Chapter 8: Social Person_1
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The second time Leon burst out of the hospital room that day, he didn't hesitate, bypassing the crowded reception area and climbing out of a window on the second floor, sprinting in the direction of the Purification Bureau.
Since leaving with Anna was not possible, his only choice was to hurry to the Purification Bureau and bring someone who could handle the "Uncontrollable Afflicted" back!
Whether it was the mental strain creating an illusion of time slowing down, or "reporting to the Purification Bureau" counted as work that provided a bonus from the "Probationary Worker" badge, he couldn't tell.
Despite having stayed up all night and feeling exhausted, Leon was running much faster than before, reaching the Bureau in no time.
However, as Leon endured the burning pain in his lungs, stumbling into the innermost office, he only found an empty room.
Where was everyone? Why was there no one here?
Gazing out the window at the darkening sky, the anxious Leon suddenly realized that it was long past office hours, and that mysterious red-haired woman must have left already.
Trouble... Should I search the building first to see if anyone's on duty?
Leon, having found nothing, bit his lip, and was about to leave the red-haired woman's office when a thud sounded behind him, as if something heavy had fallen onto the carpet.
Surprised, Leon turned back to find that a goat head ornament had fallen off the desk. Eager to find help, he paid it little mind and was about to leave when he noticed the goat head strangely twisted by itself, turning to face him directly.
In Leon's shocked gaze, the goat head with a stitched mouth rolled its eyes twice, then furiously glared at him.
?!
In the dim corridor, the elaborately and bizarrely decorated office, a goat head with its mouth sewn shut was glaring at you...
"What are you staring at, you dumbass!"
A voice full of fury echoed in Leon's ear, breaking the terrifying atmosphere.
The Black Goat rolled several times across the carpet but couldn't straighten itself, so it glared at Leon with anger and "spoke" harshly,
"Aren't you going to help me up? When I was a Great Demon, I'd have slapped an inattentive fool like you to death!"
*Great Demon... The Black Goat? It's only been a couple of hours, why're you just a head now?*
"You... Hello!"
Recognizing this was the same Black Goat from before, and worried about the situation with his sister, Leon took a deep breath and directly asked,
"I just encountered an Uncontrollable Afflicted at a hospital three streets away. Is there anyone on duty at the Purification Bureau right now?"
"Of course not! If there were anyone else here, do you think you could just barge in? That bunch of madmen would have skinned you alive!"
The Black Goat was about to roll its eyes and continue "ranting" when Leon, skilled at hitting the right note, quickly added,
"As long as you help me find someone! I'll buy you cigarettes! A pack of 'Gotth'! No, two packs!"
"..."
Two packs... Tsk... I'm so kind-hearted, can't bear to see suffering in the world, helping you is not impossible, but there's just... a problem...
*Sigh...*
In Leon's tense expression, the Black Goat first sighed, then regretfully shook its head,
"The deal's off. I'm a demon of credibility, and I won't take benefits without doing my part, but the Bureau's empty right now, and I can't assist you even if I wanted to."
No one left?
Hearing this, Leon couldn't help but exclaim,
"How come such a big building doesn't even have one person on duty?"
"Blame that red-haired woman,"
the Black Goat sulked,
"It's all her fault for sloppiness in her usual work, leading to consistently poor task evaluations. Worried she wouldn't pass the end-of-year review, she sent everyone out last month to boost performance, leaving the Bureau so empty rats could run through...
Kid, I'm telling you, don't be blinded by her beauty!
Though she's good-looking, unrivaled even among pureblood Succubi, she's a drunkard, a spendthrift, petty, and unhygienic. I've even seen her scratching her feet with the office door closed! That woman is pure trash... Hey?"
Halfway through his profane rant, noticing something, the Black Goat strained to look east, then slightly curled its sewn mouth into a grin, chuckling at Leon.
"You're in luck, kid. Just started and already scored a job... Hurry! Pick me up and hold me, there's someone useful back, and I'll take you to get things settled!
Remember, you promised two packs of cigarettes! Miss even a single stick, and I'll kill you!"
*As long as you can solve this, forget two packs, two cartons are no problem!*
...
Upon hearing the promising turn of events, Leon was overjoyed, picking up the goat head and rushing out of the Purification Bureau. Following its guidance, he ran nearly two streets east and finally stopped a tall woman wrapped in bandages at a street corner.
"You are... uh... the Bureau recruited someone new, huh."
After exchanging a glance with the goat head in Leon's arms, and seemingly receiving a lot of information directly from it, the tall bandaged woman smiled at Leon, extending her right hand warmly,
"I'm Emma, I've been with the Purification Bureau for six years, and I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about the Bureau's operations. If you need any assistance with work in the future, please feel free to ask."
"Ah... okay..."
Initially stopping this bandaged, strange woman, Leon thought she might be another peculiar character full of "personality" like the Black Goat, but he didn't expect such a "professional introduction."
*But... she seems easy to talk to?*
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Thinking of the situation at the hospital, Leon immediately set aside his awkwardness, shook the bandaged woman's hand briefly, and then spoke a bit hurriedly,
"The situation at the hospital..."
"I will go, but not right now."
The bandaged woman smiled gently, speaking slowly,
"According to the Bureau's four-step tactical operation protocol, we should first carefully observe and determine the type and danger of the abnormality, as well as the Uncontrollable Afflicted's identity;
"Next, based on the victim's situation, initially speculate about the Afflicted's ability effects and assess the potential impact;
"Then, find specific tools and special items, confirm our status, and formulate a comprehensive action plan;
"Finally, initiate the operation, aiming for minimal casualties and impact to control or eliminate the target, completing the clean-up task."
Seeing Leon somewhat dumbfounded, the bandaged woman kindly reminded him,
"It's already past sunset now. We would risk impaired action capability due to poor visibility, and without the sun's suppression, most Anomalous Objects become more active at night. It's not a good time to act.
"Moreover, I just completed a two-and-a-half-month-long task, and my physical state and focus have both reached their limits. I need at least a week's recovery to ensure adequate concentration, not suitable for immediately taking on new, unknown-danger tasks.
"Therefore, the best plan now is to return to the Bureau and hand off this task to the director after she returns to work tomorrow, so we should..."
"Why are you doing this again..."
Jolted by the other's professionally cold attitude, Leon was momentarily speechless, while the goat head in his arms wriggled a bit, grumbling discontentedly,
"Your director's on a business trip to Welsh County and won't be back for three days. Are you really going to wait for her?"
"We'll wait until she returns."
Seeing Leon's expression suddenly change, Emma, the bandaged woman, smiled gently once more, her eyes slightly apologetic,
"Judging by your expression... You have relatives in that hospital, don't you?
"Apologies, I have reasons to stay alive no matter what, and won't act rashly, regardless of circumstances, if I can't ensure absolute safety. So, please wait for three days!"
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