Chapter 684: Ordinary, Just Ordinary!
Chapter 684: Ordinary, Just Ordinary!
Wow, so you're also a Quintessence Selection?
After being tossed into the air by the giant black fish, Lyon's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the female cleaner scream and cling to the white fish's neck. His mind instantly flooded with speculations.
A backup plan by the Aquarius Director? A spy sent by the Slaughter King Guild? An infiltrator from an opposing force? Or perhaps a True God who has successfully descended upon the mortal realm?
According to the Bureau Chief, before Lyon joined the Purification Bureau, although there had been cleaners recognized by more than one Zodiac Palace, he had never heard of anyone achieving the level of 'Quintessence Selection'!
And just as he had accomplished the Quintessence Selection, another genius on par with him appears? What are the chances of such a coincidence? This doesn't add up!
But strangely, when he had thrown her into the lake earlier, his palm had directly touched her skin on her calf and neck, and the Materialism badge had shown no reaction, proving that she was human and not something else.
Additionally, the Archer Director had mentioned that she was a candidate specifically recommended by Barto, the Director of the Water Bottle Bureau, for the important Sorcery Selection. If the director had the courage to recommend her, he must have thoroughly investigated her and at least confirmed that she had no major issues.
So, what was her story? Could she be a wild genius?
"..."
Lyon's intense gaze, as if peeling her skin and dissecting her bones, made the female cleaner feel a bit uneasy. Instinctively, she wanted to cover her face to avoid his eyes.
But as she recalled Lyon's previous 'offense', a surge of anger rose within her, and she immediately raised her hand to cover her meager chest, mustering the courage to glare back at him.
"What...what are you looking at?"
"..."
Perhaps I'm overthinking this...
Lyon couldn't help but slightly shake his head as he observed the female cleaner, who had started her question with a forceful tone but then lost her voice halfway through, her words trailing off almost inaudibly.
She gave off a sense of purity, untouched by the pollution of knowledge, unlike someone who would be involved in conspiracies.
Moreover, a Quintessence Selection genius would have been thoroughly investigated by several directors. If they hadn't found anything amiss, the likelihood of her being problematic was indeed very low.
"It's nothing, I just noticed your arm."
After temporarily suppressing his doubts, Lyon's tense demeanor relaxed, and he spoke in a gentle voice:
"Miss...er...Miss..."
"My name is Meli..."
After reluctantly introducing herself, the female cleaner couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as she saw Lyon's expression soften.
For some reason, when the smile on his face suddenly disappeared, and his eyes fixed on her, it gave off an incredibly frightening vibe, making her feel uneasy.
"My apologies."
Lyon nodded slightly with a hint of apology and then pointed at the female cleaner's arm before speaking again:
"Miss Meli, may I ask about the pattern on your arm?"
Ah, finally someone asked! It wasn't in vain that I had my sleeves shortened! Upon hearing Lyon's question, the female cleaner's back straightened, and she proudly puffed out her small chest, lightly blocking the pattern on her arm with her hand. She struggled to maintain a straight face and replied with composure:
"It's nothing, just the qualification for this selection. Two days ago, while I was sleeping in my dormitory, it suddenly appeared on my arm, flashing and sparkling nonstop, scaring me half to death.
"..."
That's for sure. This girl, though not stupid, has a strong air of naivety when she speaks and acts. It's clear she hasn't experienced much hardship.
"Oh, that's quite impressive then."
After giving a perfunctory response, Leon Ryan examined her clothing. Despite being sticky and soaked, the fabric and embroidery were exquisite, indicating an expensive high-end item.
She's either rich or of noble birth, with a privileged background.
Leon Ryan narrowed his eyes in thought, and his expression softened. Smiling, he asked, "By the way, how long have you been with the Aquarius Bureau?"
"I joined... Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. I'm just making conversation."
Facing the female cleaner's wary expression, Leon Ryan chuckled and patted the black fish beneath him.
"It seems we'll be a while before reaching the Crab Palace. It's quite boring to wait in silence, so I thought of chatting with you... By the way, I joined the Cleansing Bureau three and a half months ago. I'm currently a Third-Class Purifier in the Virgin District Office. What about you?"
"I..."
After a brief hesitation, the little female cleaner blinked her large eyes, as if deciding this wasn't a secret. She then revealed, "I joined the Aquarius Bureau two months ago, and I'm also a Third-Class Purifier."
Two months...
Hearing this shorter duration than his own, Leon Ryan narrowed his eyes again, hiding the understanding that flashed in his gaze.
Currently, her background appears very privileged. Not only is her family wealthy, but she's also been well-protected since childhood, perhaps to the point of being sheltered. It's likely not just wealth but also nobility, and not just any nobility!
Additionally, despite not seeming arrogant, she has a strong desire for recognition. This is unusual, as children from wealthy backgrounds typically don't exhibit such an 'imbalance'.
Her behavior suggests she's recently left a privileged environment and is eager for recognition after 'falling' from a revered position. Joining the Cleansing Bureau and encountering a broader world, she eagerly seeks validation, confident in her abilities.
Her entry into the Cleansing Bureau was likely not through the typical 'crime-sentencing-redemption' process. Instead, her exceptional talent was discovered, and she was exceptionally recruited by the Aquarius Bureau's Commissioner, receiving high expectations and preferential treatment.
Furthermore, her brief stutter when mentioning her Quintessence Selection background is suspicious.
Setting aside whether the Aquarius Bureau has dormitories, the word 'dormitory' itself shouldn't cause a mental 'lag'. Unless she initially intended to say something else, like...
Dormitory Palace?
Leon Ryan fixed his gaze on the female cleaner's unblemished chest, memorizing the family crest visible through her soaked outerwear. Smiling, he said, "We do have quite a connection then."
"Huh?"
"Look."
Rolling up his left sleeve, he showed her his arm. Seeing the crest, the little female cleaner was shocked. Leon Ryan grinned and said, "We both joined the Cleansing Bureau a few months ago, and we're both Third-Class Purifiers. We've also been chosen by the Five Zodiac Palaces... We have quite a few things in common."
(End of Chapter)
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