Outside the office.
Stepping out of the car, Sharon tilted her head slightly to gaze at the blue-and-white signboard—a symbol of order.
She studied the modest two-story building at the end of the street, clearly shared with residential spaces, and couldn't help but smile:
"My, my. Seems they've cleared out all the officers on duty."
"Facing someone as dangerous as you, keeping them here would only lead to unnecessary casualties."
Dressed in a crisp black suit, Shirō Magi held a cigarette between his lips, his expression eerily composed as he regarded the golden-haired nun before him.
Strangely, now that he stood face-to-face with this monster, his earlier panic and tension had vanished entirely.
"Come inside."
Shirō flicked away the barely-smoked cigarette, crushing it underfoot without a care for the environment. Then, turning his back to Sharon, he added:
"Rest assured, there are no traps inside. A small street-side police office like this doesn't even have the space to set up any."
"Besides, even if there were traps, they probably couldn't contain a monster of your calibre."
As he spoke, he took the lead and entered the police office's lobby, showing no hesitation about having Sharon at his back, as if completely unconcerned that she might attack.
Meanwhile, Sharon glanced at his retreating figure and revealed a nun's compassionate smile:
"A man resigned to death? Quite the brave soul."
'Are you really going in?'
The real Sharon inquired within their shared consciousness.
Because Luo Shu's mind and soul were controlling her body, Sharon could also see through his Hyper Intuition perspective:
White spots representing danger were converging from all directions, likely because their failed breakout earlier had prompted the authorities to deploy stronger forces to surround them.
'Given their current formation, the commander inside this police office must hold considerable status. If we kill them, it's not impossible that the higher-ups authorise missile strikes within city limits.'
'I recommend immediately taking hostages inside to facilitate our escape, at least ensuring we safely cross this nation's borders.'
Hearing Sharon's suggestion, Luo Shu maintained his unchanged smile:
"No need to worry. Letting them slowly encircle us will make things more interesting."
At these words, Sharon paused momentarily before remembering that with Luo Shu's abilities, his chances of safely escaping while controlling her body were extremely high.
Though somewhat embarrassing to admit.
Sharon strongly suspected her own control over her body might not even reach one-tenth of Luo Shu's proficiency.
Sharon knew perfectly well that without various Abyss Artefacts, she could handle a fully armed 54-member tactical squad through complex terrain.
Yet Luo Shu was someone who could confront a tactical squad head-on in open plains and annihilate them.
Convinced by this disparity in capability, Sharon voiced no objections to Luo Shu's plan.
However, the next second, Sharon heard Luo Shu's amused voice:
"After all, if we really die, it won't be me dying, will it?"
Hearing this, Sharon's previously tolerable mood instantly darkened.
Indeed, the one who crushed the special ops team, shot down artillery shells mid-air, stormed the police office and targeted Metropolitan Police Department leadership was Sharon.
In everyone's eyes, the one who openly defeated official forces was Sharon Holygrail, the Seven-Star Demon Hunter from the secretive Demon Hunter organisation - herself, not Luo Shu.
After struggling to compose herself until Luo Shu was nearly at the office door, Sharon finally sighed and said internally:
'Your personality is far more malicious than I imagined.'
This much, Sharon had already glimpsed from their first encounter, when he'd concealed their confrontation details from SDS.
Now was merely another confirmation.
Confirmation that the man she'd encountered, the one belonging to SDS, was the same presence now hidden within her, remotely controlling her to single-handedly defeat an infantry battalion.
'If going through such lengths to rescue me was just to watch me die, then please make it quick when the time comes, to minimise my suffering.'
"If the opportunity arises, I will."
Luo Shu wasn't surprised Sharon could discern his ulterior motives towards her.
In the adult world, there is ultimately no such thing as unconditional goodwill.
Sharon's awareness that there's no free lunch actually made Luo Shu's job a little easier.
After all, Luo Shu didn't want someone stupid working under him.
Following Shirō Magi's lead, Luo Shu arrived at the office he'd visited earlier and walked through the door.
Inside, the first thing that caught his eye was three long tables that had been temporarily pushed together to form one large surface.
On it sat several laptops, surveillance equipment, and used tea sets, among other things.
Opposite the table sat a woman in her mid-twenties wearing an expensive white suit with flesh-coloured stockings, her orange hair cut short.
She looked up as Sharon entered, her eyes filled with gravity as they met Sharon's.
"Sharon Holygrail?"
"Ryōko Yakushiji."
Sharon gave Ryōko Yakushiji a once-over before breaking into a mocking smile:
"Aren't you going to show off that young lady arrogance of yours?"
"..." At these words, Ryōko's pupils contracted slightly, her teeth gritting silently.
She took a deep breath before letting out a defeated sigh:
"What's your price to let me go?"
"What do you think?"
Smiling, Sharon magically produced a pistol from her hand and aimed it at Ryōko.
Ryōko fell silent.
Then Sharon deliberately asked: "Not going to put on your spoiled rich girl act?"
To this, Ryōko responded with surprise: "...Would you throw a tantrum at a terrorist?"
Bang!
The gunshot rang out.
Shirō Magi opened his mouth beside them, but remembering his own circumstances, said nothing.
Ryōko clutched her bleeding right shoulder, eyes blazing with hatred as she glared at Sharon, as if wishing she could kill her.
Sharon responded with a kindly smile: "I need a car. One that can get me out safely."
"Also..."
She casually tossed over a pill, her tone light with amusement:
"To stop you playing tricks, swallow this."
"Just this small price for your life. I'm being kind, aren't I?"
Ryōko glanced at the pill. She didn't want to answer, but seeing Sharon's gun, she nodded:
"...You're very kind indeed."
At this, Sharon's face lit up with a charming smile as she pointed the gun at Ryōko's head:
"Good. Then for kind little me, be a dear and take it~"