Chapter 120: 119 Badge Activated

Unaware that his sister's family portrait was in the Director's hands, Hearing Li Ang, who had already been "absent without leave" for several days, headed straight for the first-floor head's position as soon as he left the Director's office, identifying nameplates on the doors along the way.

Harry... Spike... Tom... Jerry... Looks like this is the one.

Glancing at the nameplate reading "Jerry Baker (Level 2 Crisis Handler)" and confirming he hadn't made a mistake, Hearing Li Ang was just about to reach out and knock when he suddenly felt a strange discomfort all over, as if he were standing on a high platform being stared at intently by countless eyes.

"Squeak!"

Seeing Hearing Li Ang suddenly turn his head to look at them, the rats in the shadows were startled, let out a shriek, and turned to flee; a small squad of ants that had quietly crawled to Hearing Li Ang's feet, as if discovering an anteater, hurriedly moved their six legs to retreat rapidly, while a pair of flies on the corridor above took flight to a distant corner even before Hearing Li Ang turned his gaze toward them...

So... these are his "friends"?

Watching these snakes, insects, rats, and ants speed away, feeling the "gazes" cast upon him, Hearing Li Ang couldn't help but blink thoughtfully, forming some guesses about the abilities of that senior, Jerry.

Just then, a golden retriever suddenly appeared behind the office window glass; after curiously sizing up Hearing Li Ang through the glass, the dog's head quickly retracted, and the door before Hearing Li Ang swung open accordingly, as a short man rushed out of the office.

"You're finally back."

Before Hearing Li Ang could speak, the short man grabbed him, warmly led him inside the office, and then eagerly struck up a conversation:

"Hehe, actually, when you went on that mission earlier, I happened to be free and was thinking of going to lend a hand, but the Director said it was just an investigation mission with no risk of trouble, so he didn't let me go. Who would have thought it would delay things for so many days.

By the way, the Director told you about my situation, right? Then I'll trouble you from here on out, and no matter what the final result is, the reward will definitely satisfy you!"

"..."???

Seeing Hearing Li Ang's bewildered expression, the short man's expression stiffened slightly.

"The Director didn't tell you?"

"No..."

Hearing Li Ang said, somewhat confused:

"The Director assigned me a few missions, one of which is to rescue someone at Rose Manor, and I need your help to guide me. As for the other matters, she didn't tell me anything."

"Uh... it's fine. If she didn't say it, then talking to you is the same thing."

After cursing his own Director's unreliability under his breath, the short man led Hearing Li Ang to sit on the office sofa, then reached out and patted the glass panel cushioning the table, followed by quickly tapping his tongue against the roof of his mouth twice, producing a sound similar to "tsk tsk."

"Woof!"

Accompanied by a dog bark, the large golden retriever that had previously glanced at Hearing Li Ang through the window suddenly appeared beneath the glass panel of the coffee table... or perhaps inside the glass panel?

After sizing up Hearing Li Ang, who wore a look of surprise, this large dog weighing nearly thirty kilograms nudged the short man's hand with its nose through the glass, even giving him a lick.

"I'm not here to play with you, I want something!"

After shaking off his wet palms, the short man first glanced at Hearing Li Ang, then reached out to rub his face and throat, and then surprisingly began to bark like a dog, occasionally mixing in howls and growls.

Under Hearing Li Ang's astonished gaze, the golden retriever inside the glass panel nodded, seemingly understanding the short man's "dog language," got up, walked toward one side of the glass panel, and disappeared from both their fields of vision.

A few seconds later, it returned to the "scene," dragging a sturdy-looking net bag, struggling a bit as it walked toward the two of them, then turned its head and forcefully flung it outward!

"Crash! Clang!"

Accompanied by the sound of hard objects colliding with glass, that entire net bag full of things was actually flung out from the mirror

and came tumbling down onto the table with a clatter.

Blood-stained dance shoes, a strange dried fish reeking of fishiness, a notebook with an eye on its cover, several strange coins spinning continuously, a palm-sized model bed bound with chains, a Christmas hat full of holes... all sorts of items, probably totaling thirty or fifty pieces.

Staring in shock at this pile of strange objects, Hearing Li Ang's heart gave a slight thump, and then he said, somewhat incredulously:

"These... could they all be Anomalies?"

"More or less."

Rubbing his hands together with some impatience, the short man chuckled:

"Anyway, you'll find out sooner or later, so I won't hide it from you. I have a bit of a... um... kleptomania, so the first Anomalies I acquired were related to theft. This pile here represents my savings over the years.

Don't worry, although I'm a thief, I have principles. I only steal from strangers, not acquaintances. Since you've already joined our Bureau Six, you're one of us, so I certainly wouldn't actually steal from you."

"..."

"Actually steal" from me, meaning he'd "pretend" to steal when he can't hold back, right?

Noting this senior's "little quirk" and adding an extra layer of caution, Hearing Li Ang tentatively asked:

"So, Senior, you're looking for me because you know I have the ability to forcibly obtain information on Anomalies, and you want me to take a look at these things for you?"

"Exactly!"

Seeing that Hearing Li Ang's expression showed no resistance, the short man was overjoyed and eagerly promised:

"Although I've obtained many good things over the years, Anomalies are different from others. Without knowing their effects and costs, I truly dare not touch them recklessly, so I can only pile them up like this. Even though the number of Anomalies exceeds Emma's, I'm still stuck at Level 2 and can't advance.

A few days ago, after learning about your abilities from the Director, I was genuinely so happy I nearly went mad! If you can help me identify these things and get me a few more usable Anomalies, that would truly be a huge help. At that time, any Anomalies I don't need, just take whichever one you like directly!"

Help you identify some things, and then pick one freely?

After listening to the "NPC senior" announce the mission, Hearing Li Ang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly, then opened the badge panel to take a look. Sure enough, the 【Nepotism】 badge was flashing continuously.

(【Bronze-level Hidden Badge "Nepotism" activated. You have received resource support from within the organization. Upon fulfilling the conditions set by the resource provider, you may claim the resource.】)

So this must be the effect generated after the Hidden Badge 【Nepotism】 activated before going to Ryan's house. Truly worthy of a Hidden Badge; just by reaching out and touching it a few times, one can exchange it for an Anomaly. This deal is genuinely quite worthwhile.

After closing the badge panel, Hearing Li Ang didn't stand on ceremony; instead, he took out paper and pen he carried with him and nodded with a smile.

"Then I thank Senior for your generosity."