Black was Hagoromo Gitsune's signature colour.
From her raven hair to her black pearl-like eyes, down to her dark sailor uniform - all embodied her essence.
Coldly beautiful, mysterious, and utterly dangerous.
When this vision of Hagoromo Gitsune stepped through the doorway and approached, Luo Shu lightly raised his teacup, blowing across the surface before saying:
"Sit."
Hagoromo Gitsune studied Luo Shu intently before sitting herself at the low table opposite him.
Ueno Harutaka silently rose and exited the hall, leaving the two to their discussion.
Only after Ueno's figure disappeared did Luo Shu withdraw his gaze. Taking a sip of tea, he remarked:
"Did you enjoy Akihabara?"
Hagoromo Gitsune arched a brow, unsurprised that he knew of her movements. She glanced at him and asked softly:
"Does the SDS procure intelligence there as well?"
"That would be the Intelligence Department's responsibility." Luo Shu smiled as he set down his cup.
At this, Hagoromo Gitsune narrowed her fox-like eyes:
"Then what does the Hidden Management Department handle?"
Luo Shu answered plainly: "Managing and containing Abyss Artefacts and anomalous lifeforms. Their intelligence falls under our purview as well."
Hagoromo Gitsune feigned surprise:
"Oh? So that includes containing me as well?"
"Correct."
Luo Shu replied without hesitation:
"Actually, preserving you as a specimen deep within the Hidden Management Zone wouldn't be impossible."
"But I think that would be such a waste. After all, you're a rare reincarnated yokai who accumulates power through rebirth. Squandering such talent would be disgraceful."
"So?" Hagoromo Gitsune asked calmly.
Hearing this, Luo Shu glanced at Hagoromo Gitsune's pale yet beautiful face and smiled as he inquired:
"Would you like to join the Hidden Management Department?"
"Is this a condition?" Hagoromo Gitsune frowned.
"No, this is an invitation." Luo Shu shook his head in denial. "I do intend to cooperate with you regarding Nue, but that's separate from my desire to invite you under my wing."
Understanding his meaning, Hagoromo Gitsune immediately refused:
"I won't become anyone's subordinate."
"Don't be so absolute~" Luo Shu maintained his cheerful expression. "We can negotiate the terms."
Hagoromo Gitsune looked at Luo Shu—a glance that seemed to say everything yet nothing at all.
Faced with her clear refusal, Luo Shu remained undeterred. After all, persistent digging would eventually loosen the soil. For now, he just needed to moisten the ground:
"Judging by the intelligence you've purchased these past few days, you're seeking information about Hao Asakura and Abe no Seimei?"
Hagoromo Gitsune didn't deny it, merely asking:
"What price must I pay?"
To gain something, one must first give—this principle Hagoromo Gitsune understood well.
If possible, she would prefer not to cooperate with Luo Shu.
After all, this man's words seemed eternally devoid of truth, perpetually filled with lies and deception.
Yet paradoxically, he was also the head of one of Japan's major organisations—the one with the most intelligence who was willing to engage with her.
This forced Hagoromo Gitsune to interact with Luo Shu.
'If only Gokadoin were willing to provide more support, I wouldn't need to go through such trouble.'
Hagoromo Gitsune felt dissatisfied with Gokadoin's ambiguous attitude towards her.
Though they were her child's descendants, they maintained a respectful distance. While sharing the goal of reviving Nue, they adhered more closely to Seimei's philosophy.
Yet, being family, Hagoromo Gitsune couldn't blame them too much. In her view, resurrecting her child was something she should handle personally.
However, her inquiry was met with Luo Shu's refusal:
"Unfortunately, you can't afford the price."
Luo Shu gazed at the black spider lily before him and stated plainly:
"Why do you assume you could pay for intelligence concerning an existence suspected to be a Demigod?"
Hagoromo Gitsune couldn't refute this, feeling regretful.
In her estimation, the SDS—an organisation likely housing a Demigod (Kurumi Tokisaki)—stood the best chance of possessing concrete information about Hao Asakura.
And indeed, as she suspected, Luo Shu did know certain details about Hao Asakura. But he wouldn't share them with Hagoromo Gitsune, who hadn't yet become part of his Familia.
Luo Shu could teach Kei Shirogane how to exploit regulations to earn SDS bounties and freely provide Kurumi with vast sums of points for cultivation.
But all this presupposed they were his Familia—his people whose very lives belonged to him.
And Hagoromo Gitsune, for now, had no intention of becoming such a person.
Unable to obtain Hao Asakura, Hagoromo Gitsune had no choice but to settle for second best:
"I wish to know about Seimei."
"Certainly." Luo Shu nodded, then added, "State what you wish to know first. I'll determine the price accordingly."
His manner instantly reminded Hagoromo Gitsune of intelligence brokers, reminding her of Tsubame Shim.
Yet truth be told, after days of extensively purchasing and verifying intelligence, she'd developed some trust in such professional information services:
"I want to know why that child planted Minagoroshi Jizō by my side."
Luo Shu merely chuckled in response:
"One Hero Grade Abyss Artefact, or five Elite Rank artefacts. Naturally, we accept both advance payments and credit."
"Hehe, offering you credit is my personal leniency towards you. After all, there's still a possibility you might join the SDS."
Hagoromo Gitsune didn't respond. She always felt that her joining the SDS would be highly advantageous for the man before her, but due to her wariness, she maintained deep reservations about Luo Shu.
Because she could faintly sense the darkness within this man's heart, and his desire for her.
Though it was just a vague perception, Hagoromo Gitsune had her own judgment about Luo Shu.
She only wanted to revive Nue, to bring her child back to life, not to find a father for her child.
After considering the difficulty of obtaining an Abyss Artefact and the risks of taking credit, she remained silent for a moment before calmly saying:
"Deal."
Hearing this, Luo Shu gave Hagoromo Gitsune a meaningful look and then explained:
"Minagoroshi Jizō was placed by your side for only one purpose."
"That is, at the moment of Nue's—of Abe no Seimei's rebirth—to eliminate all his connections in this world and erase the only weakness he left behind."
Hagoromo Gitsune's pupils contracted violently at these words.
Because when Nue was revived, the only one connected to the newly born Nue would be her, his birth mother.
Her child planned to eliminate her after his resurrection?