I! Cleaner!
Chapter 136 - 136: 0117 Untitled_1

"Has the bureau already found the hostage's location?"

Hearing the red-haired director's words, Leon couldn't help but be slightly stunned and then asked somewhat unwillingly,

"Director, back then, the Holy Spirit from the Scales Gold Sect was brought in by the Marseilles family. Their relationship with the Scales Gold Sect is quite close. It's such a rare opportunity, should we just..."

"Stop! You just stop right there!"

Seeing that Leon was actually "harboring ulterior motives," the red-haired director couldn't help but shudder abruptly. He crossed his hands firmly in an emphatic "STOP" gesture.

"This time, just focus on rescuing the people! Don't get involved in anything else! Especially with those people from the Marseilles family, the less contact you have with them, the better!"

After making his request to Leon, the red-haired director reminded him with a headache,

"Do you really think the affairs of the Ryan Family are over just like that? Right now, forget about the post-event observation period. You haven't even entered the review period yet. The investigators from the main bureau will be arriving in the next few days.

If, by any chance, after you come into contact with the Marseilles family, something happens to someone in their family, even if it's just someone choking to death on a drink, the intensity of the scrutiny you'll face will be heightened once more!"

"..."

After experiencing the powerful effects of the Gold Level [I Am the Demon], Leon naturally grew more eager for the Holy Spirit Series badge effects, which were quite similar to those of the Demon Series.

But just as the director had said, the suspicions on him hadn't been completely cleared. He needed to tread carefully for now to avoid attracting the investigators' suspicion and unnecessary trouble.

Anyway, the review was expected to end in about a week. The Scales Gold Sect wouldn't collapse anytime soon, nor could the Marseilles family go anywhere. At worst, he could wait another week!

"I will be cautious."

Having heard the red-haired director's advice and promised not to act recklessly, Leon, holding the task order, was just about to leave when he suddenly seemed to remember something. He hesitated at first, then spoke somewhat bashfully,

"Director, can I take a leave next week?"

Although he had only been employed for just over a month, Leon had already taken more time off than he'd spent "on the job." And after botching the last assignment and being absent for more than a week, he was barely back for an hour before asking for leave again; even Leon himself felt a bit guilty about speaking up.

However, when it came to his "easily getting leave" trait, the red-haired director seemed quite accommodating, directly pulling out a notebook and pen from a drawer and saying casually,

"Sure, sure. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, and you haven't been home much during the investigation these days. It's normal to ask for leave... How long do you need?"

"Well... I'm not really sure either..."

Leon hesitated for a moment before asking in return,

"How long does a typical noble succession ritual take? Do you know?"

A noble succession ritual?

The red-haired director pondered it and replied,

"About one to four days, I suppose? For titles below that of earl, most properties are limited, with little real power, so it usually doesn't take long. A banquet to entertain guests and it's finished; it can be wrapped up in half a day.

As for higher titles, those are generally held by large families. Changes in their titles can affect many things. The royal family might even send an envoy to witness, plus there are internal presentations of family history, transfer of ownership, clan elder meetings, and other matters. It probably takes at least three to four days."

Was it really that complicated...?

Upon hearing this, Leon couldn't help but furrow his brow.

"If all the relatives, friends, and guests are dismissed, with just simple reporting to the royal family, and most key family members are dead, how short could it be?"

"Then it might only take a day... But what major noble family would do that?"

With some surprise, the red-haired director blinked his eyes, and then looked up with an expression of puzzlement.

"And why do you even ask? Are you taking a leave to attend some big noble's ceremony?"

"Uh... You could say so..."

Scratching his head awkwardly, Leon, who hadn't figured out how to explain the situation yet, tried to explain as tactfully as possible,

"Director, do you remember the excuse I used when I was investigating Yang Xin?"

"Sure, recognizing kin with the Ryan Family, what's up?"

"Well, nothing much... just that I succeeded in recognizing kin, and in a very, very successful way too..."

Clenching his fists slightly in hesitation, Leon looked at the red-haired director's face full of incomprehension and said with a rather helpless expression,

"Let me put it this way: I am now the officially recognized twenty-ninth Duke of Lionheart. My succession ritual is set for next Tuesday."

"..."

"???"

"!!!"

Shock! The newbie who just got his tenure after a month in the office asked for leave because he's actually going to inherit a dukedom's assets?

And even more critical, the original first successor was killed by Leon himself! Could it be that he did this to inherit the title...

But that can't be right! Leon shouldn't be that kind of person, and the Ryan Family is in shambles because he "didn't rescue them in time," leading to the death of many key members. They're on the brink of collapse. Who would first destroy the Ryan Family and then inherit an empty shell of a title? But... but...

But how do you end up acknowledging kin and becoming a duke?

Faced with this sudden twist of fate, even the well-versed red-haired director couldn't help but widen his eyes in shock, and was at a loss for words for quite a while.

After a brief pause, regaining his composure from the shocking news, the red-haired director said with a rather peculiar expression,

"You're not joking with me, right?"

"I'm really not joking with you. I'm genuinely going to inherit a title..."

After briefly explaining what he knew about the situation, Leon said helplessly,

"I'm truly not interested in this title from the Ryan Family, but no matter how I refused, it didn't work. They just went ahead and submitted my name.

They were worried that I wouldn't cooperate, so they even drugged my hospital meals with sedatives and had over twenty guards watching outside my hospital room. I only managed to knock them down and escape when I was slightly better..."

"..."

Well, no wonder you came back so quickly. It turns out you weren't released due to old Charl's intervention; you simply broke out after inheriting the title...

Clicking his tongue with a somewhat speechless look, the red-haired director said with a complex expression,

"Why didn't you mention something this important sooner?"

"I wanted to tell you earlier. But when I first came back, before I could say anything, you kept asking about what happened during Ryan's Blood Night. After I explained, Senior Tom came in,

then you had me check Senior Tom and scolded me for taking the risk of approaching Bobby Laien, and then you gave me an assignment. I never had the chance to speak..."

"..."

Well, it seems... that's indeed what happened?

Recalling the previous situation and realizing it was indeed the case, the red-haired director couldn't help but open his mouth, before asking very perplexed,

"Then, since you escaped, why are you asking for leave to attend the succession ritual? Also, what do you really think about being a duke?"

"I mentioned just now that I'm truly not interested in the title. The reason for asking you for leave is that I feel it's only at the succession ritual that I will have the chance to completely rid myself of this hassle."

After a slight hesitation, Leon said,

"Director, tell me, if I were to announce at the succession ritual that in my capacity as duke, I donate all of the Ryan Family's assets to the royal family, what would happen?"