Staring at the 'Property Transfer Agreement' on the table, Luo Shu froze momentarily before looking up at Mira Tsubakihara.
"It might seem a bit utilitarian, but for me, if just one house can secure Luo Shu-kun's protection nearby, it's a very worthwhile trade."
Mira Tsubakihara smiled as she pushed the agreement forward, emphasising that this gift was a 'transaction for security services'.
Hearing her words, Luo Shu could only laugh wryly:
"I don't recall any company charging the price of a house for a single security job."
This was a house near Ikebukuro Station in Nerima Ward. Three years ago, it would have cost over 50 million yen. Although property prices in Japan fluctuate minimally, due to its proximity to Beika Town, prices have risen considerably recently.
Luo Shu roughly estimated that 60 million yen would be an easily achievable selling price. Converted to this world's exchange rate of yen to Chinese yuan, it amounted to just over 3.6 million yuan.
Saving someone once in exchange for 3 million yuan plus a 60,000-point Abyss Artefact—even robbing a bank might not yield returns this fast.
After a moment's thought, Luo Shu glanced at the agreement and pushed it back:
"I already received payment yesterday, so please take this back."
Mira Tsubakihara seemed to have anticipated Luo Shu's refusal and replied with a smile:
"As I just mentioned, the house is a gift in exchange for Luo Shu-kun continuing to live here."
"If you feel this is too unfair, how about setting the term at one year?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu finally grasped Mira Tsubakihara's intention.
This wasn't gratitude for yesterday's life-saving act, but rather to keep him living here longer?
Young lady, your motives seem a little impure, don't they?
Luo Shu gave Mira Tsubakihara a meaningful look, inwardly convinced there was a high probability she had ulterior motives.
But for the arms conglomerate's young mistress, money was certainly never in short supply. The probability of her scheming for wealth was pitifully low, so... was she after the person?
'If she really made it clear she was pursuing me, I probably wouldn't last three days.' Luo Shu couldn't help but grumble internally.
Yet Luo Shu also understood that thoughts like 'she likes me' were fine when kept to oneself, but saying them aloud would only work if the affection was mutual. Otherwise, it would be a complete disaster.
"If one year isn't possible, then half a year would do too."
Seeing Luo Shu remain silent for so long, Mira Tsubakihara took a step back and added:
"Because of yesterday's incident, my family is pressuring me to move back home. For the sake of this poor sheltered young lady's freedom, couldn't Luo Shu-kun make a small sacrifice?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's eyebrow twitched. Though Mira Tsubakihara hadn't realised it, Luo Shu knew full well that if she returned to her more heavily guarded family home, his plans to recruit new members would be completely ruined.
'Feels risky to lay all my cards on the table like this, but getting a free house would make me uneasy too. I don't want to be accused of being a freeloader...'
After some internal deliberation, Luo Shu sighed and reached out to take the agreement Mira had placed on the table.
Seeing Luo Shu accept, Mira seemed to exhale in relief, a faint smile appearing on her delicately made-up face.
"In my hometown, there's an old saying: 'Courtesy demands reciprocity.'"
As he spoke, Luo Shu unceremoniously materialised a contract out of thin air, then addressed the astonished Mira:
"What I'm about to say next, I hope Miss Mira won't share with anyone, including your parents."
"I understand."
Seeing Luo Shu's serious expression, Mira immediately straightened her posture and nodded solemnly.
"This is the contract for the secret organisation I founded - the 'Astronomy Club.'"
Luo Shu handed the contract over, placing it before Mira as he continued:
"I imagine Miss Mira must have investigated the organisation those hounds from yesterday belonged to. In that case, you should know how secret societies and even religions in Japan typically get their start, correct?"
"I know a little. It seems they obtain Abyss Artefacts capable of granting supernatural powers... Hm?"
At this point, Mira suddenly realised something. She glanced down at the contract, then back up at Luo Shu, clearly grasping what he was implying.
Rather than refute her assumption, Luo Shu nodded in confirmation:
"Signing this contract will awaken your own 'supernatural ability.'"
He then added:
"The Astronomy Club has no connection to the SDS - it's purely my personal organisation. Don't laugh, but currently there are only three members, including myself."
As Luo Shu fell silent, the decision now rested entirely with Mira Tsubakihara.
An organisation of just three people was considered highly unreliable even among secret societies. Many such groups that accidentally obtained Abyss Artefacts and began growing would be swallowed up by larger organisations as mere 'snacks.'
In the best-case scenario, both personnel and artefacts would be absorbed. In worse scenarios, only the artefacts would be taken, while the personnel were... silenced.
Mira Tsubakihara, who had some understanding of secret organisations, knew very well that there was no need to join such a small group—at least not for someone with her background.
However, sometimes what determines whether something should be done isn't logic, but emotion.
After a brief silence, Mira Tsubakihara maintained her smile and asked calmly:
"Have you researched the side effects of the Abyss Artefact that grants abilities, Luo Shu?"
Side effects? Luo Shu understood that the side effect of the system's Familia subsystem was the inability to betray him, binding members closely to him. But considering this restriction wasn't suitable to state outright, he packaged it slightly:
"The side effect is that after signing the contract, one cannot betray the organisation or actively harm its members. Additionally, members will form familial bonds akin to blood relations."
"Of course, the organisation won't force recruits to undertake missions, let alone suicidal ones, so in a sense, our 'Abyss Artefact' is quite high-end."
After saying this, Luo Shu stared directly at Mira Tsubakihara, raising his right hand to make the ruby ring on his finger more visible to her.
"Therefore, this matter concerns my life. If Miss Mira decides to refuse, I'll have to break yesterday's agreement and use the 'Demon Heart' to hypnotise you into forgetting this."
Faced with Luo Shu's threat, Mira Tsubakihara instead asked curiously:
"Just making me forget? Not planning to do anything else?"
'Ah...'
Luo Shu was momentarily stunned by the counter-question.
Before he could react, Mira Tsubakihara took out a pen and, as if prepared all along, signed her name on the contract.
After signing, the beautiful woman smiled brightly at Luo Shu and said:
"Now, we're accomplices."
Hearing this, Luo Shu fell silent for a moment before giving a helpless smile:
"You're right, Miss Mira."
"We're accomplices now."