Chapter 68: 67 The Cafeteria Auntie's Hand Is the Strongest Anomaly

67 The Cafeteria Auntie's Hand Is the Strongest Anomaly

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

After frankly accepting the "lame" assessment, Hearing Li Ang replied with a serious expression:

"The anomaly created by the second option is a consumable type—it's not my own power. Once it's used up, I'll have 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?"

Blood rain that thirsted to death thousands of animals, a giant beast a full five meters tall, sea-dwellers who lived underwater, sand grubs that could hollow out a mountain...

After recalling the missions the red-haired director had listed earlier, Hearing Li Ang said with some helplessness:

"The mission targets you listed for me almost none of them accept the golden wheel. Only the sea-dwellers recognize gold, but they have their own currency and aren't necessarily fully convinced of the golden wheel's value. Whether the second type of anomaly would even work is still up in the air.

Of course, I could also be like Senior Auntie Ai Ma and only take on missions I'm confident I can handle, specifically seeking out enemies who recognize the golden wheel's value as opponents. But if I misjudge even once, my strongest anomaly is directly wasted.

Yet the power gained from the third option truly belongs to me. It can work in almost all these situations, and at worst it can help me stay alive and escape. So why wouldn't I choose it?"

"..."

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

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

The red-haired director herself might not have 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 send the matching person to solve them.

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

The third option is said to be extremely common, but the fact that something can become common proves it's at least suited to most people and most situations—its floor won't be bad.

And with the Cleanup Bureau's annual death rate approaching one in ten, if I gave up my current combat power now to choose future potential, I might just get carried off in a coffin someday. Even those in the bureau who chose similar anomalies probably thought the same way I do.

"If you put it that way, then the third one does seem alright..."

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

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

Sigh... if I'd known you'd turn out like this, I never should've let her take you on 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 to be just like her—able to earn Gao Xin while looking after my younger siblings, living safely and steadily while "slacking" at the Cleanup Bureau.

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

Seeing the atmosphere ease up, and knowing he had 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 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 at "Auntie Ai Ma the Second" in exasperation, the red-haired director waved him off:

"Get out, get out! In about a week, headquarters will have the new anomaly ready and sent over. If it doesn't suit you then, don't come begging me to swap it for you!"

After flicking her finger forcefully toward the door and using her hair to shoo Hearing Li Ang out, the red-haired director recalled every expression he had 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!

My expectation for Hearing Li Ang was only for him to become an ordinary Class One disaster handler, or an ace employee like Auntie Ai Ma who could serve as a branch 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 only worked 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 outright, he must believe he'll keep growing, and that he'll very likely face True God-level existences as opponents in the end—that's why his interest in the second option dropped so sharply.

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

Little Hearing Li Ang, full of secrets~

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

So... you want to take over my position as head 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, couldn't wait to reach out and point at the stewed beef, of which little remained.

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

"You got it!"

Although she wasn't young anymore, the police department cafeteria auntie's serving hand was astonishingly steady. A large iron ladle dripping with sauce plunged straight to the bottom of the bucket, scooped up a full ladle of vegetables and still wasn't enough—she even deliberately scraped off plenty of onions and carrots against the bucket wall, scooped the ladle full of beef again before lifting it out, and with a swoosh dumped it onto Hearing Li Ang's plate. Then, in a voice as loud as a bell, she asked:

"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, plant her hands on her hips, and say with a look of displeasure:

"Look at you, skinny as a rail—people would think my food tastes terrible! You stand right there! One more scoop!"

After scooping up another full ladle of beef and unceremoniously dumping it onto his plate, the auntie—who was as sturdy as a bear—watched Hearing Li Ang leave looking overwhelmed by the favor, clicked her tongue, and said to the old man beside her with a face full of regret:

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

"Sigh... pretty much the same as last time..."

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

"This morning I caught some bastard running around causing destruction, but then found out he had very deep connections, so in the end I could only let him go. On top of that, I've been busy dealing with the aftermath...

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

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

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

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

"Alright..."

Hearing that her favorite braised beef was gone, and having eaten nothing since morning, the female police officer's face fell with hunger, feeling that today was just one misfortune after another.

After reluctantly carrying away the fried pork cutlet, she instinctively glanced around, wondering which lucky soul had snatched her meal—only to spot an unusually familiar back, and on that person's tray, a mountain of braised beef.

"Huh?!!!"

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