Simultaneously with the scene change...
The metallic sound of guns being drawn rang out.
Five Beretta M9 pistols were drawn by team members, aimed in various directions.
Only then did the armed individuals hear Luo Shu's self-introduction.
Instantly, the room fell silent as everyone seemed to process the situation.
Only Luo Shu remained smiling from his seat at the head table:
"Angelene, you have some excellent teammates."
Seeing this, Angelene's expression stiffened, but she reacted swiftly:
"Everyone, lower your weapons!"
"Brown."
The bulky blond with a crew cut lowered his gun.
"Lien."
The golden-haired beauty with shoulder-length hair holstered her twin pistols.
"Huff, Marse."
The brown-haired twin brothers with crew cuts exchanged glances before silently sitting down.
After ensuring all team members had stood down, Angelene turned to Luo Shu with visible frustration:
"Mr Luo, please don't play jokes like this next time - it's terrifying!"
"Hahaha!"
Luo Shu laughed heartily, clearly amused:
"It makes for a good show of authority, don't you think?"
He even winked at Angelene:
"After all, as your upcoming commander, I should at least demonstrate my capabilities, right?"
"That may be true, but there are better ways to..." Angelene hesitated, mumbling her complaint.
Seeing her captain being outmanoeuvred, Sylvie quickly interjected:
"When did Director Luo trap us in the illusion?"
She'd heard rumours about the Hidden Management Department's new director being skilled in illusion techniques, but this had been unbelievably realistic.
She'd genuinely believed they were still on Togetsukyo Bridge - there hadn't been the slightest hint of deception.
If Suzuka Dairenji hadn't sensed something amiss through Luo Shu's personality and pointed it out, she would probably still be trapped in the illusion technique.
Hearing Sylvie's question, Luo Shu replied calmly:
"From the moment you passed this hot spring hotel."
At these words, Sylvie froze momentarily before realising something. She turned to look towards the window.
Instantly, the Togetsukyo Bridge in the distance came into view.
Following the memorised terrain map, Sylvie immediately determined their location - a hot spring inn on one side of Togetsukyo Bridge.
Not long ago, the six members of the direct action team had just passed through this establishment's entrance before assembling along both sides of the bridge.
And that had been fifteen minutes earlier.
So, everything after passing the hotel entrance had occurred within an illusion?
Realising this, Sylvie suddenly grasped Luo Shu's terrifying capability.
All six action team members, including strategic-level sorcerers like Angelene within the SDS, had been controlled by Luo Shu's illusion technique for fifteen minutes.
Had Luo Shu wished to do anything, they would have been dead long ago.
This was the first minister of the Hidden Management Department?
This was merely 'some skill in illusion techniques' as the rumours claimed?
What happened to the Chairwoman's pretty boy?
Sylvie's expression shifted rapidly, seemingly struggling to accept being deceived by gossip.
In contrast, the carefree Angelene beside her acted as if discovering something amusing and pressed Luo Shu eagerly:
"So you'd already arrived at the scene earlier and used illusion techniques to trick us inside?"
"How does this illusion technique work? Can I learn it?"
Luo Shu smiled and asked:
"Do your Dying Will Flames possess the Mist Attribute?"
"No, mine are Sky Attribute." Angelene shook her head regretfully. "Does it require Mist Attribute? What a shame!"
She then muttered very quietly:
"I thought I could sneak out next time without being noticed."
Hearing this, Luo Shu chuckled before shifting his gaze to scan Angelene's team members.
"Regarding my temporary appointment as field commander, I presume you have no objections?"
The action team members present nodded silently.
Though Luo Shu's demonstration of authority had been delivered in a joking manner to Angelene, its impact on them was undeniably real.
With a powerful illusionist like Luo Shu as their commander - and without conflicting interests - none would dare oppose.
Unless they fancied shooting themselves in the head while imagining they were attacking enemies, compliance was their only option.
Finding the direct action team so cooperative, Luo Shu smiled and said:
"Introduce yourselves."
"Brown, firepower." The muscular, 190cm-tall Brown stated gravely.
"Lien, medic." The shoulder-length bobbed, tall and sexy Lien nodded.
"Hoover, equipment, electronic intelligence and logistics." The lean, brown-haired youth, Hoover, responded.
"Marseille, sniper." The man who looked identical to Hufu, Marseille, responded in kind.
Finally, Sylvie, sitting beside Angelene, sighed and said:
"Sylvie, deputy captain, in charge of team affairs—more of a support role, I suppose?"
Angelene glanced left and right before pointing at herself:
"Do I need to introduce myself?"
Luo Shu shot her a glance and reminded her:
"You're exempt. Your information is classified as A-level confidential, accessible only to directors or higher-level personnel. Saying too much would just complicate things..."
"Oh." Angelene shrank her neck slightly, looking like a wronged little wife who wanted to show off but was forbidden.
Seeing Angelene like this, Suzuka Dairenji couldn't help but click her tongue in annoyance:
"Suzuka Dairenji, Onmyoji."
As soon as she spoke, all six members of the action team glanced at her, clearly memorising her appearance.
Just then, a sweet yet mischievous female voice chimed in:
"My, my, should I introduce myself too?"
Hearing this, Angelene and Sylvie froze simultaneously, turning their heads toward the source of the voice.
Only now, when the voice spoke, did they suddenly realise there had been someone sitting to Luo Shu's right all along.
"You are?!"
Angelene stared at the girl in a black-and-red gothic dress, with long black hair and crimson eyes, her expression full of surprise.
At this point, Luo Shu glanced at the slightly altered appearance of Kurumi Tokisaki and said flatly:
"Your existence is known only to S-class clearance holders and a select few directors. Let's not stir up unnecessary attention."
Hearing this, Angelene and Sylvie immediately swallowed their words and fell silent.
They were well aware of the SDS's internal tier-based clearance system. Upon hearing Luo Shu mention S-class confidentiality, they naturally refrained from further questions.
Still, Sylvie couldn't help but wonder.
Someone like Angelene, whose information required A-level clearance, was already akin to a strategic weapon.
An individual under S-class information control—what kind of existence could that be?
Could it be the rumoured Demigod powerhouse said to oversee the SDS headquarters, as whispered in internal gossip?
But then again...
Sylvie eyed Kurumi Tokisaki's seating position and mused to herself: 'Why is this woman, possibly a Demigod, sitting so close to Director Luo?'
Meanwhile, upon hearing Luo Shu's words, Kurumi tilted her head slightly:
"I can't say? Then should I come up with a codename?"
"Could Shu-kun help me think of one?"
At this, Luo Shu's eyes flickered before he replied:
"You want me to think of one?"
"Then how about the codename... Nightmare?"