https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-5-Sixth-Anomaly-Cleansing-Bureau/12969499/
Chapter 6: The Third-Level Handler
Chapter 6: The Third-Level Handler
This hidden trait... A scapegoat?
Looking at the glaring word 'dismissed', Lyon, who had just crawled out of 'hell', couldn't help but shudder. His instinct was to remove the badge, but the feedback read 'temporarily unable to unequip', leaving him no choice but to silently pray in his heart.
May the heavens protect us. In these two months before this badge is promoted to bronze, may the Cleanup Bureau not have any major incidents. My whole family is counting on this job to turn our fortunes around, and there's also my sister Anna's illness...
That's right! Anna!
Thinking of his sister still waiting for treatment in the hospital, Lyon, who had just finished his onboarding, quickly requested leave. He then hurriedly left the Cleanup Bureau, intending to use the welfare benefits he had just received to get better treatment for Anna.
After he left in a hurry, the black mountain goat, who had been silently observing, clicked his tongue twice, his eyes filled with schadenfreude as he spoke to the red-haired woman:
"Hmph! You don't even want him to know the nature of the Bureau's work, so you must not be planning to involve him in missions, right?
What's going on? Have you figured out that this kid is at his wit's end, and now you're feeling charitable and want to lend him a hand?"
"No."
Producing a bottle of alcohol from somewhere, the red-haired woman took a big gulp and then suppressed the smile on her face. With a detached expression, she said, "The more 'truth' humans come into contact with, the deeper they are immersed in the dark side, and the more their scent attracts new anomalies.
Lyon has excellent potential, but the Bureau is currently short-staffed. We can't spare anyone to protect him all the time, so I temporarily blocked his memory of this to prevent him from being targeted by anomalies.
As for the specific work details, I'll tell him once we find a suitable anomalous object for him. It won't be too late by then."
Nonsense! That kid has no talent!
Not believing the red-haired woman's explanation, the black mountain goat scoffed:
"Cut the crap! Although he resisted our 'Fallen Whispers', it doesn't mean his willpower is exceptional. This kid is just more rational than most, with a slightly stronger sense of morality.
If I were to speak frankly, he's almost completely devoid of spirit, a sheep-like guy who's accustomed to obedience. He's not even as good as those death row inmates who are cannon fodder. Most likely, he won't make it through the first mission."
"He'll make it through."
Without revealing Lyon's 'anomaly' to the black mountain goat, the red-haired woman took another swig of her beer and then spoke calmly:
"I can take him along for the first few missions, and Emma's work will be done soon. She should be back by tonight.
After that, if I have the time, I'll take him under my wing. If I'm busy, then Emma can guide him for a while, until he's capable of handling things on his own."
Wow, you're being so considerate. What do you see in this kid?
"Don't be reckless!"
Frowning, the black mountain goat's face twisted in displeasure:
"The Bureau's performance has always been calculated based on the number of full-time members. We're currently ranked second to last, and it's only two months until the year-end review. Why are you hiring such a burden now? Are you worried about not being last?"
"Mind your own business."
"I couldn't care less!"
The black mountain goat sneered:
"You've killed more people than I've ever met in my life, so I've always admired you, except when you start feeling charitable.
As the most ruthless executioner in the entire Cleanup Bureau, can't you just stick to your own business? Why do you have to play the good Samaritan? Do you know how disgusting you look when you're being charitable?"
"Oh."
"..."
"Tsk... You don't really think that by helping this kid, you can save his life, do you?"
Observing the red-haired woman's indifferent drinking, clearly not bothering to respond, the black mountain goat couldn't help but speak mockingly:
"I know humans all too well. If they struggle in darkness, they can barely endure it through numbness. But now you've pulled him ashore, letting him see the world under the sun, and everything has changed.
When the year-end review comes, and he gets dismissed due to your failure, experiencing the fall from heaven to hell, this kid might go crazy. He might even be like that someone, resenting you for helping him..."
"That's right, what did that someone say?"
Striding into the dim office, the black mountain goat plopped into a sofa with thick, soft cushions. Facing the silent red-haired woman, he raised his front hoof and mockingly imitated:
"I hate you, Olivia! I hate you!
I could have endured the darkness, but why did you drag me into the sunlight and show me how a person should live?"
"Squeak!"
As the black mountain goat finished speaking, a piercing scraping sound of a blade against bone echoed.
In an instant, it was as if countless thin, sharp blades had sliced the black mountain goat into countless pieces. Hooves and various parts scattered everywhere, but strangely, even though the black mountain goat had turned into mutton stew, the office remained bloodless. The woman behind the desk maintained her original posture, as if nothing had happened, gulping down the beer in her hand.
Only a moment ago, her vibrant red hair had been dazzling, but now it appeared somewhat dull due to a lack of care, with the ends curling slightly and faintly stained with an odd crimson hue.
"I've reminded you countless times not to address me by my name directly."
Tossing aside an empty bottle of unknown origin, the red-haired woman gestured with her fingers, and a sheep's head, suspended by red silk threads, floated over to her desk, landing neatly.
After a brief stare-down with the angry black sheep on the desk, the red-haired woman named Olivia shook her head and said, "Considering your commendable performance last time, I allowed you some freedom within the bureau. But seeing you like this, I think this appearance suits you better.
"Furthermore, I plan to make a trip to Wales County to thoroughly investigate what happened back then and why you fear men from there.
Until I return, you'll stay like this! After figuring out what you're afraid of, I'll make you pay the price of having a foul mouth!"
"Hmm? Waa! Waaa!!!"
...
Unaware of what transpired after his departure, Leon rushed back to the hospital, hastily knocking on the office door of the Respiratory Department. Just before the department director finished packing and left for the day, Leon handed over the documents.
The Sixth Cleanup Bureau? Does the Kingdom have such a department? And what's the position of a Third-Level Incident Handler?
The plump director, who had been filled with doubts, stiffened upon recognizing several special marks on the documents Leon had given him.
The Kingdom's civil service system is divided into five levels: Executive, Administrative, Clerical, Assistant, and General Service.
As the director of the Respiratory Department, he barely made the cut for the General Service level, and with a few decades of service, he might, with some maneuvering, have a chance to squeeze into the tail end of the Assistant level.
But this skinny young man in front of him, wearing an old coat, was already an Assistant-level civil servant, and his treatment was equivalent to that of a Clerical-level official! With a few more years of service, he could likely move up to the Clerical level.
Damn it! He'd be on par with our hospital director!
Looking at the young man who seemed barely twenty, the director's eyes couldn't help but reveal a hint of envy and a deeply hidden jealousy.
Leon Lane, sharing the same surname as Duke Lionheart, and with an Assistant-level civil service position at such a young age, his background was self-explanatory. Undoubtedly, he hailed from that renowned noble family, and likely from the main branch with excellent resources.
After struggling for over twenty years in the hospital, his greatest aspiration was to attain an Assistant-level civil service position by retirement. But this youth, barely in his teens, was already at the forefront of the Assistant level, sitting at the pinnacle of his lifelong dreams, and could even afford to stick half his butt out, for crying out loud!
Cursing under his breath about the unfairness of it all, the director secretly labeled Leon as someone not to be offended. The layers of flesh on his face bloomed like a flower, and with a rub of his hands, he smiled broadly, asking, "Mr. Leon, may I ask what ails you?"
"It's not me, it's my sister."
After a brief explanation of Anna's condition, even before Leon could make a request, the plump director eagerly offered to transfer her to the best ward, provide her with the finest potions, and assured him, patting his chest, that as the director, he would personally oversee Anna's treatment, guaranteeing her the highest standard of care in the Kingdom.
Unaccustomed to the director's excessive enthusiasm, Leon endured the awkwardness and exchanged a few pleasantries before following the nurse's guidance to the soft sofa in the intensive care ward, waiting for Anna to be wheeled in.
Sitting alone in the quiet, clean ward, facing the new bed with its pristine white sheets, Leon sat upright on the sofa, feeling a sense of change.
Only an hour had passed since he rushed out of the hospital with a scalpel in hand, yet the crisis that had pushed his family to the brink had been resolved.
Not only was there a solution for his sister's illness, but his struggling family, once at the bottom of the capital, could now live a decent life on his salary, and all it took was...
(End of Chapter)
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