3:30am.
Main hall of Sensō-ji Temple.
Luo Shu sat on the beige tatami mat, cheeks slightly puffed as he chewed something, chopsticks and a food container in hand, while his eyes stared blankly at something unseen.
What he was looking at was the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System's internal chat interface, reading the message sent by Yukino Yukinoshita.
"La Folia was attacked?"
"By opposition factions from the Aldegia Kingdom?"
"Or terrorists trying to kidnap the princess for ransom?"
"How did something happen on her very first day there? Even looking for trouble doesn't happen this fast, does it?"
Hearing Luo Shu's words, the expressions of those seated around him varied greatly.
Sayuri Sawamura sat nearby, sipping water in small gulps as if replenishing lost fluids.
Across from her, Eriri was staring straight at her with a look usually reserved for non-recyclable trash.
In stark contrast to the awkwardness between the two, it was Enigma sitting beside Sayuri Sawamura who wore a bizarre smile, seemingly relishing some perverse delight.
Despite being the one bullied, she exuded the most arrogance among the three, creating an utterly baffling scene.
Compared to this eerie trio, Kisara and Megumi Kato, beside Luo Shu, were far more focused on the serious matter he'd mentioned.
"So the silver-haired princess we saw this evening was attacked by terrorists..."
Megumi flipped through her phone as if searching for something, then remarked in puzzlement:
"There's absolutely no news online... Not even breaking reports about a hotel attack on YouTube..."
Hearing this, Luo Shu smiled wryly: "If that kind of news made headlines, Japan's officials would lose their minds."
He then added sarcastically:
"Frankly, if it weren't La Folia who got attacked, I'd probably be enjoying the show right now~"
"After all, watching officials embarrass themselves is quite entertaining."
Megumi nodded slightly in understanding:
"Like how Japan's Diet sessions are incredibly dull yet still get decent ratings?"
"Because people aren't actually watching for the proceedings, but to see what blunders the politicians will make? That sort of psychology?"
"More or less."
Luo Shu nodded, then glanced sidelong at Kisara, who was vigorously piling raw oysters into his lunchbox. He couldn't help complaining:
"If you keep adding more, I won't be able to handle it... Garlic oysters might be delicious, but there's a limit to how many I can eat at once..."
Pretending not to hear, Kisara stopped and asked with feigned curiosity:
"But as you said, even if that princess was attacked, shouldn't the officials be handling it? What does it have to do with us?"
Luo Shu sighed at her obvious topic diversion before continuing:
"While Japan's government might not know, Aldegia is well aware we invited La Folia here... Which means we can't possibly stay uninvolved..."
As he spoke, he set down his lunchbox and pulled out his phone to type something.
Noticing Megumi's curious glance, Luo Shu explained directly:
"I'm messaging Chisato and Takina to check the situation."
Understanding dawned on Megumi's face before she asked:
"Then, Director, aren't you going yourself?"
"If I rushed over now, it'd be hard to explain..."
Luo Shu shrugged, picking up his lunchbox again. He popped a garlic oyster into his mouth, chewing as he gazed ahead:
"After all, I'm currently applying pressure on that Silver Princess. Showing up now would undermine that effect."
"Besides, a royal princess's security detail isn't so easily breached."
With no further questions, Megumi turned to observe Enigma across from them, suddenly realising Luo Shu's earlier gaze had been fixed on this new Familia member.
At that moment, Megumi Kato realised the key point—aside from pressuring the Silver Princess, there was also the factor of distrust towards this Hell Sect cadre.
Under Luo Shu's scrutinising gaze, Enigma's lips curled slightly as she flashed an alluring smile:
"It seems you still don't trust this defeated captive~"
"How cruel, especially after you and Sayuri just did such outrageous things to me."
"No, that's not what I was thinking."
Luo Shu shook his head, eyeing Enigma suspiciously without being swayed by her pleading tone:
"I was just wondering if your Hell Sect also has designs on the princess of the Aldegia Kingdom?"
Hearing this, Enigma tittered softly:
"You could always command me to reveal the answer~"
She paused meaningfully before continuing: "Just like how you commanded me not to resist earlier."
'Is she trying to make others fear sharing the same fate by emphasising how I used the Chief God's compulsory restraints on Familia members?' Luo Shu glanced at Enigma, fully aware of her cunning.
However, he didn't react strongly to Enigma's behaviour.
After all, they had been enemies who only became allies by accident. Having just met and been immediately dragged into that situation by Sayuri, it was natural that she'd still harbour hostility.
Luo Shu knew that without the Familia contract, this woman would probably be trying to kill him. But since she was now his Familia, he could afford to be magnanimous:
"Though it might sound odd coming from me... Enigma."
Luo Shu looked seriously at her bewitching face:
"Right now, we're grasshoppers tied to the same string!"
"After all, you wouldn't want the Grand Dukes of True Hell discovering their peripheral organisation harbours a Familia of another god, would you?"
At this thinly veiled threat, Enigma's eyes flickered slightly.
This was her first time hearing the term "True Hell."
But she wasn't stupid—she easily grasped that Luo Shu's message. This made her giggle:
"As expected, you major deities have connections among yourselves... or rather, you all move in the same circles?"
Luo Shu didn't deny it, though inwardly he thought: 'I know about the demon Grand Dukes of True Hell, but they probably don't know me...'
Outwardly, he remained perfectly composed, as if Enigma's words hadn't affected him at all.
Unaware of the truth, Enigma simply weighed the pros and cons before stating plainly:
"About that Silver Princess..."
"While I don't know which Hell Sect members have designs on her, at least the Great Yokai codenamed Jealousy likely has some interest."
Under everyone's gaze, Enigma smiled delightedly:
"After all, it was I who personally suggested capturing her~"