"Are you still in contact with Shizuka Hio?"
Takatsuki Izumi barely hesitated before answering:
"Yes. In fact, I was just using her channels to gather intel about the mystic side."
Luo Shu gave her a slightly surprised look at her candour:
"You're surprisingly honest."
Takatsuki Izumi lowered her head slightly, secretly relieved.
'Loyalty that isn't absolute is absolute disloyalty.'
Having led Aogiri Tree for so long, she understood exactly what kind of subordinates displeased superiors. Hence, her complete honesty during Luo Shu's questioning.
After all, lying was easy - but trust was hard to earn...
At this moment, Luo Shu gazed at the back of the sofa before him, catching glimpses of Kisara's pink hair.
After a moment's thought, he said:
"Contact Shizuka Hio and ask if she's interested in accepting my protection."
"Of course, just give her a gentle reminder. If she refuses, then drop it."
His indifferent attitude stemmed from uncertainty about Shizuka Hio's current stance.
Was she resisting the Vampire Elder Council?
Apart from hiding, she didn't seem to be doing much.
Her recruitment of Ghouls wasn't as active as expected—more like a half-hearted attempt.
Rather than plotting against the Council, Luo Shu suspected she might simply be building forces for self-preservation, wanting to avoid their interference.
Hence, he extended this olive branch.
Beyond that, Luo Shu had another concern: whether Shizuka Hio would meet the system's standards.
From his understanding, the system tended to recommend beauties—especially women who played significant roles in their original worlds—as Familia candidates.
According to his intel, Shizuka Hio's beauty was unparalleled, even considered the Vampires' most stunning.
Given the Divine Pantheon System's tendencies, her recruitment odds seemed high.
The only worry was her rejecting his offer.
If so, so be it.
With countless potential Familia candidates worldwide, Luo Shu wouldn't antagonise the Vampire Elder Council over one refusal.
After all, their leader, Asato Ichijo, had contributed to eliminating Ghouls. Without necessity, Luo Shu wouldn't provoke him.
Noticing Luo Shu's nonchalance, Takatsuki Izumi theatrically added:
"Rest assured, I'll have a thorough discussion with Lady Shizuka Hio."
Though Luo Shu hadn't framed this as a test, Takatsuki Izumi believed Ghouls must prove their worth.
Moreover, Shizuka Hio possessed an Abyss Artefact capable of transforming twenty Ghouls into Vampires.
To maintain control over these potential defectors, Takatsuki Izumi had to secure Shizuka Hio's SDS membership.
An alliance within the SDS would also benefit her personally.
Such a high-reward, low-risk endeavour was irresistible.
Detecting her hidden resolve, Luo Shu remarked on her obedience:
"Very well. Since you're so earnest, consider this a trial."
He paused meaningfully.
"A trial for truly joining my ranks."
Takatsuki Izumi's mind raced with calculations as she flashed an age-appropriately alluring smile:
"You'll have my results before dawn."
Nodding, Luo Shu gestured for her to exit the vehicle.
Once she'd tactfully disembarked, he stretched and muttered:
"Odd. I expected some trickery, yet she's surprisingly compliant?"
Hearing Luo Shu's muttering, Kisara, who was sitting in the driver's seat, glanced at his face through the rearview mirror and said:
"Shu-kun, are you really planning to recruit that woman into your Familia?"
It was clear that Kisara had understood the implications behind Luo Shu's earlier words.
"That's the idea."
Luo Shu didn't deny his intentions and even explained his reasoning to Kisara.
"Although their combat strength is somewhat lacking, Ghouls do have decent regenerative abilities—almost like a form of immortality. Recruiting so many Ghouls means I'll need countermeasures in place."
"The best method would be to make Takatsuki Izumi, their leader, a member of my Familia, bound by the system's restrictions."
"That way, she becomes a blade in my hand, suppressing the other Ghouls and turning their fangs against my enemies."
"And if any Ghouls rebel, the first obstacle they'd face would be Takatsuki Izumi herself."
"Well, this is just a casual move on my part. After all, you know as well as I do that the Hidden Management Department is practically just an empty shell right now."
To be fair, Ghouls, as a species, really aren't that impressive in terms of strength.
Their strongest SSS-rank individuals barely scrape the edge of a level 3 evaluation in this world.
And level 3 evaluation corresponds to the system's Hero Rank—and even then, it's on the weaker side.
After all, someone with just one Hero Rank ability is a Hero Rank, and so is someone with three complementary Elite Rank abilities.
These two represent the weakest tier of Hero Rank, with the latter being slightly stronger due to versatility.
This doesn't even account for those Hero Ranks with actual Classes.
It's safe to say that within the Hero Rank, power disparities are vast—it's the final preparation before ascending to Demigod status, the foundation for humanity's apotheosis.
Yet Ghouls are in the awkward position of barely matching even the weakest Hero Ranks.
Honestly, Ghouls don't have much developmental potential.
However, it's not as if the Hidden Management Department has many options to choose from.
Luo Shu couldn't possibly send Utaha or Eriri out on missions to contain Abyss Artefacts, could he?
Absolutely not. They're his Familia members. Even if they need combat experience, it has to be under conditions he deems safe—not facing the myriad highly dangerous Abyss Artefacts.
Thus, a group of combat-capable, resilient, and hard-to-kill Ghouls with clean backgrounds caught Luo Shu's attention, prompting him to consider recruitment.
In simple terms, he'd incorporate Ghouls into the Hidden Management Department's lowest-tier field agent roles—as cannon fodder.
Of course, he wouldn't phrase it that way openly, but that's essentially what they'd be.
The weaker Ghouls from Anteiku, those Yoshimura considers decent, could serve as basic administrative staff, while Takatsuki Izumi's Aogiri Tree members could be the field agents.
This way, the Hidden Management Department's basic framework could finally take shape.
After Luo Shu briefly explained his thoughts, Kisara nodded in sudden understanding:
"Ah, right. That fox Utaha definitely shouldn't be sent out—what if something happens to Shu-kun's child?"
"Ch-child?" Luo Shu was utterly dumbfounded by this remark...
If he'd been drinking anything, he would have sprayed it all over Kisara's face.
"It's way too early for that! The seeds were just planted—even genetically modified crops don't grow that fast."
Hearing Luo Shu's flustered words, Kisara responded with a rather gloomy expression:
"It was just a metaphor."
Luo Shu gave Kisara a speechless look, unable to stop himself from thinking:
'Miss Kisara, do you have some grudge against yourself? Why use such a self-deprecating metaphor?'
At that moment, Kisara murmured softly: "So, Shu-kun doesn't have anything else to do now?"
"Nothing left." Luo Shu couldn't help stretching before smiling. "I can go home and sleep."
"Mmm, that's true, but... could we do something else before sleeping?"
Kisara's voice was slightly hoarse yet unusually gentle as she spoke:
"For example, having a meal."
"Eating this late at night?" Luo Shu froze momentarily before noticing the deep crimson hue in Kisara's eyes.
'Uh... surely she doesn't mean that kind of meal?'
His heart skipped a beat, but considering how Utaha had previously stirred up Kisara's anger, he stiffly nodded:
"Then... just a little bit."
Tonight's dish immediately showed a pleased smile upon hearing this.
...
The next day, in Luo Shu's office.
"Minister, you seem to be looking rather unwell."
Yukino Yukinoshita, who had just arrived for work, looked at Luo Shu with some surprise, puzzled by his exhausted expression:
"Did you not rest well last night?"
"What do you think?"
Luo Shu slightly raised his head, looking at her with sleepy eyes, and chuckled:
"If you have time, could you buy me some zinc tablets? I think I might need those."
Yukino Yukinoshita, who was preparing tea utensils, asked in confusion:
"Zinc tablets are for treating malnutrition and anorexia, aren't they? Are you sure you need them, Minister?"
Luo Shu lay on the desk, yawning:
"I need them, of course. Not for malnutrition, though—it's for replenishing my body."
As he spoke, Luo Shu opened one eye while keeping the other closed, addressing Yukino Yukinoshita:
"It's a secret remedy. If taken long-term, it's very good for the waist."
Yukino Yukinoshita, who was filling water, froze.
She slowly stood up, her face darkening as she glared at Luo Shu:
"Can I interpret your earlier words as sexual harassment, Minister?"
Though young, the combination of "secret remedy" and "good for the waist" made it perfectly clear what this was for.
'You're actually asking me to buy this for you?'
Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly felt the urge to punch Luo Shu to death.
Seeing this, Luo Shu immediately replied, "Personally, I believe I was merely explaining your question."
Yukino Yukinoshita then smiled like a Yuki-onna:
"Very well, thank you for your explanation. So, could you please shut up now?"
Luo Shu chuckled at this but lay back on the desk, genuinely starting to catch up on sleep.
Only when the morning was half over did he hear Yukino Yukinoshita calling him.
The reason was simple.
Shizuka Hio had arrived.