Luo Shu shot a sidelong glance at Kirika Tachibana's blatant poaching attempt, recalling her previous behaviour towards him.
'Does this woman have some kind of recruitment fetish?' he mused internally.
Although he mocked Tachibana's tactics, Luo Shu couldn't help but be curious about Yomi Isayama.
This interest wasn't due to her striking appearance—the archetypal cool beauty with long black hair—but rather what his perspective as a Calamity Bringer revealed.
Recalling what he'd just witnessed, Luo Shu studied Isayama more closely.
In his vision, beyond her normally visible form, Yomi Isayama was enveloped in a shroud of black mist invisible to others.
This mist was exceptionally dense, coiling around her entire body like a second skin, leaving only fragments of her face exposed. The miasma threatened to consume her completely.
This black vapour represented misfortune—a phenomenon only perceptible to special Classes like Calamity Bringers.
'Someone wrapped in this much misfortune... Is she that legendary "Star of Calamity" destined to outlive her entire family?'
With just one look, Luo Shu understood: a person carrying such concentrated misfortune was fated for a life of tragedy, destined to perish after all their loved ones.
Of course, such an unlucky person was practically a natural delicacy for a Calamity Bringer who spread and absorbed misfortune to strengthen themselves—a delicious experience candy.
This was the first time Luo Shu had encountered someone like Yomi Isayama.
Given the sheer scale of misfortune clinging to her, Luo Shu didn't even need to consider spreading any himself. Simply absorbing what she carried would likely boost his own attributes and abilities by a solid ten per cent.
However, doing so would most likely reverse Yomi Isayama's bad luck.
The trade-off would be an increase in Luo Shu's own misfortune, affecting his fortune. But as a Calamity Bringer, a Class that manipulated misfortune, he naturally had ways to mitigate it, so it wasn't too unbearable.
That said, while Luo Shu didn't mind absorbing Yomi Isayama's misfortune, he certainly wouldn't do such a good deed for free.
They weren't family or friends—why should he help her? What if he ended up like those poor sods who got sued for assisting the elderly?
At the very least, she should beg him first, shouldn't she?
Even doctors charge for treatment.
The question was, how could he make Yomi Isayama realise she was 'sick'?
Luo Shu fell into deep thought.
As he pondered, Kirika Tachibana, completely ignoring Noriyuki Izuna's awkward expression beside her, once again blatantly extended an olive branch:
"Yomi-chan~ Have you considered switching sides? The benefits here are much better than the Disaster Countermeasures Office~"
"Apologies, but I have no intention of changing jobs."
Yomi Isayama's response was icy, her expression unchanging.
This didn't faze Kirika Tachibana in the slightest—she hadn't expected success anyway.
But just then, Luo Shu, seated nearby, suddenly spoke up with a smile:
"Chief Tachibana, isn't recruiting someone who's about to die a bit pointless?"
Hearing this, Kiyonaga Matsumoto and Hyoue Kuroda both tensed.
Was Luo Shu implying that the SDS wanted to weaken the Ministry of the Environment? Or worse—eliminate their envoy and pin the blame on the Metropolitan Police Department? Surely he wouldn't be that ruthless?
"You—!"
Noriyuki Izuna glared furiously at Luo Shu.
His anger stemmed partly from Yomi Isayama being his fiancée, and partly from feeling that Luo Shu's provocation was a direct insult to his pride.
Having his fiancée issued a death sentence by someone else was an humiliation he, a man of status, could never tolerate.
Unlike Noriyuki's rage, Kirika Tachibana studied Yomi Isayama thoughtfully before asking:
"Luo Shu, what exactly do you mean by that?"
She didn't believe Luo Shu would make such an ominous remark without reason. Knowing him, he was definitely scheming something to his advantage—otherwise, he wouldn't have spoken up at all.
"She's about to die." Luo Shu glanced at the thick aura of misfortune nearly suffocating Yomi Isayama.
A small amount of misfortune merely brought bad luck, but at this scale, Luo Shu suspected that if it grew any stronger, the heavens themselves would claim her life.
Even as things stood, he was certain Yomi Isayama wouldn't last another month.
"Not just her, but even those she cares about will likely suffer misfortune."
This was the precise prophecy from the Calamity Bringer. After all, Luo Shu didn't believe someone with luck as catastrophically bad as Yomi Isayama's could avoid affecting those close to her.
In a sense, seeing loved ones suffer was itself a manifestation of misfortune. Otherwise, there wouldn't be sayings like "Star of Calamity".
Hearing Luo Shu declare that those she cared about would suffer misfortune, Yomi Isayama's usually composed expression finally cracked.
For a brief moment, the thought of teaching Luo Shu a lesson flashed through Yomi's mind. But constrained by the setting, she could only suppress it, saying coldly:
"I shall report your... novel theory to Director Jinguuji exactly as stated."
"Telling on me to the teacher?" Luo Shu blinked in surprise, not expecting Yomi Isayama to pull this move.
Yomi remained expressionless. "If that's how you choose to interpret it."
'Wow, that comeback really doesn't match your ice queen image...' Luo Shu gave Yomi an odd look, unfazed by her hostility.
Though undeniably beautiful, what truly interested him was the thick layer of experience swirling around her.
Pity absorbing misfortune required physical contact - hardly likely with someone from their rival agency, the Environment Ministry.
His gaze shifted briefly to Noriyuki Izuna.
Hmm, this one's also steeped in misfortune, though not as extreme as Yomi's.
Still firmly in the 'unlucky bastard' category.
Judging by the amount, probably someone Yomi considers close but not indispensable - hence the relatively lighter misfortune.
In a way, Luo Shu couldn't decide if Noriyuki was unlucky or fortunate.
Noticing Luo Shu's attention, Noriyuki laughed bitterly:
"What? Does this SDS bigshot think I'm dying too?"
"No, just reminding you to mind your step."
Luo Shu's helpful warning came as he subtly activated the misfortune clinging to Noriyuki.
"Ha! You think I'd slip here? Don't be ridiculous - someone of my skill wouldn't make such a fool of themselves!"
To prove his point, Noriyuki took two demonstrative steps forward.
His polished leather shoe hit the tiles - then abruptly slid. His left foot shot forward while his body tilted backwards.
Thud!
Noriyuki lay sprawled on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"That accurate?!"
Nearby, Wataru Takagi and Miwako Sato gaped at the fallen man.
The bizarre spectacle drew everyone's attention to Luo Shu. Seeing his unsurprised expression, their eyelids twitched involuntarily.
Then all eyes shifted to Yomi Isayama.
Compared to the merely slipped Noriyuki, she was the one Luo Shu had marked for imminent death.
At this rate, she might just drop dead on the spot.
Under the gaze of everyone, Yomi Isayama showed no reaction, only staring intently at Luo Shu as she said in an uncertain tone:
"A divination sorcerer skilled in observing the fates of others?"
Luo Shu didn't respond, instead turning to Kiyonaga Matsumoto and saying:
"Superintendent Matsumoto, we should get to the main matter."