Once everyone had left the conference room, Kirika Tachibana, appearing on the screen, immediately relaxed her previously formal posture. Resting her chin lazily on the backs of both hands, she gave a teasing smile as she said, "I heard you accepted tribute from a local family?"
"Did Takina report that to you?" Luo Shu didn't seem particularly surprised upon hearing this. Considering Takina Inoue's personality, once she'd warned him about it, it made sense she would have reported it too. "It wasn't much, honestly. Just five million yen. As per custom, I'll forward you a twenty percent cut, Chief."
But what surprised Luo Shu was Kirika's odd expression as she looked at him and said, "Takina's report? No, she didn't report anything to me. That information came from the Third Operations Squad on site—the Red Squad. Their field report included that detail."
So Takina warned me, but didn't actually report it herself? Luo Shu exchanged a subtle glance with Kirika before quickly shifting the topic. "By the way, is there a problem with accepting that tribute?"
He dared not linger on the subject of Takina any longer—any further discussion would spiral into an awkward conversation.
"It's not exactly a big issue," Kirika said casually. "It's just that SDS is considering setting up another branch in the Chiba region."
"?!!" Upon hearing that, Luo Shu felt as if a series of exclamation marks popped into his head. "Wait, don't tell me I'm getting a promotion? Am I about to become the new branch head or something?"
"What are you even thinking? That position's for Hilda." Kirika couldn't help but chuckle softly, tapping the table as she continued, "Besides, what matters more for you is the salary increase, right?"
"You're absolutely right," Luo Shu replied with blatant perfunctoriness. "So… what? You're planning to use this opportunity to establish some mutual-benefit arrangement with the local aristocrats?"
"Put that way, you're not wrong. But that's something to address after this incident is resolved."
At this point, Kirika sighed softly and glanced down at a report lying on her desk. "By local standards, that family—who've only ever produced a prefectural assemblyman—would typically need another twenty or thirty years to climb up to the level of a national assembly member before getting close to us. But the emergence of a sealed high-bloodline demon site this time around caught headquarters by surprise."
"Surprised by what?" Luo Shu asked curiously.
"I believe I explained the Abyss to you before, right?" Kirika sipped her tea calmly as she looked at him. "Headquarters suspects that a significant Abyss event once occurred in Chiba Prefecture, leading to the creation of the demon's sealed site. Although the details remain unclear for now, they plan to set up a subordinate office under the Tokyo Division after this operation ends."
"So that's why you're recruiting the local family?" Luo Shu understood instantly. In short, it was about leveraging local influence to help search for any hidden Abyss artifacts.
And as for why the Yukinoshita family had been chosen—well, that was partly Luo Shu's bad luck. They'd just happened to get involved due to the demon kidnapping incident, which exposed them to the supernatural world and revealed too many things they shouldn't have known.
Of course, there was another important reason: surveillance.
Given that the demon they were dealing with had body-snatching abilities, it was hard to say whether the Yukinoshita family had been compromised during the kidnapping incident.
For various reasons, it seemed the Yukinoshita family was being dragged into this dangerous world.
Thinking this far, Luo Shu frowned suspiciously. "So, the reason you're keeping me stationed here is for recruitment purposes?"
Kirika smiled. "No. It's to treat them nicely, behead them if necessary, and make them your loyal dogs."
"Wow. Your studies of Chinese culture aren't bad, but next time, try reading something besides gangster movies." Luo Shu nodded in evaluation, finally understanding Kirika's meaning.
"Once this operation's over, I'll handle it," he said.
"Good." Kirika nodded slightly, then added, "Be careful during this mission. Some things—Chisato and Takina will fight to the bitter end for them. But you, I think, won't."
Luo Shu looked at Kirika with a strange expression. "You mean if things get dangerous, I'll prioritize retreating with my teammates at the first sign of trouble?"
"If that's what you're referring to, then yes—that is my greatest strength."
In essence, Luo Shu was the type who worked for money. Without enough cash on the table, asking him to risk his life was simply unrealistic.
Kirika hadn't expected Luo Shu to treat that attitude as a strength. She was briefly stunned, but then covered her mouth and burst out laughing.
"Haha... You really are... well, I don't know what to say."
"In any case, while the demon's sealed for now and your task is just to transport it safely, the danger level remains high. Whether it's moving the demon or dealing with the hidden enemy watching from the shadows, it's risky."
"So I want you to keep a close eye on Chisato and Takina. Especially Takina. Don't let her do anything reckless. Chisato's too soft-hearted—she can't stand needless death or injuries."
"I got it," Luo Shu nodded, then added pointedly, "As long as you're willing to pay extra."
"Men who only talk about money tend to get unpopular, you know," Kirika grumbled, before saying, "But don't worry. I'll have a generous bonus prepared for you."
"Then it's all good." Luo Shu turned away, saying as he left, "I'll go make preparations."
"Go ahead."
Once their conversation ended, Luo Shu pushed open the door and stepped out of the conference room, where he saw Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue waiting in the hallway, fully geared up and ready to move.
Luo Shu glanced at them both, then waved his hand and said, "Takina, you're driving. Let's go. We're off to… persuade—no, I mean, invite the Kannagi heiress."
One hour later.
On a beach along the Bōsō Peninsula.
Their SUV emerged from the coastal road's curve and gradually slowed, pulling over to the roadside.
With a soft click, Luo Shu opened the door and stepped out first. He looked around briefly before his gaze fell upon a rock formation beside the beach, where he spotted his targets.
Ayano Kannagi and Kazemaki Ryuya were huddled around a small campfire, warming themselves.
Seeing the scene, Luo Shu couldn't help but ask in confusion, "What are you two… roasting sweet potatoes?"
"Huh?" Ayano blinked, turned to look at the fire, and suddenly thought that roasting sweet potatoes actually sounded pretty nice. Why hadn't she thought of that while waiting?
"Oh! Right, Ryuya-nii, why didn't we think of buying some sweet potatoes?"
Ryuya was dumbfounded. "But… Miss Ayano… now's not really the time to be eating sweet potatoes, is it? Weren't you here to settle some scores with someone?"
"Oh! Right!"
Ayano snapped back to reality, immediately stood up, dusted off her school uniform skirt, then turned around and flashed Luo Shu a smile sharp as a blade.
"Hey, you little con artist over there. Ready to die yet?"