"Excuse me~"
Chisato Nishikigi pushed open the door while balancing a tray with one hand, glancing around at the four people in the room with wide eyes:
"Wow, the atmosphere feels really weird here!"
Hearing Chisato's voice, Kirika Tachibana reflexively retorted:
"Weird your head! Just put the stuff down already. Hmm? A sundae? Who ordered this?"
"That would be me," Luo Shu replied, looking up. "Consider it a belated apology."
Kirika Tachibana shot him a sidelong glance: "...I'll accept that."
Chisato Nishikigi cheerfully placed four sundaes on the table, then hugged the tray to her chest as she backed out of the room, asking:
"Should I activate the anti-eavesdropping devices?"
Kirika Tachibana shot her a glare: "Just not standing by the door would be anti-eavesdropping enough."
"Hehe~" Chisato, who had genuinely considered eavesdropping, stuck out her tongue and hastily shut the door.
At that moment, Luo Shu calmly looked up and addressed Natsuki Minamiya across the table:
"So, does this mean I've passed the test?"
"There was never any test to begin with."
Natsuki Minamiya picked up her sundae with perfect composure, scooping a small portion with her spoon:
"The source of your intelligence is an internal SDS matter. I have no authority to intervene."
"Even if I'm intensely curious about how you obtained that information."
"Natural talent." Luo Shu deadpanned with utter seriousness.
"Then let's consider it a natural talent."
Natsuki frowned slightly, as if the sundae was too cold:
"So, how should we assess this Tokisaki individual?"
"According to Luo Shu's account, her abilities are rather troublesome."
"A time-manipulating angel with cloning capabilities..."
At this point, Kirika couldn't help but glance at Lacus:
"Against that configuration, apart from you wielding the Kusanagi Sword, there don't seem to be any other countermeasures."
She then turned to Luo Shu: "Well then? Does our newly promoted department head have any solutions?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu gave Lacus a curious look before asking:
"So what's the actual purpose of this meeting?"
"To discuss eliminating dangerous individuals from Truth Astronomy?"
"No, just a casual discussion." Lacus smoothly explained: "Though it does include reminding and assisting you with departmental development."
"Then why has the topic shifted to how to subdue Kurumi Tokisaki?"
As he spoke, Luo Shu picked up his sundae and took a cheerful spoonful:
"According to my... undisclosable private intelligence, this angel has great affection for feline animals, dreamed of being a champion of justice in her youth, and aside from extreme retaliation against animal abusers, poses minimal danger to ordinary people."
"Frankly, I suspect she was deceived into joining Truth Astronomy."
"Considering her abilities require time to activate, I even wonder if she joined deliberately - like a greedy cat sneaking into a granary?"
Lacus's eyes brightened slightly at Luo Shu's explanation: "So there's potential for peaceful negotiation?"
"...There is indeed." Luo Shu pondered carefully before adding: "Assuming she matches the time spirit I have in mind."
He paused, then continued:
"Incidentally, there should be ten similar beings to Tokisaki Kurumi, whether you call them angels or spirits."
"Each possesses the capacity to trigger major seismic events. Most lean toward benevolent alignment, yet their abilities remain extraordinarily hazardous."
"Given Tokisaki Kurumi's appearance, the other nine will likely manifest as well."
Kirika immediately grasped Luo Shu's implication, fanning herself slightly:
"Understood. I'll mobilise the operations division for investigations. But do provide some reference materials - you wouldn't want Chisato and Takina encountering surprises during their inquiries, would you?"
Seeing the teasing smile on Kirika Tachibana's face, Luo Shu remained completely unruffled as he said:
"As long as the person isn't dead on the spot, I should still be able to save them."
"As for the documents, I'll organise them later and send them to Lacus's phone."
"Eh?" Lacus blinked, looking somewhat troubled. "But the number I gave you was my personal mobile?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's mouth twitched as he replied with a strange expression: "Then give me your work email too."
"Understood." Lacus nodded, bending over to retrieve her phone from the bag beside her.
Seeing this, Luo Shu sighed helplessly: "There's no need to rush."
"Hmm?" Lacus bit her lip, looking at him in confusion.
"Never mind, suit yourself." Luo Shu shrugged before scooping up a large spoonful of sundae. "So what's this about assisting with department construction?"
Across from them, Natsuki Minamiya calmly paired her sundae with black tea:
"Just adding some spatial techniques to your department's location."
"You do that kind of work too?" Luo Shu sounded curious.
At this, Natsuki Minamiya glanced at Lacus, who was fiddling with her phone:
"Extra work comes with extra charges. Planning to pay?"
"Please put it on the official account, thanks." Luo Shu replied without hesitation. "How much money do you think a poor student like me has?"
Having said that, Luo Shu immediately turned to Kirika Tachibana: "Speaking of which, what about the department's funding?"
"If the Hidden Management Department is handling the sealing of some Abyss Artefacts, shouldn't the corresponding management fees be transferred over, too?"
Why else was Luo Shu using his Divine Kingdom as a sealing site? He had his eyes on those management fees.
If Kirika Tachibana dared delay the funding, he could immediately bestow misfortune upon her right then and there.
It just so happened his Class abilities hadn't seen much action yet.
"Coming straight for the funding? And why me?" Kirika Tachibana's face twitched as she stared at Luo Shu.
'The top boss was sitting right there playing with her phone, yet instead of asking her for funds, you come to me? How vicious is that?'
'You're under Lacus Clyne's direct jurisdiction, not mine!'
But seeing Luo Shu's serious expression, Kirika Tachibana could only sigh:
"The funds will be transferred simultaneously with the Abyss Artefacts. The first instalment is 500 million yen."
"Understood." Luo Shu nodded in acknowledgement. "I'll do my best to ensure the surrounding area's safety before the transfer."
As for how to ensure safety, of course, it meant visiting that unregistered Succubus maid café.
Come to think of it, could this kind of deep undercover Succubus mission be expensed?
Luo Shu glanced at Lacus's profile so close beside him and suddenly didn't dare ask further.