Chapter 6

This hidden trait… is it the scapegoat?

Looking at the glaring words of dismissal, Leon who had just crawled out of “hell,” couldn’t help but shiver. Instinctively, he wanted to take off the badge, but received feedback that it was “temporarily unable to be removed.” He could only reluctantly give up and silently pray in his heart.

Heaven bless, within these two months before this bronze-level promotion for the badge, please don’t let anything major happen at the Clearing Bureau! My whole family relies on this job to turn things around. There’s also my sister Anna’s illness…

That’s right! Anna! Thinking about his sister still waiting for treatment on the hospital bed, Leon who had just completed his employment quickly asked for leave and then hurriedly rushed out of the Clearing Bureau, preparing to use the newly acquired benefits to ensure Anna gets better treatment.

And after he left in a hurry, the Black Goat who had been quietly observing all along clicked his tongue twice with a face full of schadenfreude as he said to the Woman with Red Hair:

“Ho ho! You didn’t even want him to know the content of the work at the Clearing Bureau, so you probably weren’t planning on letting him participate in missions, right?

What’s going on? Did you see that this kid is already at his wit’s end and decided to extend a hand out of kindness?”

“No.”

The Woman with Red Hair took out another bottle of wine from somewhere unknown, tilted her neck back and drank a big gulp. Then she reined in her smile, her expression indifferent as she said: “The more ‘truth’ humans come into contact with, the deeper they are tainted by the dark side, and the easier it becomes for new anomalies to be attracted by their scent.

Leon has excellent talent, but now the bureau is short-staffed, and there’s no way we can have someone always protecting him. I temporarily blocked this part of his memory to prevent anomalies from finding him.

As for the specific work content, once we find an anomaly suitable for him, telling him then won’t be too late.”

Pull the other one, what kind of talent does that kid have!

The Black Goat completely disbelieved the Woman with Red Hair’s explanation and sneered disdainfully:

“Stop making excuses! Although he resisted our [Corrupt Whisper], that doesn’t mean his willpower is extraordinary. This kid just happens to be somewhat rational, and his moral values are slightly stronger than the average person.

If we were to say it, this guy who has almost lost all his spirit and meekly conforms like a lamb isn’t even worth those convicts who can only be cannon fodder. He probably won’t last through the first mission.”

“He’ll make it through.”

Without informing the Black Goat of the “anomaly” Leon possesses, the Woman with Red Hair took another big sip of beer and then calmly said:

“I can lead him through the first few tasks, and Emma’s work is almost done; she should be back by tonight.

Afterwards, if I have time, I’ll take him. If not, I’ll have Emma bring him along until he can stand on his own.”

Oh man, you’re taking such good care of him? What do you see in this kid?

“You’d better not mess around!”

The Black Goat furrowed his brows, clearly annoyed:

“The performance of the Clearing Bureau is always calculated based on the number of regular members. Our Sixth Bureau is currently ranked second to last. There are only two months until the year-end review. Are you bringing in such a big burden now because you’re worried about not being last?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“We don’t care either!”

The Black Goat pouted and said:

“The people you’ve killed outnumber the ones I’ve seen in my entire life, so I actually admire you quite a bit—except when you start giving out misplaced compassion.

As the most insane executioner in the entire clearing bureau, why don’t you stick to your own line of work instead of pretending to be some overly kind person? Do you know how disgusting you look when you show compassion?”

“Oh.”

“…”

“Tsks… You don’t really think helping that kid will save his life, do you?”

Seeing the red-haired woman drinking indifferently, clearly uninterested in dealing with him, the Black Goat couldn’t help but change color and sarcastically said:

“I understand humans very well. If they keep struggling in the darkness, they can barely hold on by becoming numb to it. But now you’ve pulled him out, letting him see the light under the sun, everything has changed irreversibly.

When he fails the year-end review and gets dismissed, feeling the sharp drop from heaven back to hell, this kid might go crazy or even resent you for helping him, just like that someone did before…

By the way, what exactly did that someone say back then?”

With great nonchalance, the Black Goat walked into the dim office, sat on a plush sofa, crossed his legs, and mockingly mimicked in front of the silent red-haired woman, raising his hoof: “I hate you! Olivia! I hate you!”

“Screech!”

The moment the Black Goat finished speaking, the grating sound of a blade cutting through bones rang out.

As if cut thousands of times instantly by countless thin and sharp blades, the Black Goat, who was raising his hoof, was torn apart in an instant, scattering all over the floor with a clatter.

But strangely, despite the Black Goat turning into mincemeat, there was no trace of blood in the office. The woman behind the desk remained in her original posture as if nothing had happened, continuing to drink her beer in large gulps.

Just that her bright red hair suddenly dulled a bit, the curled ends due to lack of care quietly staining with an odd shade of crimson.

“I’ve warned you many times not to call my name directly.”

Tossing away the empty wine bottle that had somehow been drained, the red-haired woman hooked her fingers toward the sofa, and a sheep’s head whose mouth was sewn shut with red silk threads floated over and landed squarely on her desk.

Glancing at the Black Goat, who was full of shock and anger on the table, Olivia, the red-haired woman, shook her head and said: “Considering you did a good job last time, I allowed you free movement within the bureau. But now it seems this form suits you better.

Also, I plan to take some time to visit Wales County soon, carefully investigate what happened back then, and why you fear men from Wales County.

Before I return, stay like this! Once I figure out exactly what you’re afraid of, I’ll let you properly experience the consequences of your foul-mouthed behavior!”

“Mm? Urgh! Urgh!!!”

…

Unaware of what happened after he left, Leon hurriedly returned to the hospital, hastily knocked on the office door of the respiratory department, and handed over his still warm new ID before the department director packed up his things and went home.

The Sixth Cleaning Bureau? Is there such a department under the Public Security Bureau? What is a Level Three Accident Handler? Taking Leon’s ID, the skeptical fat director flipped through it, recognizing several special marks, his previously dubious expression immediately turned solemn.

The public official system of the kingdom is divided into five levels, from top to bottom: Executive Level, Administrative Level, Clerical Level, Assistant Level, and General Affairs Level.

Being the director of the respiratory department in a lower-level hospital, he is barely considered top-tier in the General Affairs Level. After working for twenty more years and retiring, he might have a chance to squeeze into the tail end of the Assistant Level.

But the skinny young man in front of him dressed in an old overcoat is already an Assistant Level public official, and his salary is directly compared to the Clerical Level! Such a person would likely advance to the ranks of the Clerical Level officials within three to five years.

Damn! Isn’t that going to be on par with our hospital dean?

Looking at the youth who probably hasn’t even reached twenty, envy flashed in the fat director’s eyes, and deep jealousy lurked beneath.

I’ve worked hard in the hospital for more than twenty years, and my greatest hope is to secure an Assistant Level position before retirement. But this guy is already among the top Assistants before he’s even twenty, sitting right at the end of my lifelong dream, and even extending beyond it. Where can I complain about this?

Cursing inwardly at the cursed connections, the fat director mentally tagged the young man as absolutely someone not to offend. The layers of flesh on his face blossomed into a flower-like grin, rubbing his hands together and smiling broadly at Leon:

“Mr. Leon, may I ask if there’s anything wrong with you?”

“It’s not me, it’s my sister.”

After briefly explaining Anna’s situation, before Leon could even make any requests, the pot-bellied director enthusiastically offered to immediately transfer her to the best ward, equipped with the best reagents, and promised personally to follow up, ensuring Miss Anna receives the highest level of treatment in the capital city.

Feeling uncomfortable with the excessive enthusiasm of the fat director, Leon endured the awkwardness, exchanged a few forced pleasantries, and followed the nurse’s guidance to sit down on the soft sofa in the VIP ward ahead of time, waiting for them to push Anna over.

Sitting alone in the quiet and tidy ward, looking at the brand-new bed covered with white sheets in front of him, Leon, sitting upright on the sofa, couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of nostalgia.

From the moment he grabbed the scalpel and ran out of the hospital, it’s been less than an hour, yet the desperate situation that had driven his entire family to the brink has already been resolved.

Not only has a solution been found for his sister’s illness, but his family, which was struggling at the bottom rung of the capital city just moments ago, can now live a decent life thanks to his salary. All of this came at the cost of…

Um? What exactly was the cost again… Ow! Hot! Too hot!!!

While deeply pondering what exactly he paid as a price, Leon suddenly felt a searing pain in his chest. The scarab beetle-shaped badge representing the Sixth Cleaning Bureau emitted a terrifying high temperature like a branding iron, cruelly scorching him through three layers of clothing.

[An out-of-control infiltrator matching the job description has appeared. The Black Iron Badge “Probationary Employee” activated. Your work efficiency has slightly improved.]

(End of Chapter)