Chapter 20: 0016 There won't be another twist, right?_1
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"Heh, forget it, but the newbie does have a valid reason!"
After appreciatively eyeing Leon, the red-haired woman's stern expression softened slightly as she gently consoled him,
"Leon, you don't need to worry about the intelligence. You reported the Infector as soon as you found it and also managed that troublesome demon, coaxing it into taking you to Emma.
Later, when Emma was trapped, you shot the target dead with a single bullet, successfully saving her, and in doing so, also saved hundreds of people and prevented them from losing too much vitality.
As a newcomer who joined the Purification Bureau only a few hours ago, you've already done well enough. As for the intelligence issue, it was just an unavoidable accident."
"It's not! Come on, I at least made some contributions, do you have to be so biased?"
Before Leon could reply, the Black Goat, infuriated by the stark contrast, couldn't help but shout,
"He was the one who fired the shot, okay? I only helped pinpoint the location. So how is it that on his end, it's an unavoidable accident, yet for me, it's a reason to end up as soup in the back kitchen?"
"Why stew you... don't you know what you've done?"
The red-haired woman sneered,
"Don't think I don't know your plans! Leon didn't know Emma had an Undying Body, but you did, right?
When there was no danger to Emma, you could have let Leon take you near the hospital, amplify the evil thoughts of the Uncontrollable Afflicted from a distance, make him lose his reason, and forcefully lure him out to capture him!"
"I just didn't have time..."
"Don't tell me you couldn't think of that. When you were under my command, you always used that method. So why did you suddenly forget this time?"
Crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair, the red-haired woman stared at the cowering Black Goat and sneered,
"Clearly, you could have captured the target alive, but you led Leon to shoot him instead. You definitely have a problem!
So, speak up, were you trying to absorb the target's guilty soul? Were you trying to entice Leon to help you regain your power? Or was it that...
you were in collusion with the people behind the scenes and thought he might spill information if caught, so you silenced him on purpose?"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Hearing the red-haired woman's theory, the Black Goat accused of being a traitor immediately jumped.
"I didn't! You're just guessing! You have no proof!"
"The Purification Bureau isn't a court; when did it ever need evidence?"
After another snort, the red-haired woman suddenly furrowed her brows, thoughtfully staring at the Black Goat,
"Hmm... I admit, I was indeed joking earlier, but thinking it over, I found more peculiarities.
Although the bureau has sent people out, I stayed in the Capital City. What mastermind would be stupid enough to cause trouble just three streets away from me?
So, if they weren't intentionally sending someone to die, there's only one explanation: the mastermind has a mole in the bureau, knowing I suddenly left the Capital City yesterday!"
What the hell?!
Hearing the red-haired woman's logical deduction, Leon couldn't help but widen his eyes, staring in shock at the Black Goat in his arms.
The entire Purification Bureau was empty yesterday, so who else but you knew the chief had left? I can't believe you turned out to be the mole?!
"No... I didn't..."
After glancing at the shocked Leon, the Black Goat then looked at the red-haired woman whose eyes had narrowed once again, shivered a bit, and retorted with his eyes stubbornly bulging,
"I didn't leak any information! You can't frame me!"
"Really?"
The red-haired woman slowly stood up, placed her hands on the desk, and leaned forward with an oppressive presence, asking deliberately,
"Then how do you explain all these coincidences?
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
It's one thing that trouble arose right when I left, but yesterday you could've captured the target alive, yet you scaped it through Leon's hand. How do you explain that?"
"I keep telling you, it was an accident!"
The Black Goat angrily defended,
"I specifically helped that boy shoot the target to get some blood on his hands! So he gets accustomed... accustomed..."
"Accustomed to directly solving problems through slaughter in similar situations, thus being lured by you, continuously lowering his own baseline, unknowingly sliding into corruption... Am I wrong?"
After looking at the Black Goat, who was caught in his own schemes and reluctantly shut his mouth, and then at Leon, who suddenly became alert, the red-haired woman's stern face broke into a smile as she leaned back on her soft chair and gently advised Leon,
"Leon, remember what you just heard. If you encounter similar situations in future tasks, recall today's events before making a decision."
"I... I will remember for sure."
With lingering fear, Leon glanced at the Black Goat, then hesitated for a moment, before he placed the goat head back on the red-haired woman's desk with both hands.
"This... please take it back."
Observing Leon's expression, the red-haired woman laughed,
"What? Afraid you can't control it?"
"Yeah..."
"Oh, it's fine. You should hold onto it."
Quite appreciating Leon's caution, the red-haired woman propped her cheek with her left hand, twirled her flaming red hair with her pristine index finger, and smiled at Leon,
"Generally speaking, an Anomalous Object with its own intelligence and desires is indeed not suited for a newbie. But since you could maintain your rationality under its influence before, it proves you are at least qualified to hold it.
And as Emma reported to me this morning, your soul vision range is two kilometers, which shows your affinity with it is quite high. Coupled with your cautious nature, I believe you can fully handle it."
After sharing her reasoning, she got up from her seat, walked around the desk to Leon, who was still hesitating, affectionately pulled his hand, and placed the pouting goat head onto it.
"Take it, and always remember to keep your wits about you, never let it affect your judgment and decisions. I believe you can do it."
"..."
Looking at the gorgeous red-haired woman, who held his hand and earnestly believed in him, Leon felt his heart beat somewhat inexplicably fast. Almost reflexively he turned his gaze away, but quickly forced himself to look back, nodded solemnly, and seriously promised,
"I definitely will!"
"Tsk... what a load of crap you will!"
Looking upwards at Leon's slightly reddened earlobe, the Black Goat, full of pent-up frustration, pursed its lips and couldn't resist mocking,
"Just because someone held your hand and sweet-talked? You're so dazed that you can't even find north? What if she hugged and kissed you, would you die for her then?
Heh, I just happen to be disadvantaged by being a damn goat. Damn, if I were a stunner too, with a naive virgin like you, I could easily coax you into... mmm... mmm! You let go! You cover my mouth, but I still have to say! You're just a..."
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