“That’s exactly what the Bureau Director told me.”
After repeating the Red-haired Bureau Director’s words, the silver-glowing man smiled gently and then said to Leon, who was standing before him with a shocked expression: “So for this mission, you’re in charge. You decide how to execute it. My main role is to protect your safety and handle some troubles that might be inconvenient for you to deal with.”
“Senior, you’re too kind.”
Never did Leon expect Pione Senior, who was rumored to have an affair with the prime minister’s wife, to be such an easygoing person. Always one to return respect for respect, Leon quickly waved his hands politely: “The reason the Bureau Director arranged things this way is probably because I’ve been following up on this matter all along. The two anomalous item holders responsible for clearing and modifying memories are also more familiar with me.
I haven’t been in the Virgo Subdivision long and am still getting used to the bureau’s affairs. If there are any issues during future missions, please don’t hesitate to point them out.”
Hmm? This rookie, whose first investigative task resulted in the deaths of hundreds of nobles, slapped Prince Joshua several times, spat in his face in public, and even mocked the Scorpion Bureau Director at the General Bureau—was he really this polite behind closed doors?
Similarly surprised by Leon’s attitude, the silver-glowing Pione hesitated for a moment before smiling even more warmly.
“You’re too modest.”
Recalling the Red-haired Bureau Director’s evaluation of Leon, the small silver figure, with a voice tinged with metallic charm, kindly said:
“When the Bureau Director makes decisions without drinking, they’re always correct. Since she chose you to lead the mission, it must be right. Tomorrow, when we go on the mission, if there’s anything you need me to do, just arrange it. I’ll spare no effort.”
Ah… every senior in the bureau seems to be a genuinely good person! After subconsciously stroking the sheep head and confirming that the small silver figure spoke the truth, Leon’s gaze towards the other became noticeably warmer.
The seniors in the Virgo Subdivision were truly all good people. Whether it was Emma Senior, who taught him how to ensure safety, or Jerry Senior, who gave him many valuable items and accompanied him on dangerous adventures at the General Bureau, or even this slightly dazzling but exceptionally gentle Pione Senior standing before him now—they all took great care of him.
Although each of the seniors had their own little quirks, like Jerry’s thievery habit or Pione’s private life, compared to them… oh, right!
Thinking about this, Leon suddenly smacked his forehead and then rubbed the shiny cufflink, pulling out the envelope given to him by the prime minister’s wife and handing it over to the small silver figure while explaining:
“Pione Senior, this is…”
“The fragrant yet slightly pungent scent of laurel leaves… Martha! Is it Martha, right?”
Excitedly taking the perfumed envelope, the small silver figure brought it close to his nose for a light sniff. A strangely soft and sweet expression appeared on his metal-tinted hard face, and his eyes even misted over slightly.
“I didn’t expect her to still remember me.”
Wow, so Pione Senior is actually a devoted lover?
Seeing the rather exaggerated reaction of the small silver figure, Leon couldn’t help but pause briefly, then recalled the situation of the prime minister’s wife, feeling somewhat sorry for this kind and devoted senior in his heart.
Just as Leon paused to consider whether he should reveal a bit about the prime minister’s wife’s condition so that Pione Senior could deliberate on it himself…
The small silver figure opposite him didn’t rush to open the letter but instead gently caressed the cursive signature on the envelope with his silver-lit fingers, reminiscing with a look full of emotion: “When I was caught having an affair with her aunt, I thought she would never talk to me again, but she eventually forgave me; later, when my relationship with her younger aunt was exposed, I thought I would lose her, but she forgave me once more.
Sigh! Martha, my most gentle Martha, you will forever be the most beautiful laurel in my heart. Only your warmth and passion can make me so unforgettable…”
“…”
Alright, I overthought it. You two really suit each other…
Carefully folding the envelope after treasuring it, the silver-faced Pione Senior looked at Leon, whose mouth was twitching uncontrollably, with eyes full of longing and asked: “Sophie, Grace, Holly… I mean, Martha’s aunt, her younger aunt, and her…”
“No, it’s just her letter!”
Afraid that letting this senior continue would lead to some shocking revelations, Leon stiffly interrupted:
“My encounter with Mrs. Martha was purely coincidental. I was merely invited by her to deliver a letter. I haven’t had any contact with the others.
Also, besides this letter, she has a message for you. Every Monday noon for the next few weeks, she will be waiting for you at the usual place.”
“The usual place… the rest room in the prime minister’s office?”
???
No, I thought the ‘usual place’ you mentioned would be some street, bridge, park, or at least some small inn. But it turns out to be the prime minister’s office? Aren’t you two going a bit too far?
As Leon’s expression grew increasingly stunned, the silver-faced Pione Senior affectionately kissed the folded envelope and placed it inside his chest, looking at Leon with gratitude:
“Thank you! Really, thank you! Thank you for helping me reconnect with Martha. This is the best gift I’ve received this year!”
None…none at all…
After sincerely apologizing in his heart to the overweight prime minister, who, though not very friendly to him, was still polite, Leon, unsure how to comment, decided to change the subject and discuss the real matter: “Pione Senior, apart from you and me, we’ll also need the help of a few other anomalous item holders for this mission.”
Leon continued as he pulled out a small notebook he carried with him and drew a bold “7” with charcoal, indicating the shape of the boarding tower, then explained:
“Even though the Clearing Bureau credentials allow us to board the tower, the private ship heading to the Crocodile Kingdom is docked at a secret harbor and won’t let us in. We’ll need those anomalous item holders to help.”
Drawing a circle at the bend of the “7” to mark the location of the secret harbor, Leon pointed at the middle segment of the vertical line of the “7” and continued: “This is the control room of the boarding tower. Once the operation begins, someone will knock out the operator from a kilometer away using a slingshot. Then another person will crawl into the adjacent restroom, take over the operator’s body, and control the management room to open the path to the secret harbor for us.”
However, the control system of the private ship is connected via a separate differential machine, which cannot be operated from the management room. Forcibly intruding would cause damage that’s hard to repair and might reveal anomalies.”
“So we need to find a way to climb onto the private ship and stand near the entrance, where an anomalous item holder capable of distorting a small area of space can act directly, flipping the space we’re in.
Once he twists us into the private ship, Senior and I will be responsible for subduing the guards and replacing the sniffer agents’ reports. The remaining two anomalous item holders will clear and modify the sniffer agents’ memories. Then we’ll return to the entrance of the private ship and use the same method to be twisted out by the people outside.
Finally, we just need to return to the control room, alter the operator’s memory, pretend nothing happened, and evacuate from the boarding tower normally. That will complete our mission… Do you have any questions, Senior?”
“Uh… Your plan is great, but I do have one question…”
Looking at the action plan on the notebook, which was somewhat messy but clearly outlined the process and order, the small silver figure couldn’t help but scratch the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed: “I’m afraid of heights… What should we do?”
“…”
(End of Chapter)
