Was this... the photograph that Anna lost?
Through the gap in his hair, after identifying what it was, Leon couldn't help but open his eyes wide in astonishment.
"Director, how did this end up with you?"
"Well, that's a question for your good senior."
The Red-haired Director smiled warmly and said,
"Did you really think that guy Jerry could resist his kleptomania and not swipe something when he saw you?"
"But... this thing should have been at my house, not on me."
"That's the effect of an anomalous object called the [Cunning Hand of Fate]. When Jerry wants to steal something from you, it doesn't matter if it's just at home or even in another world, the result is the same.
As long as he's close to you and reaches out, the thing that has the greatest impact on your life will be directly taken by him. Even a True God cannot fully exempt themselves from this ability."
After briefly explaining Jerry's ability, the Red-haired Director asked with a smile,
"Though he did something quite unpleasant to you, I made him compensate you doubly. Are you satisfied with his apology?"
*So that's how it is... No wonder Senior Jerry was so generous, insisting on a buy-one-get-one-free and giving me not just two anomalous objects, but also teaching me many tricks to use them, and even gifting an absurdly expensive bomb...*
"Very satisfied. Senior Jerry helped me a lot."
Having understood the reason, Leon shook his head in a bit of speechlessness and, recalling the evaluation of the Virgo Branch members by the two investigators earlier, couldn't help but inquire,
"By the way, Director, is our bureau's reputation... not too good?"
"Indeed, it's not that great, or you could say it's quite lousy."
Hearing Leon's question, the Red-haired Director nodded, openly admitting the bad reputation of the Virgo Branch and then sighed,
"But there's nothing we can do about it. All the people in our bureau are born carriers of anomalous objects, and behind these self-carrying anomalous objects are curses that none of us can shake off.
Jerry with his thieving hand can't help but steal, Emma with her Undead body is particularly afraid of death, Tom with his dice is addicted to gambling, Harry who sticks to everything can never hold onto anything... These all fall into this category. While gaining power, everyone also has to pay a corresponding price.
Other branches may also have people , but either their abilities aren't as great, resulting in less extreme situations, or they only have one or two people, not as many as us, so they haven't caused big troubles.
As for us... Well, although none are bad people, each has their vices hard to change, and there have been quite a few issues in the past. Coupled with my notorious executioner reputation as Director, naturally, our reputation can't be good."
After hearing the Red-haired Director's words, Leon couldn't help but nod knowingly, while the Red-haired Director, after glancing at him, couldn't help but ponder his situation.
As for Little Leon... Forced intelligence acquisition, an ability related to the cognitive world, according to this logic, could his "vice" be... an excessive thirst for knowledge?
Recalling Leon's usual behavior, thinking that although he treasured knowledge, he hadn't reached the level of a "vice," the Red-haired Director couldn't help but shake his head slightly, dismissing his guess.
It seemed Leon's "vice" wasn't Jerry's kind of "positive reinforcement" of anomalous objects, but more likely Emma's and Harry's kind of "reverse conflict" type...
Under the somewhat thoughtful gaze of the Red-haired Director, Leon slightly tightened his scalp, quickly picked up the photograph on the table, and said goodbye,
"I have no other questions to ask, so I'm leaving!"
"Mm, off you go, off you go!"
After Leon left through the door, the Red-haired Director interlaced his fingers and leaned somewhat lazily against the chair back, continuing to ponder the earlier issue.
The "vices" developed by a Cleaner after Corrosion generally fell into two common scenarios.
Either there was a positive reinforcement concerning the anomalous object, such as the ability to steal with the [Cunning Hand of Fate] and Jerry's kleptomania, or a reverse conflict with the ability, such as the ability to maintain a living body's Undead state and Emma's extreme aversion to death.
As for Leon's anomalous object ability, relating to the cognitive world, since he hadn't shown an excessive thirst for knowledge, it wouldn't be the first scenario, but rather the second one. A character trait directly opposing the expression of the abnormal ability.
Then the reversed cognitive world... Would that mean Leon had a complete understanding of the laws of the world, which was extremely resilient and not easily changed?
Unaware that his "cards" had been turned over seventy percent by the Director, nearly about to be fully exposed to the knees, Leon didn't start working immediately upon returning to his office. Instead, he checked the family photo of his sister Anna and his parents.
[Name: Warm Home (Under Repair, Unusable) (Prayer, Doll, Alteration)]
[Appearance: A brand-new family photograph, seemingly normal from the front but showing numerous unhealed cracks and deep brown scorch marks when viewed from the back, as if repeatedly torn and burned with flames]
[Ability: Obtaining family, controlling family, altering the world]
[Cost: Under updating, visible upon repair completion]
[File: One of the many functional anomalous objects the Purification Bureau's Aquarius Director created to fulfill a wish, tentatively numbered 0006.
This anomalous object with a particularly special ability was born out of a child's deepest longing for family members. However, it doesn't bring family members who truly love the user but rather puppets that obey every command.
After discovering this, its creator directly denied the significance of this anomalous object and tore it apart, lifting the control over "family members" but also causing irreparable damage.
However, after years of mutual companionship, its creator and the family brought by this anomalous object slowly became true family in the true sense, and the significance of this anomalous object was once again acknowledged, beginning a slow self-repair process.
Please note that once this repair is fully completed, there will be entirely unknown new changes in its ability, based on the creator's situation.]
[Evaluation: Even if it is an Evil blossom born of deceit and malice, as long as it is carefully nurtured with kindness and love, it may yet bear warm and beautiful fruit.]
[Contamination Value: ?]
*So... Was the original me indeed not Anna's real brother but a fake family member "kidnapped" by this anomalous object?*
Though he had already had similar suspicions, after reading this family photograph's file, Leon couldn't help but close his eyes, leaning back on his chair with a complicated heart. However, such complex emotions didn't last long before being violently shattered by a strong sense of crisis.
*Aquarius Director again!*
Looking at the family photograph's file, once again containing information about the Aquarius Director, Leon's eyebrows furrowed deeply.
*I didn't expect Anna's family photograph to be one of the anomalous objects he created to fulfill a wish... So, what exactly is the Aquarius Director's wish? In the process of achieving his wish, will Anna be harmed?*