I! Cleaner!

*Was it still those same two investigators from before?*

Squinting slightly against the light, Leon recognized their faces and narrowed his eyes a bit, refraining from shaking the old investigator's outstretched hand.

After the Ryan Blood Night incident, it was they who investigated him and ultimately issued a report stating "extremely high level of danger, close monitoring suggested."

The old man in front of him, who smiled with hidden daggers, even suggested in his review that Leon disregarded regulations, was deeply dissatisfied with the current rules, and would attempt to break free from the headquarters' control once he had the ability to do so.

And that report, devoid of a single positive comment, was even seen by the Aquarius Director, who brought it up in front of everyone at headquarters, nearly getting Leon into trouble with the Brain-Eating Demon. It caused him a lot of hassle.

...

"Heh, it seems Mr. Lyon isn't very welcoming of us."

Having waited for a moment without getting a handshake from Leon, the old investigator wasn't embarrassed but smiled slightly and naturally withdrew his hand, then slightly apologetically stated,

"Sorry, it's our duty to investigate potential violations. Even if it's not welcome, just like our work of clearing abnormalities, we must follow the rules to complete the investigation.

"After all, without us investigating and constraining those reckless Cleaners, the world would inevitably turn into a chaotic playground for the Evil God and demons.

"So, sorry, even though you might feel wronged, and even though our questions may be annoying, please try to cooperate."

*So many words... Was he preparing for a graduate exam?*

After shooting a glance at the old man who had said some unpleasant things about him, Leon frowned but said nothing, essentially agreeing to answer the questions and cooperate with the headquarters investigation. Meanwhile, the Red-haired Director, watching coldly from behind the desk, impatiently waved them away,

"Take your questions outside, I'm busy here. Don't disturb my work!"

"Alright."

After nodding towards the Red-haired Director, the old investigator raised his arm and gestured towards the door.

"Mr. Lyon, let's go straight to Miss Emma's office to talk, she's been waiting for us there for a while."

*So they went to Senior Emma first before looking for me?*

Watching this courteous and earnest old man, yet no matter what unable to be liked, Leon squinted his eyes and then turned away, heading to Senior Emma's office.

And the somewhat annoyed female investigator, along with the older investigator who maintained a smiling face, followed him into Senior Emma's room filled with an array of instruments of torture.

"Then let me begin the questioning!"

Forcefully pushing aside the skull-crushing hammer and canine tooth pillory on the sofa, the young female investigator sat across from Leon and Emma, her face cold as she spoke,

"First question: Did either of you know about Marquis Leonard's death?"

"Spare us this nonsense."

Interrupting the female investigator's questioning, Leon took out the Black Goat and placed it on the table with an expressionless face,

"Given your prejudice against our Virgo Branch, if you insist on wasting time with such questions, I will question the significance of this inquiry and request headquarters to send two new investigators."

"You!"

"Alright, Eisha!"

Stopping the slightly flushed female investigator, the old investigator smiled and said,

"Mr. Lyon and Miss Emma are indeed very busy. We can indeed be more flexible when asking questions, focusing primarily on the ones I've marked."

"...Fine."

Biting her lip in frustration, the female investigator turned a page in her notebook and then, with an unpleasant look, stated,

"First question! Did either of you plan to kill Marquis Leonard?"

"We did."

"Then the second question... huh?"

Looking at the freshly circled "deny" on her notebook, the female investigator blinked in confusion, then, full of bewilderment, raised her head and asked,

"What did you say?"

"I said we both had plans to kill Marquis Leonard, and they were very strong!"

Confirming she hadn't misheard, the somewhat stunned female investigator instinctively turned to Emma for a denial, but was met with an entirely agreeing gaze from Emma.

*Huh... How could they just admit it like that? Can't they deny it a little?*

Bewildered by Leon's honesty, after being silent for several seconds, the female investigator, full of doubt, couldn't help but ask,

"Why?"

"Because he deserved it."

After briefly explaining what Leonard had done, Leon, full of disdain, said,

"If he hadn't jumped into the lake, whether Senior Emma had become the director of a small branch or I had found the evidence to put him in jail, it would have been his death day! Drowning in the lake was even too good for him!"

Hearing Leon's words, Emma, recalling her deceased family and daughter, couldn't help but have a slight sheen of tears in her eyes, then nodded in agreement.

"..."

*Well, he did deserve to die... but that's not what I wanted to ask, right? I'm here to investigate you. Although our job is to make you tell the truth, isn't being this forthright a bit too much?*

Looking at her notebook full of questions designed to make Leon admit to wanting to kill Marquis Leonard, the female investigator reluctantly picked up her pen and crossed all of them out, then hesitantly said,

"Then... where were you both on the night of his death? Do you have anyone to verify your alibis?"

"No."

Leon shook his head and replied,

"I was working overtime at the bureau, and Senior Emma was taking care of her daughter at home. We were both alone and have no one to vouch for us."

"..."

*So no alibis either? Aren't you going to put up a little struggle?*

Seeing another ten or so questions rendered useless, the female investigator, whose "heavy blows" had missed the mark twice already, felt somewhat powerless, opening her mouth before aimlessly crossing out a long list of questions.

"Then... third question, are you the ones who killed Marquis Leonard?"

"No."

Senior Emma shook her head slightly.

"Unfortunately, no."

Leon's expression even held a hint of regret.

*About how Leonard died... it was of course suicide.*

*Although I made him jump into the river a few hundred times in dreams and had him executed a thousand times over, I never so much as touched a finger of his nor seen his face with my own eyes. What does his jumping into the lake have to do with me?*

Seeing the "honest duo" in front of her finally not continuing to admit things, the female investigator, for some reason, let out a sigh of relief. She then straightened up, holding the pile of prepared questions, and somewhat excitedly asked,

"Then how do you explain his sudden death?

"After all, both of you had motives to kill him, the ability to do so, and lacked alibis for that night, so please explain how..."

"Dear daughter~"

At that moment, the Black Goat on the table, whose head was growing tired of listening, rolled its eyes and grinned broadly,

"Come over here, let Daddy give you a hug!"

???

Bewildered by this remark, the female investigator pointed at her own nose, uncertainly asking,

"Were you talking to me just now?"

"Who else? Come on now... a little closer... hehe, ptui!"

A potent smoker's spit flew out, smearing the back of the investigation form, as the Black Goat smirked coldly at the horrified female investigator,

"According to your logic, I have the motive to do something with your mom, the capacity to, and on the day your mom conceived you, I lacked an alibi... by your reasoning, wouldn't I be your wild dad?!"