"LINE group?" Luo Shu was momentarily stunned upon hearing this: "There's such a thing? How come I didn't know about it?"
Yukino Yukinoshita gave Luo Shu a deep look before continuing:
"It might not be a chat app, but encrypted communication through some Abyss Artefact."
At this point, Yukino specifically added:
"And an encrypted channel that specifically excludes me."
Hearing such explicit words from Yukino Yukinoshita, Luo Shu felt his scalp tingle, realising exactly what she was referring to.
Through Luo Shu's changing expression, Yukino finally confirmed that such a thing indeed existed:
"Minister, is this really amusing to you?"
"What?"
Luo Shu was somewhat bewildered, but the young Yukino Yukinoshita was already preparing to reform the workplace.
She had always been the type who, if unable to adapt to her environment, would carve out her own path for self-amusement. But with the Hidden Management Department, family pressure left her no room to hide, so she had no choice but to reshape the department into something she could accept.
"From your expression, I've confirmed that I'm indeed being excluded by all of you."
Yukino's gaze turned icy as she stared at Luo Shu.
It wasn't that she disliked Luo Shu per se - she simply detested this awkward, affected, and utterly disingenuous environment.
"I presume your intention was to use the discovery of secrets as some sort of test, correct?"
Luo Shu rubbed his chin with some hesitation:
"Ah... more or less, yes. That's probably the idea."
Yukino's tone then turned serious:
"Then please issue specific test questions, define the assessment method, and list the passing criteria - rather than making me guess everything."
"I can understand your inner wariness. In fact, I, too, dislike others probing my privacy or peering into my thoughts. But since you're already part of the department's leadership, please demonstrate your authority and resolve."
Miss Yukinoshita seemed to grow taller before his eyes:
"Petty behaviour won't accomplish great things, Luo Shu-kun."
"If you intend to test me, then establish proper procedures. If you plan to do something, outline the current situation and future objectives, then derive the methods to achieve them."
Determined to lay everything bare, Yukino pressed on regardless:
"That's right - I was forced here by my family to strengthen the Yukinoshita influence within the mystic side."
"Since you're willing to accept this and believe testing is necessary, tell me directly. If I fail, I'll leave immediately. If I pass, treat me properly as your subordinate. Is that acceptable?"
Dumbfounded by Yukino's directness, it took Luo Shu a long moment to recover before he suddenly burst into laughter:
"HAHAHAHA~~!!"
"Fascinating, truly fascinating." Luo Shu laughed until tears streamed from his eyes.
Wiping the moisture from the corners of his eyes, he looked at the stern-faced Yukino Yukinoshita and smiled:
"You're absolutely right - this is indeed my responsibility."
"I was so focused on guarding my own secrets that I failed to account for your personality."
"That was my mistake."
Scratching his head, Luo Shu then said with visible frustration:
"Always thinking about developing in the shadows isn't good - it makes even one's thoughts small-minded."
"Never mind."
Luo Shu seemed to have figured something out, his expression relaxing considerably:
"Shall I just come straight out with it then?"
Yukino Yukinoshita nodded, then asked: "Would you like me to record the test requirements for you?"
"That won't be necessary. Just sit beside me."
Luo Shu waved his hand, indicating for Yukino to sit on the nearby sofa. After she had seated herself, he paused thoughtfully before saying:
"Yukino-san, do you believe gods exist in this world?"
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned but still offered her thoughts:
"I didn't before, but now... I think there might indeed be beings worshipped as gods in this world."
"Mm, you're not wrong - such beings do exist." Luo Shu paused here before calmly stating: "For example, me."
"Of course, I'm currently more like... an infant stage, perhaps not even that. To be specific, I'd be at the human equivalent of babyhood."
Yukino Yukinoshita fell completely silent upon hearing this.
Seeing her reaction, Luo Shu couldn't help but tease:
"Heh, earlier you thought I was being roundabout and lacking boldness. Now that I'm telling the truth, you've gone quiet?"
Yukino Yukinoshita sighed: "...You misunderstand. I was just considering how to contact the SDS's psychiatric hospital."
"You think I'm mentally ill?" Luo Shu gave her an odd look.
Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head, then said:
"No, I was wondering if obtaining a psychiatric certificate for myself might convince you to let me go."
Yukino Yukinoshita had known Luo Shu was hiding something significant, but she'd never imagined it would be this significant.
A living god?
Who also happened to be her director? Her immediate superior?
In that moment, Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly understood why Luo Shu carried such psychological burdens.
By his own admission, he was merely an infant-stage god. And what did infants represent?
Weakness, helplessness, vulnerability to death from the slightest neglect.
Wild animals in nature specifically prey on vulnerable young. What then of a young god like Luo Shu?
Yukino Yukinoshita abruptly realised that while her earlier words had been correct from her perspective...
From Luo Shu's position as a divine being, guarding this secret with his life was the only absolute truth.
Because if the secret got out, he would genuinely die.
"Getting a psychiatric certificate for yourself?" Luo Shu was momentarily stunned by Yukino Yukinoshita's approach.
After this brief astonishment passed, he couldn't help laughing: "Well now, that clever little head of yours works fast, doesn't it? Already thinking of self-preservation methods."
Yukino Yukinoshita sighed, took several deep breaths to compose herself, then continued questioning:
"So... are Kasumigaoka-san and Sawamura-san aware of this matter?"
"They're my Familia. You could consider them shrine maidens or Shinto priests."
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita's eyelid twitched before she said:
"So the Hidden Management Department is essentially a cover for you?"
Using an official secrecy organisation as a shell to conceal his true nature, Yukino Yukinoshita immediately grasped this strategy.
And most crucially, she had finally understood the assessment Luo Shu had been hinting at but never explicitly stating:
"So the so-called test's final passing condition is for me to also become the club president's Shrine Maiden?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu couldn't help but applaud Yukino:
"As expected of you, the brilliant Yukino. You guessed it immediately."
Yukino Yukinoshita gave Luo Shu a serious look before sighing again:
"At times like these, your compliments only make me more apprehensive."
She paused before continuing:
"If I fail the assessment or refuse to become a Shrine Maiden, what would you do?"
Luo Shu thought for a moment, then raised his right hand, revealing the ruby ring.
Seeing the beast-like vertical pupil within the ruby, Yukino immediately understood:
"The Demon Heart's hypnosis? What a merciful solution."
Miss Yukino Yukinoshita, who had previously considered the Demon Heart an enemy of women, now suddenly felt this item was a match made in heaven in Luo Shu's hands.
At least with this tool, those who failed the test would have a way out.
After this internal reflection, Yukino suddenly realised something and asked with a somewhat strange expression:
"Wait, the Demon Heart can apparently only hypnotise women, doesn't that mean..."
Her gaze towards Luo Shu changed, becoming extremely peculiar:
"Your Familia can only recruit women?"
Luo Shu coughed dryly twice, picked up the tea Miss Yukino had prepared, gulped it down, but said nothing.
Understanding the answer from Luo Shu's silent confirmation, Yukino rubbed her temples in frustration:
"A male chief deity with numerous female Shrine Maidens... how amusing. In some ways, it's an organisational structure that caters to certain male preferences."
Getting straight to the point, Miss Yukino then asked:
"Do deities also fancy women?"
Luo Shu actually considered this seriously before replying:
"When Kisara seduced me, I was quite excited. When Utaha wore black stockings, I couldn't look away..."
"Please stop right there. I understand you're proving your orientation, but spare me the details."
Yukino's face flushed red from Luo Shu's words as she hastily changed the subject:
"I've grasped the situation, but I'm sorry - I refuse to become like that."
"Understood." Luo Shu raised his right hand, preparing to erase Yukino's memories.
Just then, Yukino suddenly said:
"Wait a moment."
"Hmm?" Luo Shu looked curiously at Yukino, who had called for a pause.
Yukino looked at him with exasperation:
"Was my previous statement not clear enough?"
"While I refuse to become like Utaha-san or Kisara-san, I don't believe I explicitly refused to become a Shrine Maiden?"
"Or perhaps, Director, the Shrine Maidens you speak of specifically refer to female Familia members who must engage in such activities?"
Yukino might as well have directly asked if Luo Shu's Familia was explicitly defined as a harem.
Hearing this, Luo Shu had an epiphany and lowered his hand:
"I see. So you're willing to become my subordinate?"
"From the moment I came to your door, I'd already agreed to this, hadn't I?"
Yukino sighed.
If she wasn't willing to join the SDS or serve under Luo Shu, she should have stayed in Chiba instead of coming to Tokyo.
Therefore, she believed Luo Shu's test had been unnecessary from the start.
Yet she understood his perspective.
After all, when it came to secrets about gods, she wouldn't feel at ease without multiple confirmations either.
"So, Director, what are the requirements to become a Familia?"
Seeing Yukino agree to join his side, Luo Shu visibly relaxed:
"Just sign a contract."
"A contract? I see." Yukino nodded in understanding. "That's why you said earlier you couldn't trust Shizuka Hio unless she signed a contract?"
"A contract guaranteed by divine power... no wonder..."
Learning the truth actually put Yukino Yukinoshita's mind at ease.
"So the reason you had Takatsuki Izumi deliver the contract to Hio Shizuka was because Takatsuki had already signed the contract?"
"President, were you planning to have Takatsuki dispose of Hio if she refused to sign?"
Luo Shu didn't deny Yukino's interpretation, though there was an error in it:
"That was indeed my thought process, but there's one step that hasn't been completed yet."
"What step?" Yukino asked, puzzled.
Luo Shu paused before replying: "Having Takatsuki sign the contract in front of me."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "..."
So you don't even trust that Ghoul yet?