"Luo Shu-kun, do you prefer coffee or black tea?"
Mira Tsubakihara, dressed in homewear, busied herself before the tea cabinet. Her beautiful hair, simply tied back with a black ribbon into a ponytail, swayed enticingly behind her.
Yet Luo Shu currently had no mind to appreciate this. Instead, he glanced warily towards the direction of Room 301 next door, then at the balcony, his brows gradually furrowing.
"Is something wrong?"
Not hearing Luo Shu's reply, Mira turned around and gave him a puzzled look. Noticing him staring at the wall, she suddenly understood:
"Ah, my apologies!"
As if instantly comprehending, she clasped her hands together and stuck out her tongue apologetically:
"Because of today's incident, my grandfather was worried about me, so he arranged for some people to stay temporarily next door. You just saw them, didn't you?"
"Some people?"
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow at this, then tentatively asked:
"What kind of people are they?"
"They're security personnel from the American Thor Security Group, apparently a team specially trained to deal with... unique individuals."
At this, Mira sighed helplessly:
"My grandfather already wasn't comfortable with me living alone outside. He said he'd accidentally sold too many firearms, so he worried about my safety. After today's incident, he's become even more anxious."
As she turned back to fetch teacups, Mira quietly complained:
"Honestly, I've told him Japan is a country with strict gun control and low crime rates. There's no need to be as tense as we were in America, but he never listens."
Hearing this, Luo Shu recalled Mika's mention of the thriving arms trade with US forces stationed in Japan and suddenly nodded:
"No, I think your grandfather's concerns are completely justified."
'Miss Mira, have you forgotten about me - the one who just shot someone dead with a gun?'
'And you probably don't know about that elementary school detective who leaves corpses everywhere... just past Nerima-Ikebukuro Station lies the criminal capital of Beika Town...' Luo Shu couldn't help but mentally complain.
"Huh?" Seeing Luo Shu actually agreeing with her grandfather, Miss Mira visibly froze for a moment before bursting into laughter: "Luo Shu-kun, you're just like my grandfather - as wary as a cat."
Luo Shu considered this before explaining: "That's probably professional instinct."
From what Miss Mira said, her grandfather was likely an arms dealer. Such a person would undoubtedly know better than him exactly how many weapons were circulating in Japan.
For all he knew, the SIG P226 in his hand might have been produced and sold by her grandfather's company.
During this exchange, Mira took a tea canister from the cabinet. After opening it, she put on disposable gloves, measured some tea leaves into the pot, and complained:
"Since you took too long to answer, I chose black tea for you. I hope you don't mind?"
"Not at all, thank you." Luo Shu expressed his gratitude before sitting on the white fabric sofa and surveying the living room.
The living room was decorated very simply, with minimal furniture.
A projection screen on the wall, a white fabric sofa, the television projection equipment behind it, and the dining area adjoining the living room with the dining furniture.
The only unusual feature was probably the oil painting of Mira Tsubakihara herself placed beside the sofa.
Apart from the painting, everything else gave Luo Shu a strong sense of déjà vu.
After some thought, he realised the layout was actually identical to his own room, perhaps even more minimalist.
'Doesn't seem like a permanent residence...' Luo Shu mused silently as Mira Tsubakihara approached with a teacup.
Before setting down the teacup, Mira Tsubakana smiled and said, "I added a bit of brandy. Hope that's acceptable?"
"...Didn't you just add sugar?" Luo Shu blinked at Mira Tsubakihara. Drinking alcohol at his age was illegal in Japan, so some minor subterfuge was necessary.
Like ginger ale, or in this case, sugar.
Hearing this, Mira Tsubakihara paused, set down the teacup, and covered her mouth as she laughed: "Quite right, it was just sugar. I hope it's not overly sweet."
"Then please enjoy this sugar-sweetened tea at your leisure."
Listening to her teasing tone, Luo Shu calmly picked up the teacup, blew on it, and took a small sip.
The flavour was rich and mellow, with a subtle sweetness. Though he couldn't identify the specific tea leaves, having grown up in a tea-producing region, Luo Shu knew this was undoubtedly extremely expensive.
After a few sips, Luo Shu looked across at Mira Tsubakihara, who was smiling at him over her teacup, and finally said:
"Don't you have anything you want to ask?"
"No, before that, I should apologise." Mira Tsubakihara offered an apologetic smile, cradling her teacup. "Because of recent events, I had my family investigate your background."
"So, regarding your joining Chief Tachibana's SDS division just today... Well, though somewhat unethical, I've already seen the Metropolitan Police Department's internal files."
Of course, the main reason for such an investigation was to confirm Luo Shu's identity in order to deduce what kind of danger he might face at the Metropolitan Police Department.
Without this recently approved internal file, the previous Luo Shu would likely have been fished out by enthusiastic American military personnel.
'Having investigated to this extent, you probably even know the colour of my underwear, don't you?'
Hearing that Mira Tsubakihara had uncovered so much within just one hour of his detainment, Luo Shu strongly suspected that the power wielded by privileged heirs like her in modern society had surpassed supernatural abilities.
Oh wait—she literally had 'supernatural purchasing power'!
Seeing Mira Tsubakihara's candid communication, Luo Shu couldn't help but smile and ask:
"What were your thoughts after reading the file?"
"Eh, my thoughts?" Mira Tsubakihara was clearly taken aback by the unexpected question.
But noticing Luo Shu's amused expression, she quickly realised it was a joke and replied with a smile:
"If I had to say, it'd be something like 'I'll see you again soon.' And... well, feeling relieved too. Pretty ordinary thoughts, right?"
Luo Shu, who had been relatively composed, immediately stiffened upon hearing this.
'This is bad... exactly the type I can't handle...'
His expression turned slightly unnatural. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he deliberately steered the conversation back to business:
"Miss Tsubakihara, do you know why you're being tailed by those 'Hounds'?"
"This is what you really wanted to ask, isn't it?"
Mira Tsubakihara reached into her pocket and retrieved a gift box. Opening it, Luo Shu's eye caught a ruby-encrusted ring.
Simultaneously, within the ruby, a vertical pupil stared unblinkingly at Luo Shu.
It was the 'eye' of the Demon Heart.
Under that gaze, Luo Shu's expression subtly froze.