Chapter 479: To Hand

"Maybe… I'll just not go up after all."

Doubting that the one constantly urging him upstairs wasn't the Red-haired Inspector but her anomaly, Li Ang frowned, pondered for a moment, then cautiously asked:

"By the way, Inspector, I brought you a fine bottle of wine—would you come down and try some?"

"Thank you."

Upon hearing Li Ang's words, the "Red-haired Inspector" politely thanked him, then continued inviting:

"I'm a bit occupied right now—could you please bring it up?"

"..."

She didn't rush down to drink immediately… It must be fake!

Having easily tested the authenticity of the "Inspector" through his knowledge of the Red-haired Inspector, Li Ang's vigilance instantly spiked to maximum.

Though he didn't know the Red-haired Inspector's exact level, he could still infer something from the Black Goat's behavior—it always mocked the Inspector sarcastically, but never once claimed the Inspector was weak.

Based on his estimation, the Black Goat's peak contamination value likely reached above 56, so the Inspector's power must be equal or higher—likely above 60 in contamination value.

As for himself…

Forget it, better not compare.

For a probationary employee who had just joined, with a mere 0.9 contamination value—below even the minimum standard—if the person upstairs was truly the Inspector's anomaly and had lost control, the only difference would be whether he died horribly or died exceptionally horribly!

Stay calm—the more critical the moment, the more you must not panic!

Realizing he might be facing an anomaly Shikong event, Li Ang took two deep breaths, then silently pulled out the bottle of wine he carried and activated 【Wine Country Martyr】 to maintain his composure.

Immediately after, he turned around, slowly retreating toward the Clearance Bureau's entrance, while calmly continuing to speak:

"Since you're occupied, I won't disturb you—I'll leave the wine for you."

"It's fine."

Hearing Li Ang's reply, the "Red-haired Inspector" smiled, her voice growing increasingly eerie:

"Come up. What I'm doing right now concerns you—you won't be disturbing me. As for the wine, whether you drink it or not doesn't matter."

"I'm fine, you go ahead and finish what you're doing!"

"What am I doing? Didn't I just tell you to come up?"

"Uh-huh, okay, I'm coming up right away!"

Upon hearing "whether you drink it or not doesn't matter," Li Ang's hair stood on end—he kept talking to stabilize the out-of-control anomaly upstairs, while simultaneously activating 【Runaway Newbie】 and sprinting toward the Clearance Bureau's entrance at the fastest speed of his life!

"Bang!"

"Li Ang!!!"

As Li Ang tucked his knees, lowered his shoulders, twisted his body, and smashed open the heavy door of the Clearance Bureau, beginning to flee for his life, the second-floor window burst open—Red-haired Inspector appeared at the window, eyebrows furrowed in fury, and lunged out with a sharp grab toward his fleeing back.

"Get back up here!!!"

…

"So this is the new recruit you told me has great potential?"

After sizing up the man before her, the silver-haired old woman smiled faintly and extended her hand toward him.

"I'm the one who crafted your anomaly. Per bureau regulations, I must conceal my true name to avoid curses from Xieshen or other entities, so I can't tell you my name—you may call me Golden Ox."

"..."

Golden Ox… Golden Ox Inspector? So it wasn't an anomaly Shikong —just the Inspector having a visitor on the second floor?

Looking at the kind-faced old woman before him, then glancing at the Red-haired Inspector beside him, who wore a visibly exasperated expression, Li Ang, still bewildered, instinctively reached out, shook the old woman's hand.

"Hello… I'm Li Ang…"

"Mm-hmm, I know—'Li Ang Value'!"

Smiling as she withdrew her hand, the old woman studied the unusually young Li Ang, her expression one of clear admiration: "I'm very interested in the standard you proposed—could you explain to me how exactly 'Li Ang Value' is measured?"

"Uh… that thing you mentioned isn't actually called 'Li Ang Value'…"

Because he carried the Badge System, Li Ang truly didn't want his name known to too many people and attract unnecessary attention—he quickly corrected her, trying to revert the term back to contamination value.

But before he finished speaking, the Red-haired Inspector sharply slapped the back of his head, and her harsh voice hissed in his ear:

"Director!"

"Huh?"

You're an idiot!

Watching the recruit who had just spoken two sentences and then bolted away, completely dismantling her setup, the Red-haired Inspector glared at him again, face dark, and reminded him once more:

"This is one of the Bureau's twelve Directors! You should address her as Director Excellency!"

"Heh, it's just a title—don't be so formal."

Waving her hand to dismiss the formality, the silver-haired old woman glanced at the fuming Red-haired Inspector and teased gently:

"Olivia, didn't you just tell me you've been abstaining from alcohol for a long time? Then why did this little fellow panic and run the moment he heard you weren't drinking?"

"Well… although I've quit drinking, people's impressions run deep, and it's hard to change them all at once, hehe… forgive me for the embarrassment… hehehe… let's get back to the matter at hand!"

After awkwardly fabricating an excuse to cover the incident, the Red-haired Inspector mentally added a heavy black mark against Li Ang, then spoke with solemn sincerity:

"Director Golden Ox, Li Ang isn't just talented in researching anomalies—he's also exceptionally skilled at handling abnormal situations.

You know about the Scale Gold Cult's Sacred Spirit—I won't bore you with details—but besides that, on his very first day of employment, he eliminated a runaway contaminated individual, and later, from mere traces, he keenly deduced the whereabouts of another anomaly.

Even just now: had anyone less cautious been in his place, they'd have obeyed my order and gone upstairs immediately. But he instantly sensed something was wrong and made the correct judgment—stabilizing me while retreating as quickly as possible.

Through these details and his past record of single-handedly eliminating the Sacred Spirit, you can clearly see his potential."

"Mm-hmm, very impressive."

After listening carefully to the Red-haired Inspector's words, the silver-haired old woman nodded approvingly:

"If this child stays steady and progresses slowly, he might one day become a top agent like Emma… keep going, little one! Don't waste Olivia's hard work!"

With a kind smile directed at Li Ang, the silver-haired old woman snapped her fingers lightly—Li Ang felt a sudden hardness in his palm, as if something rigid had been pressed into it.

When he looked down and opened his hand, he was stunned to find a necklace with a golden toad hanging from it resting in his palm.

【Name: Sacred Spirit Pendant (Sacred, Interference, Whisper)】

【Appearance: A necklace bearing a golden toad; if you look down and meet its gaze, you'll find it glaring at you with furious hatred】

【Ability: Sacred Belief, Will Interference with Reality, Mental Shock】

【Cost: Requires payment of a certain amount of "currency"; currency types are not limited to money—if sufficient currency is paid, the effect is further enhanced】

【Archive: Crafted from the remains of the Scale Gold Cult's Sacred Spirit, "Wealth-Swapping Golden Toad," destroyed by Clearance Bureau probationary employee Li Ang Lyne; the remnants were forged by Director Golden Ox of the Clearance Bureau into this anomaly】

【Evaluation: Thanks to the masterful yet cruel craftsmanship of its creator, the "Wealth-Swapping Golden Toad" retained partial power that would have otherwise completely dissipated—no longer requiring massive physical or mental expenditure, but instead activating upon payment of a corresponding cost】

【Note: Often, "cost" does not mean "burden," but rather an equitable exchange where both sides gain】

【Contamination Value: 48 (0.9)】

(End of Chapter)