I! Cleaner!

"Would something happen within a week?"

After hearing the judgment from the Red-haired Director, Leon instinctively nodded but, upon further thought, realized something wasn't quite right.

"Wait! Your wallet? Are you the one who lost your wallet yesterday?"

"..."

Damn it... I was so focused on pondering the Aquarius Director's motives that I forgot about this...

"I can explain."

Seeing Leon's eyes shift from surprise to suspicion, then to recollection, and finally settling on an expression of sudden realization, the Red-haired Director awkwardly cleared her throat and tried to explain,

"Actually..."

"Actually, you really did get drunk and lost your wallet, and, feeling embarrassed to tell me directly, you tried to convince me to help you find it, but actually found nothing, and it was all just a coincidence?"

"..."

No... How did you figure it out so quickly? Did someone tell you something?

"It wasn't entirely a coincidence."

Looking at Leon's unfriendly expression, the Red-haired Director, for once, blushed slightly, feeling a bit guilty, and explained with hand gestures,

"I vaguely sensed that something was off, yeah... Not much, but a little bit."

"..."

So it really was just as the Black Goat guessed!!!

Seeing the Red-haired Director's tiny gesture, Leon couldn't help but darken his expression. However, recalling her past kindness towards him, he held back and didn't start ranting, instead saying in a deep voice,

"Director, in the future... shouldn't you drink a little less?"

"I... I'll try..."

Try my ass!

Seeing the Red-haired Director's slightly dodgy gaze, Leon understood that her promise would likely only last a week. He sighed but didn't say anything further.

After all, the Red-haired Director's situation was rather special; she needed to use alcohol occasionally to numb herself temporarily from the guilt caused by [Slaughter Blood Hair]. Forcing her to quit drinking completely would be a form of torture.

"Alright, drink if you want."

Leon shook his head helplessly and stopped pursuing the matter of her tricking him into finding the wallet, instead gently advising,

"But don't ever get so drunk again that you don't notice your wallet being taken. Keep some alertness, or else if you get caught off guard, it might be dangerous."

"???"

Watching Leon, who seemed a bit angry but didn't hold on to it, and instead let it go, the Red-haired Director found her heart skip a beat and couldn't help but hiss,

"Hiss... Leon... are you okay?"

???

What kind of question is that? How could anything be wrong with me?

"I mean, aren't you angry?"

The Red-haired Director blinked and said,

"If it were Emma, knowing I screwed things up because of drinking and tricked her into running errands for me, she'd probably be mad for a long time and demand I pay her back or something... Aren't you mad?"

"Of course I'm mad, but not that mad."

Looking at her bright red hair, Leon slightly shook his head and said,

"Senior Emma and I are different. She might know about the existence of [Slaughter Blood Hair], but probably doesn't understand the extent of the pain it brings to the user. I've touched your hair and know what this Anomalous Object represents.

"Although you have various flaws, you already do well enough. Forcing you to stay sober and endure the pain while protecting humans, always shielding me from harm, would be too selfish of me.

"No one is born with the obligation to bear these burdens, so drink if you want. But in potentially dangerous situations, be mindful of the degree, and don't give people the chance to hurt you. After all, the whole Virgo Branch still needs you to hold it up. Be sure to stay safe."

"..."

After hearing Leon's response, the Red-haired Director paused for a short moment, then sniffled hard, holding her heart with both hands as she looked deeply moved,

"Oh, you've moved me to tears! No one's ever been so understanding of me like this before, always considering my well-being, not blaming me for tricking you, even trying to find reasons from within yourself... I'm so touched I almost wanted to offer myself to you.

"Oh right, Little Leon, since you're supportive, I just thought about it carefully and realized five Gold Wheels might not be enough, so... Can you bring out that wallet and let me borrow five more Gold Wheels?"

"..."

"No!"

Hearing the first half, Leon felt a bit embarrassed, but when he heard the latter part, his face darkened as he said,

"I just changed my mind. You keep drinking like this, and you'll crash sooner or later! Also, if you don't mind, I'll take that [Debts Pouch] too. Leaving it with you is a waste... I'm leaving work!"

"Go, go! Stingy man!"

With a smile, the Red-haired Director watched Leon leave, then sat alone at her desk for a while before getting up to open the office window. She leaned against the windowsill, looking outside.

And at the point where her gaze fell, a stubborn tightwad whom she wouldn't lend money to had just walked out of the police department's bounds, flagging down a coach waiting by the roadside.

Watching Leon negotiate with the coachman, agreeing on a price before getting on the coach, then leaving in the direction of Bridge Street, the Red-haired Director, her eyes bright, wrinkled her nose before turning back and taking a large swig from the bottle on her desk.

"A kid who just started growing hair trying to act macho in front of me? Hmph!"

...

"Alright! Drop me off here!"

Calculating the exact distance from the police department to his home, ensuring it came just before the meter ticked over, Leon tapped on the coach window and shouted in the boiler's rumbling sound,

"Time to stop! I'll walk the rest of the way home! If you keep driving, the extra distance is a freebie, and I won't pay for it!"

Tsk... Aren't people working in the municipal district supposed to not bargain? How come there's someone as stingy as you?

Hearing Leon's words, the coachman, who had wanted to drive a bit further, clicked his tongue and pulled the steam coach over to the curb with a sullen face.

"Here you go, just the right amount."

Handing the pre-calculated money to the coachman, Leon, who successfully saved a Copper Wheel, got off the coach with a smile and walked in the moonlight towards Happiness Apartment.

"Still at it, old man?"

He greeted the sturdy, big old man holding large shears and staring intently at him in the garden, and after the curly-haired old lady came and bound the man with yarn, Leon, in good spirits, had a brief chat with the superintendent and proceeded upstairs with a smile.

Home sweet home.

Having spent the morning handling task reports, the afternoon gathering and eliminating evidence of the Rebels attacking the Boarding Tower, and even working overtime to search for a wallet in the evening, Leon, after a busy day, stretched his tired body and walked towards the place he called home, his face relaxed.

And just as he reached the sixth floor, the previously closed door opened, revealing, as usual, a lovely face smiling warmly at him under the familiar warm light.

"Anna, I'm back... Why is it you?"

"Why shouldn't it be me?"

Pulling the collar of her silk robe up a bit to cover the overly prominent scenery, Princess Veronica smiled sweetly and said,

"Darling~ you're back from work. Do you want to shower first? Or eat first? Or do you want to..."