Chapter 424: The Chief

"You mean the older nurse is very likely also naturally carrying an 'anomaly'?"

After listening to Li Ang's report, the red-haired woman raised her eyebrows slightly and mused:

"No wonder… I recall Emma's report mentioned a nurse who could resist the head doctor's control."

I originally thought she was just kind and upright, holding firm to her principles and refusing to be swayed by power, which is why she avoided the influence of authority-type anomalies."

But now it seems she herself carries an 'anomaly,' allowing her to evade manipulation… Li Ang, you've done well!"

After giving Li Ang a approving glance, the red-haired chief smiled warmly:

"You've just finished a grueling cleanup mission, yet still voluntarily applied for field duty, went out of your way to recheck victims' conditions, and from minimal clues, sharply uncovered new anomaly leads—how hard you've worked!"

Huh? That's not right.

Hearing the red-haired woman's summary, Li Ang blinked in surprise and promptly reminded her:

"Thank you, Chief, but I didn't go on field duty this afternoon—I took leave to visit my sister. This information wasn't gathered through visits, but…"

"Leave deducts half a day's salary; voluntary field duty earns you two gold wheels in reimbursement."

"… "

"I obtained it during my field duty by actively communicating with the gas company's compensation officer, using the methods taught by you and Senior Emma."

"Hmm, no wonder I picked you—you're clearly suited for the Cleanup Bureau."

After a satisfied glance at the astute Li Ang, the red-haired chief chuckled:

"Go back and file a field duty report later with your version—but don't include me or Emma."

Fraudulent reimbursement is fraud, but credit is credit—what's yours is yours. No matter how other bureaus operate, our Virgin Bureau doesn't play those games."

Besides, you gathered valuable information during your rest time—this special field duty reimbursement is rightfully yours."

"Then… thank you, Chief… I'll go file the report right away!"

"Mm-hmm, go ahead, go ahead!"

…

Li Ang simply didn't know how to evaluate his chief—someone who openly talked about scamming funds yet somehow maintained an oddly "upright" demeanor.

Though her methods were a bit dubious, a leader who fought for subordinates' benefits yet never claimed their credit must be popular in the bureau. No wonder Senior Emma always spoke of her with deep respect… Oh!

Suddenly remembering something, Li Ang halted just as he was about to leave and hesitated:

"Um… Chief, could I go on another field mission tomorrow?"

"… "

The red-haired woman paused, then instinctively narrowed her fox-like eyes, smiling slyly:

"What? Running low on cash? Want to scam funds again?"

"No no no, this one's real field duty—or you can count it as leave."

Quickly shaking his head, Li Ang explained earnestly:

Yesterday I reviewed Emma's archived materials on the Red Brick Road Hospital incident; the patients' appearances felt too coincidental—as if they were deliberately engineered to amplify the out-of-control infection.

After all, Red Brick Road Hospital normally has only a hundred or so beds. Without the water company and road department both failing simultaneously, there wouldn't have been so many patients for the director to absorb."

So I wondered—could the bureau investigate those two locations? See if there's a mastermind behind this, or if the water company and road department themselves are to blame…

"And while we're at it, use our Cleanup Bureau credentials to dig up evidence of negligence by those two departments, to help the patients still lying in hospital secure compensation… Am I right?"

The red-haired woman opened her beautiful fox-like eyes, gazing gently at the startled Li Ang with a sweet smile: "Hehe, it seems the goat was right—you really are the type with a strong moral compass; once you see something wrong, you can't help but step in."

Hmm… don't worry—though your proposal does contain a tiny bit of 'self-interest,' I actually don't mind. After all, naive and kind little things are always endearing~"

After giving Li Ang a cryptic, odd evaluation, the red-haired woman lazily stretched, revealing her graceful curves, then settled comfortably into the plush chair, smiling warmly:

"Go ahead and go. This time it counts as field duty—but don't make it a habit."

"Thank you, Chief!"

"You're welcome… but…"

Resting her chin on her hand, the red-haired woman studied Li Ang with interest and smiled:

"You're just going to thank me verbally? No tangible gesture?"

"Uh…"

Caught off guard by this blunt request for a bribe, Li Ang glanced at the mountain of empty bottles on her desk and ventured:

"Then… when I clock out today, I'll treat you to a few drinks?"

Hmm? Alcohol?

Hearing Li Ang's offer, the red-haired woman's eyes lit up slightly, and she instinctively sat up straight.

Oh dear… what I meant by 'tangible gesture' was that the bureau is short-staffed—I wanted you to voluntarily work overtime, then visit the middle-aged nurse named Hanna after investigating the water company and road department, to see what condition she's in."

But if you insist on treating me to drinks… hmm… since you're new, perhaps as your superior, I should get closer to you, strengthen our rapport?"

Secretly patting her empty purse at her waist, the red-haired chief sat up straight, cleared her throat loudly, and clasped her hands together with a gentle smile:

"Technically, I shouldn't accept your invitation—but since you're new, I'll treat it as a welcome party, and also celebrate your official entry into the Cleanup Bureau."

"Ah, great!"

Li Ang nodded, then suggested:

"Then I'll invite Senior Emma and the two who just came back…"

"Cough… no need to invite them."

After quietly calculating Li Ang's salary, the red-haired woman stopped him, speaking with stern righteousness:

"Emma has to rush home to care for her child. As for the two who just returned, I'll assign them… I mean, they'll have new missions immediately—they must depart before sunset tonight. So I'll drink alone!"

"… "

You'll drink alone… wait, you're not even pretending anymore? Even if you said you were throwing me a welcome party, that'd be better than this!

Watching the red-haired woman suddenly lose her mind—her once-sharp, logical demeanor vanished without a trace—Li Ang could only stare, mouth agape, recalling the Black Goat's assessment of his chief:

"Let me tell you, that bitch may be calm and cunning, terrifyingly strong—but once she's drunk, she's a full-blown drunkard, her brain fizzing out like champagne foam.

Don't mention alcohol and she's fine—she'll wrestle anyone. But if alcohol's involved? She becomes utterly unreliable, her standards plummet, and you better watch out—don't let her latch onto you!"

"… "

Damn… I just dug myself a massive hole!

(End of Chapter)