Standing behind Luo Shu was a professional-looking woman with her golden hair tied up in a bun.
The woman wore sunglasses and wasn't particularly tall, likely under 160cm, yet her black-stockinged legs appeared strikingly slender and straight with excellent proportions. Though her upper body curves were decent, her legs were undoubtedly the most beautiful feature.
"Staring at a woman like that upon first meeting could already constitute sexual harassment, you know?"
Faced with this remark from the woman before him, Luo Shu averted his gaze somewhat awkwardly.
Yet at that moment, she added:
"Has anyone ever told you? Your gaze is... excessively sharp."
"Apologies, no one's ever mentioned that before." Luo Shu turned slightly aside, preparing to step out of her way.
Just then, the woman adjusted her sunglasses, studying him briefly before saying:
"Aren't you going to return my wallet?"
"Er..." Luo Shu froze awkwardly, the wallet still in his hand.
"It should contain about 200,000 yen, along with my driver's licence under the name Kirika Tachibana. Oh, and two black credit cards, too."
Hearing this, Luo Shu pretended to just discover these items, checking the wallet to indeed find a driver's licence whose photo and name matched the woman before him.
Feeling both guilty and speechless, he shook his head before handing the wallet to Kirika Tachibana:
"My apologies, I didn't realise this was yours..."
Kirika took the wallet and casually extracted all the remaining cash, offering it to Luo Shu:
"Here, consider this a reward for returning it."
Luo Shu gave the cash-holding woman a peculiar look, half-wondering if they were in some host club's private room, with him being the ordered companion.
Before he could fully process this thought, Kirika smiled and continued:
"Surprised? Government regulations stipulate 10-20% of a lost item's value as the finder's reward. Though given this wallet's value, my cash reserves are insufficient. Will 200,000 yen suffice?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's principled refusal of unearned gains immediately weakened:
"As an ordinary student, I wouldn't dare violate regulations."
With that, he accepted the twenty 10,000-yen notes, briefly considered them, then stuffed them directly into his pocket.
When someone gives you an out, free money is free money.
Observing this, the golden-haired beauty maintained her smile while studying Luo Shu with a peculiar tone:
"Seems you're experiencing some financial difficulties lately?"
"I doubt anyone in this country dislikes banknotes," Luo Shu joked, voicing his genuine thoughts.
At this, Kirika's lips curved upwards as if hearing something pleasing:
"In that case, might I interest you in a lucrative job opportunity?"
"...Host?" Luo Shu eyed her again before tentatively asking.
"No, legitimate government work." Kirika emphasised: "Civil service jointly managed by the Metropolitan Police Department and US Forces Japan."
Hearing her phrasing about "official" work, Luo Shu couldn't suppress his scepticism, his expression turning peculiar:
"You're joking, right? Since when does the Metropolitan Police Department collaborate with US forces?"
Kirika Tachibana took off her sunglasses at this moment, placing one hand on her hip as she said:
"Under normal circumstances, of course not. But for someone like you, wouldn't it?"
"...So, have I done anything illegal?"
Seeing the other party show her true colours, Luo Shu, who had been wary ever since Kirika Tachibana mentioned the job offer, frowned.
"Not at all. Of course, if I hadn't seen it, I could have pretended nothing happened - but only for things before today."
Kirika Tachibana twirled her sunglasses in her hand, then continued in a light tone:
"And that's only if you become my subordinate."
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately understood the woman's implication. He froze momentarily before responding with a wry smile:
"Isn't this blatant blackmail?"
'Is this how you recruit subordinates?' Luo Shu wanted to criticise Kirika Tachibana's approach, but considering she was an official personnel, he didn't dare openly resist.
Of course, it was also because his system could consume points to instantly teleport him back to base that he had the confidence to probe further:
"How did you notice me?"
At Luo Shu's question, Kirika Tachibana raised her hand as if to touch his cheek.
He leaned back slightly in refusal.
Noticing this, Kirika stopped her movement and pointed at Luo Shu's eyes instead:
"A stinging sensation on the skin when being watched - that's proof of extraordinary mental energy, young man."
After saying this, Kirika took out a pack of women's cigarettes from her pocket, shook it, and pulled one out:
"You must be a newly awakened ability user, right? No training whatsoever, letting your mental energy radiate freely... To sorcerers, such traits are glaringly obvious - mistakes only beginners would make..."
"By the way, 'sorcerer' is our general term. The Onmyou Agency prefers calling themselves Onmyoji. In America, they're called espers, while in China, they're known as Taoist priests or mages."
"Want one?" Kirika lit a cigarette and offered the pack: "Made purely from Chinese herbs, helps stabilise mental energy. Though of course, don't overdo it."
"Sorry, I don't smoke."
Luo Shu blocked the offered cigarettes with his hand, looking thoroughly exasperated as he said:
"So? You stopped a newly awakened ability user like me just to recruit me?"
"Exactly." Kirika blew a smoke ring, her smile charming: "As I mentioned, I belong to a special department jointly managed by the Metropolitan Police Department and US Forces Japan. We're severely short-staffed recently, so how about giving this job a try?"
Here, Kirika added cheerfully:
"Monthly salary of 500,000 yen after tax, twice-yearly bonuses of 1.5 million yen each, one day off weekly, housing allowance and special leave included. Oh, and there's the consolation trip with female colleagues, too."
At the end, Kirika gave Luo Shu a suggestive wink, as if hinting at something.
Yet Luo Shu's reaction to this was rather peculiar.
'Just this afternoon, I was using all sorts of benefits to recruit Eriri, and now, after school, I'm being headhunted in a similar way by Kirika Tachibana. What is this, karma coming full circle?'
"And if I refuse?"
"Not great. You'd probably become a key surveillance target, required to report to the Metropolitan Police Department twice a week. They might try to recruit you with a high salary, but you know how workplace culture is in Japan..."
At this point, Kirika Tachibana said half-jokingly:
"Being exploited by a bunch of old male superiors or being exploited by a mature big sister like me – I think your preference would be quite obvious, wouldn't it?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu fell silent for a moment before reminding her: "We're discussing this here?"
"Oh?"
Kirika Tachibana gave Luo Shu a slightly surprised look, as if she hadn't expected him to be so perceptive:
"Fair point. Come with me."
She turned around, glancing sideways at Luo Shu:
"Perfect timing. There's a café I frequent nearby."