https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-5-Sixth-Anomaly-Cleansing-Bureau/12969499/
Chapter 4: The World Beneath the Surface
Chapter 4: The World Beneath the Surface
With the mindset of doing whatever it takes to survive, and even scamming a pension if he couldn't, Leon entered the eerie Cleanup Bureau, a place as ominous as a haunted house. He followed the creased and faded signs along the corridor, leading him once again to the largest office at the very end.
Knocking forcefully on the familiar door, he called out, "Anyone here? I'm here for the job interview!"
"Creak."
The heavy door, its hinges squealing in protest, opened from the inside, but instead of the red-haired female interviewer, a... black goat on its hind legs stood in the doorway.
"What are you staring at? Haven't you ever seen a demon before?"
Leon, taken aback by the sight, was further startled as the black goat, with a cigarette dangling from its mouth, casually blew a smoke ring. It then flipped its lips, stained with suspicious white foam, and glared at Leon with intense malice.
"I'm impressed. Has your egg been crushed? Your evil thoughts have been amplified sevenfold, and yet you managed to restrain yourself from stabbing that fatso?"
"Huh? Huh?"
Demon? A standing goat? You amplified my evil thoughts? So, I wasn't out of control just now?
A flood of questions, big and small, rushed into Leon's mind. But before he could voice any of them, a large empty bottle spun out from the room, hitting the black goat on the back of its head with a loud thud.
After this critical hit, the arrogant goat, its face full of short hair, didn't even grunt. It immediately went cross-eyed, its body stiffened, and it fell forward, landing with a plop in Leon's arms.
"Sizzle!"
[Encountering an incomprehensible special existence. The Crimson Emblem "Materialist Soul" is activated, expanding your cognitive boundaries and providing partial information about this entity.]
The familiar, ear-piercing buzz filled the air as the crimson emblem flashed and vanished. In the void above the goat's head, an abundance of strange text abruptly appeared.
[Name: Demon Horn (Fallen, Knowledge, Whisper)]
[Appearance: A pair of pitch-black horns with spiral patterns. After using a Welsh Mountain Goat as an offering and correctly performing the erosion ritual, the offering will transform into a black goat that enjoys smoking, stands on its hind legs, and claims to be a demon.]
[Abilities: Amplify Evil Thoughts, Vast Knowledge, Mysticism Knowledge]
[Cost: A pack of Gutt cigarettes or a sinful soul.]
[File: Claimed by Olivia, the head of the 6th Division of the Cleanup Bureau, during the Battle of Aslan. No direct fatalities were caused, but numerous indirect injuries were recorded, resulting in over forty resignations and casualties within the Road Administration Department over five years.]
[Corruption Value: 0.1]
In less than 0.01 seconds, Leon had memorized all the information on the virtual panel, which then dimmed. Holding the black goat, he was momentarily stunned by the fading Crimson Emblem.
Amplify Evil Thoughts? Corruption Value?
Before Leon could process this bizarre information, the red-haired female interviewer from yesterday appeared, carrying another large bottle.
"Why are you here again?"
After taking a swig of beer, she noticed Leon's bloodshot eyes and frowned, her expression turning stern.
"Didn't I make myself clear? You, as a normal person, are simply not fit for the Cleanup Bureau. You should..."
"Wait a moment, please!"
Leon, sensing that she was about to dismiss him, desperately tried to explain, not wanting to let go of this last straw of hope.
"I'm not normal! No! What I mean is, I possess some special abilities beyond what ordinary people have, and they might be exactly what you're looking for!"
Special abilities beyond the ordinary? The red-haired woman's eyebrows arched slightly, a hint of skepticism flashing in her eyes. She crossed her arms and asked, her tone uncertain.
"Oh? Then, by all means, tell me about it."
Tell her... Since he was determined to join the Bureau and scam a pension, he needed to demonstrate his value. But how could he explain the 'badge'?
Quickly assessing his situation, Leon decided to conceal the existence of the 'badge' and instead revealed, "I have an extraordinary power of observation! I can discern special things, and with direct contact, I can instantly acquire related intelligence!"
Impossible...
The red-haired woman shook her head inwardly.
While it was true that many people were born with 'abnormalities', this ability to forcibly acquire intelligence was, nine times out of ten, the most troublesome 'conceptual' type of abnormality. It could only take effect if one's 'base value' was higher than the target's.
So, if he truly possessed such an ability, his base value would be terrifyingly high, at least on par with a malevolent god from another dimension. But would such a being seek employment at the Cleanup Bureau?
Demon Horn, a 'special thing', was something Leon had encountered, and now he had to prove his worth by sharing the information he had gleaned from it. He was relieved that the red-haired woman didn't dismiss him outright, giving him a chance to showcase his skills. As long as the badge, or 'Demon Horn', didn't fail him, he believed he could secure this job. After all, intelligence was valuable to any organization.
Furthermore, if this Cleaning Bureau highly valued intelligence capabilities, he might not be used as cannon fodder, and could even avoid a few rounds of the terrifying mortality rate statistics.
Although he had prepared himself for the worst when he entered, who wouldn't want to live if they could?
Hoping to extend his life by a few years, Leon gathered his thoughts and selectively answered:
"The goat's true form is its pair of horns on its head. Its ability is to amplify the dark thoughts in people's minds, and it also possesses knowledge of occultism. It enjoys Gutt brand cigarettes and sin, and currently belongs to a woman named Olivia. In the past few years, it has caused numerous injuries and resignations among Road Management Department officials. It fears men from Welsh Mountain Goat County..."
As Leon relayed the information from the badge, the red-haired woman's initially indifferent expression turned serious, and she narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the gaunt young man before her.
The information about the goat's abilities, preferences, and the injuries it caused could be easily discovered by reading the newspapers. However, the goat's true form being its horns and its name were not details ordinary people could obtain.
Moreover, the fear of men from Welsh Mountain Goat County was something even Leon had never heard before.
If what Leon said was true, the goat's innate 'anomaly' might be terrifyingly high, perhaps not reaching the level of an inter-dimensional evil god, but definitely surpassing that of the great demon goat.
The red-haired woman, realizing the truth of the information, finished her beer in one swig, then held the hefty empty bottle, banging it hard on the black goat's head.
"Damn it! Olivia... you hag! You hit me with a bottle again!"
Under the red-haired woman's glare, the black goat swallowed the name it had almost blurted out, then, upon regaining consciousness, it shielded its head with its hooves, grumbling resentfully:
"I was once a great demon! Can't you show me a little respect?"
"Hmph, you don't deserve my respect after what you've done."
The red-haired woman finished the last drops of beer, then pointed at the anxious Leon with her pale right hand, and said with a friendly smile:
"Good, you're exactly the kind of person we need. From now on, you're a member of our Virgo Constellation Cleaning Bureau."
Phew, that was close!
Upon hearing his employment, Leon, who had been tense, exhaled in relief. His tense expression relaxed slightly, but then...
Wait, something's not right here.
Leon was shocked as he replayed the red-haired woman's words in his mind.
Say that again? What kind of bureau are you?!
(End of Chapter)
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