Before the attack on Katsuhiko Yakushiji.
Rooftop of a villa in the affluent district.
Luo Shu and Takina Inoue lay prone on the tiled roof, observing the Yukinoshita residence through binoculars.
Beside him, Takina checked the intel transmitted to her phone and explained:
"According to property records, the target residence belongs to the local prominent Yukinoshita family. Security reports indicate the family head, her husband, and their two daughters have just returned home today."
Adjusting his binoculars to focus on the second floor, Luo Shu queried suspiciously:
"The Yukinoshita family? Would their daughters happen to be named Haruno Yukinoshita and Yukino Yukinoshita?"
Takina blinked in surprise, then verified the information before responding curiously: "That's correct. Do you know them, Luo Shu?"
"Just heard some things." Luo Shu replied offhandedly before voicing his doubt: "But speaking of which, shouldn't a local city councillor's family have sorcerers for protection?"
At this, Takina's expression turned somewhat peculiar: "Luo Shu, if families like the Yukinoshitas employed sorcerers, that would constitute serious dereliction of duty on our part."
"Training sorcerers requires inheritable Abyss Artefacts or Awakening Artefacts. The collection and regulation of these artefacts falls under specific quotas."
Lowering her voice, Takina elaborated:
"In Japan's allocation, half goes to the stationed forces and our SDS. Of the remaining half, one portion is managed by the official Onmyou Agency, while the other is managed by Tokyo-based multinational corporate task forces. Beyond these, no individual or family is permitted to possess Abyss Artefacts. Even related intelligence is restricted to each cabinet - prefectural assembly members aren't cleared for such information."
"And the Yukinoshitas on this document? They're precisely at prefectural assembly level - just below the clearance threshold."
"I see..."
Luo Shu couldn't help but mentally mourn for the Yukinoshitas for three seconds. Positioned above ordinary citizens yet barred from true upper echelons - what an awkward place to be.
Shaking his head, Luo Shu dismissed the thought. As a commoner himself, he hardly had standing to pity a prefectural assembly family.
"Takina, prepare to snipe. Chief Tachibana's reinforcements should arrive soon."
In Luo Shu's perception of the wind element, a scorching presence—so intense that it nearly ignited his probing spirit—was rapidly approaching. Judging by the speed, it had to be at least a modified motorcycle level.
'But this burning sensation... This reinforcement was seriously strong...'
"You mean that Kannagi family young lady you mentioned to the Chief while tailing my car earlier? The one we could use to deal with the enemy but couldn't take the target's corpse, and preferably make her give up voluntarily?"
Takina Inoue's calm words made Luo Shu's expression twitch imperceptibly:
"Anyway, once she arrives, you and the Red Squad will be ready to snipe at any moment. I'll see if I can use Wind Arts to drive the enemy right in front of that young lady and let her take the hit for us."
As he said this, Luo Shu muttered, "Such a good knife—what a waste not to use it."
As a future deity, how could he possibly risk his life brawling with some lowly demon? The very idea was absurd.
In situations like this, the best he could do was use reinforcements as shields, scoop up some credit, and live an ordinary life. Honestly, that didn't sound too bad.
Besides, the name Ayano Kannagi seemed identical to some anime heroine he vaguely recalled.
'A Flame Arts sorcerer family, a young lady... Could it really be such a coincidence?'
As Luo Shu pondered, everything unfolded exactly as he predicted.
After the attack ended.
The tarmac smouldered with an orange glow as Ayano Kannagi dismissed her family's heirloom artefact, staring at the charred corpse before her.
At the same time.
Clap! Clap!
Applause rang out.
Ayano turned her head and saw a young man in a black suit—handsome, with a hint of boyishness—leading a black-haired girl towards her.
Upon spotting Ayano, Luo Shu immediately put on a bright smile and stepped forward, extending his hand for a shake:
"Miss Ayano Kannagi, on behalf of the operation team, I sincerely thank you for your assistance."
"Without your aid, we might have suffered heavy losses just to eliminate this demon hiding among humans."
"Ah, just thinking about not having to face the numb expressions of the bereaved wives and children... I'm truly... sigh... Words can't express my gratitude."
"Well... It wasn't that hard, really. This guy's threat level was mid-tier at best, so it wasn't too troublesome~"
As the saying goes, you don't hit someone who's smiling at you. Seeing Luo Shu's seemingly sincere face, even mourning for his comrades' families, Ayano scratched her cheek and reluctantly shook his hand.
'Wait, did I forget something?'
After the handshake, Ayano suddenly felt something was off.
'Wasn't this guy from the SDS?'
'That garrison organisation monopolising the first detection rights to the Abyss, recklessly hoarding Abyss Artefacts on Japanese soil, and making even the Onmyou Agency seethe in silent fury?'
'Why did it feel like she was the one he'd called in as backup?'
But just as Ayano struggled to make sense of it, Luo Shu sighed beside her, as if no one else was around:
"If not for Miss Ayano's intervention, killing this demon would've been no easy feat."
"And if it had escaped, who knows how many more victims would've suffered in Chiba Prefecture..."
"Even disregarding all that, the traffic control implemented in Chiba Prefecture just to capture this demon has already caused losses exceeding ten billion yen."
"It seems I'll need to apply for a reward from the Chiba authorities for Miss Kannagi. After all, it's unacceptable to let the hero who protected Chiba City shed both blood and tears."
'It's not like I, Luo Shu, am the one paying anyway, so might as well say whatever sounds good...' Luo Shu silently grumbled to himself.
"No, no, no! I didn't come here for any reward at all..." Ayano Kannagi's face flushed crimson with embarrassment as she hastily waved her hands.
How had she inexplicably become Chiba's protecting hero?
"While that may be true, Miss Ayano's contributions are undeniable." Luo Shu said with utmost sincerity. "Besides, isn't the purpose of taxpayers' money precisely to enable the authorities to protect them?"
"If I may ask, Miss Ayano, have you heard the story of Zigong redeeming captives from the country across the sea?"
"Zigong redeeming captives... Ah, we studied that in classical literature class. I see now - if I refuse the reward, it would raise the standard of morality to an unattainable height for most people..."
Being a high school student, Ayano Kannagi naturally remembered her classical literature lessons and quickly grasped Luo Shu's meaning:
"I understand. I'll accept the reward then. Thank you very much, I'll take my leave now~"
After expressing her thanks, Ayano Kannagi practically fled as if escaping disaster, seemingly terrified Luo Shu might say something else to put her on the spot.
Watching Ayano Kannagi's hasty retreat, Luo Shu calmly waited until her figure disappeared down the road before turning to Takina Inoue: "Sorted."
Then he called out to the elite red-clad squad still surrounding the villa:
"Alright, lads, cleanup time!"