I! Cleaner!

"Director!"

Holding a wallet whose origin was unknown, Leon returned to the Purification Bureau and immediately knocked on the director's office door, speaking with a solemn expression,

"There is indeed something wrong with the Pink Mystery! The Aquarius Director must have arranged some kind of backup there! And if I'm not mistaken, the wallet you asked me to investigate was probably taken by that Gemini Sub-bureau Level One Cleaner named Nicole!"

What? What did you say?

After hearing Leon's words, the Red-haired Director, who was fiddling with an empty wallet, paused slightly, then with a look of surprise said,

"You actually found something out? No... What I mean is, are you really sure?"

"Nine times out of ten."

Recalling the intelligence from the Aberrant Names Register, Leon recounted his observations and experiences, then concluded gravely,

"We can't be completely sure yet, but when Jerry returns, if even he can't find that wallet, then we can basically be certain.

After all, the Secret Tail in that female reporter's hand could conveniently erase the aura of items. I think she is very suspicious... By the way, Director, what exactly is in that wallet?"

"..."

That wallet contained my newly received salary... But now it no longer matters!

After listening to Leon's account of his experiences, the Red-haired Director's foxlike eyes subconsciously squinted, detecting some inconsistencies.

Although she certainly had drunk too much, forgetting the wallet shouldn't have happened and might be influenced by some Special Anomalous Object. Additionally, because she had boasted in front of Leon earlier that day, she hadn't planned to drink much that night.

However, a new batch of wine that suited her taste too well had just arrived at the Pink Mystery, leading to her losing control and drinking too much, resulting in the loss of the wallet. Meanwhile, the only one capable of retrieving the wallet immediately, Jerry, was out on a task due to an unexpected incident in Merino County and currently not in the bureau...

The smell of conspiracy was strong...

After twisting her hair around her finger a couple of times, the Red-haired Director made a few vague remarks, frowning as she pondered the real goal of the "enemy."

The direct target seemed to be stealing her wallet?

But the wallet really only had money; it's not worth their effort, so their real goal was likely the ensuing impact of "her not having money."

Considering that on Aquarius's side, there was a Gate of the Other World that could briefly peek into the future, they must have seen that after she ran out of money, she did something they found exploitable!

So, what would she definitely do after running out of money? Borrow money from Emma like yesterday? Use the Debts Pouch like today? Or go to the usual taverns to charge it on her account?

It's strange, these things are quite normal, which one would make her vulnerable? Perhaps... try doing all of them once?

...

The Red-haired Director, thinking to the point of a headache, unconsciously fidgeted with the empty wallet in her hand, continuously pressing the clasp.

Noticing her actions, Leon raised an eyebrow slightly, recalling the wallet that had suddenly appeared in his possession, then reached to tap the cuff and took out the bulging wallet.

"By the way, apart from the Aberrant Names Register, I encountered another matter that might be related to an Anomalous Object."

Putting the wallet on the table, Leon shared its magical origin simply and then said worriedly,

"You know how unlucky I am, this kind of good fortune doesn't happen to me, so I think... hmm? What's this?"

"Touch it and you'll know."

After tossing the empty wallet in her hand to Leon, the Red-haired Director calmly opened the little golden-haired wallet, took out five Gold Wheels, pocketed them, and then handed the wallet back.

"When the next month's salary is issued, I will give you an extra ten Gold Wheels, so remember to help me return the money then, okay!"

???

Wait... what's this all about? Why didn't I understand a thing?

With a puzzled frown, Leon touched the empty wallet in his hand as the Red-haired Director had instructed.

"Zzz..."

[Name: Debts Pouch (Wealth)]

[Appearance: An unusually old-fashioned men's leather wallet, with formerly sturdy leatherwork that's been completely worn through, allowing one to stick a finger through the hole at the bottom and into the wallet]

[Ability: Unexpected Fortune]

[Cost: After acquiring an unexpected fortune through this Anomalous Object, one must return double the amount to the original owner]

[File: This is a genuine ancient Anomalous Object from the primordial country of Anpula, with a long history of over five hundred years. It has been kept in the warehouse of the Virgin Branch since it was acquired by the fourth director of the Virgin Branch of the Purification Bureau.

Four years ago, having spent her salary and unable to buy wine, Olivia, then-director of the Virgin Branch, found this Anomalous Object that no one had touched for a long time in the warehouse and subsequently used it repeatedly for small loans.

Over four years, she used this Anomalous Object a total of forty-nine times, borrowed a thousand and twenty-three Gold Wheels, picked up twenty-five wallets, excavated four secret cellars containing private property, and redeemed fifteen winning tickets...]

[Evaluation: A severely underestimated Anomalous Object, instead of paying back double each time, its real use should be to "borrow" a large sum at a critical moment and never return it.]

[Corrosion Value: 2.3]

"..."

So... the wallet I just "handed over" was something you "borrowed" using this thing? No wonder the process was so absurd!

After reading the description of the Debts Pouch, Leon couldn't help but smack his lips, then muttered in bewilderment,

"What a bizarre Anomalous Object... and using it requires returning double! Compared to borrowing from it, wouldn't it be better to take a proper loan from the bank? My annual salary is just over six hundred Gold Wheels; the interest paid after using this thing to borrow money is already equivalent to my two years' salary!"

"In theory, borrowing from a bank is indeed better."

The Red-haired Director shrugged and said,

"But I'm terribly slow at repaying, and the major banks in the Capital City have blacklisted me. The remaining ones willing to lend me money don't want repayment, they want me to owe them a favor. So, it's better to use this to borrow money, wouldn't you agree?"

"..."

Agree, my foot! Your salary is so high; if you could just drink a bit less, wouldn't you have more than enough money?

"Oh well, everyone faces tight times once in a while, just handling emergencies~"

Glancing at Leon, who was pulling a face, the Red-haired Director sat upright, having successfully "borrowed" five Gold Wheels, and gravely shifted the topic,

"Besides, if I'm not mistaken, within a week, something unpleasant will surely happen, so you must be extra careful recently."

"Hmm? Why?"

"Because of Jerry's return time."

The Red-haired Director squinted her eyes and tapped the table with her fingers,

"If it weren't for your unexpected disclosure, when Jerry comes back in a week, he would start helping me find the missing wallet. Subsequently, being unable to detect the wallet's aura would alert me to the issue.

So, reasoning backward, if they want to do something without alerting me, they must complete it within this week. Therefore, I suspect something will definitely happen in the week before Jerry returns!"