Chapter 770: The Bag of Usury

"Director!"

Holding a wallet of unknown origin, Leon immediately knocked on the Director's office door after returning to the Cleanup Bureau, his expression grave:

"There's definitely something wrong with Pink Mystery! The Aquarius Director must have arranged some backup plan there! And if I'm not mistaken, the wallet you asked me to investigate was taken by Nicole, a Level-One Cleanup Agent from the Twin Branch!"

Huh? What did you say?

After hearing Leon's words, the red-haired Director, who had been fiddling with an empty wallet, paused, then stared at him in utter shock:

"You actually found something? Wait… I mean, are you really sure?"

"Nine out of ten."

After recalling the intelligence from the 【List of Fallen Ones】, Leon recounted what he had seen and heard, then concluded with a solemn expression:

"We can't confirm it yet, but once Senior Jerry returns, if even he can't find the wallet, then it's basically certain."

"After all, the 【Hidden Tail】 in that female journalist's possession can erase an object's aura—I think her suspicion is extremely high… By the way, Director, what was inside that wallet?"

"…"

"The wallet contained my salary I just collected… but it doesn't matter anymore!"

After listening to Leon's account, the red-haired Director's fox-like eyes subtly narrowed, sensing something amiss.

Although she had indeed drunk too much, forgetting her wallet was still unlikely—perhaps influenced by some special anomaly. Also, since she had boasted to Leon earlier that day, she hadn't planned to drink much that night.

But Pink Mystery had just received a new batch of wines perfectly to her taste, causing her to lose control, drink too much, and lose the wallet—and the only person who could immediately retrieve it, Jerry, was away on assignment due to an emergency in Merino County…

The stench of conspiracy is strong…

After twirling a strand of her hair around her finger twice, the red-haired Director murmured vague replies, frowning as she pondered the true target of the "enemy."

The direct target seemed to be stealing her wallet?

But her wallet contained only money—not worth such elaborate effort. So their real goal was likely the consequences of "me having no money."

Considering Aquarius possesses the 【Door to the Other World】, which can briefly glimpse the future, they must have seen what I'd do after losing my money—and found an opportunity!

So what would I do after losing my money? Borrow from Emma like yesterday? Use the 【Bag of Usury】 like today? Or go back to my usual tavern to run a tab?

Strange—all these things are ordinary. Which one would expose me? Maybe… try doing them all?

…

The red-haired Director, her head throbbing with thought, began absentmindedly fiddling with the empty wallet in her hand, clicking the clasp repeatedly.

Noticing her movements, Leon raised an eyebrow, recalling the wallet that had suddenly appeared in his hands, then tapped his sleeve button and pulled out the bulging wallet.

"By the way, besides the 【List of Fallen Ones】, I encountered another incident possibly linked to an anomaly."

Placing the wallet on the desk and briefly explaining its strange origin, Leon said with concern:

"You know how bad my luck is—this kind of lucky windfall couldn't possibly happen to me. So I thought… Huh? What's this?"

"Touch it and you'll know."

Throwing her own empty wallet to Leon, the red-haired Director calmly opened a small golden-haired man's wallet, took out five gold wheels, slipped them into her pocket, then returned the wallet.

"When I pay your salary next month, I'll give you ten extra gold wheels—remember to repay them for me!"

???

Wait… what even is this? I didn't understand any of that!

Frowning in confusion, Leon followed the red-haired Director's instruction and touched the empty wallet in his hand. "Sss…"

【Name: Bag of Usury (Wealth)】

【Appearance: An unusually ancient male leather wallet; its once-sturdy leather base has been completely worn through, allowing fingers to be inserted through holes in the bottom】

【Ability: Windfall】

【Cost: After gaining unexpected wealth from this anomaly, you must repay the original owner double the amount】

【Archive: This is a genuine antique anomaly originating from the Initial Nation of Anbula, with a history exceeding five hundred years. After being acquired by the fourth Director of the Virgin Branch of the Cleanup Bureau, it was stored in the branch's vault.】

【Four years ago, then-Virgin Branch Director Olivia, having spent her salary and lacking funds for wine, found this long-neglected anomaly in the vault and began using it for small-scale "borrowing."】

【Over four years, she used this anomaly forty-nine times, borrowing 1, 23 gold wheels, finding twenty-five wallets, uncovering four secret stashes of private wealth, and redeeming fifteen winning lottery tickets…】

【Evaluation: Severely underestimated anomaly. Rather than repaying double each time you borrow, its true use is to "borrow" a large sum at a critical moment—and never repay.】

【Corruption Level: 2. 】

"…"

So… the wallet I just "turned in" was one you "borrowed" using this thing? No wonder the whole process was so bizarre!

After reading the description of the 【Bag of Usury】, Leon grimaced and muttered in disbelief:

"There's actually an anomaly like this… and you have to repay double?

Why not just borrow from a proper bank? My annual salary is only six hundred gold wheels—your interest payments from this thing already exceed two years' worth of my pay!"

"Technically, borrowing from a bank would be better."

The red-haired Director spread her hands:

"But I repay too slowly—every major bank in the capital has blacklisted me. The few still willing to lend me money don't want repayment—they want favors. So why not just use this?"

"…"

Bullshit! Your salary's high enough—if you'd just cut back on drinking a little, you'd never be short!

"Oh come on, everyone runs into cash shortages sometimes—just a quick emergency, that's all~"

Glancing at Leon's sour face, the red-haired Director, having successfully "borrowed" five gold wheels, sat up straight and changed the subject with solemn expression:

"Also, if I'm right, something bad will happen within a week—be extra careful in the coming days."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because of Jerry's return date."

The red-haired Director narrowed her eyes and tapped her fingers on the desk:

"If you hadn't stumbled upon this, once Jerry returns in a week, he'd start searching for my lost wallet. Then, unable to detect its aura, he'd make me suspicious."

"So conversely, if they want to act and avoid alerting me, they must finish everything within this week. I suspect something will happen before Jerry returns!"

(End of Chapter)