Chapter 16

16 Could there still be a twist?

“Heh, you can forget about it, but newcomers are understandably excusable!”

After giving Leon a rather appreciative glance, the red-haired woman’s sharp expression softened slightly, and she spoke soothingly:

“Leon, don’t worry about the intelligence matter—you reported the infected immediately, handled that troublesome demon, and convinced it to lead you to Emma.”

“When Emma was trapped, you shot and killed the target in one shot, successfully rescuing her—and along with her, hundreds of others, preventing massive loss of vitality.”

“As a newcomer who’s only been in the Cleanup Bureau for a few hours, you’ve done more than enough. As for the intelligence issue, it was just an unavoidable accident.”

“No way! We at least earned our merit—how can you be so biased?!”

Before Leon could answer, the black goat, furious at this glaring double standard, blurted out:

“That shot was fired by him, wasn’t it? I just helped judge the position—why is it an ‘unavoidable accident’ for him but I’m being sent to the kitchen for stew?!”

“Why stew you… don’t you know what you did?”

The red-haired woman sneered:

“Don’t think I don’t know your plan! Leon didn’t know Emma was immortal—do you really not know?”

“While Emma was in no danger, you could’ve had Leon guide you close to the hospital, then amplify the Shikong infected’s malice from afar, driving him mad and forcing him out to capture him!”

“We just didn’t think of it in the moment…”

“Don’t tell me you forgot. When you were under my command, you always used this exact method—why suddenly forget now?”

Crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair, the red-haired woman fixed her gaze on the cowering black goat and sneered:

“You deliberately lured Leon into shooting him dead when you could’ve captured him alive—you’ve got something suspicious going on!”

“Speak up: do you want to absorb the target’s sinful soul? Do you want to manipulate Leon into restoring your power? Or…

Are you colluding with the person behind him, fearing he might leak intelligence if captured, so you deliberately silenced him?”

“You’re lying!”

Hearing the red-haired woman’s deductions, the black goat, suspected of being a traitor, leapt to its feet.

“We didn’t! You’re just guessing! You have no proof!”

“The Cleanup Bureau isn’t a court—when did we ever need proof?”

After another scoff, the red-haired woman suddenly frowned, studying the black goat with thoughtful eyes:

“Hmm… I admit, I was joking earlier—but now that I think about it, I’ve noticed more odd things.”

“Though everyone else in the Bureau was deployed, I remained in the capital to hold the line—who’d be this stupid to send someone to cause trouble just three streets away from me?”

“So unless someone was deliberately sent to die, there’s only one explanation: the Muhouheishou has a mole inside the Bureau—and knows I suddenly left the capital yesterday!”

Holy shit?!

Hearing the red-haired woman’s logical deduction, Leon’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at the black goat in his arms.

No one else was in the Cleanup Bureau yesterday—besides you, who else knew the director had left the capital? You’re the mole?!

“No… we didn’t…”

Looking at Leon’s stunned expression, then at the red-haired woman, who had once again narrowed her eyes, the black goat shuddered, then bulged its goat eyes and retorted angrily:

“We didn’t leak any info! Don’t frame us!”

“Really?”

The red-haired woman slowly rose, placing both hands on her desk and leaning forward with overwhelming pressure, speaking slowly and deliberately:

“Then how do you explain so many coincidences?”

“The incident happening right after I suddenly left is one thing—”

“But yesterday, you could’ve captured him alive, yet you deliberately used Leon to eliminate him—how do you explain that?”

“I already said it was an accident!”

The black goat snapped:

“I helped that kid kill the target on purpose—to get him used to bloodshed! So he’d… get used to it… get used to it…”

“So he’d get used to solving every similar situation through killing, fall under your influence, steadily lower his moral boundaries, and unknowingly drift toward corruption… am I wrong?”

Looking at the black goat, now caught in its scheme and silently fuming, then at Leon, who had just shuddered violently, the red-haired woman—who had moments ago been grim-faced—curled her lips into a smile and leaned back comfortably in her chair, gently advising Leon:

“Leon, remember well what you just heard. If you ever face a similar situation in future missions, recall today before making your decision.”

“I… I’ll definitely remember.”

After a nervous glance at the black goat, Leon hesitated, then cupped the goat’s head in both hands and placed it back on the red-haired woman’s desk.

“This… please take it back.”

Studying Leon’s expression, the red-haired woman smiled:

“What? Afraid you can’t control it?”

“Yeah…”

“It’s fine—keep it.”

Deeply appreciating Leon’s caution, the red-haired woman propped her cheek with her left hand, idly curling her crimson hair with her pale index finger, and smiled at Leon:

“Abnormal entities with their own intelligence and desires are generally unsuitable for newcomers—but you managed to retain your sanity under its influence, proving you at least have the right to hold it.”

“Besides, Emma reported to me this morning: your soul-sight range is two kilometers—this proves your compatibility with it is exceptionally high. Combined with your cautious nature, I believe you’re fully capable of holding it.”

After stating her judgment, she rose from her chair, walked around the desk to Leon’s side, gently took his hand, and placed the sulking goat’s head into it.

“Keep it. Remember to stay rational—don’t let it cloud your judgment or decisions. I believe you can do it.”

“…”

Looking at the red-haired beauty before him, her face full of trust as she held his hand, Leon felt his heartbeat quicken inexplicably. He instinctively turned his gaze away—but quickly forced himself to look back, nodding solemnly with serious resolve:

“I will!”

◆￠o

“Tch… you’ll do nothing of the sort!”

Lifting his eyelids slightly, the black goat, seething with rage, glanced at Leon’s slightly reddened earlobes and sneered:

“Just being held by the hand and cooed at, and you’re already dizzy? If she kissed you, would you die for her?”

“Heh, I’m just stuck being a goat—damn it, if I were a gorgeous woman, you, this naive little virgin who gets flustered so easily, I’d have you wrapped around my finger in seconds… ugh… ugh! Let go! Even if you cover my mouth, I’m still saying it—you’re just…”