[Calamity Priest (Hero Rank)]
[Advancement Ritual: Incite a disaster affecting no fewer than 500,000 people. When despair reaches its peak, consume all advancement and auxiliary materials, then intervene to significantly mitigate the disaster. The greater the mitigation, the better the ritual effect.]
Compared to the steep price of 360,000 points for the advancement and auxiliary materials, this ritual was the most troublesome aspect.
After all, the SDS was an organisation Lacus had established during her university years, leveraging her family's background as one of America's top five arms manufacturers, with the purpose of maintaining peace and order in human society.
Yet Luo Shu's advancement ritual required inciting a disaster affecting at least 500,000 people.
Although the final requirement was to curb the disaster at its peak, this clearly crossed Lacus's ethical boundaries.
Given this, both Luo Shu and Kirika Tachibana were quite concerned that Lacus might obstruct the matter.
At that moment, under everyone's gaze, Lacus tilted her head slightly, her expression utterly perplexed.
Seeing this, Kirika couldn't help but remark, "Don't play dumb at a time like this."
"This brat Luo Shu has laid all his cards on the table. At least give us a straight answer—do you support his advancement or not?"
"Personally, I'm in favour. After all, inciting a disaster doesn't mean leaving it unresolved. Moreover, the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System's power clearly scales with Luo Shu's strength. From a pragmatic standpoint, I support it too."
"So I'm saying, sweetheart, could you at least give us your stance?"
Hearing this, Lacus fell into deep thought.
Noticing her hesitation, Luo Shu frowned and couldn't resist asking:
"Lacus, what exactly are you thinking?"
"It's not that..."
Lacus looked somewhat conflicted. She glanced at Kirika, then at Luo Shu, before asking curiously:
"I'm just wondering... why did you assume I'd oppose this?"
At these words, not just Luo Shu, but even Kirika was stunned.
Indeed, why had they thought Lacus would be an obstacle in this matter?
Considering this, Luo Shu hesitated before tentatively asking, "...Because of the SDS's founding principles?"
"The principle is to safeguard the continuation of peace and order in human society. That doesn't conflict with finding ways to elevate your rank, Luo Shu."
Lacus blinked her grey eyes, speaking with utter seriousness:
"The stronger you become, Luo Shu, the more powerful the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System's auxiliary functions grow. The SDS would receive greater support, and our capacity to maintain peace and order would increase accordingly."
"I don't see any issue with that."
"If you insist on me raising objections... I suppose my concern would be about the 'no fewer than 500,000 people' requirement."
At this point, Lacus pondered for a moment before saying:
"Selecting no fewer than five hundred thousand serious criminals from six billion people worldwide, gathering them in one city, and attempting an ascension ritual?"
"You're ruthless." Kirika Tachibana gave Lacus a thumbs up.
Selecting over 500,000 criminals from a population of six billion and concentrating them in one city was certainly achievable.
But the human, material and financial resources required would likely bankrupt the SDS several times over.
Hearing Kirika's words, Lacus maintained her smile:
"So the optimal solution would be finding a secret organisation attempting to unleash disaster, having Luo Shu infiltrate covertly, then stopping them at the critical moment, no?"
"Moreover, Luo Shu is already preparing for this, isn't he? After all, you just recruited Miss Tokisaki."
"Hmm, Truth Astronomy would make an excellent target. I know of three cities where they're currently setting up large-scale sacrificial rituals."
Watching Lacus speak so cheerfully, Luo Shu felt his scalp prickle.
'Is the SDS's philosophy really about maintaining human peace and order? Why do I feel like you're the great witch who'll destroy the world?'
Meanwhile, Kirika Tachibana seriously considered the matter before sighing:
"Truth Astronomy would indeed be a good channel. Unfortunately, they're being watched too closely by Golden Dawn faction organisations. Any attempt to cause disaster would depend on their approval."
"While I'm unsure if Golden Dawn has true Demigods, I can think of several with Demigod Rank abilities."
"That Twin-Wings Edelweiss from the Seven Knights Alliance has been tracking Truth Astronomy's sacrificial faction. With her watching, causing trouble would be difficult."
"Moreover, for safety and disaster scale control, I'd recommend focusing on major cities in Japan."
Hearing this, Lacus tilted her head thoughtfully and turned to Meer:
"Meer, is that yokai organisation in Kyoto still active?"
Seated on the armrest of Luo Shu's right-hand sofa, Meer recalled:
"You mean the yokai faction trying to break Kyoto's seal and resurrect Nue?"
After reviewing her intelligence, Meer explained:
"Apparently that yokai princess is monitoring them, but my subordinates haven't reported their exact movements yet..."
"Yokai Princess? You mean Miss Kotoko Iwanaga?"
After considering Kotoko Iwanaga's background, Lacus turned back to Kirika:
"Kirika, please arrange an invitation for Miss Iwanaga. Let's schedule afternoon tea tomorrow."
She then addressed Luo Shu:
"If suitable, Kyoto might serve as your ritual location."
"Naturally, given the circumstances, we may need either Miss Sharon or Miss Tokisaki's assistance."
Watching Lacus preliminarily select a ritual location and take action within moments, Luo Shu suddenly felt like he was freeloading.
Shaking his head to dispel such thoughts, he said:
"In that case, I'll leave the ritual arrangements to you, Lacus."
Upon hearing this, Lacus smiled at Luo Shu and said:
"Just saying thank you like this won't do."
"?"
Luo Shu blinked in confusion.
At that moment, Lacus suddenly remarked:
"In the contract, your monthly points distribution ratio with contributing Familia members is a fifty-fifty split, correct?"
"That's right." Luo Shu nodded. The origin of monthly points was simple—it stemmed from each Familia member's influence on society and the world.
In essence, every Familia member was like an automated mining rig for Luo Shu, with points being the extracted ore.
The contract stipulated this ore would be split fifty-fifty between them, though no actual distribution had occurred yet.
"As compensation for assisting with your ritual, let's change the split to 70-30."
Hearing this, Luo Shu paused, weighing the pros and cons. Was sacrificing 20% of the profits worth gaining SDS's support?
Before he could conclude, Lacus sighed softly:
"You take 70%, the Familia takes 30%. If anyone objects, tell them it was my suggestion and you merely accepted out of politeness."
Luo Shu's expression turned utterly bewildered.
Miss Lacus... haven't you got those ratios backwards?