Chapter 487: Truth and Advancement

"You guessed right; that young man with a crying face should indeed be a Director."

After listening to Li Ang's retelling of the situation, the Red-haired Director thought for a moment and explained:

"Because it was thought unlikely that you would meet other Directors, I hadn't told you about this yet. To become a Director of the Cleanup Bureau, besides needing sufficient strength, one must also have the aptitude to master corresponding secret arts.

Director Jin Niu, who came to deliver the Anomalous Object earlier, mastered a secret art related to forging, capable of breaking free from material limitations to produce Anomalous Objects of a higher level. The secret art held by Director Shui Ping is said to be able to directly create anomalies under certain conditions.

So if I'm not mistaken, the one that old couple met should be this generation's Director Shui Ping… calculating the age, it could also be the previous generation's Director Shui Ping."

It really was a Director of the Cleanup Bureau!

After verifying his conjecture with the Red-haired Director, and considering her attitude of extreme respect toward the other Director, Jin Niu, Li Ang, who didn't know the situation well, hesitated slightly, then asked as tactfully as possible:

"Director, may I ask, what is that Director Shui Ping's usual 'reputation'?"

After looking into Li Ang's eyes, the Red-haired Director immediately understood what he meant and asked back with a slight frown:

"Do you think… that Director Shui Ping might have had ulterior motives in creating Happiness Apartment?"

"I do have a little suspicion. I feel that Director Shui Ping's behavior doesn't quite fit logic."

Seeing that she wasn't angry because he "offended" a Director, Li Ang directly admitted his suspicion and reminded her with a quite serious expression:

"Let's assume, if he were a person who liked to 'meddle in other people's business' and acted out of pity to help, after learning about that old couple's plight, he should have helped pass the poorhouse application, right? Such a thing shouldn't be difficult for a Director, should it?"

"Of course, it doesn't exclude that he has a relatively rigid personality, values the Cleanup Bureau's regulations, wouldn't act against ordinary people unless necessary, and wouldn't use the Cleanup Bureau's privileges casually. But if he were such a person, why didn't he report it according to regulations after creating the anomaly?"

After finishing his basis for judgment, Li Ang looked at the Red-haired Director, whose frown was deepening, paused slightly, then took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and continued:

"Also, I feel that his act of putting that old couple's souls into the apartment is the most suspicious part.

When that old couple died, their hearts were likely already filled with resentment. After their souls were put into the apartment and they saw with their own eyes the people in the poorhouse being driven away and freezing or starving to death one after another due to the municipal office's inaction, this resentment likely deepened even further."

"Carrying such heavy hatred, Director Shui Ping gave them the possibility of becoming anomalies. Once their anger and hatred reached the extreme, they would likely 'awaken' into anomalies and go find their 'enemies' to slaughter them wantonly."

"Plus, what caused all this wasn't just one person's behavior, but the universal indifference and dereliction of duty of the entire collective. Their scope of slaughter would easily expand infinitely, accumulating and absorbing more dangerous concepts until they completely lost control!"

"You're right, this matter indeed has that possibility, but just based on this, it's hard to prove that Director Shui Ping has a problem."

After nodding slightly to acknowledge Li Ang's judgment, the Red-haired Director frowned and pondered:

"Although I feel your judgment makes a lot of sense, if nothing else, just the fact that that old couple eventually became positive Anomalous Objects is enough for him to defend himself."

"I think the result of that old couple should be an accident."

After recalling the landlady's words, Li Ang said softly with a complex look in his eyes:

"When that Director Shui Ping decided to 'create' an anomaly, he likely only considered the evil of human nature."

"Although he noticed the old couple's anger and hatred, he might not have noticed that they weren't angry because of their own plight, but were in pain for the suffering of others."

"Even they themselves weren't of an extreme and crazy personality. Even though they generated huge resentment due to unfair treatment, the foundation of their souls remained kind."

"As for the subsequent development, it should also be different from what he designed. He likely didn't expect that the old couple's kindness, day after day for decades, would also earn them the gratitude and thoughts of those they helped."

"Those hundred-plus people who died smiling near Happiness Apartment, and more people who felt happy because they were 'still here'."

"The thoughts and blessings of these people gathered together, not only diluted the hatred in the old couple's souls but also became a high wall blocking them from the abyss, preventing them from being completely swallowed by hatred."

"I'm afraid that's really how it is…" After nodding to acknowledge Li Ang's judgment, the Red-haired Director said with a sigh:

"Part of it is anger and hatred for evil, and the other part is pity and blessings for the weak? These two emotions correspond exactly to evil-object driving and accidental avoidance."

"No wonder the two abilities of that Happiness Apartment are so different, and almost have no connection. It turns out these two seemingly unrelated abilities had different causes from the start. This is truly… sigh…"

After shaking her head and sighing along, the Red-haired Director slowly sat up straight, and for once, praised him with a serious expression:

"Li Ang, you did very well!"

"Although I felt that apartment was a bit strange before, because it had no record of hurting people other than you, and its intensity wasn't very high, I didn't continue to dig deeper."

"If you hadn't been extra careful and asked these things, what Director Shui Ping did would likely have been covered up!"

After finishing these words with a face full of approval, the Red-haired Director's expression gradually turned serious.

"As for the problem with that Director Shui Ping, we still need to wait a while."

"Shui Ping is different from Director Jin Niu; their true identities are almost all kept secret, and they won't even reveal if they've been replaced. I can't determine if he is the same person as the current Director Shui Ping."

"But I will find a way to pull in a few Directors to talk to familiar Directors, striving to launch an investigation into him immediately! If after the investigation, it's found that he really has a problem… then there will be an explanation for this matter!"

Although the Red-haired Director didn't say what the explanation would be, looking at the chill emanating from those slightly narrowed fox eyes that made one's back go cold, the answer was self-evident.

Truly… never expected that drunkard to have such an imposing side…

"As long as you have a plan, that's fine."

After looking at the Red-haired Director with a mix of surprise and appreciation, Li Ang nodded slightly, then bid farewell:

"I just felt this matter was very suspicious, so I came to report it to you. If there's nothing else, I'll first…"

"Don't go yet, there's still something."

After calling out to Li Ang, who wanted to leave, the Red-haired Director hooked her finger, controlled the red hair on Li Ang's neck to drill into his arms, and took out his ID.

"Rest assured, it's a good thing."

Taking a stamp from the drawer and stamping Li Ang's ID, the Red-haired Director said with a smile:

"After Director Jin Niu went back yesterday, she thought you were quite outstanding in terms of strength and other aspects, so she used her recommendation quota to move your file up… Congratulations, you have been promoted early."

Meaning… I'm no longer a "probationary worker"?

Although Li Ang had long known that with his merits, promotion shouldn't be a problem, after hearing this news, he still couldn't help but feel happy.

Since he's been promoted, the Black Iron-level 【Probationary Worker】 badge should also advance to 【Worker】, right?

"Buzz…"

Sure enough, after the Red-haired Director handed back the ID, the harsh buzzing sound rang in Li Ang's ears once again.

【Under the recommendation of Director Olivia of the Virgo Cleanup Bureau, you successfully walked through the back door of Director Jin Niu, gained her appreciation, and completed your promotion one month early】

【Your Black Iron-level badge "Probationary Worker" has successfully advanced to the Bronze-level hidden badge "Connection-Holder"】

"…"

？？？！

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 488 =====