CHAPTER 519: CHAPTER 454: FOUR-SEVENTHS

You actually have the audacity to request merit recognition?

Upon hearing Leon’s proposal, the red-haired director felt a wave of toothache.

Although Leon’s reasoning was nearly flawless and, upon close consideration, he did have the qualifications to request merit recognition, most people would try to keep a low profile after making so many mistakes, hoping not to attract attention. Who would think to request merit recognition?

Also, if you remember, just over two months ago, when this little rascal had just joined, he was so shy about getting an extra duty allowance, acting all embarrassed about benefiting from the bureau. I even had to personally teach him how to reasonably tap into the bureau’s funds.

And now, not even three months later, he’s seamlessly become a standard smooth operator, even capable of high-level maneuvers like turning a funeral into a celebration. Where on earth did he learn this from?

"Director?"

After not seeing the red-haired director respond, Leon blinked, figuring she might be grappling with her inner feelings, and tentatively tried to persuade her:

"This incident was beneficial to the Kingdom: the royal family ensured their safety, the princess got the opportunity to showcase her talents, the Kingdom gained a wise King, and ordinary people obtained a more hopeful future.

As for the Clean-up Bureau, we averted a crisis without causing casualties; we uncovered a conspiracy, helping to maintain stability; and simultaneously displayed great prowess, deterring potential wrongdoers. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a win-win situation.

Since so many people benefited and gained a better future, the minor ’roughness’ in the operation really isn’t a problem... This is called keeping things separate, and it was you who taught me that~"

"..."

Oh, it turns out I taught him that, so never mind then.

"Alright."

Rolling her eyes, the red-haired director looked at the slick Leon, feeling somewhat speechless:

"Then go back and complete the paperwork, and once you’ve finished, I’ll submit it for you to request merit recognition."

"Thank you, Director!"

Realizing that he had completely passed this hurdle, Leon couldn’t help but smile, then he pulled out a folder and handed it over.

"I’ve already prepared the materials; could you help check them?"

"..."

Seeing the merit recognition materials on her desk, the red-haired director’s lips couldn’t help but twitch.

Really... I had just made the decision, and you can pull this out directly? Did you prepare a bit too thoroughly?

"And these, these two are reimbursement requests, the blue cover is for the Kingdom, the purple cover is for the bureau."

With the red-haired director looking a bit dumbfounded, Leon pulled out two more documents and said with a serious face:

"In the defense of the royal palace, not only did I lose a precious abnormal artifact, but those 500 or so enthusiastic citizens who participated in the operation also prepared for several days.

They not only funded weapons themselves but also pooled resources to buy trucks to block roads, dug up roadbeds overnight, and monitored the palace conditions... In short, it was a really tough few days.

Moreover, those people aren’t financially well-off, many don’t have proper jobs, their economic situation is not great, so I thought the Kingdom should at least reimburse them a bit, to avoid them taking a loss."

"..."

While what you said isn’t exactly wrong... but asking the Kingdom to reimburse you for the costs of your rebellion? Can you be any more outrageous?

After taking the two reimbursement files, the red-haired director couldn’t help but ask:

"I can help you submit it... but I have no control over the Kingdom’s side; I can’t guarantee it will pass."

"No worries, I’ve already discussed it with the princess. As long as you submit it, it’ll definitely go through."

Oh right, that part too.

Casually putting away the reimbursement documents, the red-haired director couldn’t help but curiously ask:

"You have a marriage agreement with the princess; it shouldn’t be hard to meet her in person. Why not submit it yourself?"

"..."

Upon hearing the red-haired director’s question, it was Leon’s turn to twitch his lips.

Sure, I could submit them, but ever since the princess shrugged off the ’suppression’ over her head, she seems to have become even more uninhibited. I feel like if I submit them, it might develop into ’Your Highness, you don’t want your subordinates not getting their reimbursements, do you?’

...

"As for me... well... having just stormed the palace after all, it’s better to avoid seeing her too much for now to dodge suspicion... Oh, Director!"

Spinning a reason he couldn’t even believe himself, Leon barely managed to muddle through, then proactively steered the conversation, his expression tinged with curiosity:

"Did you gain anything from your trip to the dream realm?"

"Indeed I did!"

Although she knew Leon was clearly dodging the issue, the red-haired director couldn’t help but smile with pride upon hearing his question.

"The gains were substantial!"

Hmm? Sounds like there’s good news?

Hearing this, Leon raised an eyebrow, somewhat excitedly asking:

"Did you find where Aquarius’s physical form is sleeping in the dream realm?"

"Uh... not quite."

The smile on the red-haired director’s face slightly faded, and after a slight cough, she said:

"But I did capture his most loyal subordinate, so it wasn’t a wasted trip... Oh, and you know her, it’s that female reporter named Nicole."

Nicole?

Upon hearing this familiar name, Leon pondered for a moment, then his eyes slightly lit up.

"I recall the Black Goat’s Tail is with her? Since you caught her, doesn’t that mean..."

"Exactly, just as you thought."

The red-haired director said with a playful smile:

"Congratulations, with this tail, plus the horn, heart, and stomach from before, you’ve already assembled four-sevenths of the goat’s components. Soon you can awaken this near-god-level demon."

Yes, yes.

Hearing this, Leon nodded a bit excitedly, realizing that what once seemed unattainable, the Seven Goat Components, had come together so quickly that now thinking about it...

Doesn’t seem that impressive?

Reviewing what he owned, the joy on Leon’s face slightly diminished.

For a rookie like him, the Goat Components Suite was obviously excellent, but compared to things like the [Unfair Snake Pact], Hand of Screams, Lust Dream Invader, which worked even on deities, the Seven Goat Components Set exhausting only 60 points of Contamination Value seemed somewhat paltry.

Although the abilities like Endless Blood Battle, Arouse Wrath, Domination Substitute Death were practical, the Goat Components themselves were merely ’near-god’ level, and Goat Whip had exploded before, uncertain if it was fixed, making its potential appear limited.

"Hmm?"

Glancing at Leon’s expression, the red-haired director blinked her foxy eyes with a hint of amusement:

"What? Now that you have better abnormal artifacts, the silly goat doesn’t meet your standards anymore?"

"Uh..."

"No worries, it’s perfectly normal to feel that way."

Seeing Leon appearing a bit bashful, the red-haired director crossed her legs, then said with a playful smile:

"Back then, I was much like you. After acquiring the [Slaughter Blood Hair], I realized most of my anomaly artifacts weren’t as powerful.

Moreover, the effects of [Slaughter Blood Hair] are quite comprehensive: perception, defense, confinement, destruction... Every issue I encountered, none were unsolvable with it, and over time, I grew accustomed to relying on it for solutions.

Thanks to [Slaughter Blood Hair]’s unparalleled destructive power, any entity with a physical body was no match for me. Within the Clean-up Bureau, aside from the director who could command Sunshadow, and Aries board member who mastered Destruction Secret Technique, no third person dared claim to have a guaranteed victory against me."

Pausing briefly here, the red-haired director then earnestly stated:

"But my most important anomaly artifact is actually... hmm... never mind, it’s kind of complicated to explain, you should just come over and touch it yourself instead."