Um… if I remember correctly, she turned that thing into an anomalous item used to purify desires. Just whack someone’s head with it, and all their desires vanish, keeping their mind pure for an entire day.

The Derivative Sect caused quite a stir, affecting many victims. Before Director and I left Alleson Kingdom, she was still using that thing to treat each… uh… victim harmed by the Derivative Sect. It’ll probably take another two months to treat everyone.”

“AHH!!! How dare she?!!!”

Upon hearing the fate of his “brother,” the Black Goat who had just been shoved back by Leon burst out again, roaring with anger: “That’s our whip! Damn that stinking woman! I’ll kill her!”

“Stay put!”

Shoving Black Goat back once more and instructing Puppy to keep an eye on him, Leon sighed and said:

“Uh… Senior Algernon, if possible, after this mission ends, I hope you can introduce me. If that Purifier Maiden is willing, I’d like to trade other anomalous items with her to retrieve that thing.”

“Alright…”

Smiling awkwardly, Algernon nodded in agreement and curiously asked: “So the goat head earlier, is that the body where the Great Demon’s soul resides?”

“Sort of, but strictly speaking, it’s only one-seventh. This anomalous set is actually quite special; each piece has its own independent soul, and their personalities aren’t entirely the same either…”

After briefly explaining Black Goat’s situation, Leon looked up at the flashing sign above and reminded:

“Senior Algernon, we’ve arrived at Residential Zone 17. We should get off.”

“Ah, okay!”

Hearing Leon’s reminder, Algernon, whose curiosity was satisfied, quickly stood up and followed Leon off the tram. They sat on a nearby bench, waiting for Crocodile Kingdom to complete the upper-lower layer switch before heading to the embassy area to pick up their contact.

However, at this moment, the little flower in Leon’s pocket suddenly trembled, spitting out Princess Phelia in a faint. It then rapidly withered and dried, completely wilting within just two breaths.

Then, the [Secret Tail] held by Leon slowly transmitted a thought.

‘Nicole’s supply has been cut off. Before it was cut, she told me… run, run fast!’

(End of Chapter)