Though suspecting Luo Shu's organisation might shatter her straightforward scientific worldview, the temptation of reviving her sister made Ai Haibara voice her thoughts:
"I want my sister revived as an ordinary human."
To Ai Haibara, only the third option was viable.
The first choice - spirit body - went without saying. While she could accept her sister haunting her as a ghost, she'd avoid it if possible.
The second option - undead - was immediately dismissed without consideration.
Ridiculous. She wanted her sister revived, not resurrected as an enemy.
Did they think she'd never watched zombie films?
Thus, the obvious remaining choice was the third option: ordinary human. This required no deliberation.
"Ordinary human? What a pity..." Luo Shu sighed with evident disappointment.
Ai Haibara responded with a deadpan stare.
Did he think she couldn't see his amusement? The other options definitely had issues - she'd stake her name on it.
Without commenting on her choice, Luo Shu explained:
"Within the SDS's capabilities for ordinary human revival, we generally have these methods."
"The Shaman's ultimate technique - Taizan Fukun Ritual - offers the most perfect revival."
"However, our resident expert, Suzuka Dairenji, is still refining this technique. Completion will require more time."
"Executing this ritual requires engaging a certain Demigod connected to the SDS, though I suspect you couldn't afford the price."
The original Taizan Fukun Ritual text, stolen from Gokadoin House's ancestral residence, had Suzuka Dairenji labouring over it for over half a month with little progress. Luo Shu was nearly tempted to advise his stubborn flat-chested girlfriend to ease up.
But every time Luo Shu tried to persuade Suzuka Dairenji, she would use her increasingly skilled techniques to please him thoroughly. This led Luo Shu to tacitly accept her stubborn persistence with the Taizan Fukun Ritual.
According to the information received, the Taizan Fukun Ritual can currently be performed perfectly by only one person in the world—Hao Asakura.
So what Luo Shu said to Ai Haibara was, in fact, completely accurate.
But for Ai Haibara, this answer was like rubbing salt in the wound:
"You already know I can't afford it, so why even bring it up..."
"To mentally prepare you." Luo Shu grinned, giving Ai Haibara a mischievous glance before continuing:
"The second method of revival also requires a Demigod's intervention—specifically, our SDS's Time Demigod reversing your sister's time, turning it back to when she was still alive."
"Of course, the prerequisite for this is that your sister's soul hasn't yet entered the world of the dead."
"So before performing this operation, someone must first summon your sister's soul back from the realm of the deceased."
"This method hasn't undergone concrete testing yet, so the side effects are unknown, but based on estimates, they're likely minimal."
"And the third method is even more straightforward."
"Again, a Demigod intervenes, using a technique to retrieve your sister's soul from the world of the dead—only this time, her soul is sealed into her still-viable body, producing a revival-like effect."
"At present, the SDS has mastered these three methods of reviving ordinary individuals, with only the second and third being feasible."
At this point, Luo Shu glanced at Ai Haibara and reminded her:
"Of course, any of these options requires a Demigod's involvement, and as the price, you'll owe them a favour."
The reason she would still owe a favour was that Luo Shu was only providing Ai Haibara with the revival techniques, not directly resurrecting her sister.
Not to mention that his Calamity Concept could not revive the dead—other revival methods either required Hao Asakura's intervention, Kurumi Tokisaki's, or Mukuro Hoshimiya's.
Though Luo Shu could command the latter two, he refused to do so.
Because that would mean exploiting Kurumi and Mukuro's labour to curry favour with Ai Haibara.
Such behaviour exceeded what Luo Shu considered an equivalent exchange.
"...What is a Demigod?" Ai Haibara fell silent for a moment before finally asking. "If I'd owe a Demigod a favour either way, why did you say I couldn't afford the first, perfect revival?"
Touka Kirishima, standing nearby, chimed in:
"Because the Demigod capable of performing the Taizan Fukun Ritual doesn't belong to the SDS, so you wouldn't even have the chance to owe him a favour."
After speaking, Touka glanced at Ai Haibara, thinking of her and her deceased sister, then of herself and her brother. Her tone softened considerably:
"Demigods are the strongest known individuals in this world—each one represents a calamity beyond human comprehension."
"Did you see the news this morning, Ai?"
"The sudden freezing of Tokyo at dawn yesterday, followed by the miraculous thaw in the morning, was caused by a Demigod's intervention."
"Those who can effortlessly freeze a city can just as easily undo such a disaster."
"Do you really think you have anything of value to offer such beings in exchange for saving your sister?"
Ai Haibara fell silent at this, her small hands unconsciously tightening around the hem of her clothes.
Indeed—what value did she, a mere human, have to offer those monstrous, inhuman beings capable of creating calamities?
If Luo Shu hadn't needed her help, if those Demigods hadn't belonged to the organisation called the SDS behind him, she probably wouldn't even have had the chance to owe them a favour.
Thinking this, Ai Haibara stopped obsessing over the most perfect resurrection.
Being able to settle for second best was already a stroke of luck.
Having sorted out her thoughts, Ai Haibara bit her lip. "I choose the second option – please have the Time Demigod intervene."
Hearing this, Luo Shu smiled.
"As you wish." He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Amidst the interplay of black and red, the gothic-clad maiden of time quietly emerged from the City of Devouring Time. After giving Luo Shu a coquettish sideways glance, she levelled her short-barrelled flintlock pistol at Akemi Miyano's corpse.
Before Ai Haibara could react, Kurumi Tokisaki pulled the trigger.
Bang!