After glancing at the four pieces of four-leaf clover jewellery in his hand, Luo Shu looked up at Maya Yotsuba, who was smiling:
"Are you implying that you're entrusting the Yotsuba family to me?"
"Yes."
Maya Yotsuba directly admitted Luo Shu's interpretation:
"Although it's a transaction of interests, since you've decided the future of me, my sister, and Miyuki, Luo Shu, you are undoubtedly the head of the Yotsuba family. This is quite easy to understand, isn't it?"
Hearing this description, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Maya Yotsuba with a somewhat amused expression:
"Are you adding burdens to my shoulders?"
Maya Yotsuba merely chuckled at this: "If you want to possess everything, you must bear the weight of it all, isn't that right?"
At this point, Maya Yotsuba slightly raised her head, her purple eyes reflecting Luo Shu's speechless expression:
"Being a king isn't easy."
"I understand that better than you do." Luo Shu picked up his coffee, took a small sip, then waved his right hand, causing the Mist Ring on his finger to glow faintly.
The next moment, three brown scrolls appeared on the table.
"These are contracts to join the Hidden Management Department. By signing your names on them, you can become core members of the Hidden Management Department."
Hearing Luo Shu say this, Maya Yotsuba immediately focused her gaze on the brown contract scrolls.
When she saw the number of scrolls, Maya Yotsuba looked up at Luo Shu:
"Is there none for Tatsuya?"
"He doesn't have the qualifications." Luo Shu's response was simple and direct: "However, if you require it, I can have the SDS prepare an internal employment contract."
"Doesn't have the qualifications?" Maya Yotsuba sighed with some regret: "It seems my sister made a mistake by having Tatsuya be born as a boy."
Hearing this bold idea, Luo Shu's mouth twitched slightly, while Miyuki Shiba, beside him, unconsciously began imagining Tatsuya Shiba as her older sister.
A sister who cherishes her, yet is exceptionally powerful and handsome?
In an instant, Miyuki Shiba suddenly felt that having a sister might actually be quite nice.
However, Miyuki Shiba's bold idea ultimately remained just that—an idea.
Although there were indeed bizarre Abyss Artefacts in this world capable of altering one's gender, whether one could qualify as a Familia candidate after such a change was not something Miyuki Shiba could decide.
"May I take these three scrolls with me?" Maya Yotsuba, holding two scrolls, smiled as she addressed Luo Shu.
Luo Shu did not refuse this request:
"Certainly, as long as you ensure their confidentiality."
He believed Maya Yotsuba was intelligent enough not to disclose the scrolls' contents.
Of course, even if there were intentional leaks, Luo Shu had the means to deal with them immediately.
After all, when it came to matters related to the Familia, Luo Shu always maintained the utmost vigilance.
At that moment, Maya Yotsuba securely stored her own and her sister's scrolls, then glanced at Miyuki Shiba.
Receiving her aunt's look, Miyuki Shiba also reached out and took her own scroll, tacitly accepting the outcome of the negotiation.
Seeing this, Luo Shu glanced at Miyuki Shiba. Although he felt she had shown no initiative in this transaction, considering it was her choice, he ultimately said nothing.
Noticing Miyuki Shiba had secured her scroll, Maya Yotsuba immediately prepared to rise:
"Well, time is limited, so please excuse my rudeness as I take my leave."
Hearing this, Luo Shu nodded without attempting to detain them, instead reminding them:
"When the contract is signed, there will be a miracle of awakening abilities, so it's best to choose as safe a location as possible."
Upon hearing this, Maya Yotsuba first showed surprise, then smiled in understanding:
"I see. Thank you for the reminder."
With that, Maya Yotsuba and Miyuki Shiba bid farewell to Luo Shu and departed from their seats.
After Maya Yotsuba and Miyuki Shiba had taken their leave.
In the coffee lounge, where only Luo Shu remained.
Luo Shu moved his hand away, glanced at the four Yotsuba flower accessories on the table, then chuckled softly and shook his head:
"We agreed to discuss only interests, yet in the end, emotional tactics were still employed."
After this reflection, Luo Shu retrieved a deep blue gift box from the Mist Ring, carefully placed the four accessories inside one by one, and then transmitted them deep into the Divine Kingdom for safekeeping.
Considering the significance of these four accessories, Luo Shu had no choice but to store them securely.
And for Luo Shu, the Divine Kingdom was undoubtedly the safest place and one that best demonstrated his regard.
After storing the accessories, thinking of his appointment that evening, Luo Shu immediately stood up and left the café.
-
Just past 9 PM.
In Maya Yotsuba's apartment in Chiyoda Ward.
With a click of the lock opening.
Miya Yotsuba, disguised as Maya Yotsuba, stepped into the entryway, accompanied by an expressionless Tatsuya Shiba.
"The situation seems worse than I imagined."
"According to mental surveillance of the Cabinet ministers, they appear to have made contact with America and are planning to cultivate a Class sorcerer while attempting to evade the SDS's notice."
After Miya Yotsuba returned home and mentioned this matter, Tatsuya Shiba used magic to scan the surroundings, confirming there was no surveillance, before speaking:
"But wasn't the True Dragon Sorcerer's Class taken by the Demigod Director of the Hidden Management Department?"
At this moment, Miya Yotsuba took off her high heels, changed into house slippers, and stepped onto the floor:
"According to the memories I've read, the American Union seems to have obtained partial information about the True Dragon Sorcerer's Class and intends to transfer it to the Japanese authorities."
Hearing this news, Tatsuya Shiba immediately frowned, his tone carrying some doubt:
"Such behaviour doesn't seem consistent with the American Union's usual practices."
"Indeed, it isn't." Miya Yotsuba nodded, acknowledging Tatsuya's point: "Even Cabinet ministers are suspicious of the American Union's motives, but because of the benefits that cultivating a Demigod would bring, they couldn't resist taking the bait."
"Even if such actions would incur the SDS's hostility."
Upon hearing this, Tatsuya Shiba said expressionlessly:
"Gambling with national fate again?"
Though the two worlds' versions of Japan were different, whenever faced with major national matters, the Japanese authorities seemed habitually inclined to ignore risks, focusing only on the potentially massive gains, betting on minuscule odds while imagining the beautiful scenario of the winner taking all.
This kind of gambling with national fate was practically standard procedure for the Japanese authorities.
For the rational Tatsuya, such behaviour was undoubtedly foolish.
Hearing this, Miya Yotsuba sighed softly and, while walking towards the living room, said quietly:
"Though we're not yet certain about Maya's negotiation results, to be honest, I don't have much confidence in the current Cabinet."
When she entered the living room, Miya Yotsuba stopped, about to turn on the light, when she suddenly noticed a figure on the sofa.
The cool moonlight passed through the half-open curtains, illuminating the living room through the floor-to-ceiling windows and Maya Yotsuba's face, with its strangely uncontrollable smile, wearing an inexplicably eerie grin.
Seeing her younger sister like this, Miya Yotsuba couldn't help but frown slightly.
For some reason, she always felt that Maya Yotsuba was somewhat strange, as if she couldn't control her emotions and was slipping into a frenzy.
"Maya, why that expression?"
"Ah, sister, you're back."
Hearing her sister's voice, Maya Yotsuba turned her head, directing her uncontrollably joyful face towards Miya Yotsuba, and spoke in a voice suppressing laughter:
"The bet, I've won, sister!!"