Chapter 743: Invitation and Badge

"Senior Emma?"

Looking at the bustling street before him and the curious glances from passersby, Li Ang couldn't help but ask—or rather, remind—awkwardly:

"We've left the Dead Realm. Do you feel better?"

"Mm."

After nodding lightly, seeing Li Ang's reddened ears, Emma couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, then released her arms from around his neck.

"I'm much better now. Put me down."

"Alright."

Hearing Emma's words, Li Ang, embarrassed by the puzzled stares of passersby, quickly crouched slightly and set her down, then immediately asked:

"Senior Emma, would you like to go back to the Bureau with me first, or?"

"I'll go home first."

Gently smoothing the wrinkles on Li Ang's back from where she'd pressed against him, Emma reached out to adjust his crooked collar, her eyes soft as she whispered:

"Elly must miss me terribly, and I want to go home too—I won't accompany you back to the Bureau… By the way, Li Ang, are your younger siblings free the day after tomorrow?"

Are Anna and the others free?

Hearing Emma's question, Li Ang paused slightly, then nodded:

"Anna won't turn eighteen for a few more months; she hasn't looked for work yet, just helps manage the apartment—she's probably free. William and Melanie are in school, but the day after tomorrow is a public holiday, so they're free too."

"Since they're all free, can we all get together the day after tomorrow?"

After carefully studying Li Ang's eyes and seeing no sign of reluctance, Emma ventured softly:

"Elly… her situation is unusual, so she's never attended school, never interacted with children her age, and has no friends. If possible, could you bring your younger siblings along?"

So that's why.

Imagining briefly a gentle, well-behaved girl, just like Senior Emma, unable to attend school due to family circumstances, left alone in an empty house, waiting lonely for her mother's return, Li Ang's heart swelled with pity.

"No problem!"

Determined inwardly to sternly warn his two troublemaking siblings not to bully the little girl when he got home, Li Ang patted his chest and assured:

"Unless something extraordinary happens, we'll all be there at eight a. . the day after tomorrow!"

"Thank you. I'll go now."

After smiling farewell to Li Ang, Emma hailed a steam carriage, opened the door, and stepped inside. Once Li Ang turned away, she couldn't help but glance through the carriage window at his back—narrow, yet undeniably reliable.

She remembered the time Li Ang got drunk at the Bureau and she escorted him home—he'd plucked a large bunch of celery from his balcony, shoved it into her hands like a bouquet, and solemnly declared age wasn't an issue, and having a daughter wasn't an issue either…

Were those words sincere?

…

Who would've thought there'd be an unexpected reward!

Unaware that someone was watching his back, after seeing Emma onto the carriage, Li Ang eagerly opened his badge panel, gazing at the new badge that had appeared the moment he left the Dead Realm.

【Having been carried into the Dead Realm by the Sin-Eating Mud Crocodile Amp, and having entered the Path of No Return as a living being, then being personally returned by the Death Guard Hound Angsi, you have successfully activated the hidden Golden Badge: "One Who Cheated Death"】【One Who Cheated Death: A living being who once came infinitely close to death, yet ultimately survived】

【Wearing Effect: As one who has witnessed the afterlife, you are now extremely sensitive to death, able to faintly sense impending death】

【Advanced Path: None】

【Hidden Trait (No Equipment Required): As a living person who departed from the Dead Realm, your scent has been permanently imprinted on the Death Guard Hound Angsi; upon detecting your odor, it will instantly awaken from its slumber outside the Gate of Death.】

【Therefore, when you lack sufficiently strong companions, do not approach the Gate of Death—otherwise, it will surely bite you, and bite you three times, one head per bite!】

This is a death alarm!

Compared to the ability to faintly foresee death, getting bitten by a dog when crossing the Gate of Death is utterly irrelevant!

I don't even know how to reach the Dead Realm—I could never cross the Gate alone unless I got killed. And if I'm dead, then getting bitten? Fine. I'll deal with it after I'm dead!

After reading the effects of "One Who Cheated Death," Li Ang immediately adjusted his badge panel and attached the new badge.

Currently, his badge panel has seven slots.

【Materialism】 occupies one slot stably; the similarly colored 【Immortal of the Wine】 requires heavy drinking to trigger, so I don't need to wear it unless I need invincibility.

Of the remaining Golden Badges, the ever-reliable 【Prince of the Thrush】 takes one, and the 【I Am the Demon】 and 【Vicar】 series from the Lamb Tripe and Holy Spirit sets must be worn constantly—that's already four slots.

The 【Dog Walker】, though only a Black Iron Badge, must be worn regularly to retrieve items from the Mirror World and communicate with the puppy—bringing the total to five slots.

The rest—【Too Bad There Isn't】 for hitting people like eggs, 【Master Performer】 for deception, 【Secret Art Heir (Aquarius)】, and 【Sharpshooter】—must share the last two slots, swapped as needed.

Now that the 【One Who Cheated Death】 has arrived, claiming another long-term slot, the dozen or so remaining badges must rotate in the final slot alone.

I gained a useful new badge, but my slots are even tighter.

After using the 【One Who Cheated Death】's effect to sense the faint death aura on nearby passersby, Li Ang sighed regretfully.

Too bad the 【Materialism】 slot's criteria don't apply to my own forged anomalies—if they did, I could just craft a few more junk items to meet the 16-anomaly threshold and unlock an eighth slot. For now, I'll just make do.

Carrying the regret of not being able to exploit loopholes, Li Ang identified the street he was on, saw it was near the Municipal District, and chose not to hire a carriage—he walked toward the Cleanup Bureau on foot.

I'd just returned from the Docking Pier when I found Senior Emma in trouble, then rushed with Senior Tang Mu into the gathering of the Golden Scale Cult—wonder what happened to those rebels and Senior Pioni?

Although Middle-aged Joshua didn't lie—the door he opened was surely safe, and with Senior Pioni guarding them, they're probably fine—but until I see them with my own eyes, I can't truly relax.

Oh, speaking of Senior Pioni…

At this thought, Li Ang touched his cufflink, his face filled with deep guilt.

I'm sorry, Senior. I didn't lose your "brother," but your butt is probably gone now—and it's in the hands of the Goddess of Wealth. I don't even know how to ask for it back…

(End of Chapter)