Chapter 367

"Director!"

Holding a wallet of unknown origin, Leon immediately knocked on the Director's office door after returning to the Cleanup Bureau, his expression grave:

"There's definitely something wrong with Pink Mystery! The Aquarius Director must have set up some backup plan there! And if I'm not mistaken, the wallet you asked me to investigate was taken by Nicole, a Level-One Cleanup Agent from the Twin Branch!"

Huh? What did you say?

After hearing Leon's words, the red-haired Director paused mid-handling an empty wallet, her eyes wide with shock:

"You actually found something? Wait… I mean, are you really sure?"

"Eighty to ninety percent certain."

After recalling the intelligence from the 【List of Fallen】, Leon recounted what he had seen and heard, then concluded with a solemn expression:

"We can't confirm it fully yet, but once Senior Jerry returns, if even he can't find the wallet, we can be almost certain."

"After all, the journalist's 【Secret Tail】 can erase an object's aura—I think her suspicion is extremely high… By the way, Director, what was inside that wallet?"

"…"

"The wallet contained my salary I just collected… but it doesn't matter anymore!"

After listening to Leon's account, the red-haired Director's fox-like eyes subtly narrowed, sensing something off.

Though she had indeed drunk too much, forgetting her wallet was unusual—perhaps influenced by some special anomaly. Also, she had originally planned not to drink heavily that night, having boasted to Leon earlier that day.

But Pink Mystery had just received a new batch of wines perfectly to her taste, causing her to lose control, drink too much, and lose the wallet—while Jerry, the only one who could immediately locate it, was away on assignment due to an emergency in Merino County…

The stench of conspiracy is strong…

After twirling a strand of her hair around her finger twice, the red-haired Director gave vague replies, frowning as she pondered the true target of the "enemy."

The direct target seemed to be stealing her wallet?

But her wallet contained only money—not worth such elaborate effort. So their real goal was likely the consequences of "me having no money."

Considering Aquarius possesses the 【Door to the Other World】, which can briefly glimpse the future, they must have seen what I'd do after losing my money—and found an opportunity!

So what would I do after losing my money? Borrow from Emma like yesterday? Use the 【Loan Purse】 like today? Or run a tab at my usual tavern?

Strange—all these are ordinary actions. Which one would expose me? Maybe… try them all?

…

The red-haired Director, her head throbbing, began idly fiddling with the empty wallet in her hand, clicking the clasp repeatedly.

Noticing her movements, Leon raised an eyebrow, recalling the wallet that had suddenly appeared in his hands, then tapped his sleeve button and pulled out the bulging wallet.

"By the way, besides the 【List of Fallen】, I encountered another possible anomaly."

Placing the wallet on the desk and briefly explaining its strange origin, Leon said with concern:

"You know how bad my luck is—this kind of lucky windfall couldn't possibly happen to me. So I thought… Huh? What's this?"

"Touch it and you'll know."

Throwing her empty wallet to Leon, the red-haired Director calmly opened a small golden-haired agent's wallet, took out five gold wheels, slipped them into her pocket, then returned the wallet.

"Next month when I get paid, I'll give you ten extra gold wheels—remember to repay them for me!"???

Wait… what even is this? I don't understand any of this!

Confused, Leon frowned and, following the Director's instruction, reached out to touch the empty wallet in his hand.

"Hss…"

【Name: Loan Purse (Wealth)】

【Appearance: An unusually ancient men's leather wallet; its once-sturdy leather base has been completely worn through, allowing fingers to be inserted through holes in the bottom】

【Ability: Windfall】

【Cost: After gaining unexpected wealth from this anomaly, you must repay the original owner double the amount】

【File: This is a genuine antique anomaly originating from the Initial Nation of Anbula, with a history exceeding five hundred years. After being acquired by the Fourth Director of the Virgin Branch of the Cleanup Bureau, it was stored in the branch's vault.】

【Four years ago, then-Virgin Branch Director Olivia, having spent her salary and lacking funds for wine, found this long-unused anomaly in the vault and began using it for small-scale "borrowing."】

【Over four years, she used this anomaly forty-nine times, borrowing 1, 23 gold wheels, finding twenty-five wallets, excavating four secret stashes of private wealth, and redeeming fifteen winning lottery tickets…】

【Evaluation: Severely underestimated anomaly. Rather than repaying double each time you borrow, its true use is to "borrow" a large sum at a critical moment—and never repay.】

【Corruption Level: 2. 】

"…"

So… the wallet I just "turned in" was one you "borrowed" using this thing? No wonder the whole process was so bizarre!

After reading the 【Loan Purse】 description, Leon grimaced and muttered in disbelief:

"There's actually an anomaly like this… and you have to pay back double?!"

"Why not just borrow from a bank? My annual salary is only six hundred gold wheels—you've already paid more in interest than I earn in two years!"

"Technically, borrowing from a bank would be better."

The red-haired Director shrugged:

"But I repay too slowly—every major bank in the capital has blacklisted me. The few still willing to lend me money don't want repayment—they want favors. So why not just use this?"

"…"

Bullshit! Your salary's high—if you'd just cut back on drinking a little, you'd never be short!

"Ah, everyone runs out of cash sometimes—just a quick emergency!"

Glancing at Leon's sour face, the red-haired Director, now successfully "borrowing" five gold wheels, sat upright and changed the subject with a serious expression:

"Also, if I'm right, something bad will happen within a week—you must be extra cautious."

o

"Huh? Why?"

"Because of when Jerry returns."

The red-haired Director narrowed her eyes and tapped her fingers on the desk:

"If you hadn't stumbled upon this, when Jerry returns in a week, he'd start searching for my lost wallet. Then, unable to detect its aura, he'd make me suspicious."

Reverse-engineering this, if they want to act and avoid alerting me, they must finish everything within this week—so I suspect something will happen before Jerry returns!"