"You want me to attend the meeting?"
Koko Hekmatyar looked slightly surprised at Luo Shu.
She was currently in Luo Shu's room, legs crossed on the sofa, holding a Coke Megumi had just fetched from the fridge.
After taking a loud gulp, she said curiously:
"Ho~ Isn't it a bit much to throw a low-level member like me straight into such a big scene?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's eyelid twitched slightly:
"We're all Familia members - there's no hierarchy here."
Even if there were subtle preferences, Luo Shu genuinely didn't believe in ranking Familia members.
Moreover, such distinctions were dangerous, capable of causing internal conflict.
However, Koko seemed completely casual about it. Waving her Coke dismissively, she said breezily:
"But hierarchies will form among people regardless."
"No matter how you think or act, distinctions will emerge."
"And aren't there already signs of it now?"
Koko giggled while swinging her crossed leg, pointing at Megumi Kato: "I've heard you call that aloof woman 'Senior' more than once. Yukinoshita, was it? The girl in charge of Familia affairs."
Hearing this, Megumi Kato showed slight surprise but replied:
"Senior Yukinoshita doesn't mean to oppress me."
"I never said she was oppressing you. I was pointing out the hierarchy."
Koko casually took a swig of Coke, her fox-like yet somewhat fierce, narrow eyes squinting, giving her a particularly malicious smile as if she was about to bully someone:
"Besides, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. People are meant to be governed. Otherwise, there wouldn't be social classes or nations in this world."
"Not that I'm saying this out of any past grievances about being neglected. I just want to remind you that if you can establish a stable organisational order, it's better to do so quickly."
"'Everyone is equal' only applies to equality in personality. In work, a clear division of labour is best!"
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately understood Koko's meaning and said with some surprise:
"After all that, you're saying you're not suited for negotiations?"
Koko chuckled and turned to Luo Shu:
"I'm a merchant. A weapons merchant who's been on the FBI's blacklist until recently, before our great Chairwoman removed me."
"The people I negotiate with are African tribes, Middle Eastern jihadist organisations, warlords of small nations—all scum who don't even deserve hell!"
"Do you think I'm suited to wear a suit, tie, hold a wine glass, and dine on meals worth hundreds of thousands while negotiating with the higher-ups of the Union?"
"Think again!"
"I'd rather grab a bottle, smash it over their damn heads, stab through their outstretched claws with a knife, and slowly fork all the meat into my belly!"
"Is that really the kind of negotiation you want?"
Luo Shu stared expressionlessly at Koko for a long moment before suddenly smiling:
"What a coincidence. That's exactly the kind of negotiation I want."
At these words, Koko was stunned.
She hesitated, glanced at Luo Shu, thought for a moment with an unnatural expression, then turned to Megumi Kato:
"Are you sure this is our Chief God?"
Megumi didn't know what expression to make: "...I'm sure."
"Oh, then it must be true."
Koko nodded, then uncrossed her legs, her demeanour shifting from unrestrained to restrained:
"So, Director, you want to take me along to quarrel with those Union people?"
"No, no. I think the purpose of bringing you is more like... a threat?"
As he spoke, Luo Shu opened the Coke in front of him and calmly said:
"How to put it... You should know the Familia recently captured Aya Tokoyogi, that Demigod."
"Though it was due to multiple factors, the result is what it is."
"The world's only captured Demigod. You can imagine how attractive that is to the Union."
"Especially after Tokyo's freezing incident yesterday at dawn. At this time, with the Five Great Powers inviting me to a meeting, I can't help but overthink it."
Hearing this, Koko nodded and said:
"I see!"
"So the purpose of sending me is to break relations with the Union's high-ranking officials, but not completely sever them? To go beyond arguing but stop short of war?"
Hearing Koko's precise assessment, Luo Shu couldn't help but laugh:
"I suddenly feel that among the Familia members brought back from America, you're the most special one!"
At this, Koko giggled: "I suggest you say that to Tifa and Origami Tobiichi too, otherwise I might get isolated."
"If they were the type to isolate you, they wouldn't be themselves."
Luo Shu shook his head, pondered for a moment, then said:
"Tifa's personality leans towards stability, wanting a peaceful life. As for Origami, although her strength has grown tremendously, at heart she's still just a girl who wants to live well."
"Fundamentally, they're both more passive by nature. But you, Koko, are the type who actively pursues your goals."
"Flattery won't work, even if you are my type." Koko paused, then added: "Well, given current circumstances, you might become my man in the future too."
"Anyway..." Koko raised her eyebrows at Luo Shu, her slender eyes brimming with playful amusement: "This meeting is essentially about letting me help with negotiations in my own way, right?"
"Correct." Luo Shu nodded in confirmation.
Koko then asked curiously: "Who else will be participating?"
At this, Luo Shu smiled: "Me, you, Aya Tokoyogi, and Serafall."
Koko: "?!!!"
"Bloody hell, bringing the main culprit as a representative?"
Koko was genuinely shocked by Luo Shu's idea.
To bring the principal offender responsible for the Tokyo freezing incident - someone the Union would inevitably demand - as a negotiation representative? Luo Shu really dared to think this!
Was he trying to provoke them, or outright humiliate them?
Are you sure you're going to negotiate, not declare war?
Luo Shu maintained his smile: "What can I do? I got greedy and ended up taking Serafall in."
"This goes way beyond mere greed..."
Koko chuckled as she crushed her empty Coke can:
"When's the meeting?"
"9 am tomorrow."
"Complete freedom to act?" Koko tested the waters.
Luo Shu countered: "What do you think?"
"Heh, when you put it like that, I'm getting excited."
Koko's face lit up with eager anticipation, as if ready to cause chaos:
"If this succeeds, you endorse my family's business and take 30% of profits."
"Deal?"
"Deal!"