"Luo Shu-kun!"
Daichi Fujiwara enthusiastically embraced Luo Shu, patting his back before releasing him:
"My apologies for not greeting you downstairs personally. Truth be told, cabinet ministers have been hounded by the media recently - I've been avoiding public appearances."
"The media?" Luo Shu asked while changing into the slippers Toyomi handed him.
"Indeed, the media." Daichi walked back towards the aquarium while complaining, "It's about that terrorist incident in Chiba that led to the lockdown."
"Honestly, is this something they should be reporting? Couldn't they show more consideration for national interests?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's expression turned slightly subtle.
The lockdown in Chiba was apparently ordered by Kirika Tachibana, wasn't it?
He was one of the main participants, too.
Luo Shu eyed Daichi Fujiwara suspiciously before replying:
"If you're referring to that Chiba incident, coincidentally, I was one of those directly involved."
"Oh? You too?" Daichi Fujiwara looked surprised, then nodded in realisation. "That makes sense, given your position as a director in that department."
Lowering his voice, Daichi Fujiwara suddenly asked:
After speaking, he seemed worried Luo Shu might overthink it and added:
"You know how it is with your department's affairs. Often, they claim things are resolved when they're only surface-level. Several of my colleagues got embarrassed after publicly declaring cases closed, only to be proven wrong later and mocked by the media for ages."
"I'm a bit concerned... well, I have a friend who's worried this might be happening again now."
"The mastermind has indeed been eliminated, and the target was retrieved by my department. Under normal circumstances, we could publicly declare the matter resolved."
"That's excellent news."
Daichi Fujiwara removed his glasses, wiping them with a handkerchief as if relieved.
Then he smiled at Luo Shu:
"Speaking of which, I'm delighted you could make it tonight, Luo Shu. I thought I might be waiting in vain all evening."
"I don't go back on my word that easily," Luo Shu couldn't help retorting. Just then, he noticed Toyomi Fujiwara putting on an apron and heading towards the kitchen.
Following his gaze, Daichi Fujiwara only saw his daughter's retreating back:
"Ah, I assume you and Toyomi have introduced yourselves?"
Luo Shu nodded.
"Toyomi's my eldest. Besides her, I've got two more daughters."
Daichi Fujiwara chuckled:
"Funny how our family's changed. My generation had mostly boys, but the next is dominated by girls."
"Toyomi, Chika, Moeha - all daughters. My wife and I don't know whether to laugh or cry about it."
"The whole family just has to smile awkwardly about it, really..."
Shaking his head slightly, Daichi Fujiwara continued with some resignation. "It's genuinely difficult to handle."
Changing tack, Luo Shu remarked:
"Though if I had daughters, I doubt I could bear to let them marry. Hmm, probably break the legs of any man who came near them."
At this, Daichi Fujiwara's expression turned peculiar as if recalling something:
"Break their legs? In our household, that's not the concern."
He muttered under his breath: "We've got to worry whether the boys approaching them might get played to death instead."
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately adopted a studied expression of neutrality, pretending not to have caught the remark.
Still, he mentally filed away this insight about the Fujiwara sisters.
Meanwhile, Daichi Fujiwara watched Toyomi bustling in the kitchen and remarked cheerfully:
"My wife's always abroad on business, and we don't keep many servants here, so Toyomi's had to handle meals regularly. She's actually become quite skilled."
"That girl even did a crash course at Totsuki Academy - you know, that culinary institute your department collaborates with?"
"You didn't know?" Daichi Fujiwara seemed surprised by Luo Shu's reaction.
"Indeed... I didn't."
'Totsuki Academy? Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri? Do they exist in this world, too?'
Luo Shu thought hesitantly as he showed his confusion. Seeing his expression, Daichi Fujiwara immediately explained:
"Totsuki Academy is a culinary school operated by the Nakiri family for over a century. The Nakiris have deep roots in the culinary industry, with connections spanning all sectors of Japan. I've heard they possess a unique talent for handling special ingredients."
"Precisely because of this, Mr. Takayanagi of the Bujin-shū once commissioned the Nakiri family to process a batch of special ingredients. The results were reportedly flawless, earning them numerous invitations and opening new business avenues in special ingredient processing."
"Speaking of which, Nakiri International—operated by the Nakiri family—has shares in your SDS Commercial Department."
"This is the first I'm hearing of it."
Luo Shu's tone carried a hint of scepticism.
Special ingredients? Things like yokai flesh and blood? The Nakiri family actually had the skills and talent to handle such things? Could this be the reason?
As Luo Shu pondered, Toyomi Fujiwara turned from the kitchen and called out to them:
"Dad, dinner's ready. Could you call Chika and Moeha?"
"That quick? Understood."
Daichi Fujiwara blinked in surprise before offering Luo Shu an apologetic smile:
"My daughters are so capable, they've reduced me to just being the announcer."
'Capable in every sense of the word...'
Luo Shu observed Toyomi Fujiwara. Though she wore a kitchen apron, it couldn't conceal the slender, snow-white thighs beneath her hot pants. The epitome of beauty.
Just as Luo Shu's gaze lingered in slightly questionable places, a small head popped out from a nearby room at Daichi's call:
"Dinner's ready already? So early today?"
"Eh? We have a guest?!"
Upon spotting the unfamiliar Luo Shu, Chika Fujiwara couldn't help but blink rapidly.