Chapter 367: The Loan Pouch
Chapter 367: The Loan Pouch
"Director!"
Holding a wallet of unknown origin, Lyon immediately knocked on the director's office door after returning to the Purification Bureau. With a serious expression, he said, "There is definitely something fishy going on with Pink Enigma! Water Bottle Director must have set up some kind of backup plan over there! And if my guess is right, the wallet you asked me to investigate was probably taken by a Level 1 Purifier named Nicole from the Gemini Bureau!"
Huh? What did you say?
After hearing Lyon's words, the red-haired director, who was fiddling with an empty wallet, paused for a moment. Then, with a look of astonishment, she asked, "You actually found something? I mean...are you sure about that?"
"It's highly likely."
Recalling the information from the List of the Fallen, Lyon recounted his observations and concluded solemnly, "We can't be certain yet, but when Senior Jerry returns, if he can't find the wallet either, then we can almost be sure. After all, the Hidden Tail in that female journalist's hand can perfectly eliminate the aura of items. I think she's highly suspicious... By the way, Director, what was in that wallet?"
"..."
In that wallet was my newly collected salary... But that's not important now!
After listening to Lyon's account, the red-haired director's fox-like eyes narrowed unconsciously, sensing something amiss.
Although she had indeed drunk too much, forgetting her wallet was rather unusual. Perhaps she had been influenced by some unknown spatial anomaly. Additionally, since she had boasted in front of Lyon during the day, she hadn't planned on drinking too much that night.
But coincidentally, Pink Enigma had just received a new batch of wine that suited her taste, causing her to lose control and drink more than intended, resulting in the loss of her wallet. And the only person who could retrieve the wallet quickly, Jerry, was away on a mission due to the sudden incident in Merino County.
The plot thickened...
Twirling the ends of her hair around her fingers, the red-haired director mumbled a vague response, furrowing her brows as she contemplated the intentions of her "enemies."
If the direct goal was to steal her wallet, it didn't make sense. There was only money in her wallet, nothing worth their effort. Therefore, their true objective was likely related to the consequences of her being penniless.
Considering that Water Bottle Director possessed the ability to briefly glimpse into the future with The Gateway to the Otherworld, they must have foreseen her taking certain actions after losing her money, actions they believed they could exploit.
So, what would she do after becoming penniless? Ask Emma for money like yesterday? Use the Loan Pouch to borrow money like today? Or go to her usual bar and run a tab? These were all ordinary occurrences; which one could expose her weakness? Maybe...she should try doing them all?
The red-haired director, deep in thought and feeling a headache coming on, unconsciously began to fiddle with the empty wallet in her hand, repeatedly clicking the wallet's buttons.
Noticing her actions, Lyon raised an eyebrow, remembering the wallet that had suddenly appeared in his hand. He then reached out and lightly tapped his cufflink, retrieving the bulging wallet.
"By the way, aside from the List of the Fallen, I also encountered another incident that might be related to the anomaly."
Placing the wallet on the table, Lyon briefly explained its mysterious origin, then expressed his concern, "You know how unlucky I usually am. It's highly unlikely for such a fortunate event to happen to me. So, I think... Hmm? What's this?"
"You'll know if you touch it."
Tossing her empty wallet to Lyon, the red-haired director calmly opened a small golden-haired wallet, took out five Golden Wheels, and pocketed them before returning the wallet.
"When I get my salary next month, I'll give you an extra ten gold wheels. Remember to help me return the money to the owner later!"
???
What on earth is going on here? I didn't understand any of that.
Lyon, completely bewildered, furrowed his brows and then, following the Red-Haired Commissioner's words, reached out to stroke the empty wallet in his hand.
"Zzz..."
[Name: Loan Bag (Wealth)]
[Appearance: An unusually old-fashioned men's leather wallet, its once-durable hard leather bottom completely worn through, with holes large enough for fingers to be inserted into the wallet.]
[Ability: Unexpected Wealth]
[Cost: After obtaining unexpected wealth through this anomaly, you must repay the owner double the amount.]
[File: This is a genuine antique anomaly, originating from the very beginning of the country of Anbu La, with a long history spanning over five hundred years. After being acquired by the fourth director of the Virgin Bureau of the Purification Bureau, it has been stored in the Virgin Bureau's warehouse.
Four years ago, Olivia, the then-director of the Virgin Bureau, ran out of salary and had no money to buy alcohol. She found this long-unused anomaly in the warehouse and has been using it for small "loans" ever since.
In the past four years, she has used this anomaly forty-nine times, borrowing a total of 1,023 gold wheels, found 25 wallets, excavated four secret cellars containing private property, and redeemed 15 winning lottery tickets...]
[Evaluation: A severely underestimated anomaly. Instead of repaying double the amount each time, its true use should be to directly 'borrow' a large sum at a critical moment and never repay it.]
[Immersion Value: 2.3]
"..."
So... the wallet I just "handed in" was actually borrowed using this thing? No wonder the process was so absurd!
After reading the description of the Loan Bag, Lyon couldn't help but click his tongue and then, with a speechless expression, he complained,
"There's actually such a bizarre anomaly... And I have to repay double the amount! Instead of borrowing from this thing, why don't you just borrow money from a bank properly? My annual salary is only a little over six hundred gold wheels, and the interest you've paid after borrowing money with this thing is already enough for my salary for two years!"
"In theory, it's indeed better to borrow from a bank."
The Red-Haired Commissioner spread her hands and said,
"But I'm too slow in repaying my debts. The major banks in the capital city have all blacklisted me. The ones who are still willing to lend me money don't want me to repay them; instead, they want me to repay them with favors. So, I might as well just borrow money using this anomaly, don't you think so?"
"..."
Bullshit! With your high salary, if you just control yourself a little and drink less, you wouldn't be short of money.
"Oh, sometimes you just need a quick loan to get by."
After glancing at Lyon's sour expression, the Red-Haired Commissioner, who had successfully "borrowed" five gold wheels, straightened her back and changed the subject with a serious expression.
"Also, if my guess is correct, something unpleasant will definitely happen within a week at most. Be extra careful recently."
"Hmm? Why?"
"Because of Jerry's return."
The Red-Haired Commissioner narrowed her eyes and lightly tapped the table with her fingers.
"If it weren't for you accidentally discovering it, Jerry would have returned a week later and started helping me look for the missing wallet. Subsequently, because he couldn't sense the aura of the wallet, I would become alert about this matter.
So, reasoning backward, if they want to do something without alerting me, they must finish it within this week. That's sparkling with mischief, I predict that something will definitely happen before Jerry returns!"
(End of Chapter)
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