Chapter 25: 0021 Bureau Chief's Weakness_1
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"Are you saying that the older nurse is very likely also a natural carrier of 'abnormal' traits?"
After hearing Leon's report, the red-haired woman raised an eyebrow thoughtfully and said,
"No wonder... I remember Emma's report also mentioned that a nurse could resist the director's control. Originally, I thought she was just kind-hearted and upright, able to maintain her own stance and not be swayed by power, thus avoiding the influence of authority-type Anomalous Objects. But now, it seems that she might carry an 'abnormality' herself, enabling her to avoid manipulation... Leon, you did very well!"
After giving Leon an appreciative glance, the Red-haired Director said with a smile,
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"Even though you just finished a hard cleanup mission, you still insisted on actively applying for fieldwork, diligently revisiting the victims and, from the tiniest clues, keenly discovered new traces of an Anomalous Object. It must have been tough for you!"
Ah? That's not right!
Upon hearing the red-haired woman's conclusion, Leon was slightly taken aback and then quickly reminded her,
"Thank you, Director, but I actually took the afternoon off today to visit my sister. This information wasn't gathered from field visits, but rather—"
"Half a day's pay will be deducted for the leave. One active fieldwork session allows you to apply for a two Gold Wheel subsidy."
"..."
"Rather, on my way to the fieldwork, I actively communicated with a compensation agent from the gas company and successfully analyzed the situation using the methods taught by you and Senior Emma."
"Mm, that's why I value you highly. You indeed suit the Purification Bureau well."
After looking at the sensible Leon with satisfaction, the Red-haired Director said with a laugh,
"Go back and, according to what you said, submit a fieldwork result later, but there's no need to write about the parts involving Emma and me. Cheating funds is one thing, but merits are another. What's yours is yours, and no matter how other bureaus operate, we in the Virgo Bureau don't play like that. Besides, obtaining valuable information during your rest time deserves a special fieldwork subsidy."
"Well... Thank you, Director... I'll go back and submit the report!"
"Mm-hmm, go on then!"
...
Leon really didn't know how to evaluate his own Director, who could openly talk about cheating funds but still had inexplicably "upright" conduct. However, despite some questionable methods, a leader who both fought for his subordinates' benefits and didn't like taking credit for their achievements should be well-liked in the bureau, right? No wonder Senior Emma always spoke of her with such respect... Wait!
Suddenly recalling something, Leon, who was about to leave, froze again and hesitantly said,
"Um... Director, can I go on fieldwork again tomorrow?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, the red-haired woman was slightly stunned, then instinctively narrowed her sly, foxy eyes and said with a teasing smile,
"What? Short on cash? Trying to cheat funds again?"
"No, no, no, this time it's a real field task, or you can consider it a leave if you prefer."
Quickly shaking his head, Leon explained earnestly,
"Yesterday, I read Senior Emma's archival material on the Red Brick Road Hospital incident. It seemed too coincidental that those patients appeared, like they were purposely 'created' to enhance the Uncontrollable Afflicted's power. After all, the Red Brick Road Hospital typically only has about a hundred beds. If not for issues simultaneously occurring at both the hydraulic company and the Department of Road Administration, there wouldn't have been so many patients for that director to absorb all at once. So, I was thinking the bureau might want to investigate these two places to see if there's some mastermind behind the chaos or if the hydraulic company and the Department of Road Administration have inherent problems..."
"And also, while leveraging your position as Purification Bureau staff, unearth evidence of negligence from the hydraulic company and the Department of Road Administration to help the patients still lying in the hospital get some compensation... Am I right?"
The red-haired woman opened her charming foxy eyes, gazed softly at the startled Leon, and said with a sweet, narrow-eyed smile,
"Haha, it seems the old goat wasn't wrong after all. You're indeed the type with a strong sense of morality. When encountering something you disapprove of, you can't help but want to intervene. Hmm... Don't be nervous, although your proposal contains a tiny bit of 'self-interest,' I actually don't mind. After all, naive and kind youngsters are always quite endearing~"
After giving Leon an enigmatic and peculiar evaluation, the red-haired woman lazily stretched, showing off her graceful curves, then comfortably reclined on the soft backrest, smiling as she said,
"If you want to go, then go. It'll still be considered your field task this time, but make sure not to repeat it."
"Thank you, Director!"
"You're welcome, but..."
Leaning her hand on her cheek, she looked at Leon with interest, the red-haired woman whispered playfully,
"You're only going to thank me verbally? How about some practical action?"
"Uh..."
Feeling a bit bewildered by the sudden "bribe request," Leon looked at the piles of empty bottles behind the red-haired woman's desk and cautiously suggested,
"Well... how about after work today, I treat you to a few drinks?"
Hmm? Booze?
Upon hearing Leon's words, the red-haired woman's eyes brightened slightly, and she instinctively sat up straight.
Oh my, I actually meant by practical action, the bureau is recently short on manpower. I wanted you to voluntarily work overtime. After investigating the hydraulic company and the Department of Road Administration, go check on that middle-aged nurse named Hannah to see her real deal. But if you insist on treating me to drinks... hmm... Since there's a newcomer in the department, as a leader, perhaps I should mingle and build camaraderie with him?
Secretly reaching for her wallet around her waist and feeling that it was empty, the Red-haired Director adjusted her posture, cleared her throat forcefully, and said with a gentle smile and crossed hands,
"In principle, I shouldn't be accepting your invitation, but since you've just started here, let's treat it as a welcome party for you, and to celebrate you joining the Purification Bureau."
"Ah, okay!"
Leon nodded and then suggested,
"How about I invite Senior Emma and those who just came back too..."
"Ahem... There's no need for them to come."
After quickly calculating Leon's salary on the sly, the red-haired woman stopped him with a righteously solemn expression,
"Emma needs to rush home to take care of her child, and as for those two who just returned, I'll be arranging... I mean, they'll soon have new tasks and need to depart before sunset today, so I'll drink alone tonight!"
"..."
You'll drink alone... What? Aren't you even pretending a little? Couldn't you at least say you're holding a welcome party for me alone?
Watching the red-haired woman, who seemed to suddenly lose her mind, speak without care, with the original rational and meticulous aura completely vanished, Leon suddenly found himself speechless. He remembered the Black Goat's evaluation of their boss.
"Let me tell you, that woman might be calm and cunning, and her strength is terrifying, but once she gets tipsy, she's just a pure drunk. Her brain keeps churning alcohol like no one's business. Unless there's no booze involved, everything goes smoothly, she can arm wrestle with any opponent. But once the booze is at play, no matter how unreliable she is going to get, she becomes as unreliable as possible, her quality dives to the lowest it can go. Be careful; don't let her latch onto you!"
"..."
Oh no... Seems like I dug myself a big pit!
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