"Freedom and... loyalty?"
Konno Yuuki repeated blankly, then asked nervously in a small voice:
"Sorry, I don't quite understand."
"What don't you understand?" Luo Shu asked with relative gentleness.
He found her confusion perfectly normal—after all, she was only twelve and had spent most of her life hospitalised.
"Loyalty... is that like the relationship between warlords and retainers in textbooks, right?"
Konno Yuuki watched Luo Shu cautiously, and seeing he didn't object, continued:
"And freedom... does that mean I'd have to live in one fixed place forever? Not allowed to see outsiders?"
She recalled historical dramas she'd watched from her hospital bed during idle moments—similar scenarios had appeared there.
Adopting children, raising them in isolation, and then having them assassinate daimyo or lords at critical moments.
They're called death warriors, right? That kind of person.
As Konno Yuuki's imagination ran wild, Luo Shu calmly said:
"Your understanding of loyalty isn't wrong, but regarding freedom..."
Luo Shu paused with a smile, looking at Konno Yuuki:
"It seems you've picked up some rather peculiar knowledge."
Hearing this, Konno Yuuki blushed and whispered:
"Is... is it strange to fantasise about becoming a great samurai general?"
"Not at all." Luo Shu shook his head with a smile, though inwardly he understood.
Because of her HIV condition, she'd been weak and sickly since childhood, so she fantasised about becoming a physically powerful samurai?
What a simple-minded delusion...
"The so-called freedom isn't about personal liberty. I have no intention of restricting your movements, but I must remind you of one thing."
"At the same time, be prepared to die an unnatural death."
Yet upon hearing this, Konno Yuuki actually sighed in relief:
"So it's not house arrest? That's great."
"I'd always thought that if I ever got better, I'd travel all around Japan. I was afraid I'd have to give up on that idea, but now I don't need to worry."
Seeing her reaction, Luo Shu teased with a smile:
"Travelling around Japan? That wouldn't take long. You could aim for a world tour - even other worlds aren't impossible. Of course, the prerequisite is having sufficient self-defence capabilities."
Though tempted by Luo Shu's grand promises, Konno Yuuki couldn't help but mutter:
"It feels too early to talk about that... I've never even been outside Tokyo."
Then she looked at Luo Shu curiously, though somewhat nervously:
"I'm willing to pay the price. What should I do next?"
At this point, Faust nearby ran a hand through his hair:
"Shall I draft the contract?"
"Though I'm not a Shaman specialising in this area, I have studied contracts."
"Quite the side hustles you've got." Luo Shu couldn't help but comment.
Shaman, surgeon, necromancer, and now contracts, too? Is there anything you can't do?
"But let's skip it this time. This girl deserves to use the SDS's internal special contract."
Luo Shu didn't explain what the special contract was; instead, pausing to glance at Utaha:
"Utaha, help her up. We're going to the Research Department for treatment."
The reason for not treating her here was, naturally, because Faust was present.
"What follows is an internal procedure. Faust, care to observe?"
"I'll pass. I'd like to live a bit longer." The heavily dark-circled Faust immediately declined.
Besides being a surgeon, he had a side gig as a nutritionist and was currently preparing for chef certification exams. Where would he find time to join the SDS?
Seeing this, Luo Shu didn't press, merely patting Faust's shoulder:
"If you change your mind, come find me anytime. Talent like yours is wasted in external departments."
As the words fell, the accumulated fatigue and hidden injuries on Faust's body seemed to vanish, leaving him feeling suddenly light all over.
What was this?
Faust stared at Luo Shu in shock, but before he could say anything, Luo Shu had already walked out of the ward.
Faust opened his mouth, watching helplessly as Utaha assisted Konno Yuuki to her feet. Only after both women had left the ward did he let out a bitter laugh:
"What a master angler that man is... Such healing abilities... Witchcraft? Or perhaps an Abyss Artefact... I wonder if it could be applied to medical treatment..."
Faust muttered to this point before suddenly sighing: "Perhaps I really should seriously consider joining the inner circle?"
...
Underground of Kamijo Hospital, Research Department.
When the elevator doors slid open, Luo Shu led Utaha and Konno Yuuki out.
In an instant, Konno Yuuki stared at the snow-white corridor illuminated by fluorescent lights, her mouth slightly agape:
"The hospital basement has a place like this? I've never been here before..."
After living in the hospital for three years, discovering such a vast hidden space beneath it naturally filled Konno with excitement, as if she'd stumbled upon a secret base.
Luo Shu, walking ahead, completely understood Konno's feelings. Having a secret base all to oneself was indeed an exhilarating notion:
"If you'd like, you can apply for a private room here as your personal space."
"Of course, in exchange, you might occasionally need to assist the Research Department with some studies."
"Assist with studies?" Konno blinked in confusion. "You mean lying on an operating table kind of assistance?"
Beside them, Utaha couldn't help but burst into laughter, while Luo Shu's face darkened.
"Not that kind of research!"
"Just some basic testing."
As they bantered, the trio arrived at a pre-prepared laboratory. Before entering, Luo Shu couldn't resist asking one more time:
"Konno Yuuki."
"Here!" Konno stood at attention to respond.
Meeting her gaze seriously, Luo Shu said: "Let me ask you one final time—are you truly prepared?"
"I am!"
Hearing her resolute reply, Luo Shu smiled and pushed the door open, allowing the light from within to spill out:
"Then step inside and begin your new life!"