NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 45
After shoving a stack of task documents marked “completed” back into the drawer, the red-haired Bureau Director smiled and explained to Leon, who was sitting in front of her with a helpless look on his face:
“It’s not like I’m deliberately pressuring you! Our bureau has always had a consensus when it comes to assigning tasks: let the person with the right ability handle the corresponding job.
For instance, Emma has an indestructible body for self-preservation, so she often gets tasks where her physical form might be damaged, but rarely anything involving spirits or ghosts that affect the mental plane. Like the giant beast reported from the Adolph Manor, which is… about to be completed by her.
You, on the other hand, can obtain intelligence on anomalous items through touch. You’ve got that dead sheep too, allowing you to see the state of others’ souls, directly judge if they’re lying or not. With these two abilities, you’re simply born to be an investigator! If not you, then who should I send?”
“…”
Well…
After considering the means he currently possessed, Leon couldn’t help but nod in agreement.
Given his current capabilities, compared to the sudden blood rain or five-meter beasts, he really was most suited for investigation tasks. Even if recognizing kinship failed, he should still be able to retreat safely…
Right? Recalling the excited expression when the Black Goat discovered the heart’s whereabouts, Leon hesitated for a moment before voicing his concerns:
“Director, it’s not that I want to refuse the investigation task, but if that ‘heart’ can also sense the existence of other components like the ‘Horn’, and if it’s already controlling people from the Lane Family, I’m worried I might get surrounded and wouldn’t be able to escape.”
“Relax, I’ve considered that too.”
After sizing up Leon’s physique, the red-haired Bureau Director hesitated slightly, pursing her lips before reaching up to pull out a few bright red strands of hair and handed them over.
“This, along with the Witch’s Broom, should be enough to protect your safety in most situations. But… don’t touch it!”
Her delicate wrist flicked, avoiding Leon’s hand reaching for the red hair. The director warned seriously: “It will protect you automatically without needing your physical strength or energy. However, before I give this to you, you must promise me—absolutely! absolutely! absolutely!—not to touch it with your hands!”
“…”
Not allowed to touch… meaning you don’t want me to know its intelligence? “Forget it, consider I didn’t say anything…”
Seeing Leon’s puzzled expression, the red-haired Bureau Director seemed somewhat regretful, quickly withdrawing her hand and shaking her head: “Emma’s task is almost done. You’d better wait here in the bureau for a few days. Once she returns, I’ll have her take you on this investigation mission. Her bandages and my few strands of hair have similar protective effects.”
“…”
Upon hearing that even Senior Emma would have to protect him, Leon’s expression became slightly awkward, driven by a bit of machismo. He directly extended his right hand: “Then just give it to me. I promise not to touch it… uh…”
Feeling somewhat embarrassed under the director’s skeptical gaze, Leon hurriedly pulled up his sleeve with his left hand, revealing his wrist:
“You misunderstood me. By extending my hand, I wasn’t asking you to place the hair in my palm. I was hoping you could tie it directly around my wrist.”
“The wrist isn’t safe enough. You might accidentally touch it.”
Shaking her head and rejecting Leon’s suggestion, the red-haired director stepped closer, then hooked her hand around the back of his neck, pulling him toward her chest.
“Bend your head down a little. Let me tie the hair directly around your neck.”
“Uh… okay…”
As Leon’s nose approached the pair of bounteous curves, his ears started to heat up. He quickly closed his eyes, stiffly arching his back and neck, waiting for the hair to be tied while standing rigidly still. However…
“You need to bend your head lower. I can’t reach.”
Hearing the soft voice by his ear, Leon felt his heartbeat quicken, blood rushing uncontrollably to his ears. He thought he heard the sound of blood rushing fast through his ears.
Lower… any lower and I’ll bury myself!
I only glanced before entering the building, it was just a small accident. It was almost instinctive, and I immediately politely averted my gaze.
But if I accept the director’s invitation now and bury my head directly, I’d confirm my identity as a lecher, impossible to wash away no matter which river I jump into.
Subconsciously clenching his fists slightly, Leon awkwardly reminded her: “This… bending my head might not be convenient. How about you stand on tiptoe?”
Seemingly impatient, the red-haired director urged:
“It’s such a simple thing for you to bend over! Why must I stand on tiptoe? Hurry up!”
“…”
Although I truly didn’t intend to take advantage, since I’ve reminded you to this extent, how about… I remind you again?
To make her understand that it’s inappropriate to continue bending down, Leon, with his eyes closed, took a deep breath and forcefully exhaled through his nose.
“Ouch!”
With a light pout, instead of hearing anyone stepping back, Leon heard the director complain again: “Why did you blow on my chest? Stop fooling around, bend down quickly! I have a lot of things to do!”
“…”
Ah, this… I’ve done my best…
There’s nothing wrong with the content!
“Yes, bending down is good!”
Seeing Leon helplessly lowering his head with his eyes closed, the red-haired director couldn’t help but smile approvingly, then quickly urged again:
“Did you lower your head by even a millimeter just now? Move more!”
“…”
“Hmm, lower a bit more, still not enough!”
“…”
“Lower! Lower!”
“…”
Even lower? I’ve bowed to nearly ninety degrees! Even if you were a Pekingese standing on its hind legs, you should have reached by now!
What kind of nonsense is continuing to lower my head? Clearly, I’ve been teased…
Completely speechless, Leon opened his eyes and, as expected, saw not what and what, but the somewhat worn wooden floor of the director’s office.
As for the red-haired beauty who was just in front of him, she had already returned to her seat behind the desk, sipping hot water in small mouthfuls while smiling sweetly and continuing to shout “lower! lower!” at him.
“…”
“Eh~ don’t be angry~”
Seeing Leon’s darkened expression, the red-haired director put down her cup, leaned back in her chair, and smiled sweetly:
“You first concealed the matter of the sheep heart from me, then peeked when I exposed myself, yet I didn’t get mad at you. Now, I merely teased you a bit, so you shouldn’t be upset~ Eh~ don’t move, let me finish tying the hair.”
Pointing her index finger at Leon and drawing a circle in the air, she controlled the hair to tie neatly around his neck and made a neat little bow before smiling:
“Very nice~ Being able to keep your eyes closed for such a long time without peeking, even having excuses but resisting temptation, now I can trust that you’ll keep your promise.”
Remember this! The hair tied around your neck is equivalent to my chest. If you accidentally glance at it twice, I won’t be mad. But if you dare to touch it with your hands… well, don’t blame me for getting angry!”
(End of Chapter)