[New Familia member added: Shizuka Hio (Elite Rank). Obtained 10,000 Points. Monthly point income increased by 1,000. Current monthly point increase: 22,500.]
[Familia member Shizuka Hio has awakened the Class: Blood Kin.]
As Luo Shu parked the car in the garage on the first floor of the Hidden Management Department, the prompt in his mind made him raise an eyebrow involuntarily:
"Takatsuki Izumi got it done already? Not bad efficiency... though the Blood Kin Class is a bit...Subtle."
Luo Shu shook his head. It wasn't that he looked down on the Blood Kin Class, but he wasn't familiar with Shizuka Hio yet, and racial Classes like Blood Kin had little developmental potential within the Familia.
As the master of the Divine Pantheon, Luo Shu couldn't allow Shizuka Hio to develop a bloodline within the Familia.
Having two separate power structures within one group? Only a fool would do that.
The logic was simple: if Shizuka Hio turned Eriri into a Blood Kin, would Eriri listen to her as a blood relative or to Luo Shu?
If too many blood relatives developed within the Familia, their allegiances would become artificially linked. Even if the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System ensured no betrayal, with two authorities, who would they follow?
The Familia was Luo Shu's direct subordinate force. Adding Shizuka Hio as an unnecessary middle layer would just invite trouble.
So, within the Familia, Shizuka Hio's Blood Kin Class couldn't be allowed to develop at all.
On the other hand, letting Shizuka Hio turn ordinary people into Blood Kin to create a separate force was something Luo Shu could permit.
Thinking this, Luo Shu couldn't help but recall the Ghouls who had been exterminated earlier and shook his head regretfully:
"What a shame. If I'd known Shizuka Hio had this ability, I should've kept some Ghouls around."
After transforming into Vampires, Ghouls had few downsides beyond their fear of sunlight and holy power—in fact, there were benefits.
Previously, Ghouls could only eat coffee and human flesh. As Vampires, while they gained the side effect of needing blood, they could consume regular food.
According to the God's Servant system, Vampires' drinking blood was more about ingesting genetic material to maintain physical and mental youth.
If they abstain from drinking blood, they will gradually age like normal humans.
Generally, some elder Vampires voluntarily refrain from blood consumption for a period to appear more mature and dignified.
Thus, blood-drinking isn't strictly necessary for their kind.
Turning them into Vampires and preventing those Ghouls from feeding on humans would solve the problem, wouldn't it?
The workers just need enough to eat—if they want blood, let them buy it with their wages! It's not like SDS lacks hospitals.
"Speaking of which, regarding the promise to Yoshimura, perhaps I can offer him an additional option."
Anteiku had traded information on Ghouls for the possibility of transforming 35 individuals into Adjusters through Luo Shu's connections.
However, Adjuster modifications cost money. Verde's base price was 2 million USD per procedure. Converting them into Vampires instead would only require Shizuka Hio to expend some energy, saving a considerable sum.
With this in mind, Luo Shu quickly formed a plan:
"Tell Verde to delay the Adjuster modifications—four per month instead of per week."
"Then, find an opportunity to discreetly inform Yoshimura that the Vampire transformation is equally effective, if not more promising, and let him persuade the Ghouls."
"This way, we can save a significant amount of funds."
Money was always something to be conserved whenever possible.
Having grown up in hardship, Luo Shu understood the importance of savings all too well.
It was the foundation of one's peace of mind.
From individuals to corporations, organisations, and nations—funds were never enough, and every penny had to be spent wisely.
The Ghouls recruited by that old man Yoshimura at Anteiku were mostly weaklings. After all, if they weren't, they wouldn't have ended up starving even as Ghouls.
At best, these people could handle odd jobs or support roles—combat was out of the question. Transforming them into Vampires would at least improve their safety.
Moreover, if these failed Ghouls happened to possess talent as Vampires, they could potentially be assigned to Takatsuki Izumi's vampire unit.
It was a way to utilise otherwise wasted resources.
And most importantly, it saved money.
Pleased with his calculations, Luo Shu entered the Hidden Management Department in high spirits.
As for Sharon, she had already slipped in through the underground passage SDS had prepared.
Given her status as a wanted fugitive, the Hidden Management Department couldn't openly shelter her until her name was cleared.
However, upon reaching his third-floor office, Luo Shu was met with an unexpected visitor.
The man wore a black suit, plain glasses, and had utterly unremarkable features—the very image of an average office worker.
Luo Shu had no recollection of him. As soon as he stepped into the office, the suited man stood up and bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.
"Pleased to meet you, Director Luo."
"I am Hideyuki Niikura, secretary to Minister Fujiwara. I look forward to your guidance."
"Minister Fujiwara?" Luo Shu blinked in surprise before realising this must be Daichi Fujiwara, Chika Fujiwara's father.
Understanding dawned on him. He gestured for Niikura to sit while taking the opposite sofa himself, signalling Yukino Yukinoshita beside him to prepare black tea before asking:
"Secretary Niikura, has Minister Fujiwara sent you with instructions?"
In response, Niikura retrieved an envelope from his briefcase and presented it respectfully with both hands:
"Director Luo, my visit isn't official business. I'm merely delivering a personal letter from the Minister."
"Please review it."
Luo Shu studied Niikura briefly before accepting and opening the letter, then froze in astonishment.
"Minister Fujiwara is inviting me to a family dinner this Sunday?"
Instantly, images of the Fujiwara family's three young princesses flashed through his mind, making him smile.
Could such good fortune really exist?