"Covert organisations possessing special technologies."
"Sorcerers who awaken abilities but use them for illegal activities."
"And the 'Abyss Lifeforms' that suddenly descended upon this world with terrifying, destructive power."
"These are all our opponents - or perhaps more accurately, our research subjects would be a better term."
As she spoke, Kirika stirred her half-finished coffee with a spoon.
"What exactly are these covert organisations?" Luo Shu couldn't help asking curiously.
'Hmm,' thought the founder of the secret organisation Astronomy Club, maintaining high vigilance towards his 'peers'.
"Bunch of lunatics with extraordinary technology. Aside from some semi-official groups backed by various nations, the most notorious would be the increasingly active 'Truth Astronomy' in recent years, and the 'Golden Dawn' that caused multiple major incidents in modern Europe."
"Incidentally, Truth Astronomy particularly enjoys blood sacrifices. As demon worshippers, they commit crimes across nations, summoning all sorts of bizarre demons through blood rituals. Hence, their consistently high threat level as a key transnational criminal organisation to guard against."
"Compared to them, Golden Dawn is actually more moderate. However, since their goal seems to be collecting all the world's mysteries, they have an extraordinary craving for peculiar abilities and technologies. For sorcerers who encounter them, the best outcome is getting blood drawn for research. Well, you can imagine them as an organisation made up of mad scientists."
"Of course, in Japan itself, there are some strange religions that have caused disturbances using miraculously obtained artefacts. But since the Metropolitan Police Department suppresses information about those cults, I actually know very little."
After Kirika Tachibana finished explaining, Luo Shu made a wry face:
"Aren't you subordinates of the Metropolitan Police Department?"
"That's a bit complicated." Kirika Tachibana smiled charmingly at this point. "Which do you think holds more power in this country - the Metropolitan Police Department or the US military bases?"
This question left Luo Shu speechless: "So you're telling me you're..."
"Exactly. Getting funding from the Metropolitan Police Department while working for the US military - that's the job of the 7th Division, 'Special Materials Organisation'."
Kirika took a sip of coffee at this point, looking rather pleased with herself:
"The department's abbreviated as 'SDS'. Of course, you could understand our work as agents collecting mystical artefacts, though we don't actually pledge allegiance to this country's government."
"So under normal circumstances, department members are discouraged from forcibly interfering with the Metropolitan Police Department's routine work - we have to consider the son's self-esteem, after all. Of course, that's only if the gains from interfering aren't substantial."
Hearing this, Luo Shu's expression turned rather peculiar:
"Are you Japanese?"
"I used to be. Not anymore - I emigrated and got US citizenship ten years ago. What about you?"
"What a coincidence, neither am I. I'm Chinese." Luo Shu said calmly.
"Oh! No wonder."
Kirika pretended ignorance while smirking:
"So it seems neither of us has any moral qualms then?"
The implication being they could screw over Japanese officials without any moral pressure, given their different nationalities~
As for the US military, those guys never care about your allegiance. As long as you pay them, they'll pledge loyalty to you instead.
Being well-versed in such matters, Kirika naturally didn't explain this to Luo Shu. She wanted to see how long it would take this youngster to figure out the truth.
"True enough, though, wouldn't we get deported if we caused major trouble?" Luo Shu said half-jokingly.
Kirika responded in kind:
"No worries. After committing crimes, you can apply for military protection. Though the food there is terrible. If you want a side income for better meals, consider investing in their arms trade. With good luck, you might even earn your entire retirement fund in one go."
"..."
Hearing Kirika casually mention the US military's underground arms dealings made Luo Shu's face stiffen with speechlessness:
"With my nationality, there's no way I could participate in that kind of business with the military, right?"
"Huh?" Kirika seemed momentarily stunned.
Meanwhile, Mika at the counter calmly remarked:
"The dealers who handle business for the garrison forces, many share your nationality. Or rather, such trade has long been monopolised by them. Even departments like ours have to use their channels to acquire certain controlled items indirectly. They're apparently called the Fujian faction, those people."
Hearing Mika's words, Luo Shu - a native of Fujian himself - froze for a moment before sighing:
"This world truly is full of wonders."
'So my identity would actually be appropriate for an arms dealer in this world?'
After this internal quip, Luo Shu lowered his head to examine the contract before him and said:
"You've explained covert organisations to me, and I understand the situation with superpowered criminals. But what about these so-called Abyss Lifeforms that suddenly appeared in our world?"
To Luo Shu's surprise, Kirika Tachibana answered with just three words:
"Don't know. Or rather, even governments don't have a definitive answer, though there is an organisation that keeps spreading their theories."
Observing Luo Shu's visibly stunned expression, Kirika calmly stirred her empty coffee cup with a spoon, the clinking sounds accompanying her sigh:
"They believe the fundamental structure of our world consists of countless layers of the Abyss stacked upon each other, like a mille-feuille."
"They claim the deeper one descends into the Abyss, the more powerful and mystical things become."
"And somewhere in the extreme depths lies a world called 'Hell', bearing close resemblance to the underworlds described in Christian, Egyptian and Greek mythology."
"They believe this world exists in the Abyss's deepest reaches, where demons are immortal and possess the unique ability to travel between the Abyss's layers."
Hearing this, Luo Shu frowned: "That organisation... is it the Truth Astronomy you mentioned earlier?"
Kirika exhaled a smoke ring and confirmed:
"Correct. Truth Astronomy commits endless massacres, using living humans as blood sacrifices to summon such demons, establish connections with Hell, summon them, and ultimately replace them to become 'demons' themselves."
"That is Truth Astronomy's founding principle."
"To wield Demon Power through human means. Hence, their empowered members are generally called Demon Warlocks."
"So the Abyss truly exists?" Luo Shu couldn't help but frown at these claims.
"You're asking questions beyond our pay grade."
Kirika repeated her 'don't know':
"Last century, world governments dismissed Truth Astronomy as lunatics. But in recent decades, with increasingly frequent appearances of inexplicable creatures and artefacts, leaders have begun questioning their assumptions about the Abyss."
"Admittedly, there's some evidence suggesting these sudden appearances originate from different worlds. But due to information barriers between nations, no definitive proof has been presented yet."
"I see..."
Luo Shu murmured to himself.
Regarding the Abyss's existence, he was inclined to believe it. If nothing else, the giant rat that attacked him yesterday was clearly unnatural.
No ordinary rodent could be that vicious.
Yet his curiosity about the Abyss—and about Truth Astronomy's research into it—remained undiminished.
To gather their information and give his Astronomy Club an international flair, the SDS that Kirika Tachibana belonged to seemed to have considerable advantages.
Of course, the most important thing was not having to play the obedient subordinate under the Japanese... As for the Americans, who didn't know how to feign compliance while secretly defying orders?
And here's a joke: those who emigrated to Japan were looked down upon by their homeland, while those who emigrated to America, though also branded as traitors, somehow seemed a cut above those who went to Japan.
Perhaps it was because everyone harboured the thought that 'only America is our true rival'.
With such musings, Luo Shu paused and said:
"So, after telling me all this, it seems I couldn't really refuse from the start, could I?"
Kirika Tachibana smiled at this point and said, "Personally, I'd still prefer you to join without any reservations."
"Then your wish might just come true."
As soon as Luo Shu finished speaking, a pen was thrust before him.
"Hehe~"
Looking at Chisato Nishikigi's silly grin, Luo Shu smiled, thanked her, took the pen, and signed his name on the contract.
"Woo~~"
Seeing Luo Shu sign, Chisato Nishikigi clapped enthusiastically, then patted his shoulder and said:
"I'm Chisato Nishikigi. Looking forward to working with you, new partner~~"
"Luo Shu." Luo Shu extended his hand.
"Ah~~" Chisato Nishikigi suddenly realised, wiped her hand on the apron at her waist, then shook his hand.
"Excellent." Kirika Tachibana picked up the signed contract and, while reviewing it, said to Chisato Nishikigi:
"Chisato, show the newcomer around the branch and get him the necessary equipment."
"Sure, sure, sure~~"
Chisato Nishikigi nodded repeatedly, then beckoned to Luo Shu:
"Follow me."
Hearing this, Luo Shu glanced at Kirika Tachibana before standing up and following Chisato Nishikigi.
Watching the two enter the back kitchen, Mika at the counter couldn't help but laugh:
"Finally conned a sorcerer into joining."
"Calling it a con is too harsh. We merely omitted the minor detail that 'while our status is special, we've been established for less than two years, and talent recruitment has been blocked by the Metropolitan Police Department, leaving us short-staffed'."
Kirika Tachibana took another contract from her briefcase, quickly replicated Luo Shu's signature, then carefully filed away the original.
After finishing, she sighed:
"Who knows what abilities this kid has, but at least we've got our first sorcerer now."
"Shall we celebrate? Maybe throw a welcome party for the newcomer?" Mika asked with a smile.
"Not now. I need to register this kid's contract with the Metropolitan Police Department and the garrison. Next time. Call me if anything comes up."
"Take care then!"
With the creak of the door, Mika watched Kirika Tachibana's retreating figure and shook his head, muttering like an old man:
"Poor kid, working so hard..."