Upon hearing that Luo Shu had encountered yet another girl at the hospital who could be recruited into the Familia, Kirika couldn't resist remarking:
"Calculating carefully, Luo Shu, you seem to have come across quite a few Familia candidates already?"
Utaha couldn't help teasing: "More than that. If we count properly, it's practically one new encounter per day?"
Kisara couldn't help but comment: "And every single one of them is a pretty girl."
Luo Shu, having been teased by all three girls, said helplessly:
"My fault then?"
"It's not like I can arrange who qualifies as Familia members. Even if I coincidentally met them, should I reject recruiting them and give up the points?"
"If you see a 10,000 yen note while taking a walk, of course, you'd pick it up."
Kirika Tachibana shrugged, then looked at Luo Shu curiously:
"Speaking of which, a hospital patient who needs to participate in medical full dive equipment testing... is it a critical case?"
Luo Shu nodded and said:
"Analgesics are almost causing addiction. The attending physician is Kurahashi from infectious diseases. Age... judging by her height, she's around eight or nine years old."
"Eight or nine?"
Kirika was stunned by this age, then said with a wry smile:
"She's actually that young?"
"I always thought the minimum age for Familia recruitment was at least 16."
Luo Shu couldn't help rolling his eyes: "I told you, Familia qualifications aren't something I can decide."
Utaha, standing nearby with crossed arms, calmly remarked:
"What Director Tachibana means is that employing child labour is illegal."
Hearing this, Luo Shu clicked his tongue and said, somewhat troubled:
"That's true."
"But that girl is already a critical patient, right?" Kirika shook her head and sighed: "We have no choice but to recruit her."
"When someone qualifies for Familia and is in life-threatening danger, turning a blind eye would probably earn us a year-long lecture from Lacus."
At the mention of Lacus's nagging, Luo Shu chuckled:
"How about storing her as reserve talent?"
"An eight or nine-year-old child? Store what?" Kirika looked utterly exasperated: "At most, basic training and making sure she studies properly. She shouldn't be involved in anything until high school at the earliest, preferably after 18."
She sighed helplessly:
"Well, anyway, let's make initial contact first."
"Faust has approached you, hasn't he?"
When Kirika mentioned Faust, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow:
"You know Faust well?"
Kirika laughed: "His Guardian Spirit, Miss Eliza, is a world-class surgeon. As the Director of Operations, is it strange that I know him?"
"Guardian Spirit?" Utaha, hearing this term for the first time, looked curious.
Kisara then quietly explained:
"A Guardian Spirit refers to souls held by those of the Shaman profession."
"Beings called Shamans can use the power of spirits, ghosts, or even gods through possession, achieving all sorts of incredible feats."
Hearing this, Luo Shu and Kirika gave Kisara odd looks.
Luo Shu couldn't help asking: "How do you know this?"
Kisara looked puzzled at Luo Shu:
"Wasn't this information in the materials you gave me?"
"Eh? Did I give you that?" Luo Shu froze for a moment before saying with a strange expression, "Probably because it was my first time performing a bestowal of memories. I must have made a mistake and given you some... odd information?"
Kisara looked astonished upon hearing this: "Odd information? Shu-kun, do you mean things like 'apologies require baring one's body'?"
Whoosh!
Luo Shu could feel two piercing gazes upon him.
He turned his head and, as expected, saw Utaha and Kirika Tachibana both looking at him with disdainful expressions.
Luo Shu's lips twitched slightly as he awkwardly said:
"...Like I said, first attempts at bestowal are bound to have some mishaps."
"Mishaps?!" Utaha drew out her words with a light huff. "As compensation for mistaking you for a pervert, should I also strip to apologise?"
"Yes." Luo Shu boldly replied, then immediately turned to Kirika Tachibana before Utaha could react: "Speaking of which, why did you suddenly bring up Faust?"
Seeing Luo Shu deliberately change the subject, Utaha smirked but didn't press further.
As for Kirika Tachibana, who was being questioned, she looked completely at ease:
"Faust's Guardian Spirit, Eliza, often needs to interact with critically ill patients due to certain circumstances."
"And for certain reasons, one of the conditions for Faust working at this hospital is allowing Eliza to interact with various patients freely."
Luo Shu seemed surprised by this: "You mean we can learn about that girl through Eliza?"
Asking spirits for information... how reliable was that?
Kirika Tachibana coughed lightly: "Ahem! Eliza is... rather gossipy."
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately understood.
A woman who loved gossip... Eliza might actually be a good source of information.
He was well aware of the power of neighbourhood gossips.
"Alright then. Utaha, you check the computer database to confirm that girl's identity. I'll go talk to Faust and ask about the situation."
"What about me!" Kisara blinked rapidly, pointing at her own face with both index fingers.
Luo Shu shot her an exasperated look: "Aren't you supposed to be handling the Ghoul Adjustments this afternoon?"
Kisara immediately lowered her head guiltily.
Kirika Tachibana chuckled beside them, then suddenly remembered something:
"Speaking of which, according to the schedule Yukinoshita gave me, Luo Shu, you're supposed to attend the Fujiwara family dinner tonight?"
"The Fujiwara family? Daichi Fujiwara?!" Luo Shu suddenly realised something, his face twisting in dismay. "I almost forgot about that."
"Damn, that makes this afternoon's arrangements a bit tight."
Luo Shu had wanted to meet that girl in the afternoon to assess the situation.
Hearing this, Kirika Tachibana pulled out her phone and checked the time—exactly 12:32 pm.
"You should still have enough time."
"That's true, but it feels like things are about to get busy again."
Luo Shu sighed, then stood up and patted Kisara and Utaha on the shoulders:
"Whatever, let's get to work."
"After all, there are only two things humans can never escape: work and sleep."
"Can I choose sleep then?" Utaha yawned slightly. "An afternoon nap after lunch is very important, you know."
Hearing this, Luo Shu pinched Utaha's cheek and said:
"No!"