I! Cleaner!

[Name: Aberrant Names Register (Corruption, Name, Location)]

[Appearance: A leather register book exceptionally beautiful in craftsmanship, smooth and warm to the touch. After the signatory writes their name, the exact number of "sins" they have committed appears on the back.]

[Ability: Sin Recording, Names of Demons, Target Positioning]

[Cost: For the signer, once you write your name, your essence will be permanently recorded until death. For the user, each use of the positioning ability consumes one record of their own "sin."]

[File: An ancient anomalous object crafted from the facial skin of a Divine-level Curse Rune Demon, capable of covertly recording the signatory's information using the innate power of curse rules, and instantly locating their current position upon activation (limited to the same plane).

This special anomalous object was created by The Lord of Betrayal, the ninth-ranked among the Hell Monarchs, to guard against betrayal by his subordinates. It was sewn directly into the flesh of his left hand.

However, during an invasion 375 years ago, the head of the Gemini Sub-bureau ambushed The Lord of Betrayal, using the anomalous object [Dividing Frame] to sever his left hand. The "Aberrant Names Register" sewn onto his hand became the spoils of war and was stored in the Gemini Sub-bureau's warehouse...]

[Evaluation: Flip over the third signature book starting with the letter "A," and you'll see an unexpected surprise.]

[Contamination Value: 0 (signer)/Half of the current Contamination Value of the target being queried (user)]

[Through your observation and summarization, you have obtained a wealth of intelligence on the "Aberrant Names Register," Abnormal... Your resistance to this anomalous object has significantly increased, allowing you to shield yourself from deeper influence.]

...

Gemini Sub-bureau...

*So this mission is related to the Aquarius Director? But wasn't he severely injured in the Realm of the Dead by the head? He couldn't possibly return in such a short time, could he? Is this a contingency plan he left behind?*

After reading the file on the [Aberrant Names Register] and seeing familiar information within, Leon's brows unconsciously furrowed slightly. Following the suggestion in the evaluation section, he found the third signature book marked with the letter "A" and turned it over casually.

A blank page... The back of the signature book was covered with paper.

Not only the back but apart from the page where he hadn't signed, all the front and back pages of the signature books were meticulously covered, revealing only the codes for each guest and the total amount of unsettled bills under their names.

After furrowing his brows again, just as Leon was about to peel off the paper covering the back of the signature book, someone grabbed his arm.

"Duke, your Grace! Please don't do that!"

Stopping Leon's rather rash action in time, the alarmed waiter visibly relaxed, then awkwardly reminded him,

"According to the rules, all records for every guest, including you, are completely confidential, known only to those specially responsible.

And the reason we do this is to better protect the privacy of our distinguished guests, so please..."

"It's just a place to drink. Why all the secrecy?"

Remembering the head's instructions to "avoid alerting the enemy," Leon squinted slightly, temporarily abandoning the idea of looking at the signature book. He then pretended to be displeased and tossed the pen onto the register with a look of irritation, saying:

"Fine, I won't look, and I won't sign either!"

"I'm truly sorry, please, this way!"

Seeing Leon give up looking at the signature book, the waiter breathed a sigh of relief and dared not mention the signature again. He signaled to the person behind the main counter to quickly put away the signature book, while swiftly guiding Leon toward the stairs.

"This is the VIP section!"

After ascending three flights, the nearly disastrous waiter led Leon to a seat at the bar on the third floor, enthusiastically introducing,

"The selection of drinks on the third floor changes weekly, and the bartenders rotate at irregular intervals, each with their own style. If you're interested in a particular style, you can request it, and I can call them over for you.

If you're not interested in mixed drinks and prefer pure spirits, you can lift the tapestry on your right. Behind it is a private room better suited for savoring a quiet drink alone..."

"Got it."

Interrupting the waiter's chatter, to make it easier to find the waiter named Jacob and trace the wallet's whereabouts, Duke Leon, with a less than pleasant temperament, impatiently shooed him away:

"Leave. I can look around myself; there's no need for you here!"

"Alright..."

Seeing Leon's rather displeased expression, seemingly due to the earlier signing issue, the waiter, feeling a bit helpless, nodded and respectfully said:

"Then I'll refrain from bothering you further, but by the rules, I can't go too far. I'll wait for you in the waiting room between the second and third floors.

If you need my service later, just signal the server on the third floor to yell 'Jacob' at the waiting room door, and I'll come back to assist you."

"Hmm... Hmm?"

Wait? Your name is Jacob?

*So you're the waiter the head told me to find? But weren't you supposed to be in the third-floor VIP section? How did you end up greeting guests at the door?*

"Hold on a second!"

Calling out to stop the departing waiter, Leon cleared his throat and said:

"Perhaps... you should just stay."

Jacob: "?"

"I just thought, as it's my first time here, it might be nice to have someone around for some introductions."

"..."

*You change your mind so quickly? This Duke is really something...*

Despite inwardly complaining a bit, as a waiter, Jacob maintained a polite and respectful smile, with no flaw in his manners.

No other reason, the person in front of him was someone he couldn't possibly offend. That earlier reflexive action of grabbing the other's arm left his back soaked with sweat as he realized what he'd done.

Considering the vast disparity in their status and position, it's best to comply with the other's requests directly. If the earlier incident happened again, he wasn't sure he'd have the courage to grab the Duke's arm a second time.

"Then... shall I continue serving you?"

"Yeah, no trouble... Besides, I'm not interested in mixed drinks; take me to the room behind the tapestry."

"Sure, right this way."

Following behind Jacob, after entering a private room obviously well-insulated for sound, Leon tapped the Black Goat on the forehead with his left index finger, then pretended to pat himself down, exclaiming in a surprised tone:

"Huh? Where's my wallet? My wallet's missing?"

?!?!