"Eh? Oh!!"
Kiyonaga Matsumoto was momentarily stunned when Luo Shu called his name before realising it was directed at him.
There was no helping it—Luo Shu's precise predictions were genuinely uncanny.
Especially with Yomi Isayama's spontaneous remark about a divination sorcerer skilled in observing others' fates. It made the whole situation seem even more mystical.
Could there really be such special ability users in the supernatural world who could see others' destinies? And was Luo Shu before them one of them?
If so, they absolutely couldn't afford to offend him. After all, if any major misfortune befell them, they'd have to rely on Luo Shu's warnings.
For high-ranking officials in the Metropolitan Police Department, mysticism was quite popular—Japan's culture of worshipping deities and spirits had a long history, after all.
For instance, several senior officials Kiyonaga Matsumoto knew leaned in this direction.
And if they could get Luo Shu, a true professional, to assess those officials' fortunes...
At this thought, Kiyonaga Matsumoto immediately cleared his throat and barked at Juzo Megure:
"Megure, quickly brief Mr. Luo on the situation at the time. Ah, right—I believe you mentioned submitting a report earlier."
Juzo Megure, who had been about to say the report wasn't ready and that Miwako Sato and Wataru Takagi, as the field investigators, should give the briefing, was dumbfounded.
Whether he had submitted a report or not—didn't he know best?
But with his superior saying so, Juzo Megure had no choice but to steel himself and say:
"Ah, yes. I submitted the report first thing this morning."
Beside him, Wataru Takagi and Miwako Sato looked as if they'd seen a ghost.
They were the field investigators—since when did Juzo Megure have a report?
At this moment, Kiyonaga Matsumoto nodded in satisfaction and glanced at Hyoue Kuroda.
The two exchanged a knowing look before Hyoue Kuroda, blind in one eye, opened his remaining eye and said:
"Megure's report was indeed submitted to me. Please wait a moment."
Hyoue Kuroda gave Luo Shu an apologetic nod, then walked to a nearby desk, pulled open the middle drawer, and deliberately retrieved the report from the very bottom:
"Ah, found it. This is the one."
Juzo Megure stared at the green folder containing the so-called report, his lips twitching.
Within the Metropolitan Police Department, regular documents were filed in blue folders. Only the reports submitted by those martial artists from the Special Crime Division came in green covers – a detail known only to those ranked inspector or above.
The moment Juzo Megure saw the green folder, he immediately recognised it as the on-site report filed by the Special Crime Division.
This was the department's genuine, detailed incident report, not the fabricated one he'd just instructed Miwako Sato and Wataru Takagi to prepare.
'Why has Manager Kuroda suddenly produced the real thing? Weren't they supposed to falsify the records?'
At this thought, Megure instinctively glanced at Luo Shu and immediately understood.
He got it. Superintendent Kiyonaga Matsumoto and Manager Kuroda were trying to curry favour with Master Luo, hence the genuine report!
Realising this, Megure promptly nodded in agreement:
"Yes, yes, that's exactly the document I prepared."
He then casually added:
"Not only that, I've also brought along Assistant Inspector Sato and Sergeant Takagi, who were in charge of the on-site investigation."
With this statement, the presence of Megure and his two subordinates was seamlessly justified as supplementary support, perfectly closing any logical gaps.
"Here you go, Director Luo. These are the documents regarding last night's corpse theft case."
Hyoue Kuroda placed the file on the table and slid it towards Luo Shu.
Witnessing this, Noriyuki Izuna, who had just picked himself up from the floor, hesitated to speak. He couldn't help but glance at Yomi Isayama.
After all, obtaining this very report was the purpose of their visit. If the SDS took it away, their mission would be a failure.
Yet in response to Izuna's silent plea, Yomi said nothing. She merely stared at Luo Shu's face, lost in thought.
Without Yomi taking the lead, Izuna didn't dare provoke Luo Shu, who seemed rather... uncanny.
If a simple slip was all that had happened earlier, what next? A knife slash? A gunshot? Or perhaps a coffin?
The thought sent a shiver down Izuna's spine, and he promptly shut his mouth.
"An on-site report, is it?"
Luo Shu flipped through the file, though in truth, he was using the Mysticism Encyclopaedia to verify its authenticity.
Once confirmed, his eyes briefly lingered on the names at the bottom of the last page – Shin Natsume and Maya Natsume – before he closed the file and turned to Megure:
"Megure boy, were you the on-scene commander?"
Though still uncomfortable with the 'boy' address, Megure replied:
"The preliminary investigation was indeed handled by our Division 1, Section 3."
Hearing this, Kiyonaga Matsumoto immediately grasped Luo Shu's intent and exchanged a glance with Kuroda.
Ahem!
Kuroda cleared his throat upon receiving the signal and declared:
"In that case, Megure, take your team and accompany Director Luo for this assignment."
"...Understood, Superintendent Kuroda." Seeing no way out, Megure agreed without hesitation.
"Then I'll be counting on you, Megure."
As he spoke, Luo Shu neatly tucked the folder away, then stood and nodded at Matsumoto and Kuroda:
"My apologies, duty calls. I'll treat you both to drinks next time."
As she said this, Kirika Tachibana glanced at Yomi Isayama before standing up directly. Kisara, who had remained silent the entire time, also rose to follow Luo Shu.
"Not at all, Director Luo. Please take care on your way out."
Under the watchful eyes of the two senior Metropolitan Police Department officials, Luo Shu left with the documents, leading Juzo Megure and the others who followed him out.
After Luo Shu departed, Hyoue Kuroda, who had reached the doorway, turned his head to glance at the Ministry of the Environment's Noriyuki Izuna and Yomi Isayama, exchanging a look with Kiyonaga Matsumoto.
Kiyonaga Matsumoto gave a slight nod without saying a word.
Seeing this, Noriyuki Izuna walked to the desk and pulled out a green folder from the cabinet:
"This is part of the field report—the one previously promised to Ms. Jinguuji."
In short, this was a guaranteed handout regardless of whether the Ministry of the Environment could withstand the pressure from SDS.
After all, the Ministry had taken over the Ghoul investigation, and the Metropolitan Police Department didn't want to antagonise them completely. Some face had to be given.
Behind the Ministry of the Environment were connections that could reach the United Nations.
Within Japan, aside from SDS, only the Ministry of the Environment had the authority to assess the risks posed by a new species.
Thus, due to jurisdictional relations, this report was essentially obligatory.
Of course, even if it was obligatory, Hyoue Kuroda showed no courtesy or restraint when dealing with subordinates like Yomi Isayama and Noriyuki Izuna. He placed the file on the table for them to take:
"Take this copy with you. Oh, and give my regards to Ms. Jinguuji."
The Ms. Jinguuji mentioned by Hyoue Kuroda was the head of the Ministry of the Environment Disaster Countermeasures Office, roughly equal in rank to him. She was the one Kuroda had to treat seriously—both were frontline figures with real authority.
"What the hell..." Noriyuki Izuna visibly bristled at the double standard. That attitude toward SDS, and this toward them? The disparity was blatant.
At this moment, Yomi Isayama spoke calmly:
"Izuna, grab the documents. We're leaving."
Without another word, she turned and strode out of the office.
"...Right." Clearly unwilling to provoke an already displeased Yomi Isayama, Noriyuki Izuna immediately stepped forward, took the file, and hurried after her.
Meanwhile, Yomi Isayama, walking ahead, caught sight of Luo Shu's retreating figure. Her eyes flickered briefly, as if lost in thought.
After a moment of hesitation, she finally gritted her teeth and chose to follow Luo Shu.