Chapter 153: Vices and the Inferior Flower
Chapter 153: Vices and the Inferior Flower
This... is one of Anna's lost photos?
Through the gaps in her hair, Lyon recognized what it was and couldn't help but widen his eyes in shock.
"Director, how did this end up with you?"
"You should ask your good senior about that."
The red-haired director smiled and said, "You wouldn't think that Jerry could resist his kleptomaniac tendencies and not sneak a touch when he saw you, would you?"
"But... this should be at my home, not on my person."
"That's the effect of an anomaly called 'Thieving Sleight of Hand.' When Jerry wants to steal something from you, it doesn't matter if it's in your home or even in another world; the result is the same.
As long as he gets close to you and reaches out to touch, the item that has had the greatest impact on your life up to this point will be directly taken by him. Not even a True God can fully exempt this ability."
After briefly explaining Jerry's ability, the red-haired director smiled and asked, "Although he did something not so nice to you, I also made him compensate you doubly. Are you satisfied with his apology?"
"..."
So that's how it is... No wonder Jerry was so generous, insisting on a buy-one-get-one deal, directly giving me two anomalies, and even teaching me many tricks for using them. He also gave me an expensive bomb...
"I'm very satisfied. Jerry helped me a lot."
Understanding the reason, Lyon shook his head speechlessly and then thought about the two investigators' evaluation of the Maiden Bureau members. He couldn't help but ask:
"By the way, Director, isn't our bureau's reputation... not so good?"
"It's indeed not great, or you could say it's downright terrible."
Hearing Lyon's question, the red-haired director nodded and frankly admitted the Maiden Bureau's bad reputation. She then sighed and said:
"But there's nothing we can do about it. Everyone in our bureau is a born anomaly carrier, and behind these self-inflicted anomalies are curses that they can't shake off.
Jerry, with his thieving hands, can't resist stealing. Emma, with her immortality, is especially afraid of death. Tom, with his dice, has an uncontrollable gambling addiction. Harry, with his sticky touch, can't seem to hold onto anything... These all fall under this category. While they gain power, they also pay a corresponding price.
Other bureaus may have similar individuals, but either their abilities are not as potent, making the effects less extreme, or there are only a handful of such cases, one or two at most. In our bureau, however, there are so many that we haven't caused any major disturbances.
As for us... although none are bad people, we each have vices that are hard to break. In the past, we've indeed caused quite a few problems. And with me, the notorious Executioner Director, our reputation couldn't possibly be good."
Ah, so that's how it is...
After listening to the red-haired director's words, Lyon nodded in understanding. The red-haired director glanced at him and then started pondering his situation.
Little Lyon's ability... is a cognitive world-type power that forces information extraction. Following this line of thought, could his 'vice' be... an excess of curiosity?
No, that's not right!
Recalling Lyon's usual behavior, she felt that while he cherished knowledge, it didn't reach the level of a 'vice.' The red-haired director shook her head slightly, negating her own conjecture.
It seems Lyon's 'vice' is not like Jerry's positive reinforcement of anomalies, but more like Emma and Harry's type of 'negative conflict'...
"Director?"
The red-haired director's thoughtful gaze made Lyon's scalp tighten slightly. He quickly picked up the photo on the table and said his farewells, "I don't have any other questions. I'll be going now!"
"Okay, off you go!"
After Lyon left, the red-haired director interlaced her fingers and lazily leaned back in her chair, continuing to ponder the question she had just been considering.
A Cleaning Agent's "Bad Habit" after being corrupted is most commonly manifested in two ways.
Either it's a positive reinforcement of anomalies, such as the ability to steal, like the Skill "Thieving Hands," and Jerry's kleptomania; or it's a contradictory conflict with their power, such as the ability to be physically immortal, like the Skill "Undying Body," and Emma's extreme aversion to death, resulting in a cautious personality.
As for Leon's anomalous ability, which belongs to the cognitive world, since he hasn't shown excessive curiosity, it's unlikely to be the first case. It should be the second case, where his personality is in direct opposition to the manifestation of his anomalous ability.
So, if the cognitive world is reversed... Does Leon have a comprehensive understanding of the rules of the world, and it's so deeply ingrained that it's difficult to change?
...
Unaware that the "bottoms" of his situation had already been exposed by the Director, and with his knees about to be exposed, Leon returned to his office but didn't immediately start working. Instead, he examined the family portrait of his sister Anna and his parents.
[Name: Warm Home (Under Repair, Unusable) (Wish, Doll, Modification)]
[Appearance: A brand-new family portrait, seemingly normal from the front, but upon observing from behind, one can see numerous unhealed cracks and deep brown scorch marks, as if it had been repeatedly torn and burned with fire.]
[Ability: Gain Family, Control Family, Modify World]
[Cost: Updating, Visible after Repair Completion]
[File: One of the many functional anomalies created by the Cleaning Bureau's Water Bottle Director to fulfill a wish, temporarily numbered 0006.
This particularly unique anomaly was born from a child's deepest desire for family, but what it brings is not a family that truly loves the user, but a collection of puppets that obey their every command.
Upon discovering this, its creator outright denied the anomaly's significance and tore it apart, freeing the "family" from control but causing irreparable damage.
However, after years of companionship, the creator and the family brought by this anomaly gradually became a true family, and the anomaly's significance was once again acknowledged, initiating a slow self-repair process.
Note: After this repair is complete, its ability will undergo completely unknown changes based on the creator's circumstances.]
[Evaluation: Even if born from deception and malice, as long as one persistently nurtures it with kindness and love, it may yet bear warm and wonderful fruits.]
[Corruption Value: ?]
So... the original me wasn't Anna's biological brother, but a false family member "kidnapped" by this anomaly?
Although he had similar suspicions, after reading the file of Anna's family portrait, Leon couldn't help but close his eyes, leaning back in his chair with a complex mood. However, this complexity didn't last long before it was rudely interrupted by a strong sense of crisis.
The Water Bottle Director again!
Seeing the information about the Water Bottle Director in Anna's family portrait file, Leon's brows furrowed tightly.
I didn't expect Anna's family portrait to be one of the anomalies he created to fulfill his wish... So, what is the Water Bottle Director's wish? And in the process of meticulously fulfilling this wish, will it harm Anna?
(End of Chapter)
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