Wait three days... Will that still be in time?
Leon had not expected the bandage-wrapped woman, who seemed friendly, to refuse to help. Worried about the situation at the hospital, he gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and tried to plead again,
"If you're willing to help, I can..."
"Sorry, this isn't about the cost."
Interrupting Leon's words, the woman wrapped in bandages shook her head, regretfully saying,
"The reason I've been able to stay safely in the Purification Bureau for six years is because I never act without certainty.
Although I sympathize with your situation, I have my reasons for not risking it lightly. I hope you understand my decision."
*Understand, of course, I understand. After all, what else can I do if I don't? Drag you there by force?*
After hearing the other's unarguable refusal, Leon helplessly loosened his grip.
While it sounded somewhat cold, she was actually right. She had no obligation to take risks for his matter, but... what about Anna?
At this moment, Leon could still choose to return to the hospital and take Anna out early before the "Uncontrollable Afflicted" caused a bigger commotion.
But if what that nurse said was true, then stopping the medication and taking Anna away now would mean she would be bedridden for the rest of her life, probably unable to even do chores like laundry and cooking.
Over the years, Anna had already suffered a lot because of the domestic burden caused by her lung disease. Given her outwardly gentle and obedient yet stubborn personality, if she realized she'd become a complete "burden," she'd probably...
'Kid, you better not renege on our deal!'
Just as Leon was weighing his options between the two choices, hesitating whether to take Anna out, the Black Goat in his arms twisted uncomfortably and reminded him worriedly,
'We agreed before, we'd help you find someone, and you'd buy us cigarettes! Now that we've found someone, even if she won't help, you still owe us the cigarettes, not a single one less!'
Right, there's this one too!
Seemingly glimpsing a lifeline drifting past his eyes, Leon's gaze suddenly brightened. He eagerly grabbed the goat's head and said urgently,
"What about you? Can you solve this matter? If you can, as long as I'm still working at the Purification Bureau, I'll buy you a pack of 'Gotth' every week!"
Tch... you're trying this on me again... are you taking me for granted?
Hearing Leon's proposal, a trace of annoyance appeared on the Black Goat's face.
*Kid! Do you really think I helped you find someone because of the cigarettes? I, a Great Demon, wouldn't bother over a cheap pack of cigarettes that sells for just three Silver Wheels from you!*
*I'm telling you! If that red-haired woman didn't take a liking to you, forget about a lousy pack of cigarettes, even if you knelt and begged me to claim your soul, I wouldn't bother, you hear?*
'At least three packs!'
Damn! Asked for too little!
Pouting with some annoyance, the Black Goat cursed itself for being spineless, then sighed as it pushed deeper into Leon's embrace.
*Sigh... what can I say, it's my weakness.*
*Plus, with my sheep-headed look right now, I don't even qualify to rob. If I'm not careful, not only do I end up without cash, but I might also get stewed, leaving me without a penny to buy a pack of cigarettes.*
*Damn it! Just thinking about it makes me uneasy! That red-haired woman isn't poor, but every week the second her salary arrives, she blows it all on booze, won't even spare half a Copper Wheel for me!*
*Once I smoke enough and gather the strength to turn the tables, I'll trash every tavern in the Capital City, including factories that make alcohol-scented cologne! You'll have nothing to drink, you wretched woman!*
While secretly plotting vengeance, the Black Goat gathered its remaining power, branding Leon's chest with a demonic mark, and willingly granted him the "right" to use its power.
Meanwhile, a familiar noise echoed once more in Leon's ear.
[For the first time, you have acquired the right to use Anomalous Object; the hidden trait of the Heterochromatic Badge "Materialist Soul (Crimson)" has been activated.]
[Materialist Soul (Heterochromatic, Crimson, Non-Upgradable):...]
[Advancement Route:...]
[Hidden Traits: Badge Slot +1, Current Slot Count: 4, Anomalous Items Required for Next Slot: 2]
With the mechanized prompt, the virtual panel, which originally had only three slots, scrolled and quietly added a fourth slot, with a cyan badge shaped like a sheep's head already embedded inside.
[You have obtained the right to use "Demon's Horns"; the Bronze Level Badge "Demon's Follower" has been successfully activated.]
[Demon's Follower (Bronze): After completing a filthy and despicable transaction, agreeing to perform an extreme evil sacrifice weekly thereafter, you have successfully received the favor of a high-ranking demon.]
[Wearing Effect: Increases your affinity with Anomalous Objects marked with "Corruption," slightly reducing the Cost of use while significantly enhancing usability.]
[Advancement Route: Completing ten agreed-upon evil sacrifices in secret without being discovered by the "Demon's Horn" previous owner, Olivia, will advance this badge to the Silver Badge "Friend of Demons," current progress 1/10.]
[Hidden Traits (unneeded for wearing): Your soul is faintly tainted with demonic aura, making it easier to attract the attention of certain evil entities.]
[Your Contamination Value has increased.]
[Current Contamination Value: 0.1]
'Hiss... you kid... actually suit my taste!'
Lying in Leon's somewhat uncomfortable embrace, feeling the "like a fish in water" harmonious sensation, the Black Goat raised its head in surprise, commenting,
'The way you controlled yourself in that situation, not stabbing that fat guy from the Department of Road Administration, I thought you had a strong sense of morals and wouldn't get along with you.
But seeing our compatibility, you're clearly not a good person! Although not overly heinous, you surely have some dirty tricks up your sleeve, haven't you? You must have done quite a bit of deceiving and scamming, right?'
*The high compatibility with you is due to the badge's effect. I've led a law-abiding life over two lifetimes, okay?*
Although his usually strong sense of morality was unfoundedly questioned, Leon's mind remained clear. Naturally, he would not confess to a demon about his cheat.
Holding the rambling goat's head, Leon was overjoyed to discover that he seemed to have temporarily acquired the ability to glimpse souls.
Centered on the goat's head he held, a radius of about two kilometers suddenly lit up with thousands of flickering, weak "flames."
Hatred, betrayal, deception, jealousy, rage... innumerable cold and dark thoughts flared painfully within souls like ghostly blue phosphorescence drifting in a cemetery by night, emerging dot by dot before Leon's eyes.
*As long as he focused his mind, he could penetrate through layers of concrete and stone, directly perceiving the seething malice contained within those "flames."*
Leon even felt an unusual premonition. *As if he only needed to reach out and pluck, and these cold venomous fires would swell instantly, burning away all rationality of their hosts and staining their souls, which were merely tinged dark gray, with a blackness ten shades darker than charcoal!*