Chapter 767: Not a Second Time

【NAME: ROLL OF THE FALLEN (CORRUPTION, NAME, LOCATION)】

【APPEARANCE: A leather register with an unusually exquisite binding, smooth and slightly warm to the touch; after a registrant signs their name, the back displays the exact number of their recorded "sins"】

【ABILITY: SIN RECORDING, DEMONIC NAME, TARGET LOCATION】

【COST: For the signatory, signing your name permanently records your aura, removable only upon death; for the user, each use of its location ability consumes one of your own "sin" records】

【FILE: An ancient anomaly crafted from the skin of a Divine-tier Cursed-Pattern Demon, leveraging the creature's innate rule-force to covertly record the signatory's information and instantly lock onto their current location (within the same plane only).】

This unique anomaly was forged by the Ninth among the Hellish Lords—the Lord of Betrayal—to guard against his subordinates' treachery, and was directly sewn into the flesh of his left back.

But during an invasion 375 years ago, the Director of the Twin Branch of the Clearance Bureau ambushed the Lord of Betrayal, using the anomaly 【TWO-FRAME FRAME】 to sever his left arm; the "Roll of the Fallen" stitched onto his back became a war trophy, stored ever since in the Twin Branch's vault…】

【EVALUATION: Flip over the third signature ledger whose initial is "a," and you'll find an unexpected surprise】

【CONTAMINATION VALUE: 0 (registrant) / half the current contamination value of the target being queried (user)】

【Through your own observation and deduction, you've acquired extensive intelligence on the "Roll of the Fallen." Chromatic… your resistance to this anomaly has greatly increased; you can now fully block deeper influences】

…

Twin Branch…

So this mission is connected to the Aquarius Director? But wasn't he severely wounded in the Death Realm and unable to return for a long time? Could this be a contingency he left behind?

After reading the file on the "Roll of the Fallen" and recognizing familiar information, Hearing Li Ang's brow twitched slightly; he then followed the evaluation's suggestion, found the third ledger beginning with "a," and flipped it to the back.

Pure white… the back of the ledger had been pasted over with paper.

Not just the back—except for the page he hadn't signed yet, every ledger's front and back was completely sealed, revealing only each guest's alias and the total unpaid balance under their name.

Frowning again, Hearing Li Ang was about to rub off the paper covering the back when his arm was seized.

"Your Grace! Please don't do that!"

Having just barely stopped Hearing Li Ang's reckless act, the waiter gasped, then relaxed slightly and pleaded with a troubled expression:

"By protocol, all records—including yours—are strictly confidential; only designated personnel may access them.

We do this to better protect our esteemed guests' privacy, so we humbly ask your… understanding."

"It's just a bar. Why the secrecy?"

Remembering the Director's warning—"Don't alert the target"—Hearing Li Ang narrowed his eyes, temporarily abandoning the idea of looking at the ledger, then slammed the pen down on the register with a scowl:

"Fine, I won't look. And I won't sign either!"

"My deepest apologies, this way, Your Grace!"

Seeing Hearing Li Ang abandon the ledger, the waiter exhaled sharply, dared not mention signing again, and instead signaled to someone behind the main counter to retrieve the ledger, then hurriedly guided Hearing Li Ang toward the stairs.

"This is the VIP section!"

After ascending to the third floor, the waiter—who had nearly caused disaster—led Hearing Li Ang to a bar stool and eagerly explained: "The liquor on the third floor changes weekly, and the bartenders rotate unpredictably; each has their own signature style. If you prefer a particular one, you may request them directly—I'll fetch them for you.

If you prefer pure spirits over mixed drinks, pull back the tapestry to your right; behind it are private rooms designed for solitary sipping and quiet contemplation…"

"Mm-hmm, got it."

Interrupting the waiter, Hearing Li Ang—the notoriously ill-tempered Duke—gave a dismissive wave:

"Go on. I'll browse on my own. You don't need to stay."

"Yes…"

Seeing Hearing Li Ang's displeasure—clearly still annoyed over the signing—the waiter could only nod helplessly and bowed respectfully:

"I won't disturb you further. But by protocol, I cannot stray far. I'll wait in the lounge between the second and third floors.

Should you need me, simply tell a server on the third floor to call 'Jacob' at the lounge door—I'll come at once."

"Mm… Huh?"

Wait—you're Jacob?

So you're the waiter the Director told me to find? But weren't you supposed to be on the third-floor VIP section? Why are you greeting guests at the entrance?

"Wait!"

Calling out to the departing waiter, Hearing Li Ang cleared his throat:

"Maybe… you shouldn't leave after all."

Jacob: "?"

"I just thought—since it's my first time, having someone explain things isn't bad."

"…."

You changed your mind too fast. This Duke really…

Though internally annoyed, Jacob, as a waiter, kept his smile polite and subservient—no lapse in etiquette.

Simply put: he was someone he could never afford to offend. That grab earlier had been pure instinct; when he realized what he'd done, cold sweat had soaked a patch of his back.

Given the vast gap in status, obeying any demand was the only safe choice. If that incident happened again, he wasn't sure he'd have the courage to touch the Duke's arm again.

"Then… may I continue to trouble you?"

"Fine, no trouble. Also—I'm not interested in mixed drinks. Take me to the room behind the tapestry."

"Of course, this way, Your Grace."

Following Jacob into a private room with obvious soundproofing, Hearing Li Ang pressed his left fingertip against Heishanyang's forehead, then feigned searching his own body, and exclaimed in feigned surprise:

"Huh? Where's my wallet? Why is my wallet gone?"

?!?!

(END OF CHAPTER)