In the corridor of Kamijo Hospital.
Luo Shu, in a white coat, walked side by side with Utaha.
"Though we said we'd split up, the only one actually separated is Kisara..."
Utaha's tone was now rather playful:
"If she found out the truth, she'd probably be on the verge of tears, tugging at your sleeve for comfort, wouldn't she?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu imagined Kisara's pitiful expression.
Truth be told, he rather wanted to see it.
With that thought, Luo Shu remarked casually, "Kisara is indeed a bit clingy, but that's understandable. After all, in this world, I'm the only person she really knows."
Utaha raised an eyebrow at his words. "Are you implying you're each other's one and only?"
That was a lethal question, so Luo Shu chose not to answer. Instead, he reached out and pinched Utaha's cheek.
"Ow!"
Having been pinched, Utaha didn't dare continue her teasing. Rubbing her cheek, she muttered, "Resorting to violence when you can't win an argument? What a cruel Familia head you are."
Luo Shu rolled his eyes. "Count yourself lucky. You've been nothing but trouble all day today. Did you take the wrong medicine or something?"
"No, I didn't take any medicine," Utaha said softly.
'Still answering back? Being stubborn now?'
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Utaha, only to find Miss Utaha with flushed cheeks, her eyes brimming with shyness and coquettishness.
"Last time... you didn't take any medicine?"
"...No." Utaha's response was barely audible, almost guilt-ridden. "I didn't take any precautions at all... Luo Shu, do you think something might happen?"
"Should've thought of that earlier." Luo Shu rolled his eyes, then paused. "It's probably not that easy to get pregnant. After all, I'm not even sure if I count as human anymore, or something else."
"Is that so..." Utaha sighed, though it was unclear whether from relief or disappointment. "I guess headlines like 'High School Beauty Author Attends Classes While Pregnant' won't be gracing the pages of the news then."
'You actually want to make the newspapers...'
Luo Shu rolled his eyes again but deliberately moved closer to Utaha, whispering, "Aren't you afraid your parents might find out if something really happens?"
Utaha couldn't resist teasing him. "And if they do, what would you do?"
Luo Shu thought for a moment before answering uncertainly, "Probably hold a knife to your dad's throat and make him give me his precious daughter's hand in marriage."
Utaha was utterly dumbfounded. "Why would you hold a knife to my father's throat?"
"Obviously because he wouldn't agree otherwise," Luo Shu scoffed. "Do you know how many women live in my house?"
"..."
Utaha nearly choked, finally managing to say with a dark expression, "Not even trying to hide your harem ambitions? I suppose that's to be expected from a scumbag god."
Luo Shu curled his lip dismissively. "The Familia head is male, yet all the Familia members are uniquely charming women. Did you really think nothing would happen in that scenario? I never claimed to be some paragon of moral virtue."
"Well, at least you're self-aware." Utaha's mouth twitched. At this point, regrets were pointless.
Remembering how Luo Shu had taken advantage of her, Utaha subconsciously pressed her legs together before deliberately changing the subject.
"Speaking of which, why is the SDS developing applications for virtual reality technology? And why does it seem they're planning to purge some members of the Commercial Department?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka wasn't stupid. She'd clearly received Kirika Tachibana's implication - both overt and covert - about dealing with disobedient members of the Commercial Department.
But precisely because she understood, Utaha felt somewhat nervous.
After all, if she actually took action, there was a high chance her hands would be stained with blood.
Hearing this, Luo Shu paused and glanced at Utaha.
He knew perfectly well that Miss Utaha probably just wanted an excuse - justification to comfortably eliminate certain individuals.
However, Luo Shu had no intention of deceiving her. He stated frankly:
"Ultimately, it all comes down to money."
"Money?" Utaha froze.
"Indeed. Money." Luo Shu continued walking towards the infectious diseases doctor's office as he spoke: "In the rush to convert scientific research into actual combat capabilities, the SDS's funding has inevitably become tight."
"In this situation, previously tolerable members of the Commercial Department have become intolerable."
"It's time to harvest the pigs we've fattened and the leeks we've grown. That's likely what the SDS's higher-ups are thinking now."
"And do these so-called higher-ups include you?" Utaha quipped.
Luo Shu considered this, then nodded:
"Yes, that includes me."
"Those within know their own affairs. There are only two ways to make money: increase income or reduce expenditure."
"And compared to increasing income, reducing expenditure is often the easiest solution to consider."
"In large organisations, compared to cutting costs, dealing with internal parasites is the fastest way to generate funds."
Utaha couldn't help murmuring, "So that's why you need a psychic ability user like me?"
Luo Shu didn't deny it, merely continuing:
"Of course, based on my understanding of Kirika Tachibana, she's probably just the vanguard clearing the path. The one who really wants to deal with those three parasites should be Meer."
"Heh. Lacus guides people as the embodiment of light, while Meer operates in the shadows, handling everything the light cannot. Kirika Tachibana is the blade, specially tasked with physically eliminating enemies both within and outside the organisation."
"No wonder those three managed to establish an organisation like the SDS."
Hearing Luo Shu's perspective on the SDS's true leadership, Utaha sighed with equal parts envy and admiration.
As a fellow woman, the gap between her and the SDS's three giants was rather vast.
Compared to her, those three could clearly bring Luo Shu greater benefits.
Yet precisely because of this...
At this point, Luo Shu stated his position:
"In short, if you want to get involved in these dirty matters, just go ahead. If you truly can't handle it, I'll cover for you."
"Save that kind of talk for airheads like Kisara. I'm not as easily fooled as her."
'Then why are you smiling so happily?'
Luo Shu mentally complained, but didn't call Utaha out, instead leading her into the doctor's office.
Thanks to their work passes, although the office staff were curious about the unfamiliar duo, they found them an available workstation where they could directly access the system.
Within three minutes, they found the information.
"Konno Yuuki, 12 years old, HIV positive?"
Looking at the photo of the little girl who appeared to be no more than eight or nine years old, Luo Shu couldn't help but sigh.