I! Cleaner!-Chapter 751 - 686: Ordinary, Anyone Can Be Ordinary!
Goodness, are you also a part of the Five Palaces Selection?
After being lifted off the ground by the black fish, Leon slightly squinted his eyes while looking at the female Cleaner screaming and hugging Bai Yu’s neck, and a flurry of suspicions flooded his mind.
A trump card of the Aquarius Director? A spy sent by the Slaughter King Association? A hostile force infiltrating the Clean-up Bureau? Or perhaps a True God who successfully descended into the human world?
After all, according to the Director, before Leon joined the Clean-up Bureau, Cleaners recognized by more than one Star Palace were rare, but reaching the level of "Five Palaces Selection" had never been heard of!
Now, just as Leon achieved the Five Palaces Selection, another prodigy appears on the scene, matching him in talent? How can such coincidences happen in this world? Something smells off!
What’s strange is that when Leon threw her into the lake to build a nest, his palm directly touched her leg and neck skin, and at that time the [Materialism] badge showed no reaction, indicating she should be human and not something else.
Additionally, the Sagittarius Director had mentioned before that she was recommended by Baltro, the director of the Aquarius Branch, so if the director dared to recommend her for such an important secret technique selection, it proved that she had been thoroughly investigated, at least confirming that she had no major issues.
So what’s her story? Could she really be a wild genius?
"..."
Under Leon’s skin-peeling and bone-crossing scrutiny gaze, the female Cleaner hugging Bai Yu’s neck subconsciously wanted to shield her face from Leon’s eyes.
But recalling Leon’s previous "offense," a sudden surge of nameless anger rose within her, and she immediately covered her meager chest, mustering her courage to glare back.
"What... what are you looking at?"
"..."
Maybe I’m overthinking...
Watching the first word declared with vigor but followed by a deflated middle tone and barely audible ending, Leon couldn’t help but shake his head slightly.
She gives off a vibe... a kind of purity that has not been polluted by knowledge, not like someone who could be involved in plots and schemes.
Also, a genius of the Five Palaces Selection must have been thoroughly investigated by several directors, and since even the directors found nothing amiss, the likelihood of her having any problems is really low.
"Nothing, just noticed your arm."
Temporarily pushing the suspicion aside, Leon’s guarded expression softened, and he warmly asked:
"This... uh... Miss."
"I’m Melly..."
Somewhat speechless as she proactively reported her name, observing Leon’s considerably softened demeanor, the female Cleaner couldn’t help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Oddly enough, when the smile suddenly disappeared from this man’s face and his eyes stared dead at her, it was frightfully intimidating, making one feel uneasy...
"Sorry about that."
With a faint apology, Leon nodded slightly, then pointed to the female Cleaner’s arm and asked again:
"Miss Melly, may I ask about the pattern on your arm?"
Aha! Someone finally asked! It was worth having my sleeves cut short deliberately!
Upon hearing Leon’s words, the female Cleaner’s spine straightened suddenly, her small chest proudly thrust forward, she lightly covered the pattern on her arm, struggling to keep her lip corners stable, she calmly said:
"Oh, nothing much, just a qualification for this selection. Suddenly appeared on my arm when I was sleeping in my dorm... dormitory the other day, it flashed and flickered non-stop, startled me quite a lot."
"..."
Confirmed, though she’s not stupid, that untouched-by-it-world wisdom while talking and doing things is too strong, an obvious sign of not having suffered much.
"I see, that’s pretty impressive."
Uttering a perfunctory response, Leon took a glance at her clothing, noticing that despite its sticky and wet condition, the fabric and embroidery were extremely exquisite—a clear indicator of an expensive, high-quality piece.
Either wealthy or noble, living in affluence?
After squinting his eyes in contemplation, Leon’s demeanor softened even more, and he smiled as he inquisitively asked:
"By the way, how long have you been with the Aquarius Branch?"
"I joined... why are you asking that?"
"Nothing special, just having a chat."
Facing the female Cleaner’s vigilant expression, Leon chuckled, patting the black fish he was sitting on, saying:
"Looks like it will take us a while to reach Cancer Palace, staying silent is kinda boring, so I thought to chat with you... By the way, I joined the Clean-up Bureau three and a half months ago, currently a Level 3 Cleaner at the Virgin Branch, how about you?"
"Me..."
Hesitant briefly as if not seeing the necessity of keeping it a secret, the small female Cleaner blinked her wide eyes, then said:
"I joined the Aquarius Branch two months ago, also a Level 3 Cleaner."
Two months, huh...
Listening to this shorter duration than his own, Leon squinted slightly again, concealing the understanding flashing in his eyes.
Presently, it seems she has an excellent background, not only a comfortable life but also has been carefully protected, even somewhat innocent—hence likely, not merely wealth but even "noble," and not just ordinary noble!
Moreover, she doesn’t seem to have an arrogant personality but holds a strong desire to demonstrate, which is also peculiar, as children from affluent backgrounds usually don’t become "unbalanced" this way.
Her appearance more accurately resembles someone recently moving away from original affluence, falling from a worshiped position, and after joining the Clean-up Bureau, seeing a broader sky, showing a pressing expectation for recognition—also very assured of her own talents.
Therefore, her entry into the Clean-up Bureau must defy the typical "crime—sentencing—penance" path; instead, it involved uncovering remarkable talents, directly recruited "as an exception" by the Aquarius Branch’s director, receiving substantial hopes and privileges.
Plus, when recalling her mention of the Five Palaces Selection, that brief stutter was very suspicious.
Regardless if the Aquarius Branch actually has dorms, merely the term "dormitory" doesn’t justify a "cognitive snag," unless what she initially intended wasn’t dormitory but something else like...
Courtyard Palace?
Watching the repeated observation of the flat chest of the female Cleaner, memorizing the family crest embroidery peeking through her inner shirt amidst her water-drenched outer garments, Leon cheerfully commented:
"Well, it seems we have quite a lot in common."
"Huh?"
"Look here."
Raising his left sleeve to show the markings on his arm, amid the small female Cleaner’s shocked expression, Leon with a warm smile intended to forge a connection, said:
"We both joined the Clean-up Bureau only a few months ago, both at Level 3 Cleaner status, likewise chosen by five Star Palaces... We have quite a few similarities."
