The meeting concluded.
After exiting the virtual space, Luo Shu glanced at the computer's clock.
10:13:22.
"3 minutes and 22 seconds?" Luo Shu showed slight surprise.
He entered the virtual space precisely at 10 o'clock and spent considerable time discussing strategies with Lacus, Meer and Kirika Tachibana. By conversation duration, it should have exceeded 30 minutes.
Yet the final result showed only 3 minutes and 22 seconds - perhaps merely one-tenth of the actual time.
"Manipulating time flow? Unlikely. Feels more like consciousness acceleration?"
Luo Shu rubbed his chin, muttering thoughtfully:
"Compared to the physical body, consciousness - or perhaps the soul - can endure much higher information processing rates. Is this technology exploiting that characteristic to accelerate information transmission, creating an illusion similar to time acceleration?"
"Quite impressive work from that Dr. Tabane Shinonono."
Even if it's merely consciousness acceleration, this remains remarkable black technology.
While Luo Shu couldn't fully grasp the potential impact of this black technology, he recognised that for learning and communication, this virtual space served as an extraordinarily convenient tool - practically equivalent to activating a time acceleration cheat.
"Just wonder how much longer this virtual space needs for testing completion."
As Luo Shu murmured these thoughts, he suddenly sensed something and turned towards the suite's entrance.
At that exact moment, a knock sounded at the door.
Luo Shu's eyes flickered as he said:
"Enter."
The door swung open to reveal Angelene's figure.
"Pardon the intrusion, Commander."
Observing Angelene closing the door behind her with an unusually solemn expression, Luo Shu regarded her with slight puzzlement:
"Angelene?"
Luo Shu observed the clearly off-kilter Angelene before him, then recalled Meer, who had previously met him using a mechanical body, and asked:
"Are you using a mechanical body right now?"
"Yes." Angelene looked slightly surprised but nodded in confirmation.
She wasn't puzzled about how Luo Shu knew about mechanical proxies, since as an SDS department head, his clearance level matched hers. It was natural he'd be aware.
"Within the organisation, department-head level clearance allows expenditure of funds to purchase mechanical proxies for emergency communications and handling miscellaneous tasks."
"The one I'm currently using is such a proxy."
Hearing this, Luo Shu understood and immediately inquired:
"So has something happened, Captain Angelene?"
Angelene nodded and promptly replied:
"Just now, the Gokadoin Family dispatched personnel to take over Nijo Castle's defence."
"According to current intelligence, those sent were led by the seventh-generation head Tenkai Gokadoin, along with two other Gokadoin family heads."
"Upon arrival, they forcibly subdued the Hagoromo Group's Great Yokai, using martial means to compel obedience before taking over protective duties from Nijo Castle to the Chamber of Nue."
Luo Shu wasn't surprised by this. The Gokadoin were, after all, descendants of Abe no Seimei, and seemed to have upheld his ideals across generations, so their intervention now was expected.
"What was Hagoromo Gitsune's response?"
"She accepted the Gokadoin Family's terms, but reassigned me – Abe no Ariyuki's Familiar Spirit – along with Kyokotsu and another woman as her personal attendants to oversee her arrangements in the Chamber of Nue."
Hearing this, Luo Shu seemed to realise something and asked further:
"Was the other attendant a golden-haired, blue-eyed woman wearing a blue nun's habit?"
"...Yes." Angelene stared at Luo Shu in astonishment before exclaiming, "That nun?"
Luo Shu immediately recognised the other assigned attendant as Sharon.
"She's a covert member of the Hidden Management Department."
Luo Shu offered this explanation while internally complaining about Hagoromo Gitsune's unconventional tactics.
Though he understood this was her way of signalling goodwill towards him.
But assigning Sharon and Angelene as personal attendants? Even he hadn't received such preferential treatment.
Probably only joint operations with Lacus would warrant that level of security.
Still, he rather approved of Hagoromo Gitsune's distrust towards the Gokadoin Family's protection, insisting on having Sharon and Angelene as personal attendants.
After all, Japan's security capabilities... those who know, know!
Hearing the other attendant was from the Hidden Management Department, Angelene deduced certain implications:
"Hagoromo Gitsune seems deeply wary of the Gokadoin Family? To the extent she'd rather trust us than them?"
Luo Shu smiled meaningfully: "It appears she truly took my words to heart."
Angelene's expression turned somewhat peculiar at this remark.
From the intelligence she'd reviewed, the Gokadoin Family were descendants of Hagoromo Gitsune's son Abe no Seimei. Did Luo Shu's statement imply he'd driven a wedge between them and their ancestral grandmother?
That manoeuvre was... somewhat ethically questionable.
"However, how did the Gokadoin clan manage to infiltrate so quickly? The gestation of Nue should have only just begun... Could there be enemies who don't wish to see Abe no Seimei revived?"
Upon hearing this, Angelene immediately nodded and said:
"The Hagoromo Group received intel claiming that the Keikain family and the Nura Clan have allied, with personnel already gathering at the Katsura Imperial Villa."
"Additionally, the Bujin-shū seem to have dispatched another punitive force due to the recent noblewoman kidnapping incident. It's said to be led by several heads of the Bujin-shū's twelve families."
"On top of that, the Cabinet appears to have ordered the Ministry of Environment Countermeasures Office and the Vampire Elder Council to mobilise forces to suppress the Hagoromo Group entrenched in Kyoto."
Hearing this news, Luo Shu couldn't help but tap the glass table with his index finger as he tallied up:
"Keikain, Nura Clan, Bujin-shū, the Council, and the Ministry of Environment..."
"From the looks of it, these organisations most likely aren't involved in Abe no Seimei's affairs."
In other words, these groups probably didn't have Hero Rank figures approaching Demigod level among them.
Of course, it was also possible that they deliberately sent forces to prevent the emergence of a Demigod.
The distinction between these scenarios was significant.
"Commander, how should we respond now?"
Hearing Angelene's question, Luo Shu smiled and said:
"Let's wait and see!"
"After all, no one has extended an invitation to the SDS yet, have they?"
"Let them fight it out first."
Angelene nodded in understanding.