After hearing So'unga's side effect, Kirika also looked puzzled:
"A side effect so specifically targeted... Did something happen between this sword and the Natsume girl?"
Luo Shu glanced at Maya before answering:
"How much do you know about the Natsume family's special ability, Kirika?"
"You mean the Dragon Eye that foresees the future?" Kirika hesitated briefly. "But isn't the Dragon Eye only awakened in male members of the Natsume family? As the eldest daughter, she was confirmed long ago to lack the Dragon Eye... Wait, unless..."
Luo Shu nodded at this point, grinning:
"Yep, exactly what you were thinking."
Kirika's eyes lit up as she turned to stare intently at Maya:
"No wonder you suddenly went out of your way to bring a Natsume family member along—you stumbled upon a real treasure!"
Though the Amaterasu power of the Natsume family was kept secret, that only applied to mid and lower ranks of various factions.
It was essentially a smaller-scale Demigod Rank Kusanagi Sword.
"Seems we've hit the jackpot this time!"
Beside them, Maya couldn't help but pout at these words.
Her, a 'treasure' they'd acquired?
The way they said it made her sound like some kind of war trophy.
Meanwhile, Kirika paid no attention to Maya's sulking.
Member morale was Lacus' responsibility—as head of Operations, she only cared about mission gains.
"So, has this So'unga experienced the so-called Amaterasu Dragon Gate?"
That would be the only explanation for why So'unga developed such a side effect targeting female agents.
Luo Shu shrugged and said with an indifferent expression:
"There isn't a second possibility, is there?"
"That's true."
Upon hearing this, Kirika Tachibana suddenly understood, though she still voiced her confusion:
"However, for an Abyss Artefact to have such specifically targeted side effects... it seems these so-called side effects might actually follow some internal logic after all."
"It appears we'll need to consult Verde about this."
Hearing this, Luo Shu casually asked:
"Is Verde still in Tokyo?"
Kirika Tachibana raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Oh? You want to see him too?"
"I have some business with him." As he spoke, Luo Shu reached into his inner jacket pocket and produced two gemstones.
Watching the pink and deep blue gemstones resting in Luo Shu's palm, Kirika Tachibana couldn't hide her astonishment:
"Another haul from over there?"
"Right." Luo Shu nodded before explaining, "These two gems—the blue one is called the Meidō Stone, and the pink one is the Shikon Jewel."
"The Meidō Stone has the ability to revive a corpse if the soul remains largely intact."
"In the Abyss World, the Meidō Stone would remain after use, though it lost its revival ability. But here, there's an additional side effect—it shatters completely after use."
"By the way, the Meidō Stone is one of the materials used to forge Tenseiga."
"...A gemstone that can revive people?!"
Kirika's lips twitched involuntarily. She studied Luo Shu's face for a moment before dryly remarking:
"Don't tell me you robbed every major faction in that Abyss World?"
"Not exactly?"
Luo Shu's tone carried a hint of uncertainty:
"I only looted the Lord of the Underworld there. Pretty much all the Meidō Stones in his possession were taken. Oh, and Kuesu Jingūji also has one."
"Kuesu Jingūji?!" Kirika's voice instantly turned peculiar.
Seeing her expression, Luo Shu felt his suspicions confirmed. Kuesu Jingūji might indeed have close ties to the SDS:
"What? Are you two acquainted?"
"Not with me, but with Meer."
Kirika seemed to hesitate before explaining:
"Meer studied abroad in England for a year during university. Her roommate at the time was Kuesu Jingūji."
"Roommates?" Luo Shu blinked in surprise.
He hadn't expected that connection. When he'd previously searched the Mysticism Encyclopaedia, the focus had been on Kuesu's abilities rather than personal relationships. Even then, the Encyclopaedia only provided answers relevant to his queries—extraneous details were omitted entirely.
Curious, Luo Shu asked, "If they were roommates, why that reaction?"
'Anyone seeing your face right now would think they're mortal enemies...' he silently added.
Kirika sighed, raising a hand to cover her face:
"How should I put this?"
"You've interacted with Meer before."
"Though they got along, Meer took full advantage of Kuesu during their time in England."
"In my opinion, half of Kuesu's infamous reputation among European witches can be traced back to Meer."
"Frankly, I suspect Kuesu's return to Japan might be specifically to settle scores with Meer."
Pausing, Kirika shot Luo Shu a glance and added drily:
"And you? You're the sacrificial lamb Meer threw out as a shield."
Luo Shu was momentarily stunned:
"They're actually enemies? But it didn't seem that way to me..."
"You said it yourself—that's your impression. Mine's just my own interpretation!"
Kirika exhaled softly, delivering an irrefutable point:
"After all, if I were Kuesu Jingūji, I'd definitely retaliate."
"Of course, it's also possible that I simply didn't understand the nature of their relationship."
Seeing this, Luo Shu's lips twitched slightly. He silently raised Kuesu Jingūji's threat level in his mind, while also mentally tagging Meer as a danger.
Compared to his own brief acquaintance with Meer, Luo Shu was more inclined to trust Kirika Tachibana's judgement. If she said Meer was problematic, then problematic she likely was.
'Pink-haired girls really were best avoided...'
Just as Luo Shu was sighing over this, Kirika Tachibana glanced at the Shikon Jewel in his hand and finally asked:
"Speaking of which, what's the situation with this Shikon Jewel you've ended up with?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu looked down at the pink jewel in his hand and frowned:
"It's a treasure containing massive Spiritual Power that can enhance one's Soul Power. In the Abyss, it's even used as a wish-granting device."
"As for its specific applications, we'll need Verde to examine it first."
The ability to enhance Soul Power was somewhat abstract, making Luo Shu uncertain about the jewel's exact functions.
Even the Mysticism Encyclopaedia couldn't divine its true nature. Its essence seemed too profound to grasp clearly.
"And its side effects? Have those been identified?"
Luo Shu nodded, looking somewhat helpless:
"It distorts the user's good and evil intentions. Exactly how requires further testing."
"Then just toss it to Verde first. Oh, and buy him some hair-growth shampoo while you're at it. A balding baby would be truly tragic to look at."
Kirika immediately offered her suggestion, though it was clearly advice best kept from Verde's ears.
"Are you planning to return to the Hidden Management Department's Tokyo headquarters now?" Kirika asked curiously.
Luo Shu smiled: "Straight back. Though only half a day has passed here, I've been running around for several days. Surely I deserve some leave?"
"You really think you'll get to rest?" Kirika asked incredulously.
"Takina's handling the report, Chisato's monitoring the Abyss situation, the spoils just need delivering to the Hidden Management Zone for safekeeping... is there anything left that requires me?"
At the mention of her name, Takina Inoue simply glanced at Luo Shu before sighing and pulling out a laptop to begin typing the mission report.
Watching this, Mika at the helicopter controls gave a dry chuckle, shook his head, and focused on piloting.
Hearing Luo Shu's reasoning, Kirika smiled but didn't bring up the topic of Yggdrasil. Luo Shu's reluctance to discuss it here mirrored her own thoughts.
Meeting Luo Shu's gaze, the two wordlessly reached an understanding through their shared silence.
The Three Supreme Swords could serve as their public-facing spoils.
The Meidō Stone would act as protective cover against prying organisations.
Failing that, there was always the Shikon Jewel's reputation as a wish-granter to draw attention.
As for Yggdrasil? The SDS Directors wouldn't even allow its mention in written records or verbal reports.
Knowledge of Yggdrasil would remain strictly within the Divine Pantheon, directly monitored by the system's power.
Only through such measures could absolute security be guaranteed.
"In that case, let's head straight to the Hidden Management Department's outpost near Akihabara."
Kirika Tachibana smiled nonchalantly and teased Luo Shu:
"I hope you'll get plenty of rest tonight!"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's heart skipped a beat. He wondered if something had happened at the Hidden Management Department to make Tachibana's expression so... intriguing.
It was with this unease that the helicopter gradually made its way towards Tokyo.
...
Chiyoda Ward, Hidden Management Department near Akihabara.
When Luo Shu pushed open the lounge door and saw the array of unconscious young women sprawled across the room, he fell silent.
Throwing a party without inviting him?
How very... lawful of you.