Chapter 173: If
Chapter 173: If
"Bang!"
"Ouch..."
In the midst of a dream, Leon rolled over and fell from his desk, landing on the carpet with a groan. His head throbbed, and the world before him seemed to split into three, constantly alternating in a dizzying cycle.
The Director... she's truly a dangerous woman... in the literal sense of the word.
Recalling the previous night's brutal drinking session, Leon couldn't help but shudder as he remembered how his broken ribs had been healed. He had no choice but to drink with her, as she was his superior and took good care of him in many ways, but she was also an incurable drunk.
In the past, no one could keep up with her, so she would drink alone, but after meeting Leon, whose alcohol tolerance could barely match hers, she seemed to have discovered a new world of drinking.
The more they drank, the more she enjoyed it. Even a dog entering the Purge Bureau would be pulled over and forced to drink a few shots if she was in a good mood. Leon had tried to pretend to be drunk twice, but she saw through his act and propped him up to continue drinking.
However, this drinking session wasn't entirely in vain.
Looking at the three strands of red hair wrapped around his right hand, Leon felt a slight relief as his face paled slightly from the hangover. He rubbed his temples, which were still throbbing, and sat back at his desk, sighing. He silently made a decision that the next time the Director tried to drag him into drinking, he would firmly refuse, just like Senior Emma.
Although it might seem like a betrayal, he couldn't help but feel that drinking with the Director was a task beyond human capability. If he were to accompany her in such a drinking session again, he would be no better than a dog!
"Woof..."
???
Leon stared at the puppy, Puppy Hao, lying on the desk with its four legs up in the air, also reeking of alcohol. He blinked in disbelief and then glanced speechlessly towards the Director's office.
I was just talking about it, I didn't expect you to even get a dog drunk!
"Wake up! Wake up!"
Leon carefully flipped the puppy over and patted its back. The puppy, having accidentally joined the drinking session, burped twice in a drunken voice before finally regaining some strength. It opened its eyes, which were heavily intoxicated.
"Woof, woof woof..."
(Scared the dog, who would even get a dog drunk...)
After complaining weakly to Leon, the puppy wiggled like a fat caterpillar and crawled into the bottle on the desk, retrieving the photograph that had caused its intoxication.
"Woof, woof..."
(The things you put in are different, I'm going back to sleep...)
"Go ahead..."
Watching the puppy stagger into the bottle and immediately fall asleep without a sound, Leon rubbed his forehead and then rubbed his palms together to warm them. He placed them over his eyes until the spinning stopped. Then, he reached for the photograph on the desk.
[Name: If (Replacement, Modification)]
[Appearance: A brand new photograph depicting a beautiful woman smiling at the viewer. Staring at it will unconsciously evoke a strange sense of envy.]
[Ability: Identity Replacement, World Modification]
[Cost: None]
[File: One of the numerous functional anomalies created by the Aquarius Director of the Purification Bureau to fulfill her wishes. Temporary number: 0006.]
【This anomaly, once lost its original power due to the creator's resistance and denial, but after experiencing some life-changing events, the creator's thoughts gradually shifted, and a new desire emerged, thus repairing this damaged anomaly.】
【Evaluation: An extremely powerful functional anomaly, capable of replacing anyone you wish to substitute at virtually no cost, even modifying all related traces.
Unfortunately, the human heart is harder to control than the entire world. Even with the ability to modify reality, you cannot change someone who doesn't love you. That person only loves the identity you borrowed.
If someone seeks happiness through this anomaly, they will likely encounter even greater disappointment. Perhaps the pain of unrequited desire is the true cost of using it.】
【Imbue Value: 9】
【Due to your special relationship with the anomaly's creator, you have direct access to all its abilities.】
【Your Imbue Value has increased.】
【Current Imbue Value: 4.1】
This thing... is Anna's family photo?
Looking at the now-restored photo, which has been transformed into a different anomaly while retaining its world-modification ability, Leon frowns deeply.
'The creator's thoughts have changed.'
'A new desire has emerged.'
'Even with the ability to change the world, you still can't change someone who doesn't love you.'
This explanation, with its hint of a lovelorn atmosphere, combined with the ability to replace identities and the familiar-looking beautiful woman in the photo...
Could Anna be in love? And with the woman in the photo? Could her feelings be so strong that they've affected the anomaly?
With limited information and a hungover mind, Leon manages to deduce a possible outcome. He clasps his hands to his head and starts pulling at his hair.
What's going on here? I just slept for a while, how did everything change when I woke up?
...
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just as Leon was questioning his entire existence, ready to ask Black Sheep about how long he had slept, there was a polite knock on the door.
"You're finally awake."
As the slightly ajar door opened, Jerry, seeing Leon had gotten down from the table, sighed in relief and asked, "Leon, someone came to the bureau to report a case. They claim that everyone suddenly forgot about them, I suspect they might have been attacked by some kind of anomalous ability.
The director got drunk with you yesterday and hasn't sobered up yet. Right now, the only ones available at the bureau are Emma and me, and neither of us are good at handling soul and spiritual matters.
So, if you're free, could you lend a hand? If we get any results, we'll distribute them based on effort. If it's a soul-related issue, it's all yours. How about it?"
"Well, I don't have any tasks at hand, but there seems to be some trouble at home..."
After glancing at the photo on the table, Leon, despite being tempted by the offer, remembers the strange occurrence with Anna and declines, "I'll go home first, Jerry. If there's nothing major going on, I'll..."
The person who reported the case... looks familiar?
As the office door opens, Leon notices the woman in the corridor, staring at him curiously. He pauses, then looks back at the photo on the table.
Isn't that the same person?
(End of Chapter)
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