Chapter 9

9 Slots and Fire

Wait three days… will it still be timely?

Unexpectedly, the bandaged woman who had seemed friendly refused to act; worried about the hospital’s situation, Li Ang clenched his teeth and lowered his head to plead again:

“If you’re willing to help, I can…”

“Sorry, this isn’t about the price.”

Interrupting Li Ang, the bandaged woman shook her head, her expression regretful:

“The reason I’ve survived six years in the Clearance Bureau is that I never act without certainty.”

“I sympathize with your plight, but I have my reasons for never taking unnecessary risks—I hope you understand my decision.”

“…”

Understand? Of course I understand—what else can I do if I don’t? Drag you there by force?

After hearing her unyielding refusal, Li Ang helplessly loosened his grip, his eyes slowly clouding with a faint gray of despair.

Though it sounded cold, she was right—she had no obligation to risk herself for his sake—but what about Anna?

Right now, I could still return to the hospital and extract Anna before this “Uncontrolled Contaminant” causes a major incident.

But if the nurse was telling the truth, stopping her medication and taking her away now would condemn her to a lifetime bedridden—she probably couldn’t even do chores like laundry or cooking.

These past years, her lung disease has already burdened the family terribly; given her outwardly gentle, obedient nature—but inwardly stubborn as hell—once she realized she’d become a complete burden, she might…

“Kid, don’t you dare back out on me!”

As Li Ang wrestled between the two choices, hesitating whether to take Anna out, the black goat in his arms twisted its neck uncomfortably and warned anxiously:

“We made a deal—you help us find someone, and you buy us cigarettes! We found the person for you; if she won’t help, that’s her problem—but you still owe us every single cigarette!”

“…”

Right—there’s still this thing!

As if spotting a straw floating past, Li Ang’s eyes suddenly lit up; he grabbed the goat’s head, frantic:

“What about you? Can you handle this? If you can, as long as I’m still working in the Clearance Bureau, I’ll buy you a pack of ‘Gao Te’ every week!”

Tsk… You’re pulling this crap on me again… Are we giving you too much leeway?

Hearing Li Ang’s offer, the black goat’s face darkened with irritation.

Kid! You don’t seriously think I helped you find her just for your cigarettes? I’m a great demon—do you think I’d care about a cheap pack that costs three silver wheels?

Listen up! If it weren’t for that red-haired bitch liking you, even if you knelt down and begged me to take your soul, I wouldn’t even bother—do you understand?

“At least three packs!”

“Deal!”

Shit! I asked for too little!

With a disgruntled grimace, the black goat cursed itself for being weak-willed, then sighed heavily and shoved its head deeper into Li Ang’s chest.

Sigh… why do I always fall for this?

And right now, with this goat head and goat brain, I can’t even rob anyone—chances are, I won’t get any money, and I’ll end up getting boiled alive, left with not even a copper wheel to buy a pack of cigarettes.

Damn! Just thinking about it makes me furious! That red-haired bitch isn’t poor, but as soon as her salary comes in, she spends it all on booze—won’t even spend a single copper wheel on me!

Once I’ve smoked enough to gather enough power to turn things around, I’ll smash every tavern in the royal capital—and burn down every alcohol-scented perfume factory too! Let that bitch drink not even a single hair’s worth!

As the black goat seethed inwardly,

it gathered its dwindling strength and branded Li Ang’s chest with a demon mark, granting him the right to “use” it.

At the same time, familiar static buzzed again in Li Ang’s ear.

“Zzzt”

【First acquired usable anomaly: Hidden trait of the Chromatic Badge “Materialist Soul (Crimson)” activated】

【Materialist Soul (Chromatic · Crimson · Non-Upgradable): …】

【Wearing Effect: …】

【Advancement Path: …】

【Hidden Trait: Badge Slot 1, Current Slots: 4, Anomalies Required to Unlock Next Slot: 2】

As the mechanical voice echoed, the virtual interface—previously showing only three slots—rolled open, revealing a fourth slot; a pale green badge shaped like a goat’s head and horns was already embedded within.

【Gained usage rights to the anomaly “Demon’s Horn,” successfully activated the Bronze Badge “Demon’s Favored”】

【Demon’s Favored (Bronze): After completing a filthy, despicable bargain and agreeing to perform an extreme evil sacrifice weekly, you earned the favor of a high-ranking demon】

【Wearing Effect: Increased affinity with anomalies marked “Corrupted,” slightly reducing usage cost while greatly enhancing effect】

【Advancement Path: Without being discovered by the former owner of “Demon’s Horn,” Olivia, complete ten agreed-upon evil sacrifices—this badge will automatically upgrade to the Silver Badge “Demon’s Friend”】

【Hidden Trait (No Wearing Required): Your soul has been tainted with a trace of demonic essence, making you more noticeable to certain evil entities】

【Your contamination value has increased】

【Current contamination value: 0.1】

…

“Hssss… You kid… you’re actually kinda my type!”

Lying in Li Ang’s slightly uncomfortable arms, feeling the “like fish in water” harmony, the black goat lifted its head in surprise:

“Back then, when you could’ve cut that fat guy from the Road Administration, you held back—I thought you were some moralistic type, figured we’d never get along.

But this compatibility? You’re clearly no saint! Not outright evil, sure, but you’re definitely not carrying good intentions—haven’t you pulled a few scams and cons in your time?”

“…”

This compatibility is just the badge’s effect—I’ve been law-abiding my whole life, okay?

Though his solid reputation was unjustly accused, Li Ang’s mind was still clear—he wouldn’t reveal his secret to a demon.

After holding the chattering goat head for a moment, Li Ang was stunned to discover he’d temporarily gained the ability to peer into souls.

Centered on the goat head in his hands, thousands of flickering, faint “flames” suddenly glowed across a two-kilometer radius.

Hatred, betrayal, deception, envy, rage—countless cold, dark thoughts, burning like fire and searing the soul, appeared before Li Ang like blue phosphorescent ghosts drifting through a graveyard at midnight.

If he focused his attention, he could pierce through layers of concrete and brick to directly see the seething malice within each “flame.”

Li Ang even felt a strange premonition—that if he simply reached out and plucked one, those cold, poisonous flames would instantly surge, burning all reason from the host, turning their faintly gray souls pitch-black, darker than charred coal.