9:00 AM, Fujiwara Residence.
Daichi Fujiwara was supervising workers as they dismantled the massive aquarium in their home.
Noticing this, Moeha Fujiwara, in her loungewear, approached curiously. She bent slightly to observe the workers crouched on the floor before asking:
"Dad, why are we suddenly removing the aquarium? Are we not keeping fish anymore?"
Hearing his youngest daughter's question, Daichi Fujiwara lied without batting an eye:
"Chika's made some friends at school, hasn't she? I thought our living room was a bit too small for gatherings, so I decided to remove this."
"Chika's friends?" Moeha blinked before realisation dawned. "Oh, you mean Kaguya?"
"Speaking of which, I think Chika had plans to go cosmetics shopping with Kaguya today. Has she left already?"
"She finished breakfast and went out around seven."
Daichi glanced at Toyomi Fujiwara washing breakfast dishes in the kitchen before asking:
"Don't you have cram school today, Moeha? Want me to drive you?"
"No way." Moeha stuck out her tongue playfully. "If people saw me walking to cram school with some old-fashioned man like you, they'd mistake me for a sugar baby."
Daichi froze at this: "No normal person would think that way."
Moeha delivered the final blow: "More importantly, even if I were to be a sugar baby, I'd at least pick someone young and handsome!"
"You little..." Daichi finally understood his 14-year-old daughter had come specifically to mock him.
Had he done something to offend Moeha?
Ah, he'd eaten the pudding from the fridge this morning. But was she really this petty over pudding?
As Daichi's thoughts wandered, Moeha suddenly said:
"Oh, Luo Shu just messaged me saying you should call him when you're free."
"You could've told me that when you first came over." Daichi gave Moeha an exasperated look before suddenly realising something. "Wait, how do you have Luo Shu's contact info?"
"Because we exchanged messaging app IDs?" Moeha looked at Daichi like he was simple, waving her ever-present phone. "Don't tell me you don't even know about instant messaging apps? That's so outdated..."
"I do know about instant messaging apps..." Daichi's mouth twitched. What truly shocked him was that Luo Shu would use mainstream messaging apps at all.
After all, in official reports, the confidentiality level of this matter... well, those who know, know.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, hurry off to your cram school."
Daichi Fujiwara waved his hand, urging Moeha Fujiwara to leave quickly. He then walked past the working labourers, entered the study, locked the door, turned on the lights, drew the curtains, and only then retrieved a specially modified mobile phone from the desk to call Luo Shu.
After several busy tones, the call connected, and Luo Shu's voice came through:
"Is this Minister Fujiwara?"
...
In Room 303 of Sakura Apartments near Ikebukuro, Luo Shu leaned against the balcony railing, enjoying the morning breeze as he spoke into the phone:
"My apologies for the abrupt contact, but we've obtained investigation results regarding yesterday's goldfish."
Hearing this, Daichi Fujiwara sighed in his home study, thinking, 'Just as I expected.'
Then, with a chuckle, Daichi Fujiwara said, "If Metropolitan Police Department personnel saw Director Luo's efficiency, they'd probably be so ashamed they'd want to kill themselves."
Without hesitation, Luo Shu replied:
"Officials with skin so thin they'd commit suicide over something like that would never make it to high office."
"Moreover, are you certain their case closure speed would be slower than my investigation speed?"
"No, they're quite fast—after all, it's just a matter of arresting some homeless person off the streets."
Daichi Fujiwara gave a soft laugh: "No wonder the media calls detectives the saviours of Japan's officials."
After this small shared jab at their common subject to bridge the distance, Daichi Fujiwara got straight to the point:
"Luo Shu, those goldfish you took yesterday—what exactly were they?"
"They've been confirmed as yokai from Kyoto's Hagoromo Group," Luo Shu explained before asking, "I assume you're familiar with them?"
Daichi Fujiwara frowned uncertainly: "The Hagoromo Group? I've heard of them—a millennium-old yokai organisation, but I rarely hear news about them in Kyoto."
"Why would they target me?"
'Are political rivals using yokai to suppress me? Or trying to leverage me against my father?'
As Daichi Fujiwara speculated, Luo Shu explained in a grave tone:
"They're not targeting you, Minister Fujiwara. They're targeting your three daughters."
After a pause, Luo Shu continued:
"Minister Fujiwara, have you heard of the liver-eating belief?"
Daichi Fujiwara's expression darkened: "I haven't, but I assume this isn't anything pleasant?"
Leaning on the railing with the phone against his cheek, Luo Shu said:
"Among yokai, there exists an ancient liver-eating belief. They generally believe consuming the hearts and livers of noble human women grants greater power."
"In essence, it's because the privileged scions of ancient aristocratic families, with their superior mental state compared to overworked commoners, would produce stronger negative emotions when confronted with horrors—emotions the yokai could then absorb."
"If you haven't seen research reports on yokai before, allow me to explain."
"The method by which yokai strengthen their power is by absorbing the spiritual fluctuations of humans, typically negative emotional fluctuations. They call the power born from these fluctuations 'Fear.'"
After listening to Luo Shu's explanation, Daichi Fujiwara's face turned ashen.
"So, the Hagoromo Group has no grudge against my Fujiwara family—they're simply targeting my daughter's liver?"
"Correct," Luo Shu replied calmly.
Hearing this, Daichi Fujiwara took several deep breaths to steady himself before asking:
"Luo Shu, if I may ask, how should I resolve this matter? Or who should I approach to negotiate with those yokai?"
Though his lungs were practically burning with rage, considering the principle of not pitting an egg against a rock and prioritising the safety of his three daughters, Daichi Fujiwara decided to endure it for now.
It was the only option, after all. The Fujiwara family wasn't one of those shrine lineages with mystic-side power—unless he was willing to arrange marriages for his daughters with such families to secure their protection.
Hearing Daichi's words, Luo Shu's lips curled slightly as he replied with a smile:
"Mr Fujiwara, what you need is a friend."
Daichi Fujiwara raised an eyebrow, both surprised and intrigued. "What kind of friend?"
Luo Shu didn't answer directly, instead stating plainly:
"This friend must harbour no ill will toward the Fujiwara family, be willing to protect the Fujiwara ladies, and possess the power to safeguard them from the Hagoromo Group."
"Moreover, this is someone Mr Fujiwara can fully trust."
"Eh? Ah—"
Daichi Fujiwara's expression shifted twice—first puzzled, then enlightened—before he said:
"Luo Shu, are you referring to yourself?"
"Perish the thought." Luo Shu raised his tone slightly. "Disclosing mystic-side information to uninvolved parties violates Earth Alliance regulations."
"So it really is you." Daichi Fujiwara's gaze sharpened before he hesitated and said, "Luo Shu, truthfully, I wouldn't mind my daughters engaging with the mystic side. Having an experienced individual as their... friend is something I'd fully endorse."
"Just... which one would be involved?"
Daichi Fujiwara pondered whether it would be Toyoshima, Chika, or perhaps even Moeha.
At that moment, Luo Shu murmured, "Mr Fujiwara, is the Hagoromo Group only targeting one of your daughters?"
"All three together?" Daichi Fujiwara froze, his brow furrowing.
All three daughters joining the SDS would be an extremely dangerous signal... Was the investment too great?
But then it struck him—his daughters were being hunted by yokai, nearly eaten alive. Why obsess over benefits? If his bloodline were wiped out, what use were those things?
With a sigh, Daichi Fujiwara conceded:
"Then, I entrust my daughters entirely to you, Luo Shu."
Hearing this, Luo Shu's lips curved further as he added:
"In that case, I'll trouble Mr Fujiwara to provide the ladies' current locations. Since the SDS has taken on this matter, we must ensure all loose ends are properly handled."
Daichi Fujiwara blinked in surprise. "Couldn't I just bring them to you later?"
To this, Luo Shu replied calmly: "You bringing people here personally would actually complicate matters."
After saying this, Luo Shu's expression turned somewhat peculiar as he added:
"After all, when I kidnap your daughter later, you can't very well stand by wearing a ski mask, can you?"
Hearing this, Daichi Fujiwara fell silent.
After a long pause, he finally asked:
"Is this really something you should say to a father?"
Luo Shu declared righteously: "Precisely because you're her father that I must mention it."
"...Frankly, I'm not entirely comfortable with this." Daichi Fujiwara hesitated before speaking.
"Oh? Then what would you suggest?" Luo Shu caught the implied meaning behind Daichi's words.
At this point, Daichi Fujiwara whispered:
"Would black stockings work as a mask?"
Luo Shu was speechless.
He was now absolutely certain - this man was undoubtedly Chika Fujiwara's biological father!