After hearing Giada's outrageous statement, Asagi Aiba, sitting at the temporary computer desk, felt utterly speechless:
"Why am I subordinate to such a troublesome Primogenitor?!"
"Well, it's because you appeared in my Primogenitor Empire when you came to this world."
Giada Kukulcan raised her eyebrows triumphantly and said with a laugh:
"Besides, didn't you recommend yourself initially in exchange for... protection?"
"I only did that to survive in that monster-filled place teeming with man-eating species!"
As soon as Giada mentioned the past, Asagi Aiba became indignant:
"Getting transported to another world just by walking, and appearing right at the edge of a battlefield - you think I wanted that?!"
After grumbling and complaining, Asagi Aiba opened her computer again, frowning as she looked at the densely flashing data on the screen, then tutted:
"The virus got detected again, damn it! What kind of architecture does the Hidden Management Department's server even have?!"
"Well, I can't help you with that."
Giada shrugged, indicating she was powerless to assist.
She could handle fighting on the battlefield well enough, but when it came to computer matters, she'd rather not - it just wasn't her forte.
Compared to dealing with this, Giada was more interested in tasting the Kobe beef Evangeline had just put in, wondering how it compared to the meat of ferocious beasts.
And just as Giada was staring at Evangeline's cooking meat, Krul, sitting nearby, said with an expressionless face:
"You could have used the proper invitation channel, but you just had to hack their server instead."
"Honestly, I really don't understand you."
"Do you actually think Luo Shu would generously let you off after doing something like this, rather than personally leading a team to hunt you down?"
"I don't think the three of us combined could escape a Demigod's pursuit."
Hearing this, Evangeline immediately retorted:
"Hey now, Krul, don't count me in that. If they come after us, I'll definitely sell you two out immediately, no question about it."
"Perfect opportunity."
While Evangeline was speaking, Giada swiftly snatched the beef she had just cooked, dipped it in sauce, stuffed it in her mouth, and said while chewing with muffled tones:
"Because following the proper procedure to get invited is just too boring."
Giada narrowed her emerald-like eyes as she continued:
"Compared to compromises made through weighing interests, what I prefer is expressing my true self with fists on the battlefield!"
"Being defeated and then becoming their subordinate has its own romance, doesn't it?"
Hearing this, Krul couldn't help but narrow her red eyes, her tone carrying amusement as she said:
"Oh, that does sound like quite an interesting approach."
"Interesting my foot."
Evangeline glared at Giada, who had stolen the food, then sighed with exasperation:
"When there's an easy mode available, you just have to pick the complicated one. I really don't understand you Primogenitors."
As she spoke, Evangeline suddenly raised an eyebrow, looking rather surprised as she glanced toward the room's entrance.
"Speaking of which, that kid downstairs is still watching us?"
From Evangeline's perspective.
Several crow-like puppets were perched on the telephone poles, their black eyes fixed intently on the coffee shop opposite, specifically on Ayato Kirishima, who was drinking coffee and scrolling through his phone on the second floor.
In response, Giada continued cheerfully:
"What's the harm? When entertainment comes knocking, wouldn't it be a shame not to have some fun with it?"
"That kid has a strong scent of blood and flesh about him."
Krul casually picked up an apple from the fruit plate nearby, took a small bite, and said with cold eyes:
"A non-human race, and possibly a man-eating species at that."
"To be honest, I don't think we're his targets."
"Besides, we didn't use the front door when we entered this apartment."
As she said this, Krul glanced at Asagi Aiba nearby, the implication being clear.
"Hey, hey, hey, could you three at least remember I'm here while you're having this conversation?"
Asagi Aiba turned around with a very unsettled expression, her face showing panic as she said:
"There's a man-eating monster targeting me? You've got to be kidding me. I thought there weren't many supernatural species in East Asia? Why have I encountered another man-eating monster so soon after arriving?"
"Am I some kind of victim magnet or something?"
Ignoring Asagi Aiba's distressed cries, Giada said with a smile:
"What does it matter? We're right here, aren't we?"
"We'll definitely help you resolve this before we go to the Hidden Management Department, don't worry about it~"
"Easier said than done."
Asagi Aiba complained, then opened her computer and said with a frown:
"But to be honest, the server on the Hidden Management Department's side is likely a bit troublesome. They're probably not using mainstream computers from this world. The performance and response are actually somewhat similar to Aldegia Kingdom's psychic computers, and it's most likely a modified version."
"To crack this kind of server, we'd need to bring over at least one of those supercomputers from the Chaos Zone. Otherwise, relying solely on my setup here, it would probably take 5 days just to design a specialised virus to break through. By the time we actually infiltrate and obtain the data, it would likely be a week later."
"If possible, we should arrange for a supercomputer. That way, I'm confident I could crack the Hidden Management Department's server within 2 days."
"A week? Or even two days? Is the efficiency really that fast?" Evangeline turned her head curiously, looking at Krul. She didn't understand computers well, but judging by the timeframes mentioned, it sounded like remarkably efficient work.
"Don't look at me. I have no sense of time." Krul took a bite of an apple, speaking casually.
Meanwhile, Giada scratched her head and said:
"To be honest, my budget was for one month... Otherwise, I wouldn't have kept that little one down below."
"But I was originally planning to use that little one downstairs as entertainment for the month. If it only takes a week, or even two days, then doesn't that mean we need to start digging deeper into the ghouls watching little Asagi right now?"
Hearing these three speak, Asagi Aiba immediately made a troubled face, her mouth twitching slightly as she said:
"I almost forgot you're all vampires... No, am I really an idiot for expecting efficiency from vampires?"
At that moment, Evangeline propped her chin in her hand and said calmly:
"Whether you're an idiot or not is beside the point. I'll handle preparing that supercomputer."
"The British Union has cheated me so many times - having them purchase an Aldegian supercomputer shouldn't be a problem."
"I'll deal with the one watching downstairs then..."
Krul finished her apple and was about to decide the division of labour.
However, at that moment, Giada, Evangeline and Krul all paused simultaneously, their gazes turning in unison towards the entrance of the apartment building's ground floor.
...
Meanwhile, at the apartment building's entrance.
The black Honda had just parked, but before Tatara could get out to open the doors for his two superiors in the back, Takatsuki Izumi suddenly spoke:
"Is Kirishima's brain made of shit?"
"He didn't even notice we're being watched?"
On the other side, Shizuka Hio's cool face showed a slight frown:
"12, 15, 22... 22 surveillance lines of sight..."
"Is it a trap? Or is it someone else?"
Hearing this, Takatsuki Izumi took a deep breath, then said with a dark expression:
"Whatever it is, we'll deal with it as it comes."
"If absolutely necessary, we'll just have to embarrass ourselves in front of our Director."
Though she said this, unless absolutely forced to, Takatsuki Izumi really didn't want to request Luo Shu's Possession support.
She was already the most inconspicuous member of the Familia, and if she couldn't even handle small tasks properly, Takatsuki Izumi feared she might become the first retired Familia member.
No matter how much she normally slacked off, being the first to retire... she really didn't want that to happen!!