https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-18-Don-t-Ask-It-s-an-Explosion-Part-1-/12969515/
Chapter 17: A Stew Worthy of Suspicion
Chapter 17: A Stew Worthy of Suspicion
You're asking for a good stewing!
With all his might, he clamped down on the Black Sheep's mouth, shoving back its foul words. After releasing the Black Sheep's mouth, Leon looked up at the still-smiling red-haired woman, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Um... Director, my sister was quite frightened yesterday and is still in the hospital. If there's nothing urgent, may I take the afternoon off?"
"Sure, go ahead! You've just completed such a dangerous cleanup mission; you deserve a break."
Smiling, the director approved Leon's leave request. As he left with the struggling sheep's head in his hands, the red-haired woman's faint smile vanished. She then crossed her arms, leaned back against the chair, and gazed thoughtfully at the old ceiling.
Something's not right...
Earlier, she had clearly blocked Leon's memories, causing him to temporarily forget about the Cleanup Bureau's work. But why did he know to come to the Bureau for help after the badge's warning?
Moreover, she had intentionally released a bit of her charm, and Leon's reaction did seem to be one of genuine affection. Yet, his behavior this time was entirely normal, as if he hadn't lost any memories at all.
As she thought about this, the red-haired woman's eyebrows lifted slightly.
Yesterday afternoon, when this little guy rushed over, wanting to join the Cleanup Bureau because of his 'anomaly,' he didn't immediately reveal his ability. Instead, he hesitated for a moment before claiming his power was to forcibly obtain intelligence...
"Hehe, interesting."
With a slight smirk, the red-haired woman picked up a feather from the water bottle and opened a drawer to retrieve Leon's file. Finding the 'Intelligence Acquisition' ability, she added a small question mark to the file.
Such a cautious little guy, what secrets are you hiding?
...
[Encountering an Unfathomable Existence, the Colored Badge 'Materialistic Soul (Crimson)' is activated. Your Cognitive Boundary expands, and you gain partial information about this existence.]
[Name: Memory Eraser (Whisper, Affection)]
[Appearance: Intangible]
[Ability: When someone develops feelings of love, adoration, or reverence for the host, this anomaly grants the host memory-blocking abilities, temporarily concealing a short-term memory from the affected individual.]
[Cost: Among the three types of 'True Love'—parental, filial, and romantic—the host will forever be unable to experience one of them. If someone develops the corresponding 'True Love' for the host, they will immediately lose all memories related to that love.]
[File: This anomaly is held by Olivia, the head of the Sixth Division of the Cleanup Bureau. She has no parents, no lover, and no children, making it impossible to determine which type of 'True Love' she has lost.
Additionally, the last recorded use of this anomaly was during the Red Moon Incident in 1794.
Olivia, the head of the Sixth Division, disguised herself as a singer and used public broadcasts to deceive and earn the affection of a large number of Moon People, erasing the memories of over 70,000 individuals in one go. This action significantly hindered the Moon People's arrival plan.]
[Evaluation: An extremely powerful ability, but the cost is also quite heavy.]
[Corruption Value: 7]
[Through your own observations and deductions, you have obtained a wealth of information about 'Memory Eraser.' The Colored Badge 'Materialistic Soul (Crimson)' is activated.
By understanding the activation rules of 'Memory Eraser,' your resistance to this anomaly has significantly increased, and you can now block its influence to a certain degree.]
...
So that's what happened...
As he stood at the door of the director's office, Leon couldn't help but nod in realization when he saw the new anomaly information pop up as the red-haired woman grabbed his right hand.
No wonder I forgot about the Cleanup Bureau's work; it was because my memories were temporarily blocked.
According to the "rules" set by the Black Sheep, the more one knows about the "truth," the more likely they are to be targeted by anomalies. The Director had temporarily blocked these memories, likely out of concern for encountering danger when one is unable to protect themselves.
However, the reason why the protagonist's memories were restored was due to a combination of factors: the protagonist's level of emotional involvement at the time was not high, resulting in minimal influence, and subsequently, the badge's heat warning served as an indirect reminder from the out-of-control Infector, which helped break through the memory blockade.
But why couldn't these facts have been revealed to the protagonist directly?
"Leon?"
A soft call interrupted Leon's train of thought. He looked up, following the sound, and felt his eyes widen in surprise. A tall, graceful woman, dressed in a beige half-skirt suit, stood at the other end of the corridor, her gentle demeanor accompanied by a warm smile.
Unlike the charming and dangerous red-haired Director, this tall beauty possessed a different kind of allure, one that seemed almost devoid of aggression. Her figure was slender and delicate, yet it still exuded a feminine fullness.
Her skin, as white as jade, complemented her soft and exquisite facial features, creating a unique and captivating aura of sweetness and tranquility. Leon couldn't help but be amazed at the stark contrast between this woman and the bandaged figure from the day before. For a moment, he was so taken aback by the difference that he struggled to recognize her.
"It's fine! Of course, it's fine! I just finished talking with the Director. Sorry for blocking your way." Leon hastily stepped aside from the doorway, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"It's okay," Emma replied with a smile, her appearance now transformed and radiating a newfound charm. She then continued, a bit hesitantly, "In a few days, I'll be going out on another mission. When I return, could I ask you for a favor?"
"Don't worry, I can assure you that there won't be any danger. It might just be a bit tiring..."
"No problem!" Leon's expression turned serious as he spoke earnestly. "You braved great danger to save my sister yesterday, so no matter how tiring or difficult it is, I will give it my all!"
"Hehe, then I'll thank you in advance!" Emma smiled at Leon once more before pushing open the door and entering the Director's office.
Watching her graceful figure disappear inside, Leon couldn't help but be amazed at the transformation.
Wow... If it weren't for her voice, I wouldn't have recognized her! The difference is just too much! If only...
"If only the bedbugs in my bed were as attractive as her, I'd let them bite me without a peep. Kid, is that what you're thinking?"
Leon's silence was met with a smirk from the Black Sheep. "Hehe, I suggest you stop getting carried away. That girl is several years older than you! You don't stand a chance. It's best to give up now."
(-_-;)
What chance? I was just startled by the huge difference between her and the bandaged figure from yesterday. Can't I just be a bit hesitant to recognize her for a moment? Why do you always jump to such conclusions?
And with that mouth of yours, how have you managed to stay alive without getting beaten up? Is it because your soup is so delicious?
(End of Chapter)
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