Facing Luo Shu's question, Meer tilted her head and said with a smile:
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
Luo Shu stared at Meer in astonishment, clearly not expecting this answer.
Even Kisara, standing behind Luo Shu, was surprised: "Isn't Miss Meer the Director of Intelligence? Does the Intelligence Department really have no information on that Hagoromo Gitsune?"
"We really don't."
Meer calmly picked up the brewed tea on the table but didn't drink it, since her current body was mechanical:
"After all, you can't expect us to collect intelligence about a dead yokai, can you?"
"The time since the SDS's founding probably isn't even as long as Hagoromo Gitsune has been dead."
Hearing this, Luo Shu was even more stunned:
"Hagoromo Gitsune is dead?"
"At least for now." Meer gave an ambiguous answer: "According to records, Hagoromo Gitsune seems to possess abilities of resurrection and body theft, along with extremely strong concealment capabilities."
"In such circumstances, many intelligence-gathering methods are ineffective."
"The information about Hagoromo Gitsune still being in her death cycle came from Kuesu's divination."
Then Meer glanced at Luo Shu and chuckled:
"Kuesu being the one you've been fooling so thoroughly."
"You actually lied to Kuesu, saying you couldn't divine, Luo Shu. How devious of you."
Hearing this, Luo Shu didn't deny being devious, but frowned and said:
"Hagoromo Gitsune hasn't been resurrected, yet the Hagoromo Group has begun moving, targeting the livers of noble young ladies."
"Doesn't that suggest Hagoromo Gitsune's resurrection is imminent?"
"That is indeed a reasonable assumption."
Meer didn't refute Luo Shu's speculation, but affirmed it:
"The Hagoromo Group is an organisation with many Great Yokai. Although Hagoromo Gitsune is the nominal leader, the true mastermind is actually Nue, the yokai form of Abe no Seimei."
"Hagoromo Gitsune usually manages the group as Nue's mother in his absence."
"Without orders from either Nue or Hagoromo Gitsune, the Hagoromo Group rarely takes any action."
"This is why they haven't been exterminated - they remain exceptionally docile until receiving commands."
"So docile that the Bujin-shū and Onmyō Agency consider the Nura Clan more threatening."
"Another key factor is that the Hagoromo Group is based in Kyoto, the stronghold of several dominant families within the Onmyō Agency."
"The Kadenokōji, Mikumari and Jingūji families all have bases there, as do reclusive clans like the Asakura."
"Moreover, there are shrine and temple factions like Fushimi Inari Taisha, Byōdō-in's Phoenix Hall, and Arashiyama's Tenryū-ji."
"Surrounded by these powerful forces, even the Hagoromo Group's many Great Yokai must lie low."
"Not even their 'Mother of Nue' could change that."
Hearing this, Luo Shu merely raised an eyebrow and said calmly:
"But they're moving now, aren't they?"
"And specifically targeting noblewomen with Familia potential..."
Meer giggled at this: "I know what you're getting at, Luo Shu. Prevention is definitely necessary."
After all, Luo Shu couldn't possibly know how many noblewomen across Japan had Familia potential. Each of these potential points-generating treasures would be a painful loss for Luo Shu, Meer and Lacus.
These were treasures that could automatically generate points every month.
"Normally, when such threats emerge, both Mikiri and I would dispatch teams to eliminate high-risk enemies first."
Hearing this, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow:
"So this is an abnormal situation?"
"Correct."
Meer sighed, then looked seriously at Luo Shu:
"Do you remember that ritual, Luo Shu?"
"The Calamity Priest ritual for your promotion to Hero Rank."
At these words, Luo Shu's pupils contracted slightly as the advancement ritual's contents surfaced in his mind:
[Advancement Ritual: Unleash a disaster affecting no fewer than 500,000 people. When despair peaks, consume all advancement and supplementary materials while significantly mitigating the disaster. Greater mitigation yields better ritual effects.]
"You mean?!!" Luo Shu suddenly realised what Meer meant by "abnormal."
"Yes." Meer nodded. "After receiving last night's report, I suggested to Lacus the idea of reviving Nue."
"Assuming the opponent is that Abe no Seimei, you should have a way to deal with him, right, Luo Shu?"
Hearing Meer say this, Luo Shu's mouth twitched:
"You're overestimating me too much."
"What if he's a Demigod?"
At this, Meer smiled slyly: "So you're saying anything below Demigod is manageable?"
Luo Shu didn't refute this. Against opponents below the Demigod Rank, even those of the same special Class, defeating them might be possible, but killing them would be nearly impossible.
"So there's still room for manoeuvre here, isn't there?"
Meer handed Luo Shu the teacup she'd been holding all this time.
When Luo Shu took the teacup, Meer knew he was already half convinced.
As for the remaining half, that would depend on her eloquence.
"The SDS can secretly support the Hagoromo Group, allowing them to incite a disaster that engulfs all of Kyoto."
"And there's almost no denying that they will inevitably choose to revive Nue, also known as Abe no Seimei."
"The Great Onmyoji from a thousand years ago resurrected, intending to rule Kyoto and recreate the Demon Capital where humans and demons once coexisted."
"Such actions would undoubtedly meet the conditions for the ritual to succeed, wouldn't you agree?"
Hearing Meer's words, Luo Shu drained his tea in one gulp before asking:
"And how do you plan to deal with Kyoto's numerous factions?"
"They won't just sit back and let Nue, let Abe no Seimei, revive safely."
"No, they will."
Meer spoke with absolute certainty:
"After all, there's one prerequisite to truly killing someone."
"That person must first be alive!"