I! Cleaner!

"Director!"

When all the officers of the Secret Investigation Bureau were out searching for a suspicious suspect, Leon hurried back to the Purification Bureau and knocked on the director's office door.

"I'd like to request half a day off!"

After making his request, Leon knitted his brows and said,

"The police department is investigating the attack on the Boarding Tower. Due to the urgency at the time, many things weren't done discreetly enough. I'm worried they might find something.

Director, please grant me a half-day leave this afternoon. I want to make contact with the Rebels I was with during the Boarding Tower attack and erase some rather obvious traces we left."

"Alright."

After listening seriously to Leon's request, the Red-haired Director, who was pouring tea into a liquor bottle, paused before taking a sheet of paper out of the drawer and handing it to him.

"You don't need to take leave; I'll count it as fieldwork for you. But, after you finish your business, there's another task you need to complete."

*Is there a new mission?*

Hearing the Red-haired Director's words, Leon's expression slightly tensed, and he picked up the note on the table to read.

After six o'clock in the evening, go to the VIP section of the Pink Mystery Bar on Canal Street and look for a waiter named Jacob. Ask him if he picked up a wallet left by a customer at the bar yesterday.

"Okay."

Firmly committing the contents of the note to memory, Leon asked seriously,

"Director, what's with this Jacob? Is he a naturally awakened Anomalous Object holder? A servant of some Evil God? Or perhaps a remnant of the Scales Gold Sect?"

"..."

He's none of those, just an ordinary waiter. He probably just secretly took the wallet I left on the counter...but how could I say that to you?

"He... it's a bit complicated to explain, and you have things to do later, so I won't say much..."

After mumbling a few incoherent words, the Red-haired Director nodded slightly and said with a serious face,

"In any case, you must handle this matter cautiously. Keep contact with him to a minimum, and don't ask anything unrelated to the task, especially regarding the owner of the wallet. Otherwise, it'll easily alert him!"

*Not even asking for the name or characteristics? It seems the owner of that wallet has quite the background...*

"I understand."

Taking the director's earnest advice to heart, Leon tentatively asked,

"What if that waiter named Jacob didn't take the wallet? Do you need me to figure out a way to get it back?"

"Hmm?"

The Red-haired Director seemed surprised and said,

"Aren't you only good at finding people? Since when did you have the ability to find things?"

"It's not that I can find things, but I can use the method of infiltrating dreams to indirectly explore someone's memories."

Pointing to the "Lust Dream Invader" hanging inside his shirt, Leon said,

"I recently discovered this usage. After enough interactions with the target, I can temporarily drag him into a dream and replay some events that happened before.

"If the target has a deep enough memory of something, I can follow and watch that part of his memory in his dream, gaining some relevant intelligence."

*So, if that waiter didn't take my wallet but saw who did, you could replay the situation from that night in the dream and see the thief's face and build?*

*This ability is really something, perfectly tailored for a Cleaner!*

After listening to Leon's explanation, the Red-haired Director was slightly moved. But remembering the times he acted bravely in front of Leon, a strong sense of shame rushed over him, and he quickly shook his head in refusal,

"No need, no need! You just need to confirm whether he took the wallet, and don't do anything else."

"Oh..."

Hearing this, Leon couldn't help but slightly wrinkle his brows.

*It seems the opponent this time isn't to be underestimated, and might even be very dangerous, which is why the Director doesn't want me to have much contact with the person.

Also, seeing the Director's cautious demeanor, could that wallet be an Anomalous Object with space-related features, containing many dangerous items inside?*

"You go take care of your tasks first!"

Seeing Leon's thoughtful frown, worried he might ask something that would give it away, the Red-haired Director quickly urged him out,

"Remember, safety first this time. You just need to handle what's on the note, and don't do anything else. Leave the rest to me!"

"Okay!"

Seeing the Red-haired Director emphasize safety repeatedly in these critical times, Leon's heart warmed slightly. He nodded earnestly and left the director's office.

After Leon left, the Red-haired Director, who had been sitting upright with a serious face, couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief and took a swig from the tea-filled whiskey bottle.

Now I really hope that the wallet was indeed taken by that waiter.

I accidentally let it slip earlier, and in her anger, Emma took back the money she lent me, and who knows when Jerry will return and find the wallet.

If Leon doesn't succeed in finding my wallet, there won't be anything to drink for the next few days... Maybe I should submit a report to the Safety Department Minister suggesting the cafeteria supply some alcoholic beverages?

...

Unaware that the "important task" he accepted was actually just private business of an irresponsible director, Leon arrived punctually on Joyful Street, where the target bar was located, just as the sun was setting.

As one of the busiest streets near the port in the Canal area, every ship passing through the Capital City brings a large flow of customers to Joyful Street upon entering the canal district port, along with a crowd of visitors seeking relaxation.

Thus, this place housed more bars and nightlife spots than anywhere else in the Capital City, a lively world that sleeps quietly during the day and comes alive only at night. The Pink Mystery Bar, where Leon's target was, was the most dazzling night pearl in this street that only awakened at six in the evening.

"Sir, we're approaching the Pink Mystery's water gate."

Pointing to the arched structure resembling a bridge ahead, the boatman in a vibrant pink uniform expertly maneuvered the similarly pink-painted oar to guide the small boat rightward along the artificial waterway, then said with a beaming smile,

"Is this your first time here? Pink Mystery is divided into nine different sections, with no roads or bridges connecting them, only water channels. Where would you like to go? You should decide now."

"..."

*This place called Pink Mystery seems a bit too high-end...*

Looking at the nine different directions the waterways flowed under the brightly lit "bridge," Leon identified them, then pointed to the channel with a bottle symbol on a nearby sign and asked,

"Is that the channel to the bar? If it is, then let's go there!"

"The beverage area? Okay, please hold on."

The muscular pink-clad boatman nodded with a smile, steering the pinkish boat to the far-left channel. Upon glancing at the goat's head Leon was carrying, he kindly reminded in a low voice,

"Sir, as per the rules, you can't bring your own foodstuff into the Pink Mystery's beverage and catering areas. Would you like to..."

"Nonsense!"

At this moment, a furious voice erupted from inside the shopping bag.

"Who are you calling food? You're the food, your whole family is food!"