Chapter 9: 9 Slots and Fire

9 Slots and Fire

Wait three days… will we still make it in time?

Never expecting the friendly bandage-wrapped woman to refuse to act, Li Ang, worried about the situation at the hospital, clenched his teeth, lowered his head, and tried once more to plead:

"If you're willing to act, I can…"

"Sorry, this isn't a matter of how much the price is."

Cutting off Li Ang's words, the bandaged woman shook her head, her expression regretful:

"The reason I've been able to stay safe in the Cleanup Bureau for six years is that I never act when I'm not sure of success.

I sympathize with your situation, but I have reasons I absolutely won't take risks lightly. I hope you can understand my decision."

"…"

Understand, of course I understand—after all, if I didn't understand, what else could I do? Drag you there by force?

After hearing her irrefusable refusal, Li Ang couldn't help but weakly loosen his grip, a shade of despairing pale grey gradually rising in his eyes.

Although it sounded a bit cold, what she said was actually right—she had no obligation to take risks for his sake—but… what about Anna?

Right now, he could still choose to go back to the hospital and, while that so-called "runaway Infected" hadn't yet caused a big commotion, take Anna out in advance.

But if what that nurse said was true, then stopping the medication and taking Anna away now would basically mean she'd spend the rest of her life lying in a hospital bed, probably unable to even do housework like washing clothes or cooking.

These past years, her lung disease had already been a heavy burden on the family and caused Anna great pain. Given her outwardly gentle and obedient but inwardly extremely stubborn personality, if she found out she'd become a complete "burden," then probably…

'Kid, you can't welch on the deal!'

Just as Li Ang was weighing the two options back and forth, hesitating over whether to take Anna out, the Hearing Hearing Heishanyang cradled in his arms uncomfortably twisted its neck and reminded him with some concern:

'We agreed before—I help you find the person, and you buy me cigarettes! Now I've already helped you find her; her not wanting to help is her business, but the cigarettes you owe me can't be one less!'

"…"

Right, there's still this one!

As if spotting a life-saving straw drifting past his eyes, Li Ang's gaze suddenly lit up. Gripping the goat's head, he said with an eager face:

"What about you? Can you handle this? If you can do it, as long as I'm still working at the Cleanup Bureau, I'll buy you a pack of 'Gao Te' every week!"

Tch… pulling that trick on me again… have I been too nice to you?

Hearing the conditions Li Ang offered, the Hearing Hearing Heishanyang's face couldn't help but show a hint of annoyance.

Kid! You don't really think I helped you find people just for the cigarettes, do you? I'm a dignified great demon—would I be short of your cheap cigarettes that only cost three silver wheels a pack?

Let me tell you! If it weren't for that red-haired woman taking a shine to you, forget a lousy pack of cigarettes—even if you knelt down now and begged me to take your soul, I wouldn't bother, got it?

'At least three packs!'

"Deal!"

Damn! I asked for too little!

After pouting somewhat ruefully, the Hearing Hearing Heishanyang cursed itself for being spineless, then sighed mournfully and shoved itself hard into Li Ang's embrace.

Sigh… what can I do, this is my thing.

Besides, in my current sheep-headed, sheep-brained state, I don't even qualify to go rob anyone. If I'm not careful, I won't just fail to grab the money—I might end up getting stewed myself, and end up without even enough cash to buy a pack of cigarettes.

Damn! Just thinking about it pisses me off! That red-haired woman isn't poor, but the moment her weekly salary comes in, she spends every last bit on horse piss to drink, not even willing to spare me half a copper wheel!

Once I've smoked a bit more and gathered enough strength to turn things around, I'm going to smash every tavern in the whole royal capital! And the alcohol-based perfume factories too! Leave you stinky woman with not a single drop to drink!

The Hearing Hearing Heishanyang was viciously cursing in its heart,

while gathering what little strength it had left, it stamped a demon's mark on Li Ang's chest, proactively granting him the right to "use" itself.

At the same time, the familiar static sounded in Li Ang's ear again.

"Bzzt"

【First usable Anomaly obtained, hidden trait of the colored badge "Materialist Soul (Crimson)" activated】

【Materialist Soul (Colored · Crimson · Cannot be upgraded): …】

【Equip Effect: …】

【Advancement Path: …】

【Hidden Trait: Badge Slot 1, Current Slot Count: 4, Total Anomalies required to unlock next slot: 2】

Accompanied by a mechanical prompt, the virtual panel, which originally had only three slots, scrolled, and a fourth slot quietly appeared—a cyan badge shaped like a sheep's head and brain, already embedded inside.

【Obtained the right to use the Anomaly "Demon's Antler," you have successfully activated the Bronze-tier badge "Demon's Favored"】

【Demon's Favored (Bronze): After completing a dirty and despicable transaction and agreeing to an extremely evil sacrifice every week henceforth, you have successfully gained the favor of a high-ranking demon】

【Equip Effect: Affinity with Anomalies bearing the "Fallen" mark increases, slightly reducing usage cost while greatly strengthening usage effect】

【Advancement Path: Without being discovered by Olivia, the former owner of "Demon's Antler," privately complete ten agreed-upon evil sacrifices, and this badge will automatically advance to the Silver-tier badge "Demon's Friend"】

【Hidden Trait (No need to equip): Your soul has been tinged with a trace of demonic aura, making you more likely to attract the attention of certain evil entities】

【Your Corruption Value has increased】

【Current Corruption Value: 0.1】

……

'Hiss… you kid… you're actually pretty compatible with me!'

Lying in Li Ang's somewhat uncomfortable embrace, feeling that "like a fish in water" sense of harmony, the Hearing Hearing Heishanyang couldn't help but raise its head and complain with a face full of surprise:

'In that situation earlier, you were able to control yourself and not stab that fat guy from the Road Administration Department. I thought you were the type with strong morals and figured we wouldn't get along.

But judging by our compatibility, you kid clearly aren't a good person! Though not quite a great villain, you definitely haven't got anything good brewing in there—scamming and swindling and the like, you've done plenty of that, right?'

"…"

High compatibility with you is the badge's effect—I've been a law-abiding citizen for two lifetimes, okay?

Although his Hard Character was baselessly accused, Li Ang's mind was still working normally, so naturally he wouldn't confess his cheat to a demon.

And after holding the endlessly chattering goat's head for a moment, Li Ang was pleasantly surprised to discover that he seemed to have temporarily gained the ability to peer into souls.

Centered on the ram's skull he held in his hands, within a radius of roughly two kilometers, several thousand wavering, faint "flames" suddenly lit up.

Hatred, betrayal, mockery, jealousy, frenzy… countless cold and dark malice, burning the soul like fire, drifted before Hearing Li Ang's eyes like the pale blue will-o'-the-wisps that wander a graveyard at midnight, scattered like stars.

So long as he focused his attention over, he could pierce through layer upon layer of concrete and stone, directly glimpsing the searing malice contained within those "flames."

Hearing Li Ang even felt a strange premonition, as if he only had to reach his "hand" over and give a light flick to make those cold poisonous flames instantly surge, burning away every shred of the host's reason, staining those originally pale-gray souls a black ten times darker than charcoal!