Otaku Translation: I! Anomaly Cleansing Agent! C84

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She leaned back slightly, her tone thoughtful. "Take the Taurus Director, who delivered that anomalous artifact earlier—she wields an art tied to forging. She can transcend material limitations and craft artifacts far beyond ordinary capability. On the other hand, the Aquarius Director’ mastery supposedly allows them to create anomalies outright under certain conditions."

"If I’m not mistaken," she continued, "the elderly couple at Happiness Residence likely encountered this generation’s Aquarius Director—or perhaps even the previous one, depending on their age."

So it was true—the individual in question really was a director of the Cleansing Bureau. Having confirmed his suspicions through the red-haired chief's explanation, Leon hesitated briefly before posing his next question as delicately as possible. Given how much respect she clearly held for the Taurus Director, he tread carefully.

"Chief, may I ask… what’s the general reputation of the Aquarius Director?"

The chief glanced at Leon’s eyes and immediately understood where he was going. Her brows knitted together slightly as she countered, "Are you suggesting… that the Aquarius Director might have had ulterior motives in creating the Happiness Residence?"

"I do have some doubts," Leon admitted without hesitation, noting her lack of offense at his insinuation. His expression grew grave as he pressed on. "Consider this: if they were someone prone to meddling out of compassion, wouldn’t they have helped the elderly couple secure approval from the workhouse? For a director, arranging such a thing wouldn’t be difficult, would it?"

He paused, letting the implication sink in. "Of course, it’s also possible they’re rigidly rule-bound, unwilling to intervene unless absolutely necessary or misuse the bureau’s privileges. But if that’s the case, why didn’t they report the anomaly after creating it, as per protocol?"

Leon let these points hang in the air for a moment, gauging the chief’s increasingly troubled expression. Then, taking a deep breath and clenching his fists, he pressed further.

"And there’s something else—the most suspicious part of all. Placing those two souls inside the apartment feels... off."

"When they died," he continued, voice low but steady, "their hearts were probably brimming with resentment. And once their spirits were placed within the residence, forced to witness people being evicted into the cold, starving and freezing due to municipal neglect, that bitterness would only deepen. With such overwhelming hatred festering, combined with the potential to become anomalies themselves, it’s almost inevitable they’d awaken as vengeful entities. Their rage wouldn’t stop at targeting individuals—it would extend to entire systems of indifference and corruption. Left unchecked, they’d accumulate dangerous concepts, growing stronger until they went completely rogue."

"You’re right," the chief conceded after a long silence. "There’s merit to your theory. But proving misconduct on the Aquarius Director’s part based solely on this line of reasoning will be challenging."

She tapped her fingers lightly against the desk, deep in thought. "Even if we assume your suspicions are valid, the fact remains that the elderly couple ultimately became benevolent anomalies—a positive outcome by any measure. That alone gives him plausible deniability."

"Their transformation into benevolent anomalies might’ve been unintentional," Leon countered softly, recalling the words of the building manager. His gaze darkened with complexity.

"The Aquarius Director likely only considered humanity’s darker impulses when deciding to ‘create’ the anomaly. While they noticed the couple’s anger and sorrow, they failed to see its root cause—their anguish stemmed not from personal suffering but from empathy for others’ pain. Despite their hardships, the couple remained fundamentally kind-hearted. They weren’t extremists; their bitterness arose from injustice, yes, but it never consumed their inherent goodness."

"As for how things unfolded afterward," he added, "it seems clear now that events veered far from whatever plan the Aquarius Director had envisioned. He underestimated the decades-long kindness of the couple and the gratitude it inspired in those they helped. Over a hundred people smiled even as they succumbed to death near Happiness Residence—and countless more found solace knowing the couple still existed in spirit. Those feelings of gratitude and remembrance formed a barrier between the couple’s souls and the abyss of hatred, preventing them from being consumed entirely by vengeance."

"It makes sense," the chief murmured, nodding slowly. A wistful look crossed her face. "One part anger and hatred, the other part pity and blessing—these emotions align perfectly with the dual abilities of Evil Entity Extermination and Accident Avoidance. No wonder the powers of Happiness Residence seemed so disparate yet coexisted. Each stemmed from a different origin altogether… fascinating."

She sighed deeply, shaking her head. Straightening up, she regarded Leon with newfound seriousness. "Leon, you’ve done exceptionally well."

"I initially dismissed the apartment as merely peculiar since it hadn’t harmed anyone besides you, and its power level wasn’t particularly high. But thanks to your diligence, we uncovered something significant. Had you not pursued this line of inquiry, the Aquarius Director’s actions might’ve gone unnoticed indefinitely."

Her praise hung in the air, but her expression soon turned somber. "As for the Aquarius Director himself, we’ll need time to investigate further. Unlike the Taurus Director, the Aquarius Director’s identity is shrouded in secrecy—even whether they’ve changed hands over generations is unknown. I can’t confirm if the person involved is the current director or a predecessor. However, I’ll reach out to a few trusted directors alongside other chiefs to initiate a review. If wrongdoing is proven…" She trailed off, her fox-like eyes narrowing with chilling resolve.

The unspoken conclusion sent a shiver down Leon’s spine. Who knew the usually carefree chief could exude such authority?

"Thank you for your plans," Leon said, half-impressed, half-surprised. After a respectful nod, he made to take his leave. "I just thought the matter was suspicious enough to warrant reporting. If there’s nothing else, I’ll—"

"Not yet," the chief interrupted, halting him mid-step. With a flick of her finger, she summoned the crimson strand of hair coiled around Leon’s neck, retrieving his identification badge.

"Don’t worry—it’s good news."

From her drawer, she retrieved a stamp and pressed it firmly onto his badge. Smiling warmly, she announced, "Yesterday, the Taurus Director reviewed your file and deemed both your abilities and conduct commendable. Using her recommendation quota, she expedited your promotion. Congratulations—you’ve been officially promoted ahead of schedule."

Leon blinked, processing her words. So, he was no longer a “Probationary Worker”? While he’d always assumed promotion was imminent given his contributions, hearing the news still brought a swell of pride. If he was now officially recognized, then surely his black iron [Probationary Worker] badge would upgrade to a full-fledged [Worker] insignia?

Sure enough, as the chief handed back his badge, a sharp buzzing filled Leon’s ears.

[Under Chief Olivia’s endorsement and the Taurus Director’s favor, you successfully navigated bureaucratic shortcuts and earned early recognition. Your probation period has ended one month ahead of schedule.]

[Your Black Iron Badge “Probationary Worker” has evolved into a Bronze-Class Hidden Badge: “Connected Individual.”]

"..."

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