Chapter 585

There’s absolutely no room for doubt— you, you damn girlie brat, are definitely implying something! Leon couldn’t help but turn pale as he watched the jade-eyed maiden sneak glances while asking questions, clearly not wanting to team up with him. He immediately regretted not having taken the chance earlier to teach her a lesson. Meanwhile, the red-haired bureau director rested his chin on his hand and replied with a grin:

“This is definitely not an issue. Although according to Clearing Bureau regulations, cleaners should ideally operate in groups of two or three, especially new recruits who must be accompanied by experienced cleaners to avoid getting killed right off the bat.

However, first, your skills far surpass those of ordinary rookies, and you’ve got plenty of anomalous items; it’s almost impossible for anything dangerous to happen. Second, our Virgo Subdivision is short-staffed, and most tasks have been carried out solo in the past. Plus, you rarely leave the capital city, so whether or not you form a fixed squad really doesn’t matter.”

Phew… that’s good, that’s good…

“But still,” the red-haired bureau director continued, “I highly recommend forming at least a semi-fixed squad.”

After casting a glance at the visibly relieved jade-eyed maiden, the red-haired bureau director winked knowingly before adding teasingly,

“For instance, Leon would make an excellent choice. Though he’s only been with us at the Virgo Subdivision for a short time, he’s already taken on many extremely perilous missions with nearly a 100% success rate. Moreover, he’s practically reached Level 2 Cleaner standards…”

“NO NO NO NO!”

With four emphatic ‘nos’, Phelia’s face changed drastically as she frantically shook her head.

“I’m perfectly fine alone. I don’t need to form a fixed squad!”

“Alright, whatever you prefer~”

After encouraging the jade-eyed maiden a bit and assigning her an office diagonally opposite Leon’s, the red-haired bureau director watched her leave happily and then gave Leon a significant look before smiling and saying, “Oh, Leon, if I’m not mistaken, your Leon Value has improved significantly recently, reaching the standard for Level 2 Cleaners. There just happens to be an opportunity for promotion coming up soon. It’s about time you consider leveling up.”

Promotion to Level 2 Cleaner, huh?

Upon hearing this, Leon paused briefly to think. The taint value for Level 2 Cleaners typically ranges from 11-30 points. During his mission to the Crocodile Kingdom, he had continuously ‘consumed’ three veteran Level 2 Cleaners and even spent over ten hours devouring the Scorpion Bureau Director’s soul. Although he eventually expelled these souls without fully digesting them, every bird leaves a feather, every beast leaves grease. His taint value skyrocketed, breaking through 16 points. It was indeed time to consider promoting to Level 2 Cleaner.

“Got it.”

Nodding slightly, Leon curiously asked,

“Bureau Director, besides meeting the Leon Value requirement, what other criteria are there for advancing to Level 2 Cleaner?”

“There are indeed some standards.”

The red-haired bureau director thought for a moment before replying with a peculiar expression: “First, there needs to be a recommender. Most Level 2 and 3 Cleaners aren’t allowed to act alone. They’re usually led by more experienced Level 1 or 2 Cleaners. For promotions, you need a recommendation from either a higher-level cleaner in your fixed squad or the subdivision director.

Since you haven’t formed a fixed squad with Emma, Jerry, Nicole, Tom, or Pione, my recommendation as the subdivision director will suffice;

Secondly, there’s the number of completed tasks. Our Clearing Bureau categorizes tasks into five levels based on urgency: Level 1 Incident, Level 2 Crisis, Level 3 Disaster, Level 4 Collapse, and Level 5 Apocalypse.

Level 5 Apocalypse tasks are generally handled by Yellow Path Directors, the Twelve Directors, and the General Bureau Director. For example, the current General Bureau Director who hasn’t returned yet is executing a Level 5 task.

As for Level 4 Collapse tasks, they’re assigned to elite Level 1 Cleaners, Sub-bureau Directors, and Yellow Path Directors depending on the danger level. Both the Soulfall Black Abyss and the Crocodile Kingdom missions you participated in were categorized as Level 4 tasks.

Good grief… needing recommendations from leading ninjas plus task quantity restrictions— did the person who made these rules watch Eyes Legend? Internally sighing, Leon recalled his submitted task reports and said in surprise,

“Director, if calculated this way, wouldn’t that mean I’ve…”

“Excluding those tasks unsuitable for reporting, you currently have twelve task records in total: three Level 1 Incident tasks, one Level 2 Crisis task, one Level 3 Disaster task, and the remaining seven are all Level 4 Collapse tasks.”

Counting down Leon’s task records like a treasure trove, the red-haired bureau director sighed affectionately at his capable subordinate who excels in both mission execution and causing trouble:

“In terms of task numbers for Level 3 Cleaners, you’ve set a record within the bureau. In fact, once your Leon Value breaks 31 points and you carry my recommendation letter, you could participate in the preliminary Sub-bureau Director examination right now.”

“If I want to advance to Level 2 Cleaner, do I also need to take an exam at the General Bureau?”

Leon frowned upon hearing this and reluctantly said,

“Director, I’ve been busy with this mission for over a month. I just want to rest for a few days… Maybe I’ll skip this round of exams and go next time!”

“Huh? No, please don’t!”

Realizing Leon seemed reluctant to proceed, the red-haired bureau director quickly tried to persuade him:

“One of these advancement exams only occurs twice a year, and if there aren’t enough participants, it might only happen once every two years. If you don’t go this time, you’ll have to wait until the second half of the year, or worse, another year or two.

Moreover, this time the number of participants in the advancement exam is the highest in nearly thirty years. Out of eighty-seven subdivisions, sixty-one will send representatives, with over four hundred Level 1, 2, and 3 Cleaners participating. Missing this would be such a pity.”

“…”

I see, so you want me to go show off for you…

Instantly seeing through his director’s plan, Leon couldn’t help but sarcastically comment,

“Director, it’s not that I’m arrogant, but given my situation, I’m a little different from regular Level 3 Cleaners. Sending me to this exam feels a bit unfair… You must have some other motive, right?”

“Ah~ Come on, how can you call that unfair?”

Realizing his intentions were clear to Leon, the red-haired bureau director decided not to hide it anymore. He blinked and shrugged innocently, “All the cleaners participating in this advancement exam have been with the Clearing Bureau for over a year, some even five or six years. Even though your task records are a bit extreme, you’ve only been with the Clearing Bureau for three months. You’re still a rookie, making it perfect to take the exam alongside them.”

“Tell me the truth!”

“Several of the cleaners taking this exam originally came from our bureau…”

Pouting unhappily after revealing the truth, the red-haired bureau director clenched his fist and promised fiercely, “If you go embarrass them for me, I’ll give you a raise when you return! The harder you hit, the bigger the raise!”

(The chapter ends here)