After 10 pm.
The izakaya didn't quiet down - instead, the atmosphere grew livelier.
Under the watchful eyes of salarymen enjoying their skewers in small groups, Luo Shu and Chisato Nishikigi each grabbed one of Mizuki Nakahara's arms and dragged the drunk woman out of the izakaya.
Though dragging Mizuki wasn't particularly strenuous, Chisato still complained:
"Mizuki, have you gained weight? You feel much heavier than before."
"Shut up, you brat! You never tell a woman she's fat!"
Mizuki Nakahara reached out and pinched Luo Shu's left cheek hard, only to pause in surprise when she couldn't squeeze it properly.
"That's strange, Chisato, your face has gotten so much rougher. Haven't you been using the skincare products I recommended?"
"Actually, you've got the wrong person."
Luo Shu gave the drunk woman an exasperated look:
"And sorry for having such rough skin, I guess."
Takina Inoue, standing nearby, glanced at Luo Shu's profile and quietly remarked:
"Your complexion is actually quite good. It would improve even more with some toner."
"What was that?" Luo Shu turned to look at Takina, who shyly averted her gaze:
"N-nothing."
Meanwhile, Mika, though equally drunk, managed to retain some coherence as he clutched his head in distress:
"That Mizuki really drank too much. Thanks to her, I've overdone it too - my head's spinning. Looks like you'll have to drive, Chisato."
"Hey now, Mika, you shouldn't drive after drinking anyway."
Chisato gave Mika a deadpan look before suddenly remembering something and turning to Luo Shu:
"Speaking of which, Luo Shu, your apartment is in Ikebukuro, Nerima Ward, right?"
"That's in the opposite direction from where we live."
After some thought, Chisato glanced at Takina before suggesting to Luo Shu:
"How about we have someone drive you back? Maybe Takina could—"
"Huh?" Takina was stunned by her friend's sudden proposal.
"No need, I can just take the metro. It's still early anyway."
Luo Shu then looked around at the group curiously:
"Come to think of it, don't you all live near the café in Chiyoda?"
"Not exactly."
Mika shook his head before turning away from the group to release a loud belch:
"We take turns guarding the café, though of course, there are dedicated shift workers watching the back entrance. Normally, we all live outside the premises~."
As he said this, Mika rubbed his nose and turned to Luo Shu:
"Luo Shu, since you're here now, you'll also be taking shifts guarding the café. But as you're still new, we'll give you a month to settle in before starting rotations."
"Is that so..."
While Luo Shu was considering this, Mika addressed Takina Inoue:
"Takina, I'm on shift today, and since Mizuki's rented place is in Chiyoda too, could you drive us there later?"
"By the way, I recall you and Chisato live together? Will separate cars be an issue?"
"No problem, the safe house garage has enough space."
Takina Inoue nodded calmly and explained:
"For security reasons, we've rented three safe houses to rotate between. The current one is in Minato ward with three garages - more than sufficient."
Hearing the prestigious mention of Minato ward, Chisato Nishikigi couldn't help pouting:
"Because of security needs, we have to rent entire buildings! Three at once, all in well-policed areas - the rent is crazy expensive!"
"Between that and daily expenses, Takina and I spend nearly our entire basic salary on this stuff~~"
"Sigh~ Any extra jobs lately? I really want to buy five properties of my own~~"
"I think you're just complaining about today's failed side job."
Mika gave her a knowing look as he deadpanned.
Chisato didn't deny this. Noticing Luo Shu's confusion, she explained:
"Actually, Luo Shu, you might not know - when SDS retrieves an Abyss Artefact for research institute analysis, we get bonus payments."
"Normally, Grade 1 items fetch 500,000 yen, Grade 2 gets 2 million, and Grade 3 pays 10 million outright. That's just the research fee too - we keep the artefacts, so it's our regular side income~"
"Of course, surrendering artefacts pays more, but Big Sister advises against it - says the pricing's unfair. So, usually we store them in special vaults guarded using Big Sister's public money."
"'Allocated funds' sounds much better than 'public money,'" Mika corrected Chisato.
Sticking her tongue out at Mika, Chisato continued explaining to Luo Shu:
"So if you ever find any Abyss Artefacts, I'd recommend submitting them for research first."
"You earn the bonus while having them test most side effects - makes them safer to use later."
"Naturally, you can always store unused items in the vaults too - it's a membership benefit."
Here, Chisato grinned playfully:
"Still, let me tell you, there are risks involved in safeguarding welfare items, and the risk is preventing Big Sister from secretly using artefacts when she loses her temper."
"Take the Kusanagi Sword, for example - it's an Abyss Artefact entrusted by a senior executive. Big Sister used it today without filing a report, which counts as unauthorised usage."
Hearing this, Takina Inoue, nearby, immediately paled and shouted:
"Chisato!"
She hastily glanced around, and upon confirming no one was watching, sighed in relief before elbowing Chisato Nishikigi irritably:
"Why did you blurt that out?"
"Ah, sorry, sorry." Realising her mistake, Chisato Nishikigi immediately clasped her hands together in apology.
As Chisato released her grip, Mizuki Nakahara's body slumped limply against Luo Shu's shoulder.
Fortunately, Luo Shu's recent physical conditioning had improved significantly, so the weight didn't topple him - though some unavoidable physical contact naturally occurred.
"At least be more careful!"
"My bad, my bad, don't be mad~"
Listening to the apologetic voices beside him, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes: 'Does handing artefacts to the research institute come with bonuses?'
Luo Shu muttered this while inwardly bleeding.
Due to identity reasons, he couldn't possibly submit all his Abyss Artefacts for research, meaning substantial bonuses were basically out of reach.
The only money he could earn would be from artefacts already known to SDS members - an awkward situation indeed.
Seeing potential earnings slip away pained Luo Shu immensely, but considering his circumstances, he could only reluctantly accept this reality.
Before long, Luo Shu and Chisato Nishikigi dragged the drunken Mizuki Nakahara to the car park, cooperating to load her into a vehicle.
Once everyone was seated, Chisato pointed at a red Ferrari nearby and grinned at Luo Shu:
"Sure you don't want me to give you a lift?"
"This is a genuine beauty with a luxury car."
Watching Chisato proudly gesture at the Ferrari while praising herself, Luo Shu's mouth twitched before replying:
"Rather than riding in a several-million-yen Ferrari, I'd prefer taking the hundred-billion-yen subway. Incidentally, sports cars only fit one beauty while subways can hold crowds of them."
This response made Chisato pause momentarily before she covered her mouth with laughter:
"Ferraris only carry one beauty while subways hold crowds of them? That's quite an amusing perspective."
Seeing Luo Shu genuinely decline her offer, Chisato waved cheerfully:
"Well then, I'll be off first. Bye-bye~"
"Bye."
Luo Shu waved back, watching as Chisato and Takina each drove away.
After their departure, Luo Shu turned his head upwards to gaze at the moon.
After a while, he exhaled a weary breath:
"Time to rest. I'll process the intelligence Sharon submitted tomorrow."
With these words, Luo Shu walked towards the nearby subway station to head home.
As the SDS members' nightlife concluded, the nocturnal activities of others involved in today's incidents seemed only just beginning...