Chapter 509: The Classic Stealing of Credit
"Sorry... just now... I felt a bit dizzy..."
After throwing up thoroughly, Leon's complexion finally looked a little better. He then turned to the Scorpio Bureau Chief, whose face was ashen, and said:
"Lord Edward, our plan was relatively successful. Although Prince Andre did not appear, we did manage to capture his sister, which counts as successfully capturing a member of the royal family."
"..."
Not able to completely dodge in time, the Scorpio Bureau Chief, who got vomited on his pants, remained silent for a moment, then nodded with a twitching face.
"It's good that it went smoothly... Does she know anything about the royal family?"
"I doubt she knows much."
Upon hearing this, Leon shook his head and said:
"She's only about twelve or thirteen, and she doesn't even realize she's being controlled. The intelligence obtained from her isn't very credible. However, Nicole also captured two cleaners from the Gemini Branch, so we might be able to learn something from them."
After listening to Leon, the Scorpio Branch Chief finally felt a sense of relief.
Although there was a slight hiccup in the plan, and they couldn't capture the intended target, catching the princess and two cleaners from the Gemini Branch made the trip worthwhile.
Additionally, considering that this plan was proposed by Leon and even executed by him personally, it was already a decent outcome to have it carried out smoothly without causing any major disturbances.
"You've worked hard."
With a slight nod to Leon, the Scorpio Bureau Chief turned his head, glanced at the female reporter caught in the net and the green-eyed girl, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart. He then pleasantly said to Leon:
"Here's what I'm thinking, we currently have a member of the royal family in our hands, and you, having kidnapped the princess, can't show your face anymore. So why don't we let Miss Nicole stay alone to continue helping with our investigation, while you temporarily halt your mission to escort this little princess away? How does that proposal sound to you?"
"..."
I think your proposal is simply trying to send me away...
Glancing at the insincere smile of the Scorpio Bureau Chief, Leon knew that the hidden trait of "Words Betray" had activated, making him subconsciously want to refuse working together. Without hesitation, he shook his head.
"I can't leave yet."
"Why is that?"
The Scorpio Bureau Chief maintained his expression, smiling as he inquired:
"Are there still things left undone?"
"Yes."
Recalling the information from the robber siblings, Leon nodded slightly and, maintaining his composure, said:
"I have a few things I'd like to investigate. Although they should have little to do with that mysterious organization and the Crolock royal family, they might produce extremely dangerous abnormal objects, so I feel it's necessary to pay attention to them."
"I see."
After hearing Leon's concerns, the Scorpio Bureau Chief didn't hesitate for even a second. He didn't even ask what Leon wanted to investigate and directly nodded approvingly, saying:
"In that case, Miss Nicole can follow us to investigate Atifie-01 and the Crolock royal family, while you protect this little princess closely, and at the same time, you can look into what you want to know. To facilitate your actions and ensure the safety of the little princess, I can have Alger accompany you. Once you've completed your investigations, you can leave the Crolock Kingdom with them... How does that sound?"
Alger? Is that the Level 1 Cleaner nicknamed "Wireman"?
Upon hearing the Scorpio Bureau Chief's words, Leon couldn't help but glance sideways at him. A tall, muscular cleaner with a beard was looking at him somewhat surprised—he was likely "Wireman" Alger.
Hmm, looks like a tough guy, and being Level 1, his strength shouldn't be bad.
Thinking this way, temporarily exiting the mission, getting a Level 1 Cleaner as a bodyguard, and having the opportunity to investigate the Hover Crystal and Cheshire, might not be too bad?
'Don't agree to it!'
Just as Leon was about to nod in agreement, the faintly anxious voice of the female reporter suddenly rang in his ear.
'By arranging it this way, he definitely intends to claim credit for the achievements!'
Somehow transmitting her voice to Leon's ear, the female reporter, who was adapting to the dizziness after being dragged over by the "Space-Piercing Fishing Line," said anxiously:
'Including me, there are now one Zodiac Director, two Level 1 Cleaners, and three seasoned Level 2 Cleaners, plus you, a freak. That's enough to catch the True God; there's no need to be this cautious!
Moreover, even if it's inconvenient for you to show your face, hiding you in flowers and taking you along isn't difficult. He's arranging Princess Feiliya with you and assigning people to follow you, clearly intending to monopolize this investigation task's credit!'
Oh ho, you seem quite knowledgeable about these workplace intrigues?
Surprised, Leon glanced at the female reporter, gave her a reassuring look, and then smiled while nodding to the Scorpio Bureau Chief.
"Alright, let's go with the Chief's proposal... I'll be counting on you, Alger."
"Um... no worries, no worries..."
'What? Didn't you hear what I said?'
Seeing that Leon, despite hearing her reminder, agreed to the Scorpio Bureau Chief's proposal, the female reporter couldn't help but open her almond-shaped eyes wide.
'With a royal family member already captured, if you don't participate in the subsequent events, and he succeeds, it means you contribute nothing to this investigation task; it would just be an attack on the Crolock Kingdom's royal family, lowering the Clean-up Bureau's evaluation of you!'
'It doesn't matter, let it drop then.'
Smiling at the female reporter, Leon walked over to help Feiliya, who looked like she was about to vomit, patting her back, while conveying through soul communication:
'I have little interest in rising through the ranks in the Bureau, no need for merits, and regular abnormal objects don't mean much to me, so the Bureau's evaluation is essentially irrelevant for me.'
'But you can't just give it away like that, right?'
Defeated by Leon's "desireless" attitude, the female reporter, pretending to help pat Feiliya's back, came closer and gave Leon a stern look:
'It seems you do the dirty work, and all the benefits go to the Scorpio Branch? Doesn't that make you feel uneasy?'
'It's not about uneasiness.'
Leon shook his head slightly, continuing to pat her back and explained:
'This mission was led by the Scorpio Branch from the start; we at the Virgin Branch were there to assist. Besides, even the Scorpio Branch Chief was involved, so it's normal for them to get the majority of the credit. And although I'm taking the blame for the unauthorized assault on the royal family, as the task's lead, if something serious happens, he'll bear the primary responsibility, and the risks he takes aren't minor; it's reasonable for him to want more benefits.'
'Why are you speaking up for him?'
Annoyed, the female reporter forcefully patted Feiliya's back, almost exasperated by Leon's attitude:
'His arrangement is clearly bullying with his Zodiac Director position. Why aren't you resisting at all?'
Leon could only give a helpless smile in response, patting her back harder as he questioned:
'You know he's a Zodiac Director; the power gap is obvious, and I can't resist even if I wanted to.
Moreover, given the antagonistic relationship between our Chief and him, just picking the fruit is already a concession. In a situation where we can't win, it's more beneficial to negotiate concessions instead of bickering over a lost cause.'
"Pap!"
'You can't just let him bully you for nothing, can you?'
"Pap!"
'Then what do you suggest? Get into a fight over some credit?'
"Pap!"
'If not a fight, at least let him know... oh no, why's the girl vomiting?'