Chapter 771: Ambushed

Will something happen within a week?

After hearing the Red-haired Chief's judgment, Li Ang nodded unconsciously, but upon closer thought, he sensed something was off.

"Wait! Your wallet? You're the one who lost it yesterday?"

"…"

Damn… I was so focused on figuring out the Water Bottle Director's motive, I forgot this whole thing…

"This… I can explain."

Seeing Li Ang's expression shift from surprise to suspicion, then to recollection, and finally to sudden understanding, the Red-haired Chief awkwardly cleared her throat and hastily tried to recover:

"Actually…"

"Actually, you really were drunk and lost your wallet, then felt too embarrassed to tell me directly, so you tricked me into helping you find it—but you didn't find anything at all, and this whole thing was just coincidence?"

"…"

No… how did you figure it out so fast? Did someone tell you something?

"It wasn't entirely coincidence."

Seeing Li Ang's hostile expression, the Red-haired Chief blushed for once, slightly guilty as she gestured weakly:

"I did sense… just a tiny bit of something off, uh… not much, but definitely a little."

"…"

So it really is just as the Black Goat guessed!!!

Watching the Red-haired Chief's "just a teensy bit" gesture, Li Ang's face darkened, but remembering her past kindness toward him, he held back his anger and growled instead:

"Chief, you should… drink less from now on."

"I… I'll try…"

You'll try your ass!

Seeing the Red-haired Chief's evasive gaze, Li Ang knew her promise would last at most a week. He sighed but said nothing more.

After all, the Red-haired Chief's situation was unique—she needed alcohol occasionally to numb herself and temporarily escape the guilt brought by the 【Blood-Soaked Hair of Execution】. Forcing her to quit entirely would only torment her.

"Forget it. Drink if you want."

Shaking his head helplessly, Li Ang dropped the matter of her lying to get him to search for her wallet and instead gently advised:

"But don't get drunk again like this—so drunk you don't even notice your wallet's gone. Keep some vigilance. If you don't, someone might take advantage and you could end up in danger."

"??? "

Watching Li Ang, who was clearly annoyed but didn't press further, instead choosing to let it go with a light touch, the Red-haired Chief's heart jolted. She hissed softly:

"Hss… Li Ang… are you okay?"

???

What kind of question is that? What's wrong with me?

"I mean… aren't you angry?"

The Red-haired Chief blinked and said:

"If Emma were here, and found out I got drunk, messed up, and tricked her into running errands for me, she'd be furious for days and force me to pay back the money… Aren't you angry?"

"Of course I'm angry—but not that angry."

Looking at her lustrous red hair, Li Ang shook his head slightly:

"Emma is different from me. She might know about the 【Blood-Soaked Hair of Execution】, but she probably doesn't understand how much pain it inflicts on its user. I've touched your hair—I know exactly what using this anomaly means. You have all kinds of flaws, but you've done more than enough in your duties. If I were to demand you stay sober, endure the pain, and constantly shield me while protecting humanity, that would be selfish of me.

No one is born with the obligation to bear these burdens. So drink if you must—but when danger looms, be mindful of your limits. Don't give others a chance to hurt you. After all, the entire Virgin District still depends on you. Stay safe."

"…"

After hearing Li Ang's words, the Red-haired Chief fell silent for a moment, then sniffed hard, clasped her hands to her chest, eyes brimming with emotion:

"Oh my, you're just… you've moved me to tears!

This is the first time anyone's ever been this thoughtful toward me—caring for me in every way, not even blaming me for lying to you, but trying to find fault in yourself… Waaah, I'm so moved I almost want to give myself to you.

By the way, little Li Ang, since you support me, I've thought it over carefully—I realize five Golden Wheels aren't enough. So… could you take out your wallet again and lend me five more Golden Wheels?"

"…"

"No!"

Hearing the first half, Li Ang felt slightly embarrassed—but after hearing the second half, his face turned black:

"I've changed my mind. If you keep drinking like this, you'll eventually crash on this very thing. And if you have no objections, I'm taking the 【Bag of Usurious Gain】 with me. Leaving it with you is pure waste… I'm off duty!"

"Go on, go on! Stingy man!"

Watching Li Ang leave with a smile, the Red-haired Chief sat alone at her desk for a while, then rose, opened the office window, and leaned against the windowsill, gazing outside.

At the point of her gaze, that stingy man who refused to lend her money had just stepped beyond the police department's grounds and waved to a waiting carriage.

Watching Li Ang negotiate with the driver, settle the fare, and climb aboard the carriage heading toward Shipbridge Street, the Red-haired Chief sniffed, eyes gleaming, then turned back, picked up the bottle, and took a long swig.

"Little brat, just got his first hairs—thinks he can show off in front of me? Hmph!"

…

"Alright! Get me off here!"

Having calculated the distance from the police department to home, Li Ang tapped the carriage window just before the meter would tick over, shouting over the boiler's roar:

"Stop here! I'll walk the last half-street myself! If you drive any further, I won't pay for the extra!"

Tsk… Don't city employees usually haggle? How come you're so cheap?

Hearing Li Ang's words, the carriage driver, who'd been trying to inch forward, grunted, then grimly brought the steam carriage to a halt by the roadside.

"Here. Exact change."

After handing the driver the precisely counted coins, Li Ang, having saved one Copper Wheel, stepped down with a smile and walked toward Happy Apartments under the moonlight.

"Old man, still awake?"

Greeting the burly old man in the garden, who was glaring at him with giant shears in hand, Li Ang chatted briefly with the manager lady after the curly-haired old woman tied him up with yarn, then chuckled his way upstairs.

Home really is the best.

Morning: processing mission reports. Afternoon: gathering rebels to destroy evidence of the assault on the Docking Tower. Night: overtime, searching for a wallet. After a full day's work, Li Ang stretched his tired body, face relaxed, walking toward the house he called home.

The moment he stepped onto the sixth floor, the door, as always, opened promptly—warm light spilling out, revealing a beautiful, smiling face.

"Anna, I'm back… why are you here?"

"What kind of question is that? Why couldn't it be me?"

Pulling up the silk robe's collar to cover her overly prominent front, Princess Veronika smiled sweetly:

"Darling~ You're home! Do you want to bathe first? Or eat first? Or maybe…?"

(End of Chapter)