Faced with Mira Tsubakihara's lethal question, Luo Shu's expression stiffened.
He was too embarrassed to explain the ring's ability to Mira Tsubakihara, nor did he want to fabricate lies to deceive others in this situation.
This resulted in Luo Shu currently wearing an extremely awkward expression.
Sitting opposite him, Mira Tsubakihara seemed to notice Luo Shu's discomfort. After glancing at him, she said quietly:
"If it's some confidential matter that can't be disclosed, please forget what I just said."
"...It's not exactly confidential information that can't be mentioned."
Although he did harbour some morally questionable thoughts, the current Luo Shu wasn't so controlled by his lower half.
After a brief silence, he carefully phrased his words:
"This ring that calls itself 'Demon Heart' in your presence was the possession of a certain member from the transnational criminal organisation 'Truth Astronomy'."
"Its function is mental control targeting women... um, the specifics, I think you can probably understand..."
Hearing Luo Shu's explanation, Miss Mira, opposite him, blinked, her expression seeming to freeze for a moment.
"You mean..." After collecting herself, Mira Tsubakihara subconsciously shifted her body away from the box on the table.
Luo Shu, now resigned to the situation, nodded directly:
"Yes, its function is 'hypnosis', and it's particularly vile hypnosis targeting women."
"According to intelligence from Chief Kirika Tachibana, many European adult film stars fell victim to this ring's previous owner."
After listening to Luo Shu's explanation, Mira Tsubakihara clutched the sofa cushion, then looked at Luo Shu somewhat nervously:
"...Luo Shu-kun, you wouldn't use such a vile ring on me, would you?"
"What do you think?" Luo Shu rolled his eyes at this question.
'I kindly explain this ring's ability to you so you can be cautious, and this is how you repay me? Worrying I'd use it?'
'Do you want me to make you a mother in ten months? With twins, no less?'
"My apologies, I didn't mean to doubt you. It's just this ring... well, its ability is rather terrible. If possible, please do everything you can to seal it away."
Mira Tsubakihara made this request to Luo Shu with utmost sincerity.
"...I will."
Though somewhat guilty, Luo Shu made a man's promise at this moment.
At least now he could guarantee he'd never use it on Miss Mira.
Meanwhile, Mira Tsubakihara uneasily grabbed a nearby white cushion, hugging it tightly. After taking several deep breaths, she seemed to remember something and turned to remind Luo Shu:
"If possible, please don't hand this ring over to the Zeus Industrial Group behind Chief Tachibana."
"Hmm?" Luo Shu was momentarily stunned by these words, then hesitated as he looked at Mira Tsubakihara, seemingly unsure whether to ask.
Noticing Luo Shu's dilemma, Mira Tsubakana explained:
"I've heard from my family that Chief Tachibana is very close to a female executive from Zeus Industrial Group. They were apparently university classmates."
"And because Zeus Industrial Group is extremely keen on collecting these Abyss Artefacts for research to develop more powerful 'military equipment', SDS was established in Japan under the impetus of that executive and Chief Tachibana to gather Abyss Artefacts."
"So it's best not to submit this 'Demon Heart' to Chief Tachibana."
At this point, Mira Tsubakihara added very seriously:
"To protect innocent women from being harmed."
Before Luo Shu could react, she continued:
"By the way, if my family contacts you later, please keep the ring's existence secret from them too."
Mira Tsubakihara's face showed helplessness as she said this:
"My family shares similar intentions with Zeus Industrial Group. Or rather, all six major arms conglomerates in America view these Abyss Artefacts the same way."
'So Kirika Tachibana's backer is the so-called Zeus Industrial Group? One of America's six major arms conglomerates? No wonder she can command stationed troops and ignore the Japanese government - she's literally working for daddy's masters...' Luo Shu inwardly grumbled.
Before transmigrating, he knew American arms conglomerates were notoriously unscrupulous, but even in this world, they remained just as wild, remotely controlling secret organisations like this. No wonder their influence was so strong.
'But Miss Mira has arms conglomerate connections too... No wonder Kirika Tsubakihara doesn't dare act recklessly, yet still urges me to secure the Demon Heart first - worried her rivals might research it first?'
While thinking this, Luo Shu verbally assured:
"Don't worry, I won't let anyone else touch this."
'I'll just make a fake with system points... that much I can handle... After all, I am technically a secret organisation leader... albeit a very watered-down one...' Luo Shu silently contacted his system.
Learning that counterfeiting only costs 300 points as a 'friendship price', he felt reassured.
Incidentally, Luo Shu had the system appraise both the Demon Heart and Lucky Wallet earlier. The Heart required 60,000 points to replicate, while the Wallet needed 80,000 - figures that made his heart clench.
"Including my family?" Mira Tsubakihara deliberately reminded.
"Of course, including." Luo Shu agreed, though inwardly wondering why she emphasised this. Did she expect him to give special treatment to her family?
'You might be overestimating your influence on me...' Though tempted to say this aloud, Luo Shu wasn't foolish enough to be that blunt.
Seeing Luo Shu's 'agreement', Mira Tsubakihara briefly smiled before quickly composing herself.
At this moment, Luo Shu, whose mind was preoccupied with why these two Abyss Artefacts were so expensive, pretended to remember something suddenly. He took out his phone and glanced at the time.
The screen displayed 9:15. Seeing this, Luo Shu finished the remaining black tea, put away the box containing the Demon Heart on the table, and stood up, making his intentions clear:
"It's getting quite late. Should I take my leave now?"
He asked Mira Tsubakihara, testing her reaction.
Mira hurriedly checked her phone and exclaimed in surprise:
"Ah, it's almost bedtime already?" Seeing the time on the screen, she immediately stood up. "Let me see you out."
"No need, I'm just next door."
Luo Shu pointed at the wall of room 303, while mentally adding: 'A young lady with healthy sleeping habits? Points for that... Unlike me, who can never stick to a schedule.'
Hearing this, Mira realised Luo Shu lived right next to her, close enough to see each other by just leaning out on the balcony. She couldn't help but smile:
"That's right, you're just next door."
As she spoke, Mira took out her phone, opened the LINE app, and waved it playfully at Luo Shu with a sweet smile.
"Oh? Oh!"
Luo Shu immediately understood, and the two exchanged LINE IDs.
After changing into his shoes at the genkan and stepping out, Luo Shu turned back to look at Mira, who was holding the door half-open.
"See you tomorrow, Luo Shu-kun," Mira waved and said with a smile.
"See you tomorrow, Miss Mira."
As the door closed, Luo Shu walked thoughtfully towards his own room. He needed to investigate what exactly these two uninvited Abyss Artefacts were.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Mira leaned against the door, staring at the entry steps as she murmured:
"A full eight years younger than me..."
Mira sighed.