Chapter 8

8 social person

Leon, for the second time that day bursting out of his ward, made no hesitation—he dodged the crowded reception area and leapt out the second-floor window of the hospital, sprinting full speed toward the Clearance Bureau.

Since fleeing with Anna was impossible, his only choice left was to rush to the Clearance Bureau and alert them—to bring someone who could handle the “uncontrolled infected.”

Whether it was the illusion of slowed time from extreme mental strain, or whether “reporting to the Clearance Bureau” counted as work eligible for the “probationary” badge’s bonus, he didn’t know.

Though Leon hadn’t slept all night and was utterly exhausted, his speed was far faster than before; soon, he reached the base of the Clearance Bureau building.

But when Leon, lungs burning with pain, staggered into the innermost office, all he found was an empty room.

Where is everyone? Why is no one here?

Glancing out the window at the now-dark sky, Leon suddenly realized—the time had long passed when civil servants finished work; the mysterious red-haired woman had surely left.

This is trouble… Should I search the building first, see if anyone’s on duty?

Leon, having come up empty, clenched his teeth and turned to leave the red-haired woman’s office—when a heavy thud echoed behind him, as if something had fallen onto the carpet.

Leon turned in surprise and saw a goat-head ornament had tumbled off the desk. Too eager to find someone, he paid it no mind and started to turn away—when the goat-head twisted oddly twice, then flipped itself upright on its own.

In Leon’s stunned gaze, the goat-head with its mouth sewn shut rolled its eyes twice, then glared at him with vicious hatred.

?!

The dim corridor, the opulent yet bizarre office, a goat-head with its mouth stitched shut by red thread, glaring at you with a monstrous expression…

‘What the hell are you staring at?’

A voice thick with anger rang in Leon’s ears, shattering the eerie atmosphere.

After rolling over several times on the carpet and failing to right itself, the black goat scowled at Leon and growled:

‘Hurry up and pick me up! When we were still a great demon, creatures as clueless as you would’ve been swatted dead by my palm!’

Great demon… that black goat? It’s only been an hour and a half—how did you end up as just a head?

‘Y-You… Your Excellency!’

Recognizing the creature as the same black goat from earlier, and worried about his sister’s condition, Leon took a deep breath and asked directly:

‘I just encountered an uncontrolled infected—at the hospital three streets away. Is there anyone still on duty at the Clearance Bureau?’

There’s not a damn soul! If there were anyone else here, do you think you could’ve just barged in? They’d’ve been torn apart by those lunatics already!

Just as the black goat rolled its eyes, preparing to curse again, Leon—knowing exactly how to handle it—quickly added:

‘If you help me find someone, I’ll buy you cigarettes! One pack of ‘Gao Te’! No—two packs!’

‘…’

Two packs… tsk… I’m such a kind soul, I can’t stand human suffering—helping you isn’t out of the question, but the thing is…

‘Sigh…’

As Leon watched anxiously, the black goat sighed, then shook its head regretfully:

‘Let’s forget the deal. I’m a demon of honor—I never take rewards for tasks I can’t complete. There’s no one left in the bureau now; even if I wanted to help you, I can’t.’

No one’s left?

Hearing this, Leon panicked:

‘How can an entire building like this have not a single person on duty?’

‘Blame that red-haired bitch.’

The black goat scowled:

‘It’s all her fault—she does her work so sloppily,

her performance ratings are always low. Afraid she wouldn’t pass the year-end review, last month she sent everyone out to chase quotas—now the bureau’s so empty you could run rats through it…

Kid, listen up—don’t let her looks fool you!

Sure, she’s beautiful, even rivals pure-blooded succubi—but she’s a drunk, greedy, petty, filthy slob. I’ve even seen her shut her office door and secretly pick at her toes! That bitch is pure trash… hey?’

Mid-rant, the black goat suddenly noticed something, twisted its head toward the east, then slightly opened its stitched mouth and grinned at Leon.

‘Lucky you—you just joined and already get a performance bonus… Quick! Pick me up and hold me. Someone who can work’s back—let’s go find her and settle this!’

‘And don’t forget—you promised me two packs! Not one less, or I’ll kill you!’

If you can solve this, even two boxes won’t be enough!

…

Hearing there was hope, Leon’s spirits soared. He snatched up the goat-head and dashed out of the Clearance Bureau, following its directions east for nearly two blocks, finally stopping a tall woman wrapped head-to-toe in bandages at the corner.

‘You’re… uh… the bureau actually hired a new recruit?’

After locking eyes with the goat-head in Leon’s arms, the bandaged woman seemed to have received plenty of information from it. She smiled warmly and extended her right hand:

‘I’m Emma. I’ve been with the Clearance Bureau for six years—I know the procedures well. If you need help with work in the future, don’t hesitate to ask.’

‘Y-Yes… of course…’

When Leon first stopped this bandaged oddity, he’d expected another eccentric like the black goat—but instead, he heard this shockingly ‘social’ introduction.

But… she seems easy to get along with?

Remembering the hospital’s situation, Leon pushed aside his discomfort, shook her bandaged hand briefly, then asked urgently:

‘At the hospital…’

‘I’ll go—but not now.’

The bandaged woman smiled gently, speaking calmly:

‘According to the Clearance Bureau’s Four-Step Operational Protocol, we must first carefully observe, determine the type and danger level of the anomaly, and identify the uncontrolled infected’s identity;

then, based on the victim’s condition, preliminarily deduce the infected’s abilities and potential impact;

next, locate targeted tools and special items, confirm our own status, and formulate a complete action plan;

only then do we initiate action—to control or eliminate the target with minimal casualties and minimal disruption, completing the clearance.’

Seeing Leon stunned by her words, the bandaged woman kindly reminded him:

‘The sun has set. Our visibility is reduced, lowering our operational capacity—and without sunlight’s suppression, most anomalies grow more active at night. This is not a good time to act.

Also, I’ve just completed a two-and-a-half-month mission; my physical and mental state are at their limit. I need at least a week of rest to regain sufficient focus, and am unfit to take on a new, high-risk assignment immediately.

Therefore, the correct course now is to return to the Clearance Bureau, wait until the director returns to work tomorrow, and hand this task over to her. So let’s…’

‘Why are you doing this again…’

Leon, momentarily stunned by her cold professionalism, didn’t know what to say—but the goat-head in his arms twisted and grumbled:

‘The director’s on a business trip to Wales. She won’t be back for three days—do you plan to wait for her forever?’

‘I’ll wait for her to return.’

Watching Leon’s expression suddenly harden, Emma—the bandaged woman—smiled gently again, her eyes tinged with regret:

‘From your expression… you have a relative in that hospital, don’t you?

I’m sorry—but I have a reason to live at all costs. Until I’m certain it’s absolutely safe, I won’t act recklessly under any circumstance. So please wait three days!’