After Shizuka Hio left, Luo Shu couldn't help but stroke his chin as he turned to Yukino Yukinoshita, who had been silently observing the entire exchange:
"How much truth do you think was in Shizuka Hio's words?"
Yukino blinked, clearly not expecting Luo Shu to ask her opinion.
After a brief hesitation, she replied:
"About 90% true, I'd say?"
She then added:
"But I could be mistaken."
"You think 90% true..." Luo Shu nodded thoughtfully before sharing his own view: "I also think it's 90% true, even though I don't believe a word she says."
"Why?" Yukino looked puzzled. If Luo Shu thought most of what Shizuka said was true, why claim not to believe her?
"Because I don't trust her. Not one bit. At least not yet."
After saying this, Luo Shu's eyes crinkled with amusement even as his tone turned serious:
"To be honest, until a formal contract is signed, I wouldn't believe a single word from Shizuka Hio."
He remembered Shizuka from an anime in his previous life - a tragic figure wronged by the main antagonist.
However, the problem was that the entire world's context had changed now!
Ordinary girls like Yukino Yukinoshita, unconnected to supernatural affairs, remained largely unaffected. But for those born into extraordinary circumstances, this world shift might have completely altered their personalities and circumstances.
Perhaps Shizuka had been a victim in the original world, but what if she'd become the perpetrator in this one?
When the world's fundamental context changes, wouldn't people change with it?
For instance, in the original world, would Shizuka's family have organised Vampire resistance against humans?
Yet in this world, the Hio family did organise resistance, only to be betrayed by Asato Ichijo and nearly wiped out.
Could you really say Asato Ichijo was wrong?
When 20,000 Ghouls could be exterminated overnight by various factions, how many Vampires did they have? Would they be enough for Japan's forces to slaughter? Enough for China's forces to crush?
When humanity holds the upper hand, isn't survival dependent on attaching oneself to humans?
If Asato Ichijo did nothing wrong, then the Hio family must be at fault.
Could Shizuka Hio, born into the Hio family, truly harbour no hatred towards Asato Ichijo for killing her parents and imprisoning her?
Who would believe such a claim? At the very least, Luo Shu didn't.
Thus, Luo Shu nursed numerous suspicions in his heart, not even bothering to conceal them from Yukino as he stated bluntly:
"What if Shizuka Hio is plotting to use my strength to counterattack the Council?"
"What if she's employing a scheme of feigning injury to secretly serve the Council by my side?"
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita gave him a deep look and said:
"While I must admit your reasoning makes sense, living like this must be exhausting."
Luo Shu's expression didn't change as he scoffed coldly: "Being exhausted beats losing your life. Thinking ahead and using your brain more - just don't go bald from overuse."
Here, he deliberately offered Yukino Yukinoshita some advice:
"Without confirmed effective safeguards, never place complete trust in anyone - not even those you know well."
"Even with safeguards, maintain three layers of caution as contingency."
"After all, who knows how many mind manipulation abilities or corresponding Abyss Artefacts exist in this world?"
"Only by living safely can you claim true victory."
Though unspoken, Luo Shu was indeed instilling his philosophy in Yukino Yukinoshita.
His purpose? Naturally, to recruit her as a member of his Familia.
Of course, Luo Shu considered Yukino Yukinoshita's recruitment unhurried - she was already in the pot, just needing slight testing before being ready to consume.
Yet as Luo Shu thought this, Yukinoshita suddenly asked:
"When the Director mentions mind-controlling artefacts, does he mean his ring?"
Luo Shu whirled to stare at Yukinoshita, momentarily dumbfounded before gritting his teeth:
"...Yes. Like my ring."
He then adopted an accusatory tone, listing possible informants:
"Did Chisato tell you? No, she's playful but reliable in serious matters. It must have been that blabbermouth Mizuki, right?"
Seeing Yukinoshita press her lips shut in clear refusal to betray comrades, Luo Shu sighed resignedly:
"Indeed, any secret known by more than two people ceases to be secret."
"Never mind. Such things being taboo among you girls is understandable. But since you know about this artefact, you should comprehend my warnings now?"
After hesitation, Yukinoshita nodded.
"Just hearing about the Director's artefact gives me physical discomfort."
This was no exaggeration.
The deeper Yukino delved into the mystic side, the more terrifyingly bizarre it appeared.
From Japan's endless paranormal incidents to periodically emerging dangerous, extraordinary species, even human factions contained countless mysterious organisations with conflicting agendas.
To be honest, the more intelligence she reviewed, the more Yukino Yukinoshita wondered how human society managed to maintain the facade of a stable, normal civilisation.
From the documents she'd seen within the SDS, the entire nation of Japan should have descended into chaos long ago.
Yet in reality, the vast majority of civilians remained unaware of the mystic side's existence, living peacefully within ordinary societal structures.
Only the shadowy organisations and a handful of high-ranking officials truly understood the volcanic instability they were sitting upon.
And Yukino Yukinoshita had witnessed exactly what such an eruption looked like.
Just yesterday, through processing documents, she'd indirectly participated in and learned about Luo Shu's extermination campaign against the Ghouls.
She wasn't stupid either - she'd noticed something amiss in Luo Shu's recent arrangements.
The Hidden Management Department remained small enough that Yukino had met every member, even processing their onboarding paperwork as part of her administrative duties.
This very familiarity made the anomalies stand out.
Whether it was Utaha or Eriri, everyone seemed to be keeping secrets from her.
Sometimes Luo Shu's orders would reach her, the department's administrative secretary, through Utaha's relay.
Moreover, Utaha and Eriri could somehow understand each other's intentions without speaking or even meeting on the same floor.
It made Yukino suspect they'd created some private LINE group that excluded her.
Yet observation revealed none of them used their phones frequently enough for that.
As for Kisara, she might know something, but her single-minded focus on the department head left little room for communication.
Meer, the intelligence officer, remained an enigma who drifted in and out unpredictably.
The newly arrived Kurumi Tokisaki held the title of secretary but was essentially a prisoner, thus excluded from important matters.
Yet Yukino Yukinoshita, the secretary supposedly involved in operations, found herself consistently sidelined during critical moments.
It felt like everyone shared some open secret from which she alone was excluded.
And at the centre of this peculiar dynamic stood Luo Shu.
Consequently, Yukino couldn't help suspecting whether uncovering this secret constituted her initiation test.
Though nominally a department member, perhaps she remained probationary until passing this trial.
Today's exchange with Luo Shu seemed to confirm this.
"If you distrust every word from Ms Shizuka Hio and maintain maximum vigilance... does that extend to me as well?"
Realising this implication, Yukino Yukinoshita could only think:
'How troublesome.'
'Must your interpersonal relationships be so needlessly complicated?'
Were it not for her mother and sister's advice - observe more, listen more, work diligently, speak sparingly, and restrain her impulses - she might have resigned already.
'If you want to test me, just say so directly! I'll face any challenge you set. What's with this guessing game?'
Behind him, Luo Shu suddenly sneezed as Yukino Yukinoshita's Yuki-onna aura grew increasingly glacial.
"Achoo~~"
"Did something fly up my nose?"
Luo Shu muttered to himself, rubbing his nose before glancing at the icy Yukino Yukinoshita and then at the ring on his finger. He sighed helplessly and said:
"Fine, fine. If you've got something to say, just say it directly."
Pausing briefly, he added:
"I can't help but feel that over these past few days together, you've grown increasingly annoyed with me? Or is that just my imagination?"
Upon hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita forced a faint smile:
"I can only say your perception is indeed quite sharp."
'So you're admitting you really do dislike me more and more?'
The corner of Luo Shu's mouth twitched as he asked:
"You really are... remarkably blunt."
That was the only way Luo Shu could describe Yukino Yukinoshita.
After a moment of silence, he rubbed his chin in confusion and asked:
"But seriously, what exactly have I done to offend you?"
Yukino Yukinoshita took a deep breath before stating earnestly:
"Since you're so curious, Director, I'll be frank."
"Go ahead." Luo Shu nodded, signalling for her to speak freely.
At this, Yukino Yukinoshita said quietly:
"Aside from Ms. Tokisaki and myself... is everyone else in the department part of the same LINE group chat?"