Chapter 470: The Cafeteria Auntie's Hand Is the Strongest Anomalous Object

"It's precisely because my strength isn't enough yet that I need to obtain power belonging to myself as soon as possible. The reason I didn't choose the second option is also for this reason."

After frankly accepting the "lousy" evaluation, Hearing Li Ang replied with a serious expression:

"The anomalous object created by the second option is a consumable type—it's not my own power. Once it's used up, there's nothing left, and it can only work on targets that recognize the value of the golden wheel... Oh right, do you still remember those missions you had me pick from before?"

A blood rain that thirsted to death thousands of animals, a giant beast a full five meters tall, undersea-dwelling sea folk, sand grubs that could hollow out a mountain...

After recalling the missions the red-haired director had listed earlier, Hearing Li Ang said somewhat helplessly:

"The mission targets you listed for me almost none of them accept the golden wheel. Only the sea folk still recognize gold, but they have their own currency and don't necessarily fully accept the golden wheel's value—so whether the second type of anomalous object would even work is still up in the air.

Of course, I could follow Senior Auntie Ai Ma's example and only take missions I'm confident I can handle, specifically seeking out enemies who recognize the golden wheel's value as opponents. But the moment my judgment slips, my strongest anomalous object becomes completely useless.

Yet the power obtained from the third option truly belongs to me. It works in almost all these situations, and at worst can help me preserve my life and escape. So why wouldn't I choose it?"

"..."

After glancing at the red-haired director, whose expression seemed to show some realization and who had calmed back down, Hearing Li Ang thought it over and ultimately swallowed the most important reason back into his stomach.

Although the human brain sits up top, when thinking it often has to consider the decision made by the butt down below first.

The red-haired director herself probably hasn't noticed, but as the head of the Maiden Cleanup Bureau, deep down she actually hopes every person in the bureau has a distinct strength, so that when problems arise she can dispatch the right person to solve them.

But the position of my own "butt" isn't the same as hers. For someone like me who seriously lacks strength, what I need most right now isn't future potential ceiling, but actual combat power that can guarantee my safety.

Although the third option is said to be extremely commonplace, the fact that something can become commonplace proves it's at least suitable for most people and most situations—its floor won't be bad.

And given the Cleanup Bureau's nearly one-in-ten annual mortality rate, if I gave up my current combat power now to choose future potential, I might just get carried out in a box someday. Even those in the bureau who chose similar anomalous objects probably thought the same way I did.

"If you put it that way, then the third one is actually alright..."

After glancing at Hearing Li Ang, who seemed to want to say more, and vaguely guessing some of his thoughts, the red-haired director couldn't help but curl her lip and say:

"You really are... barely sixteen or seventeen years old, yet when things come up you're already used to thinking and worrying about this and that, afraid of everything, unwilling to take a single risk—another Auntie Ai Ma through and through!

Sigh... if I'd known you'd turn out like this, I never should've let her take you under her wing back then!"

Senior Auntie Ai Ma, huh?

Hearing this, Hearing Li Ang couldn't help but smile.

Honestly, my biggest expectation for myself right now really is just to be like her—able to earn Gao Xin while looking after my younger brothers and sisters, and settle down comfortably "muddling along" in the Cleanup Bureau.

"Director, I don't think what you said is entirely correct either."

Seeing the atmosphere ease up, and knowing he'd already convinced her, Hearing Li Ang, in a great mood, said with a smile:

"Senior Auntie Ai Ma is indeed a bit overly cautious, but it's precisely this kind of overly cautious personality that makes it easiest to survive safely in the Cleanup Bureau. Don't you agree?"

"Yes yes yes! Whatever you say is right!"

After rolling her eyes with annoyance at "Auntie Ai Ma the Second," the red-haired director waved him away:

"Off with you! In about a week, headquarters will finish making the new anomalous object and send it over. If it doesn't suit you then, don't come begging me to swap it for you!"

After flicking her finger sharply toward the door and using her hair to shoo Hearing Li Ang out, the red-haired director recalled every expression he'd shown during their discussion and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow thoughtfully.

Tch... some people may keep saying cautious, cautious, cautious with their mouths, but their ambitions are probably sky-high!

Her own expectation for Hearing Li Ang was merely that he'd become an ordinary Level-One Disaster Handler, or an ace employee like Auntie Ai Ma capable of serving as a branch bureau director. But he himself probably doesn't think that way. Originally he was still hesitating between the second and third options, but the moment he heard the second option could only work on opponents below True God level, his gaze immediately firmed up and he made his decision on the spot.

So although he didn't say it out loud, he must believe he'll keep growing, and that he'll very likely face True God-level existents as opponents in the end—which is why his interest in the second option dropped sharply.

And a person with a relatively cautious personality shouldn't display such meaningless arrogance. So the secret he's hiding might be even stronger than I imagined!

Little Hearing Li Ang, who's covered in secrets~

After taking a sudden swig of tea from her bottle, the red-haired director leaned back in her chair, gazing absently at the old, peeling ceiling above, her expression somewhat complicated as she thought.

So... you want to take over from me as director of the Maiden Cleanup Bureau? Or do you want to climb even higher?

"I'll just have a baked potato."

Looking at the dazzling array of dishes on the counter, Hearing Li Ang, having ordered his main, eagerly reached out and pointed at the stewed beef, of which only a little remained.

"One portion of this, plus a bowl of stewed white bean soup."

"You got it!"

Although she was no longer young, the auntie in the Security Division cafeteria dished out food with hands steady beyond belief. A large iron ladle dripping with sauce plunged straight to the bottom of the tub, scooped up a full ladle of vegetables and still wasn't enough—she even deliberately scraped off plenty of onions and carrots against the tub wall, scooped the ladle full of beef again before lifting it out, and with a splat dumped it onto Hearing Li Ang's plate, then asked in a booming voice:

"What else? Anything more?"

"That's enough! That's plenty!"

That's enough? The chickens I raise eat more than you!

After glancing at Hearing Li Ang's somewhat thin frame, the cafeteria auntie couldn't help but frown, planted her hands on her hips, and said with a dissatisfied look:

"Look at you, skinny like this—anyone seeing you would think my food tastes terrible! You stand right there! One more ladle!"

After scooping another full ladle of beef and unceremoniously dumping it onto his plate, the auntie—built like a bear—watched Hearing Li Ang leave looking utterly overwhelmed, smacked her lips, and chatted idly with the old man beside her with a face full of regret:

"Look at this young fellow—clearly so sharp-looking, why won't any flesh stick on him? What a waste of a fine... huh? Little Miss Yisha? Why are you only just coming to eat today?"

"Sigh... about the same as last time..."

Hearing the cafeteria auntie's concerned question, the female police officer walking over with her tray sighed, her eyes full of dejection:

"This morning I caught some bastard running around causing damage, only to find out he had deep connections in the end, so I could only let him go. On top of that I've been busy dealing with the aftermath this whole time...

Forget it, let's not talk about these annoying things. I'll have the same as usual—rice pudding, apple pie, and stewed beef."

"The stewed beef isn't quite enough..."

After turning to look at the big tub of stewed beef, the cafeteria auntie said somewhat sheepishly:

"I had specially saved some for you earlier, but you never showed up, and just now another skinny kid wanted stewed beef—I couldn't help myself and gave him two extra ladles... How about I swap it for fried pork cutlet instead?"

"Fine..."

Hearing that her favorite stewed beef was already gone, having had neither food nor drink since morning and being so hungry she was listless, the female police officer's face couldn't help but fall, feeling like nothing today had gone right for her.

After leaving with her fried pork cutlet in disappointment, she instinctively glanced around, wanting to see which lucky bastard had stolen her share—only to spot an unusually familiar back, and on that person's plate saw a mountain of stewed beef.

"Huh?!!!"

(╯╬￣皿￣)╯︵┻━┻

(End of chapter)