May 9th, Tuesday, 8:00 AM.
Luo Shu, still in his child form, sat on his oversized office chair, examining the documents laid before him.
"Why am I suddenly being asked to sign these club application forms?"
Standing opposite him was Yukino Yukinoshita, dressed in Toyogasaki High School's uniform, complete with black stockings, and appearing completely composed aside from her occasional glances at Luo Shu's youthful face.
"Because the newcomer trials are about to begin."
"Newcomer trials? We have those?" Luo Shu expressed mild surprise. Wasn't their department open to any Familia candidate who agreed to join?
Hearing this, Yukino gave him a pointed look.
"Director, do you still think this is some kind of game?"
"Do you have any idea how many applications Senior and Kato-san have received these past few days?"
Luo Shu glanced down at the two thin sheets of paper before him, then looked back at Yukino in confusion.
"These are the two specially approved ones. The rest are with Senior Utaha," Yukino explained calmly before he could ask.
"Oh? Is that so?" Luo Shu picked up the documents with a sceptical expression, skimming through them.
The first was Ayano Kannagi's application, featuring a passport-sized photo at the top, followed by her profile. Luo Shu didn't bother reading the details, simply stamping it with his personal seal before moving to the second document.
"Lingyin Huang?"
Luo Shu froze at the small photo in the corner.
The twin-tailed young girl in the picture was unfamiliar, yet he vaguely recalled that she was from the same world as Tabane Shinonono.
As Luo Shu hesitated, Yukino tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and explained impassively:
"Director, are you acquainted with this heiress of the Huang family from Hong Kong?"
Luo Shu hesitated. "The Huang family? Descendants of the Spirit King of Wind contractor?"
"Correct," Yukino confirmed. "After verification by Director Meer, her status as a Familia candidate was confirmed. Following negotiations, the Huang family agreed to have her join as a newcomer. Additionally, they'll provide a batch of Elemental Spirit Liquid in exchange for resources. I assume you're aware of this arrangement?"
Luo Shu grimaced. "I knew about the deal with the Huang family, but I didn't expect them to send her!"
"From what I recall, this girl should be from the same world as Tabane Shinonono. How did she become the Huang family's heiress?"
Yukino seemed mildly surprised by his reaction:
"Another person whose background you're familiar with?"
It was common knowledge within the Familia that Luo Shu had extensive knowledge of potential candidates.
According to his explanation, he was born with knowledge about certain girls' origins and which worlds they should inhabit.
While Yukino questioned whether this was merely an excuse, she didn't doubt the accuracy of his information.
After all, no matter how normal Luo Shu might appear, his true nature was that of a reawakening deity.
Being omniscient from birth was practically to be expected.
"It is indeed someone whose information I'm aware of, which is why I'm surprised she appeared in the Huang family, and as a direct descendant no less."
"Could this be another disparity between worlds?"
Luo Shu examined Lingyin Huang's report.
Her Wind Arts had been confirmed as Elite Rank by the Hong Kong branch of the SDS Operations Department. She was the daughter of the second young lady from the previous generation of the Huang family in Hong Kong, born to divorced parents and subsequently raised by the main Huang family.
Luo Shu skimmed through the background check, focusing particularly on the parental information.
Summarising the contents, it essentially told the story of a young mistress falling for a social climber, eloping for love, living in Japan for years until reality defeated romance, resulting in a broken relationship. She then returned home with an illegitimate daughter, where the family head and her doting elder brother reluctantly took them in, raising the illegitimate child as a direct descendant.
It was such a melodramatic plot that one might doubt its authenticity, yet Lingyin Huang did possess the Huang bloodline and could use their unique Wind Arts, which surprised Luo Shu.
'Could bloodlines also change after the world's transformation?'
Moreover, Luo Shu only half-believed the dramatic account above, remaining sceptical about the rest:
"If she were truly a beloved daughter, would they be willing to send her to me?"
Could a daughter sent for political marriage really be considered favoured?
Luo Shu strongly suspected Lingyin Huang's courteous treatment by the Huang family was solely due to her marriage value.
After all, the Huang family's direct female descendants all seemed somewhat special.
The main lineage's family head had only produced a son, a late-life child now about seven years old.
As for the so-called direct female descendants, there were only two. Lingyin Huang was the product of the previous generation's second young lady's elopement.
The other direct descendant was Tsui Ling Huang, the illegitimate daughter born from a one-night stand of the deceased younger brother of the current family head.
Luo Shu knew this from intelligence provided by Kirika Tachibana.
After all, Tsui Ling Huang's fiancé was none other than Kazuma Yagami, the current Spirit King of Wind contractor.
Luo Shu's suspicion about the Huang family's dubious intentions towards Lingyin Huang stemmed from this precedent of hastily welcoming home an illegitimate daughter who'd snagged a contractor.
Facing Luo Shu's doubts, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned and explained:
"According to investigations by the Hong Kong branch, this transfer was Lingyin Huang's own idea. For more specific reasons, the Director might need to ask her personally."
Luo Shu's expression turned peculiar as he replied: "Asking isn't an issue, but I'm now rather doubtful about whether the Hong Kong branch has been compromised."
"I can't help feeling some testing might be necessary."
Yukino Yukinoshita's lips curled as she revealed her true intentions:
"So the Director actually approves of entrance examinations then?"
"Uh." Luo Shu was instantly rendered speechless.
He was the one who thought entrance exams were useless, yet also the one who doubted Lingyin Huang's circumstances. Well, this was truly hoist by his own petard.
Embarrassed, Luo Shu quickly changed the subject: "What exactly does the testing entail?"
"The examinations consist of three parts: theoretical tests, physical assessments, and psychological evaluations."
Yukino Yukinoshita stated coldly:
"Nia Honjo and Natsuki-sensei will oversee theoretical examinations. Dr Tabane Shinonono and Ms Tokoyogi will manage physical assessments. Senior Utaha and Ms Kikyo will handle the final psychological evaluations."
"What?" Luo Shu started, giving Yukino Yukinoshita a strange look.
Nia Honjo and Natsuki Minamiya being in charge of setting theoretical questions was understandable, but how did Aya Tokoyogi get involved as well? And having Kikyo and Utaha handle the psychological tests?
A shrine maiden with purification power and a sorcerer with mind-reading abilities – are you sure this is a psychological test and not psychological torture?
Yukino Yukinoshita ignored Luo Shu's reaction and said calmly:
"Does the Director have any objections to the assessment? If so, you may add an extra round."
"May I ask, are there only two participants?" Luo Shu asked suspiciously.
Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head: "No, there were 32 participants for this morning's theoretical assessment."
"Then this list..."
Luo Shu picked up the two club application forms and waved them.
"These are today's assessment pass list," Yukino Yukinoshita explained impassively. "Could the Director please finish signing them quickly? School is about to start."
'Alright, the morning exam hasn't even begun yet, and the pass list is already in my hands. Did the qualified candidates time-travel or something?'
Luo Shu's mouth twitched before he picked up the stamp and marked Lingyin Huang's form.
"I wonder if this test will be fair and just."
Not that Luo Shu held out any hope for that.