"When you say hypnosis... is it the kind of hypnosis I'm thinking of?"
Luo Shu looked uncertainly at Kirika sitting beside him.
'Amazing, there are such "wonderful" things,' he thought inwardly.
"Literal hypnosis. According to the intelligence, numerous female adult film stars in Europe have already filed police reports. It seems the hypnosis lifts when the user dies."
Luo Shu blinked at Kirika's words, then said with a strange expression:
"So it really is that kind of hypnosis... But from what you're saying, this item was smuggled in from abroad?"
"Correct." Kirika nodded slightly before explaining: "Although the Demon Hunter organisation is a branch of Golden Dawn, their operational logic matches their name - they're hunters who pursue demons."
"They're sworn enemies with those Demon Warlocks from Truth Astronomy."
"In this case, a Demon Warlock from Truth Astronomy entered the country carrying the 'Demon Heart', only to be severely wounded by a Seven-Star Demon Hunter who was tailing them. Before dying, the fleeing warlock used the artefact to hypnotise a passing woman and had her deliver the Demon Heart along with some other items."
Frowning, Luo Shu asked: "And the hypnotised woman is my neighbour?"
Kirika shook her head at this point:
"No, it was a female employee at your beautiful neighbour's jewellery shop. After obtaining the Demon Heart, she categorised and distributed all the items. The ruby ring was sold to the shop - meaning it ended up with your lovely neighbour, Ms. Tsubakihara."
"As for that Yuichi Nakamura you encountered, he was a hound sent by that Seven-Star Demon Hunter to retrieve the 'Demon Heart' - a three-year veteran. If you hadn't scared him off with your police act, dealing with him wouldn't have been so easy."
At this point, Kirika seemed amused.
After all, members of such criminal organisations inevitably had blood on their hands - most were hardened killers whose minimum sentence would be death.
Because of this background, these operatives generally avoided attracting police attention when crossing borders, steering clear of officials whenever possible.... This time, things turned out well—Luo Shu, who didn't follow the usual script and just opened fire directly, ended up taking them out.
Truly a humiliating way to die.
After listening to Kirika Tachibana's explanation, Luo Shu scoffed and chuckled wryly:
"So it was all just an accident? By the way, how did you get this intel? Did someone manage to infiltrate the enemy's upper ranks?"
Hearing this, Kirika Tachibana flashed a meaningful smile. "Information isn't something you can only get from the living."
"Messages extracted from Yuichi Nakamura's corpse... no, his brain, then..."
Luo Shu immediately understood how Kirika had pieced things together. So the SDS had someone with that kind of ability? Or was it an Abyss Artefact?
"So, is that hypnotic 'Demon Heart' currently in Miss Tsubakihara's possession?"
"No. At most, we can say it passed through her hands. As for its exact whereabouts, even the lady herself isn't sure."
Kirika shook her head, then added as if reminding him:
"All mystical artefacts in this world—or more accurately, 'Abyss Artefacts' that have come to our world from the Abyss—have side effects to some degree."
"For example, my 'Lucky Wallet' has the negative effect of 'getting lost at any time' and actively choosing 'a luckier owner.'"
"The more powerful an Abyss Artefact is, the stronger and more concealed its side effects become. So some Abyss Artefacts are inherently extremely dangerous. Without proper research and testing, it's best not to use them."
After giving Luo Shu a crash course on Abyss Artefact traits, Kirika explained:
"Following this rule, the Demon Heart naturally has its own side effects. One of the proven ones is that 'once a woman obtains it, unless she's already hypnotised, she will forget its existence.'"
"Heh. Just like its sinister function, this thing seems unwilling to be used by anyone other than men—and it's very good at hiding itself. It almost makes you wonder if it has a will of its own."
Hearing this, Luo Shu suddenly understood, then frowned as he stared at the car's windshield.
"So you're saying Mira Tsubakihara obtained the 'Demon Heart' but forgot about it, which is why she's unaware of the current situation?"
"Exactly." Kirika turned the ignition, and as the engine hummed to life, she said in a suggestive tone, "Which means you've got a mission now, boy~"
"The mission is to retrieve the Demon Heart? But why not just detain her and conduct a direct search?" Luo Shu's voice was full of doubt—after all, that would be the simplest solution.
In response, Kirika drove calmly and said:
"Her father is a Tokyo assemblyman, her uncle is a high-ranking civil servant, and her mother comes from an American conglomerate. Understood?"
"Understood."
Luo Shu instantly grasped the implication—this was a 'second-generation' who couldn't be handled roughly.
At this thought, he shook his head and grinned.
"But if you send me after that thing, aren't you worried I might pocket it for myself?"
"Pocket it if you want. I don't care—just don't use the hypnosis on our own people."
Kirika pressed the accelerator, her tone playful as she added:
"Rather than letting those fools at the Metropolitan Police Department take it, or having the stationed troops sell it off for profit or pleasure, it's better to leave it in your hands. After all, if you obtain this thing, won't I also be able to benefit from its advantages?"
"Of course, this item is somewhat dangerous after all, so necessary testing is required. Nobody wants to be screwed over by some inexplicable side effects."
Hearing this, Luo Shu couldn't help but express surprise:
"Can department personnel really intercept such a dangerous Abyss Artefact? No need to hand it over?"
It wasn't that Luo Shu wanted to ask unnecessarily, but if an official organisation like SDS could intercept Abyss Artefacts, the implications were quite concerning.
Was SDS really an official organisation, or just a front using an official name to benefit certain individuals?
"Of course not. Chisato has an Abyss Artefact herself, and I didn't make her hand it over either. Besides, once something is in our department's possession, as long as it's used 'within the department', who uses it makes no difference."
"As for the higher-ups, why should I care about them? A bunch of useless trash."
At this point, Kirika Tachibana picked up a pair of sunglasses nearby and put them on with a flourish, saying nonchalantly:
"Compared to that, what worries me more is that currently elusive 'Seven-Star Demon Hunter'. Tch, a high-ranking member of such a secretive organisation to infiltrate Tokyo, and those bastards at the Metropolitan Police Department didn't even bother filing a report. Truly a bunch of good-for-nothings."
Hearing this, Luo Shu couldn't resist teasing: "Is it really appropriate for me to hear about the infighting among the upper-level Celestial Dragons?"
Kirika Tachibana immediately replied with mischievous delight:
"Of course it is! After all, if you obtain the 'Demon Heart', I can totally introduce you to the wives of those 'Celestial Dragons'~"
"With your looks combined with that Demon Heart, wouldn't you be able to get anything you want just by moving your hips?"
"...You." Luo Shu was utterly speechless at the 'moving your hips' comment. Did he look like some lecherous Cao Cao type? Absolutely not.
Luo Shu sighed and stopped bantering with Kirika Tachibana, instead asking:
"What about my neighbour?"
"Released. Don't worry, Chisato just asked her some questions about what she knew. Nothing will happen to her. Don't you trust Chisato?"
"Chisato... Well, there's certainly no concern there."
Luo Shu shook his head, then said uncertainly:
"But speaking of which, I can't guarantee I'll actually obtain that thing. Besides, isn't there still a Seven-Star Demon Hunter after it? Are you sure about releasing her... Wait, you're not planning to use me and Ms. Tsubakihara as bait, are you?"
"Overthinking it." Kirika Tachibana scoffed, then said: "This afternoon, the Metropolitan Police Department already contacted the Onmyou Agency to mobilise."
"By my estimate, they might have already engaged by now."
"As for your other concerns, this time I only publicly announced the accidental discovery of the 'Hounds'. I didn't provide any intelligence about the Demon Heart."
"Nobody's that stupid. Did you really think I'd let go of something already in my grasp?"
"Is that so?" Luo Shu suddenly understood, then sighed in relief: "That's truly for the best."
If there were a high-ranking member of a mysterious organisation lurking in the shadows, watching his every move, Luo Shu would naturally feel tense.
'Oh, wait, I'm also a high-ranking member of a secret organisation? Never mind then.'
Just as Luo Shu was joking to ease his nerves, Kirika Tachibana gently pressed the brakes and glanced at the brightly lit apartment in the distance, saying in a suggestive tone:
"Hope you sleep well tonight."
"You're overthinking it." Luo Shu grabbed his belongings and got out of the car, slamming the door shut with a thud.
As Luo Shu walked past the front of the car, Kirika flashed the headlights and added:
"Remember to stay in touch at all times. And don't forget to find that thing quickly – preferably bring it when you report to Café LycoReco the day after tomorrow."
"Got it."
Luo Shu waved dismissively without turning around, then took a few steps forward before squelching – he seemed to have stepped on something.
"What's this?"
Looking down, Luo Shu saw a deep red wallet. He froze for a moment, then turned his head just in time to see Kirika's car driving away with a roaring engine.
Watching the white car disappear into the distance, Luo Shu stared blankly at the wallet in his hand and murmured:
"How did this thing... fall out..."