So it's finally come to this.
Hearing Kirika mention Kurumi Tokisaki, Luo Shu wasn't surprised. He simply put down his playing cards, picked up his coffee, took a sip, and said:
"Are you worried?"
"Of course I'm worried."
Kirika glared at Luo Shu, practically bristling with anger:
"Keeping a Truth Astronomy Angel right under your nose as your secretary? What? Couldn't Kisara satisfy you? Not even Meer could do it?"
Beside them, Meer blinked innocently at Kirika.
What did this have to do with her?
Seeing Kirika resorting to personal attacks, Luo Shu rolled his eyes and retorted:
"Should I hand her over to you then? Could you manage her clones?"
Kirika scoffed coldly. "If we can't manage them, we eliminate them. What kind of operation is keeping her in the Hidden Management Department?"
"A department that stores Abyss Artefacts and dangerous lifeforms, and you let an executive from a hostile organisation serve as secretary? What, afraid Truth Astronomy won't find out about your treasures?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu couldn't help but stroke his chin.
'That might actually work... Luring Truth Astronomy members here to eliminate them? Strengthening my power by bestowing misfortune upon strong opponents?'
"I wouldn't say anything if you kept her locked in the Hidden Management Zone, but letting her move freely around headquarters? Are you an idiot?"
After this tirade, Kirika noticed Luo Shu's thoughtful expression, and her eyelids twitched. With a strange look, she said:
"You brat... you're actually considering luring them here to kill them, aren't you?"
"Do you really think you can handle all of Truth Astronomy's demons?"
"Not all of them," Luo Shu shook his head before continuing. "How should I put this?"
"You should understand my position - the Angel intelligence I submitted explained that these Spirit Angels representing the Sephirot of Kabbalah generally have benevolent dispositions."
"So there's a possibility of recruiting her."
"But is it worth taking such a big risk?" Kirika countered.
Luo Shu then ventured: "Should I consult the Supreme Chairwoman for her decision?"
At this, Kirika immediately fell silent.
Asking Lacus to make the decision - how was that any different from supporting Luo Shu?
That naive woman would absolutely give Kurumi Tokisaki a chance at redemption.
And if it failed, Lacus would undoubtedly take responsibility herself.
Better not to mention it then - if anything went wrong, Luo Shu could take the blame since it was his doing anyway.
With this thought, Kirika exhaled deeply and said helplessly:
"Can't you assign someone else to monitor her?"
Luo Shu considered this seriously:
"Aside from Kisara, no one at my disposal has the capability to keep track of her clones."
"In fact, the only reason she hasn't escaped while I'm away is because we've reached a mutual understanding to maintain contact."
"Ultimately, gaining someone's trust takes time."
"A tacit understanding through mutual interaction?"
Kirika Tachibana took a deep breath, massaging her temples with a headache:
"This Angel with countless clones is truly a major nuisance."
"At this point, we'll have to resort to crude methods - either you or Kisara must stay at the headquarters every day."
Hearing this, Luo Shu looked at Kirika with resentful eyes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kirika asked, puzzled.
"Because it's spring~" Meer stifled a laugh and teased.
Kirika froze momentarily before realisation dawned. She spat out:
"She's a demon, a pure-blooded demon, and one you've brainwashed at that. How could you even consider it?"
Luo Shu replied in a suggestive tone: "Isn't this the safest approach?"
For a girl in love, her partner is the most important thing after all.
"You..." Kirika frowned, about to say something.
Meer suddenly raised her hand and reported:
"I saw it with my own eyes - Kisara made the first move."
"Luo Shu tried to resist, but the next second Kisara bit him and injected aphrodisiac saliva."
"Shut up." Luo Shu pressed a playing card against Meer's mouth, forcibly silencing her.
Meanwhile, Kirika was staring at Luo Shu with an odd expression, visibly struggling not to laugh in his face.
'So this guy, who just acted all high-and-mighty about 'fully utilising Kisara' by taking her body, was actually the one being pushed down?'
'Well, I'll be damned... I'll be damned!!'
Kirika burst out laughing, unable to resist saying:
"So you were just covering up the fact you're not the dominant one?"
Luo Shu gave her another resentful look.
Though he said nothing, his eyes spoke volumes.
Kirika's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter before she finally composed herself, saying:
"Honestly, I'm starting to believe you might actually reach an agreement with that Time Angel now."
"Hmm, hundreds of clones ganging up to rape you... that possibility isn't zero."
"Could you say one less sentence?" Luo Shu glared at her in embarrassment.
"Fine, fine, I'll stop." Kirika sighed, then said: "Let's table the Kurumi Tokisaki matter for now."
"Try not to let her access any classified information unless she truly does something trustworthy."
"Of course, if she takes any action harmful to SDS during this period, I expect you to eliminate her with full force."
While agreeing internally, Luo Shu still reminded her:
"Tachibana-san, we're equals in rank, no?"
Kirika raised an eyebrow and glared at him:
"What? Do I need to ride you too before you'll listen?"
Meer's eyes lit up as she clasped her hands together:
"Yes, please! I'll hold Luo Shu's legs down while you strip him, then we'll all be one big happy family~~"
"Get lost!" Kirika couldn't help pinching Meer's cheeks: "Did you think I wouldn't realise you egged Kisara into doing this?"
"Ouch ouch ouch..." Meer winced in pain but still added fuel to the fire: "But if both the Chairwoman and I marry Luo Shu, wouldn't you feel lonely, Kirika?"
Kirika Tachibana's face darkened: "So because I'm lonely, I should just let men play with me? Why don't you go get played with then?"
Meer craftily defended herself: "I'm just waiting for the right time! How about you give me half a day first?"
"Half a day? That long?"
Kirika Tachibana froze, releasing Meer's reddened cheek with a strange expression as she scrutinised Luo Shu:
"Isn't half an hour the norm? Are you sick or something?"
"Piss off!" Luo Shu couldn't help rolling his eyes. "Your whole family's the sick one."
Kirika Tachibana retorted slyly: "My family only consists of me and Lacus. You sure they're all sick?"
"...You win."
Luo Shu was speechless, facing this shameless older woman:
"Anything else? If not, I'm leaving. There's still loads to handle at the department."
"Nothing else." Kirika Tachibana tidied the playing cards on the table while adding, "Oh, try to settle those Ghouls you recruited properly. Report them to Meer to avoid any incidents."
She couldn't help grumbling: "Though Ghouls are weak against us, the Self-Defence Forces might not turn them down."
Hearing this, Luo Shu frowned disapprovingly: "What are those people thinking?"
Kirika Tachibana shrugged: "You'll never understand how self-proclaimed smart idiots think."
Taking her meaning, Luo Shu waved his hand dismissively and left.
After his departure, Kirika Tachibana turned and glared fiercely at Meer, grabbing her clothes:
"You little brat, trying to turn the entire SDS into your man's harem?"
"Even daring to tease me now?"
Meer clutched her clothes protectively, squealing softly:
"Stop pulling! No groping! I'm a married woman now."
"Kirika, you can't betray your man like this!"
"Bugger off! He's your man."
Kirika Tachibana laughed while scolding, then roughly ruffled Meer's hair:
"Clean up the intel properly. Don't let Natsuki Minamiya find out how Kurumi Tokisaki's clone fell into our hands. Keep that Sharon woman well hidden."
Meer giggled:
"My, keeping secrets from Natsuki-chan? That'll be troublesome~"
"Can't be helped. Our dear Natsuki-chan keeps refusing Lacus's invitations."
As she spoke, Kirika Tachibana took out a salt packet to roll a cigarette, gazing thoughtfully at the door where Luo Shu had exited:
"Speaking of which... when did that guy manage to recruit Sharon?"
Recalling Meer's report about Sharon and Luo Shu jointly capturing one of Kurumi Tokisaki's clones, Kirika couldn't help but feel that the world had gone absurd.
Though she understood Meer's knowledge must have come from Luo Shu himself.
And though she recognised this as Luo Shu hinting that Sharon was his covert operative, not meant for public exposure, the revelation still shocked Kirika.
She couldn't fathom why that Sharon would become Luo Shu's subordinate.
Was it because Luo Shu had exceptional... stamina? Superhuman abilities?
But typically, doesn't the well run dry after half an hour?
With deep scepticism about biological knowledge, Kirika Tachibana lit a cigarette.
...
Near Akihabara, the Hidden Management Department headquarters.
Bang! Bang!
Hand-held party poppers exploded into countless streamers.
Luo Shu, dressed in a dark suit, immediately began clapping enthusiastically:
"Now, let's give a warm welcome to our new member!!"
Hearing Luo Shu say this, Yukino Yukinoshita turned her gaze towards Utaha, who was eyeing Kisara suspiciously as the latter held a party popper.
Kisara, in turn, was staring at Kurumi Tokisaki, who was seated across from her, also holding a party popper and grinning cheerfully.
Finally, Eriri, whom no one was paying attention to, blurted out with a dumbfounded expression:
"So after all this, it turns out everyone here is a newbie?!"