Chapter 266: 265 Surprise (Part 1)

Don't dwell on it—you've already done everything you could, and done it better than anyone could.

After glancing at Li Ang's furrowed brow, the Red-haired Woman couldn't help but offer reassurance:

On the bright side, even if Aquarius has targeted anomalies, if his rank is insufficient, he won't be able to withstand the dual strangulation of the 【List of Designations】 and the 【Dead World Streetlamps】; he might just get killed outright.

Moreover, each branch director enjoys the blessing of their corresponding Star Palace within their own jurisdiction, elevating their capability by a tier. If it came to direct confrontation, Aquarius—stripped of his Star Palace's use and already severely wounded—is weaker than many ordinary branch directors. He's no longer a threat.

Once the three directors regain their freedom in six months, or if any other director or branch head returns earlier, no matter how many tricks he's hiding, he'll have only one path left: death!

Sigh… for now, that's all we can do…

Though he still felt uneasy and wished the Cleanup Bureau would launch immediately to net both the Gemini Branch and Aquarius, since the three directors had chosen a cautious path, Li Ang—as a mere Level Three Incident Handler—could only comply, though he added an extra measure of caution in his heart.

…

By the way.

Sensing the mood had grown heavy, the Red-haired Woman paused, then placed four small boxes on the table, smiling warmly:

Since you gave me a surprise, I'll return the favor… guess what's inside?

After studying the small boxes, Li Ang asked with sudden delight:

Director, you've already gotten my Ram's Stomach back?

Tsk…

Seeing Li Ang instantly guess the answer without hesitation, the Red-haired Woman—who had been preparing to tease him—dropped her smile, then pushed the four boxes toward him with a grumble and nodded:

Yes, I got your Ram's Stomach back. I traded your "Ghost Hand Under the Bed" plus two other minor items for it, and I even asked Lord Taurus to restore it to its optimal state.

Now it requires no further maintenance—it's already at 8 Li Ang Points the moment you take it. Also, I've alerted everyone else in the Bureau: if anyone finds other parts later, they'll hold them for you first…

Oh! I remember the 【Connection】 badge flashed twice a few days ago—so that's where the resources were headed!

Hearing the Red-haired Woman's words, Li Ang's heart leapt with joy.

Including the Ram's Stomach before him, Li Ang now possessed three of the Black Ram's "Seven Offal": the horn, the heart, and the stomach. The tail was on the female journalist's person—he could likely obtain it too. That made four already.

The Black Ram had boasted that when all its parts were assembled into a single anomaly, it would rank among the top twenty to thirty in the Cleanup Bureau—roughly between No. 020 and No. 030.

Though the Director and Lord Taurus later debunked that boast, estimating—even with Li Ang's "High Compatibility (Demon Badge)" boost—that the Black Ram's true power lay only between No. 70 and No. 100, far from the top thirty.

But once all seven offal pieces were assembled, his Demon Badge would also upgrade. With the complete Original Sin Seven Offal paired with a Demon Badge elevated to Chromatic rank, he might truly stand toe-to-toe with the top anomalies!

Thank you, Director!

Filled with the exhilaration of imminent power growth, Li Ang sincerely thanked the Red-haired Woman, then picked up the four small boxes and reached out to touch each one.

【Name: The Insatiable Stomach (Corruption, Greed, Desire)】

【Appearance: Four locked metal boxes, each containing one of a ruminant's four stomachs—the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. Even without connection to any other digestive system, these four stomachs churn endlessly. Approach too closely, and you'll hear demonic whispers greedily demanding all valuable things you possess.】

【Abilities: Demon Stomach, Digest Anomaly, Desire Guidance】

【Cost: Either make a request it cannot fulfill, or satisfy its greed before each use. Note: Once its greed is satisfied, the next desire will be even stronger.】

【Archive: The stomach of a near-divine-level great demon. Severely wounded, it lost consciousness and instinctively sought flesh and soul to heal itself, accidentally wandering into a slaughterhouse. Later, a man surnamed Char bought it and became its owner.】

After using the Insatiable Stomach's desire-granting ability to gain a small fortune, he lost far more. Realizing its danger, he locked it in a specially made metal box and hid it away, refusing to trade with it unless faced with an unsolvable problem.】

Thanks to his exceptional caution and wisdom, he ensured his own safety—but left the Insatiable Stomach unsatisfied, perpetually weak, until he surrendered it to the Cleanup Bureau to save his daughter…】

【Evaluation: An extremely unique functional anomaly. Beyond guiding its user to satisfy their desires, it can digest swallowed anomalies, temporarily increasing the user's Corruption Value—up to a maximum of 59 points.】

Unfortunately, this immensely powerful effect cannot be used alone—it requires the 【Barren Raging Tongue】 to swallow anomalies first. Anomalies forcibly ingested by other means cannot truly reach the Insatiable Stomach.】

【Corruption Value: 8 (5. )】

【Your Corruption Value has increased】

【Current Corruption Value: 5. 】

Holy hell—besides guiding desire, it can swallow anomalies and temporarily boost Corruption Value up to 59? Instantly reach near-divine combat power?!

Seeing the true effect of the 【Insatiable Stomach】, Li Ang sucked in a sharp breath.

For the Red-haired Woman or Lord Taurus—whose Corruption Values already exceed 60—this thing is meaningless. They don't need the Ram's Stomach to accumulate Corruption.

But for someone like me—a "combat 5. trash"—its power is astonishing!

After all, an anomaly's potency and the number you can wield simultaneously depend entirely on your Corruption Value. With only five points now, I can't even satisfy the Black Ram's eight-point requirement, let alone the 48-point 【Holy Spirit Pendant】. To use multiple anomalies, I'd have to cripple my overall output.

Even better—I've already learned an incomplete Taurus Secret Art from Lord Taurus. It'll produce a pile of useless anomalies like the 【Sharp Eggs】, perfect to feed the 【Insatiable Stomach】—minimizing cost for temporary near-divine power!

All I need now is to find the 【Barren Raging Tongue】, gain the ability to swallow anomalies, then stockpile useless anomalies using the Taurus and Aquarius Secret Arts—my power could truly leap to the heavens!

It's… absolutely perfect.

…

With the hope of temporary near-divine power and teaming up with the Director to crush Aquarius, Li Ang gripped the small box tightly and probed its interior with his will.

Hm?

Sensing Li Ang's "invasion," the dormant will within the box immediately awoke.

After sensing the will attempting contact and briefly judging its soul strength, the Insatiable Stomach's will let out a "tsk," openly expressing its disappointment.

'So weak… just a standard Level Three Cleaner. Did the Cleanup Bureau's anomaly evaluators go blind? Even in ruin, I was once among the great demons.'

After grumbling bitterly, the Insatiable Stomach's will traced back along Li Ang's will, muttering half-heartedly:

'Fine. Weak as you are, at least someone's using me now instead of leaving me locked away. Let me see what desire you have… hmm?'

'Huh?!?!'