After the contract was signed, Luo Shu looked at Mira, who had now become his 'accomplice', and smiled faintly:
"Before helping you awaken your ability, would you mind changing locations?"
"Oh? Of course." Mira Tsubakihara blinked in surprise before standing up and looking at Luo Shu, who had also risen.
Under her gaze, Luo Shu walked towards his study.
Reaching the door, he grasped the handle, turned it downward to unlock it, but instead of pushing it open, he repeated the unlocking action twice more.
Seeing this, Mira Tsubakihara frowned and stepped forward curiously: "Is the door broken?"
"No, it's just the necessary 'unlocking' procedure to enter the base."
As he spoke, Luo Shu pushed the door open and entered.
Puzzled by Luo Shu's so-called 'unlocking', Mira Tsubakihara stepped into the room.
Upon entering, she froze at the sight of the enormous hall before her, quickly turning back to look at the room behind her.
When she saw it was still Luo Shu's living room, she turned back, dumbfounded:
"The study... is this big?"
Since when did this apartment have such a massive hall? As the 'landlord', how could she not know?
"That's why I called it a 'base'."
Luo Shu spoke while snapping his fingers. Instantly, a mahogany long table and two birch-backed chairs appeared in the empty hall.
He stepped forward, pulled out a chair, then walked around to sit on the opposite side of the table:
"One of the entrances to this dimensional space is my study. Turn the doorknob three times to open it, though this function is limited to organisation members."
Without such restrictions, others might use this method to enter the headquarters.
While Luo Shu trusted the integrity of the current members and knew they wouldn't leak secrets, taking necessary precautions was still essential.
"Have a seat."
Hearing this, Mira Tsubakihara closed the door. After curiously surveying the enormous living room and glancing at the nearby sofa and fridge, she walked over and sat across from Luo Shu.
Noticing her inspection, Luo Shu explained with a smile:
"Apologies. As a newly established organisation, we're rather lacking in amenities here."
"Understood, understood." Mira nodded, then studied Luo Shu's face before asking curiously, "How should we proceed with ability awakening?"
"Just stay seated. It'll be over soon."
As he spoke, Luo Shu mentally activated the system and approved the previously signed contract.
The system responded instantly, initiating the awakening simultaneously with the contract's approval.
[Request received. Energy collection device activated. Bestowal Ritual initiated.]
The intricate ritual array Luo Shu had seen twice before rose up.
For Mira Tsubakihara, witnessing it for the first time, everything seemed utterly miraculous, leaving her slightly agape with a dazed, endearingly naive expression.
[Congratulations, host's Familia 'Mira Tsubakihara' has awakened the Common Rank ability 'Enhanced Comprehension'.]
Frowning at the notification, Luo Shu continued to ponder this ability when another alert appeared.
[Congratulations, host's Familia 'Mira Tsubakihara' has awakened the Common Rank ability 'Dexterous Hands'.]
This gave Luo Shu pause. He immediately queried the system:
'Can multiple abilities awaken during initial awakening?'
[Answer: If a Familia member possesses potential in a specific ability direction but lacks sufficient potential for full manifestation, ability degradation and splitting may occur.]
Reading the explanation, Luo Shu looked astonished. How should one interpret this situation?
You have talent in this area, but not quite enough?
Was this fortune or misfortune?
'What is Miss Mira's talent inclination?'
[Answer: Elite Rank ability 'Alchemy', composed of the combined Elite Rank abilities 'Deconstruction', 'Artificer', and 'Scholar'.]
[Current Familia member 'Mira Tsubakihara' lacks 'Analysis'-oriented talent. Suggested purchase: Common Rank material 'Observer's Dust' to acquire this aptitude.]
"The subordinate ability of Alchemy lacks analytical talent..."
Luo Shu read this content with an extremely peculiar expression as he gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, who looked completely oblivious.
'So I randomly rescue someone who turns out to be a main character, and she actually has alchemist talents too?'
'Are the heroines really this favoured? Is the Goddess of Fate a lesbian or something?'
Meanwhile, after the ritual's completion, Mira Tsubakihara reopened her eyes, feeling as though everything in her vision had somehow changed.
"Somehow... the world feels different now."
Hearing this, Luo Shu's lips curled into a smile as he explained:
"According to convention, after ability awakening, the body evolves to match the ability within 1-3 days. So don't worry about physical changes - what you're experiencing is normal."
"I understand, oh divine one." Mira Tsubakihara flashed Luo Shu a mischievous grin. "Thank you for your explanation."
"Necessary knowledge transmission after joining a Familia, huh..." Luo Shu couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless in the face of Mira's teasing.
'What kind of deity am I at this level? If anything, I'd barely qualify as one of Japan's eight million minor spirits. It's downright embarrassing to say out loud.'
'Though as banter between me and a beautiful girl, it's not so bad...' Luo Shu mentally added.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, host, on acquiring a new Familia member. Reward: 10,000 points. Monthly point income increased to 3,000 points.]
Seeing the system notification, Luo Shu felt slightly better. He looked up at Mira Tsubakihara and asked:
"What's your current understanding of your abilities?"
"Are you referring to the subordinate abilities of Alchemy?" Mira looked momentarily confused before recalling the necessary Familia knowledge. "About my lacking 'Analytical' talent?"
"Exactly."
As he spoke, Luo Shu exchanged system points for 'Observer's Dust' and materialised a glass container in their base:
"This is Observer's Dust - material for acquiring analytical talent. Don't refuse it. Consider this my investment in you."
Fortunately, Observer's Dust wasn't expensive - just 1,000 points for a Common Rank 'Observation' ability. Having just gained 10,000 points from Mira, Luo Shu could easily spare this investment.
Moreover, from previously acquired items like the Demon Heart and Lucky Wallet, it was clear how crucial an alchemist was to any organisation.
They represented the core figure capable of elevating a secret society's utilisation and exploration of Abyss Artefacts from 'primitive state' to 'industrial age'.
So, although it might seem unfair to Utaha and Eriri, Luo Shu willingly spent resources to ensure Mira could supplement her ability talents.
If it weren't for his current points balance being only 16,983, Luo Shu would have genuinely liked to test what benefits might arise from elevating Mira Tsubakihara's three abilities to 'Elite' level.
But with insufficient points, Luo Shu could only abandon this notion.
"Consider it an investment then?"
Mira Tsubakihara murmured to herself before smiling at Luo Shu:
"As a divine attendant serving the gods, I suppose I'll have to accept Luo Shu-kun's investment~~"