Otaku Translation: I! Anomaly Cleansing Agent! C36

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Recognizing civil servant credentials and ranks was a "required course" for guards at large companies. After confirming that the credentials of the assistant-level law enforcement officers were genuine and not counterfeit, the previously wary guard quickly became compliant, leading Leon to the security department’s office without another word.

Upon seeing the credentials issued by the Cleansing Bureau, the security manager similarly did not—or rather, dared not—question Leon’s identity but instead greeted him with a forced smile, inquiring about his purpose.

Judging by the cautious demeanor of the security manager, it seemed that if Leon simply stated the mission was confidential, the manager would likely not press further but would instead turn a blind eye and let Leon proceed.

There was no other reason; the credentials from the Cleansing Bureau were exceptionally effective.

In the kingdom’s five-tiered civil service system—Governing-level, Administrative-level, Clerical-level, Assistant-level, and General-Staff-level—Leon’s assistant-level position might only rank fourth, seemingly unimpressive, but it placed him solidly in the mid-levels of the bureaucratic hierarchy.

If directly compared within the kingdom’s military hierarchy, Leon’s position would equate to that of a Lieutenant, capable of commanding a company of two hundred soldiers. If stationed outside the capital, in one of the regional counties, his rank would grant him the standing to compete for a deputy position in a local authority with real power.

Coupled with Leon’s youthful age of sixteen or seventeen and his rather intimidating surname, it was as if the words "not to be trifled with" were written all over his face. Faced with such a troublesome visitor, the security manager naturally didn’t dare to obstruct him.

After all, should he provoke Leon, though Char Waterworks Company had deep connections, they might not necessarily stand up for a mere manager. Any retaliation would fall squarely on his shoulders.

However...

Glancing at Leon’s overly youthful face, the security manager, around thirty years old and usually smiling amiably, couldn’t help but reveal a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Though he dared not obstruct outright, if this “Level 3 Incident Responder” harbored ill intentions and sought to meddle in inconvenient matters, there were plenty of ways to stall him!

...

"Heh, it’s actually nothing major."

Reaching into the shopping bag, patting the black goat’s head, and observing the security manager’s soul wavering between compliance and resistance, Leon’s expression softened, and he smiled gently:

"A lot of people have been causing trouble at your company recently. The department is concerned that you might not be able to pacify their emotions, leading to them storming the Waterworks Company. So, I’ve been sent to look into the situation."

Hearing that Leon was inquiring about the water supply, the security manager’s heart sank. He quickly retracted his smile and said with difficulty: "This... well, it’s not that I can’t say, but the company has rules for us..."

"Brother, I won’t beat around the bush with you." Interrupting the security manager’s evasive response, Leon pulled out a soft-pack "Gott" cigarette box, tapped the bottom to eject one, and mimicking the hearty smile of a cunning merchant, offered it amidst the black goat’s muttered curses in his mind.

"Just tell me, what’s the deal with the public water pipes? I just need an answer. Can you handle this situation?"

"This... well, we can definitely handle it."

Eyeing the high-end cigarettes that cost three silver coins per pack, the security manager suppressed his itch and laughed awkwardly: "It just needs a bit more time, and how the final pacification turns out depends on the compensation plan..."

"You’d better tell me the truth!" After glancing at the increasingly disordered soul under pressure, Leon narrowed his eyes and sharply raised his voice: "What’s happening outside, I’ve already seen when I arrived! The people blocking your gate may have been driven away, but the words ‘either compensate us for our medicine or come out and drink fecal water’ haven’t been scrubbed clean from the walls yet! Do you think I’m blind?"

"This... I apologize, but I’m just the security manager. I really don’t know how many people are affected or how the compensation will be handled!"

"You may not know, but after you take me inside, you can help me find out."

"This... although you’re from the Police Department, these matters are company secrets. As the security manager, I can’t possibly..."

"The reason I came to you and not someone else is precisely because you’re the security manager!"

Leon took half a step closer, staring into the somewhat panicked eyes of the security manager, lowering his voice and coaxingly said:

"I thought these things didn’t need reminding, but it seems you lack awareness? Think about it, brother! If riots break out later and the mob storms the Waterworks Company, do you think the higher-ups will let them in or order you to block them? If blood is shed during the confrontation, or if some patients who can’t afford treatment die, do you think the blame will eventually fall on you, the security manager, for acting on your own?"

"This..." After hearing Leon’s hypothetical scenario, the security manager’s expression subtly changed, and beads of sweat began forming on his forehead. "I’m just following the procedures, and... it’s not certain that it will escalate. The company might not..."

"Enough with the excuses! A company willing to cut costs by directly pumping sewage into public water pipes, do you think they care about the life or death of a mere manager?"

Glancing at the highly unstable flame of the manager’s soul, judging that his psychological defenses were shaken, Leon grabbed the security manager’s hand and forcefully shoved the entire pack of cigarettes into it.

He then bent each finger one by one, pressing the manager’s palm to firmly grasp the cigarette pack. Leaning closer, he whispered softly: "Think carefully. This isn’t so difficult. There are only two possible outcomes. First, I conduct a thorough investigation, and you cooperate fully. If anything happens later, the Police Department will be prepared to control the situation early. You might even earn credit for timely notification and cooperation.”

“Second, you deliberately conceal the situation at the Waterworks Company, delaying my investigation. If a major incident occurs later, the department will lose face, I’ll bear the brunt, and you’ll shoulder the blame for inciting bloody conflict. You’ll be fired from the Waterworks Company, and your family will end up scavenging in the slums."

By subtly limiting the scope of the manager’s thoughts to a simple yes or no, Leon calmly painted a vivid picture for the sweating security manager, whose heart was racing, but his voice remained unhurried: "Brother, have you been to the slums of the capital? Have you seen how people there survive? If you don’t know, let me tell you. They wear ragged clothes picked from trash, even stolen shrouds from funeral companies.”

“They fight with crows and stray cats for garbage in bins, sifting through toxic alchemical waste all day just to find a few scraps of old metal worth half a copper coin. And every winter, after a heavy snowfall, the garbage piles cleaned by the Department of Public Works trucks will have a few stiff skeletons too tough even for wild dogs to gnaw on…”

“Brother, think carefully. If you choose this path, will you and your family become one of them this year?"

After painting a grim future for the security manager, Leon judged the timing was right. As he observed the manager’s soul flare with towering black flames, he suddenly stepped back.

"Wait! Wait!"

Boom!

The thin gray-white defenses in the security manager’s soul were completely burned through by the surging black flames beneath.

Leon’s sudden retreat felt like the last barrier between him and the slums had been removed. The pale-faced security manager instinctively followed, grabbing Leon’s arm tightly and stammering: "You... I can take you to some... less important places, but you mustn’t betray me! If you betray me, I... I... I..."

"Heh, you can rest assured about that."

After observing the state of the manager’s soul again and confirming he was thoroughly "broken," Leon, outwardly calm but internally with a heart rate nearing 160, smiled and countered: "Do you think betraying a security manager would benefit me in any way? To provoke a desperate retaliation? To let my superiors know I used improper means to obtain information? Or to give the Waterworks Company grounds to accuse me of stealing secrets? Don’t worry, I’m not stupid. Something with no benefits and only trouble, why would I do it?"

"You... you..." Looking at the young man smiling warmly at him, the security manager felt his vision blur slightly, as if he saw two sharp horns wreathed in black mist atop Leon’s head.

Shivering violently, he dared not look at this seemingly honest young demon anymore. Hurriedly turning his head, he hunched his back slightly and led Leon toward the records room.

...

Tsk, tsk, tsk... Resentment, betrayal, jealousy, fear... You’re quite something, kid! Seeing the security manager’s nearly pitch-black soul, the black goat couldn’t help but widen its eyes and marvel within Leon’s mind: Just from a few words, how did his soul get stained so black? You... could it be you have another anomaly? But I didn’t sense anything!

This isn’t the effect of an anomaly; it’s the result of observation and judgment. Taking a small bottle of cheap alcohol from the shopping bag containing the goat’s head, enduring the pungent smell, Leon took a large gulp, activating the [Martyr of the Wine Realm] badge. Feeling his fear and tension gradually dissipate, he pressed his hand against the black goat’s forehead and calmly explained: Emma told me that under no circumstances should we overlook the importance of intelligence. Careful observation, calm thinking, and prudent judgment—these are the reasons she managed to stay safe in the Cleansing Bureau for six years.

Before entering, I specifically observed the injuries of the protesters and noticed they were beaten on fleshy parts, indicating the security personnel were instructed to control their force. And the most likely person to issue such instructions would be the security manager, who would likely be sacrificed if a serious incident occurred. From this, I realized that while he is part of the Waterworks Company, his interests don’t entirely align with the company’s. By focusing on his fears and detaching his interests from the company, I could turn him into our ally.

Impressive... Setting those aside, have you already learned to communicate through souls? You truly are a natural-born demon! Feeling the intent transmitted through Leon’s fingers to its soul, the black goat felt a twinge of jealousy toward Leon’s "demonic" talent and couldn’t resist teasing: You guessed, didn’t you? How do you know he didn’t instruct them to go easy out of compassion? And how do you know what he fears?

If he were compassionate, he wouldn’t have personally beaten people and continued to chase unarmed protesters with weapons after driving them away from the entrance. As for what he fears... His collar is clean, his pants neatly pressed, and there’s a family photo on his desk. There’s even a polo stick in the corner, clearly indicating a stable, happy family life with leisure to pursue hobbies.

Recalling the warm smile of the man in the family photo embracing his wife and child, and contrasting it with the battered protesters in the alley, Leon shook his head with a complex expression, continuing: The thing such a person fears most is the disruption of a peaceful life and a drop in social status. So, by linking non-cooperation with these fears and constantly interrupting his speech to prevent him from thinking, he will naturally yield bit by bit.

"..." Damn! You’re really... Compared to you, I feel like a fake demon! After pondering with its not-so-sharp mind and finding no obvious flaws, the black goat sighed in defeat, feeling utterly useless as a demon. But soon, it perked up again, eagerly pleading with a grin: Leon, Leon! When you betray him later, can you bring me along? Heh heh, betrayed by his own weakness and cowardice, cast from a stable life into hell... That’s so interesting! I admire you more and more!

"..."

Why aren’t you speaking? Waiting for a long while without hearing Leon’s response, the black goat was momentarily stunned, then angrily exclaimed: Don’t tell me you went soft because he has a wife and kids?! Damn it! Can you snap out of it? He’s a lackey of the Waterworks Company! He led the beatings of those seeking compensation! Kid! Aren’t you supposed to punish evil and promote good? Then go ahead and do it! After investigating the Waterworks Company’s issues, turn around and report him, betray him harshly! Then, with your shoe pressing down on his head, arrogantly tell him why you did it. Let him taste despair in the human hell!

...We’ll see. Slightly shaking his head, Leon sighed: Can’t you see his soul too? Though he’s not a kind-hearted person, the dark side of his soul isn’t much larger than the average person’s. It fluctuates around the same level, even exuding a sense of warmth. If later we discover he’s done many dirty deeds for the Waterworks Company, when the time comes to sell him out, I won’t hesitate. But without even knowing his name, to destroy his life and that of his family feels somewhat rash... What’s wrong with you?!

Seeing the sudden surge of dark flames in the soul vision and sensing the intense desire welling up from the black goat’s soul, Leon was about to inquire further when the black goat’s hysterical scream suddenly rang out in his mind: My heart! My heart! Forget about being rash or not! Turn back quickly! Someone in that room we just passed once touched my heart!

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