As the holder of the Calamity Bringer Class, Luo Shu might not understand curse techniques, but removing curses was effortless for him.
Yet even so, Luo Shu hadn't played this trump card when dealing with the Keikain family.
The reason was simple.
No benefit!
Though Luo Shu was short on personnel, what he lacked were loyal direct subordinates.
The Keikain family wasn't particularly strong either, and there wasn't much he wanted from them. His interest might have only been piqued because Yura Keikain had Familia potential.
However, Yura was too young, merely the next heir with no involvement in family affairs yet.
Under these circumstances, the Keikain family was nothing more than a chicken rib—barely worth the effort.
Their numbers weren't large, but they probably had two to three hundred members. Taking them in would likely divert part of the Hidden Management Department's resources for training. He'd be a fool to cultivate someone else's subordinates.
The Keikain family might have ancestral assets that could provide considerable financial support, but what Luo Shu lacked most wasn't money—it was points.
If it came down to cash, did the Keikain family have more than the SDS?
The SDS lacked funding because research was too expensive without visible returns.
But if push came to shove, releasing some technology would surely bring in money.
Money itself wasn't important—what mattered were the resources it could buy.
And for Luo Shu, money was even less important. What truly mattered were Abyss Artefacts and Familia members that could be exchanged for points.
The Keikain family only had one candidate worth considering, not worth expending too much effort on.
Wouldn't it be better to focus that energy on Utaha Kasumigaoka or Mira Tsubakihara?
At worst, he could just... expend a bit more stamina!
That said, if it was a paid curse removal, Luo Shu wouldn't mind stepping in.
Helping Meer earn some pocket money and then cuddling with her at night sounded like a fine deal.
"Once things settle, I'll spread the word that I can remove curses."
Of course, the Keikain family could always seek out Hagoromo Gitsune for curse removal.
But knowing her, Luo Shu was certain that woman would sooner see the Keikain family wiped out than lift a finger to help.
Hadn't the Nura Clan already allied with Hagoromo Gitsune without even mentioning the curse?
Because they knew full well that getting her to remove it was nearly impossible.
Unless they could find a qualified mediator.
And aside from Luo Shu, whose limits were unclear, the only other candidate would be Abe no Seimei—Nue.
But Nue was an enemy, so that left only Luo Shu.
Therefore...
"I've got you right where I want you, Keikain family."
Luo Shu finished his latte, stood up, and said to Kurumi Tokisaki, "Let's go for a walk. After that, we'll head to Togetsukyo Bridge in the afternoon to meet our next companion."
Compared to the still-young Yura, the foolish Angelene was far more appealing to Luo Shu.
She was an untouched cabbage in his own garden—wouldn't it be a shame not to taste her?
Seemingly seeing through his thoughts, Kurumi gave him a teasing look before agreeing:
"Alright~"
"So Shuu-kun is finally introducing me to his SDS comrades?"
"I'm so happy~"
"Let's skip the introductions," Luo Shu said with a wry face. "A secret weapon loses its edge if it's out in the open, doesn't it?"
Kurumi pouted, feigning heartbreak:
"Does Shu-kun only want me to be his woman in the shadows?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's lips twitched. How could he not recognise that Kurumi Tokisaki was teasing him?
He gave her a speechless, resigned look before sighing:
"Fine, let's meet then. There's no harm in introducing you as just an ordinary member without explaining the details."
"Of course, on the condition that you change your hairstyle and use a disguise."
"After all, Kurumi, you wouldn't want someone from Truth Astronomy to recognise you, would you?"
Only then did Kurumi Tokisaki suddenly realise she was technically still a member of Truth Astronomy.
Ah, this was rather awkward.
After all, Angelene's direct action team was the main force dealing with threats from Truth Astronomy.
"So... some disguise is needed?"
Kurumi asked tentatively.
Luo Shu paused before replying:
"Let's find a hair salon together."
They needed a professional to see what hairstyle would suit his dear Kurumi best.
...
Deep in Mount Atago, within an old-fashioned Japanese-style courtyard.
A young girl in a pink kimono with cherry blossom patterns sat on the veranda edge like an old woman, cradling a cup of hot tea while staring blankly at the koi pond in the garden.
"Some time ago, you went to meet the Keikains?"
An aged voice came from behind.
Mikihisa Asakura slowly stepped out of the room, stopping not far behind Anna Kyōyama:
"Did you meet him? That man who, according to divination, might be able to defeat Hao."
Anna calmly sipped her tea:
"No, I deliberately went earlier and missed the timing for our meeting."
"Why?"
Mikihisa looked at Anna in confusion:
"Our agreement was simply for you to defeat Hao Asakura and send him back to Hell. Once completed, you'd have repaid my kindness in adopting you."
"This should be beneficial for you, Anna. Why give up the opportunity?"
Mikihisa stared at Anna's back, but no response came.
Just as she was about to speak again, Anna finally said:
"Because it's too troublesome."
"Too troublesome?" Mikihisa was taken aback.
"Interacting with someone who knows I have Mind Reading abilities is too troublesome."
Anna stated plainly:
"Rather than meeting while he's on guard, it's better to let him prepare countermeasures first."
"Anyway, you're not in a hurry to kill Hao, are you? After all, he's your only grandson."
Mikihisa fell silent at this, then sighed as she gazed at the sky:
"As you wish."
Her back seemed to have aged considerably as she turned away.
Anna lifted her cup, took a sip of tea, then set it down, calmly observing the koi in the pond:
"By my calculations, he should have noticed by now."
Thinking of Luo Shu - the man whose information she couldn't divine, only receiving vague omens - Anna remained silent for a long while:
"Better prepare a while longer before meeting. That man might be even more dangerous than Hao."
...
New York, an underground bar.
Dressed in a white cloak and holding whiskey, Hao Asakura seemed to be listening to something before smiling wryly:
"My, my~ Planning to ally with the SDS? How very progressive of you, my descendants."
As the origin of the Asakura family's bloodline, Hao Asakura could easily overhear most of their words and deeds through mystical connections.
Thus, to him, almost any plan devised by the Asakura family was meaningless.
Still, being so guarded against by his descendants did make Hao feel a little sad.
They only needed to follow closely behind him...
Noticing his expression, his follower Opacho curiously tilted her head:
"What's wrong, Lord Hao?"
"Nothing, Opacho." Hao reached out and ruffled Opacho's head, then smiled. "But we'll need to make a slight change to our itinerary."
"Where do you wish to go?" Opacho asked, puzzled.
His cloak fluttering in the wind, Hao stood up:
"To Japan."
"To meet my unfilial descendants!"