Chapter 230: 229 Reward (Part Two)

"Alright…"

Looking at the Golden Bull Director's resolute manner, the red-haired Director couldn't help but sigh, completely giving up on that unrealistic notion, and settled for the next best thing:

"Then can you change our performance ranking for this year? If we count this incident, our Maiden Bureau would be pretty much first place, right?"

"Well… how about counting it toward next year instead?"

Never expecting her to be hung up on this, the Golden Bull Director hesitated and said:

"The Performance Slate has already been released, and the only Director with the authority to adjust rankings isn't here. Changing it now would be quite a hassle…"

"Then I won't change the ranking. Can I add a note?"

"Huh? What kind of note?"

"Just temporarily change the name of our Maiden Branch Bureau."

Unable to bear the shame of working diligently for an entire year only to end up gloriously dead last, the red-haired Director proposed hopefully:

"As long as we change the name from 'Maiden Branch Bureau' to 'Maiden Branch Bureau,' then our ranking on the Performance Slate will display as 'No. 87, Maiden Branch Bureau,' and it won't count as us being dead last… Would that work?"

"…"

How on earth did you come up with such a shady scheme…

Speechlessly opening his mouth, and feeling that refusing her any longer would be a bit unfair to this "meritorious contributor," the Golden Bull Director could only sigh and nod, allowing the Maiden Branch Bureau's absurd operation of temporarily changing its name.

When the red-haired Director took her chisel and cheerfully went to chip at the Performance Slate, the Golden Bull Director turned his head to look at the Lion Bureau's Director and asked:

"What about you, Beverley?"

"My request is the same as before."

Having long since decided what she wanted, Beverley cheerfully made her request:

"I hope you can find someone to serve as Director in my place for a month, then send me to the Sweet-tooth God's divine kingdom and have it make me a month of desserts to eat."

"Very well, you may set off tomorrow."

After hearing the identical requests of the "Gluttonous Duo," the Golden Bull Director chuckled, unable to hold back his amusement, and agreed directly. He then turned to Hearing Li Ang and said with a kindly look:

"What about you, Li Ang? What is your request?"

Hearing this, Li Ang hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said:

"As for me… could I make a few requests?"

"Of course."

Unlike the two Directors, whose Contamination Value was as high as seventy points and who, beyond the pleasures of food and drink, had no other desires, Li Ang, a level-three small fry, wanted only to improve his strength as quickly as possible.

And he already had plenty of powerful anomalous objects on him—more than he could even use—and raising his Contamination Value wasn't something that could be done overnight. The only things he could still boost quickly were his badges and the secret art he had just obtained, so…

"My first request is… could I borrow that Wine God's pearl?"

Seeing the Golden Bull Director's brow furrow slightly, Li Ang quickly explained:

"I'm not trying to claim the pearl for our Director. I just want to have a drink myself, and I definitely won't drink much—just one sip of each kind of wine it brews."

Just one sip of each kind?

The Golden Bull Director asked, somewhat puzzled:

"Why only one sip?"

Because just one sip was already enough to complete the entry and let the 【Martyr of the Wine Kingdom】 badge advance.

Looking at the gleaming 【Martyr of the Wine Kingdom】 on his badge panel, Li Ang's heart filled with anticipation.

To advance the gold-tier 【Martyr of the Wine Kingdom】, he needed to taste a thousand kinds of "fine brew" or above, a hundred kinds of "excellent brew" or above, ten kinds of "rich brew" or above, and one kind of "intoxicating brew" or above.

The conditions were simply too difficult. He had accompanied his Director drinking several times, but hadn't even completed a tenth of it. But if that Wine God's pearl really was that miraculous, perhaps he could power-level 【Martyr of the Wine Kingdom】 to completion in one go and directly advance it to the iridescent badge 【Immortal of the Wine】!

That would be iridescent!

How powerful a badge at the iridescent stage was could be seen just by looking at the equally iridescent 【Materialist】—its effect was practically comparable to the top-tier anomalous objects. Faced with a chance to grind out a second iridescent badge, any other reward had to take a back seat!

……

"Actually, I quite like drinking too, but I don't like getting drunk—I just want to taste the flavor, so one sip of each kind is enough!"

Eager to obtain his second iridescent badge, Li Ang, worried about being dragged down by his own wine-loving Director, simply swore an oath outright:

"Lord Golden Bull! Don't worry, I promise this time I'll only drink it myself. I definitely won't share any with our Director! Not a single sip!"

"…"

Seeing Li Ang, who had sold out Olivia without hesitation just to get a drink, the Golden Bull Director couldn't help but sigh.

Sigh… He used to seem like such a good kid, but unfortunately he fell into Olivia's hands and got thoroughly corrupted by her.

The kid's physical fitness is average now, and his tolerance is low. Once his physical fitness improves, he'll probably become another big drunkard no worse than Olivia…

"Fine then…"

After somewhat painfully rubbing his brow, the Golden Bull Director said helplessly:

"You absolutely must keep your word. Don't share any with Olivia. She really needs to quit drinking—if she keeps going like this, it'll cause trouble sooner or later."

"Mm-mm! I promise not to give her a single sip!"

"Then I'll have someone send the pearl over in a few days… What are your other requests?"

"For my second request… I'd like to touch the Aquarius Star Palace."

"???"

Seeing the Golden Bull Director's expression suddenly turn solemn, Li Ang quickly explained:

"You know, my ability works by gaining information through touch, and I just obtained knowledge about the secret art of anomalous creation, so…"

"So you want to try touching it to see if you can figure out how to gain the Star Palace's recognition and learn the Aquarius secret art?"

After roughly understanding Li Ang's idea, the Golden Bull Director said, somewhat troubled:

"That's a bit troublesome… The Star Palaces that carry the Twelve Secret Arts are enormously huge, and they're all Zodiac Star Palaces constantly orbiting the sun. You definitely can't get over there.

Although the Directors can use their own authority to temporarily summon down a small portion of the corresponding Star Palace, this thing's rank is extremely high—not as high as the Watcher's Palace, but still above most True Gods. Are you sure you can figure it out by touching it?"

"Although I'm not sure, I still want to give it a try…"

Knowing that the Taurus Director was a genuine "good man of iron," the sort of saintly personality who would silently burn himself away for all of humanity, hearing Li Ang let slip a little of his hand and said, probing:

"Director Taurus, I feel that my anomalous object standing is probably quite high — I might really be able to feel something out.

And I suspect that, regarding the Star Palace's intelligence, our Bureau doesn't seem to have a complete grasp of it either? If I really can feel out some intelligence, it might let a few more people master secret arts — that would be a good thing, wouldn't it?"

"…"

If that's the case… then it does make sense…

"Fine! I agree!"

After frowning and pondering for a while, the Taurus Director slowly nodded, persuaded by Hearing Li Ang's proposal, then said with a serious expression:

"The corresponding Star Palace can only be summoned by its corresponding Director. Now that Aquarius has defected, the corresponding Star Palace has been sealed off by the Chief, so I can only summon part of the Taurus Star Palace and let you try feeling it out.

Hearing Li Ang, if you really find a way to directly learn the corresponding secret arts without the Star Palace's approval, I can't speak for the other secret arts, but for the Taurus lineage's 'Anomaly Forging' secret art, I guarantee I'll personally teach you! As much as you can learn, I'll teach you that much!"