"Dad!!"
Kei Shirogane's voice shot up an octave as she flushed red and shouted:
"What on earth are you saying?!"
What did he mean by 'trouble you with Kei'? Couldn't he think before speaking? Hadn't they already established that Luo Shu wasn't her boyfriend?
"Was I wrong?" Shirogane glanced at her daughter in confusion:
"Given the current circumstances, it would actually be dangerous for us to continue living together as father and daughter."
"Until the hostility caused by our bloodline dissipates, cohabitation carries the risk of accidents."
"I did consider sending you to your mother's place..."
At the mention of her mother, Kei instinctively retorted:
"I'm not going there."
"See..." Shirogane sighed helplessly. "I knew that would be your response."
"Since you refuse to go to your mother's, renting a separate place becomes necessary."
"Though it pains me, you're at an age where independent living isn't unreasonable."
"Renting?" Kei immediately shook her head. "No, our family finances can't support two households."
Hearing this, Luo Shu—who had initially intended to stay out of the father-daughter discussion—quietly interjected:
"I say, Kei, have you forgotten something?"
"Forgotten what?" Kei Shirogane looked at Luo Shu in confusion.
In contrast, Shirogane, beside them, remained composed:
"Luo Shu is referring to the salary you'd receive for joining his organisation."
"If I may ask, approximately how much would this salary be?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Shu thought for a moment before replying:
"Fixed annual income is around 10 million yen, not including additional earnings or tax rebates."
"10 million yen? That much?" Kei's voice immediately rose an octave, her eyes practically forming money symbols.
Compared to her daughter, Shirogane considered things more deeply, his expression turning sombre as he asked:
"What about the risks?"
"We can arrange office work at the Tokyo headquarters. As for risks... Mr Shirogane can think of it as working at the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. Generally, our full members hold either Inspector or Assistant Inspector titles there."
As he spoke, Luo Shu took out his credentials and handed them to Shirogane.
"Director?!" Shirogane's tone rose slightly upon seeing the title on the document.
As an adult, he understood perfectly well what that rank signified.
Had it not been for recent events confirming Luo Shu's identity and without Daichi Fujiwara's ministerial endorsement of Luo Shu's background, he might have suspected these were fake credentials.
"In that case, there's no problem."
Shirogane said this with a rare smile:
"Now the key issue is whether Luo Shu agrees to this arrangement."
"The money is a huge deal though... Rent is expensive... Not only do you have to pay six months upfront, but also two months' gratitude fee to the new landlord..."
Kei muttered under her breath, appearing rather penny-pinching.
But for a girl whose monthly allowance was only 10,000 yen, this was perfectly understandable.
That amount could barely buy 10 bowls of ramen - equivalent to about 100 yuan in Chinese purchasing power.
With such a meagre budget for years, and being a woman trapped by consumerism, Kei's budgeting skills had clearly been maxed out.
'Maybe I should just have her study accounting and put her in charge of finances...'
While thinking this, Luo Shu responded:
"Accommodation can also be provided at Sakura Apartments near Ikebukuro Station. Many members currently live there, mostly women."
"Really!" Kei's eyes immediately lit up at this.
High salary, provided housing, tax benefits - such jobs would be challenging to find even after university graduation, let alone now, when she was still in middle school.
Worried this good employer might slip away, Kei immediately turned pleading eyes towards Mr Shirogane, silently urging him.
Seeing this, Mr Shirogane felt both amused and guilty.
Since his factory had been suppressed into bankruptcy, leaving him saddled with debt, this was the first time he'd seen Kei so excited.
"I was already suggesting you live elsewhere. Now that there's dormitory accommodation, that's even better."
"I'll look after Miyuki."
"Don't give me that - it's big brother who looks after you," Kei couldn't help retorting. "He's the one who cooks all the meals at home. Even now, he's probably at the nearby supermarket grabbing discounted ingredients."
After speaking, Kei Shirogane tilted her head slightly to glance at Luo Shu, then said with a hint of shyness:
"About that job offer..."
"There's no rush."
Unaware of how much this might wound a young girl's heart, Luo Shu smiled at Shirogane:
"Mr Shirogane, would you mind finding a job that allows you to look after your daughter at any time?"
"Oh?" Shirogane blinked in surprise before realisation dawned. "Ah, I see. I'd forgotten about my own circumstances."
Beside them, Kei looked puzzled.
At this, Luo Shu explained:
"It's inevitable for a Pureblood Blood Kin to be placed under supervision—the only difference is which organisation oversees it."
"In Tokyo, there are three organisations that regulate people like you: the Bujin-shū under the Metropolitan Police Department, the Onmyou Agency in Kyoto Prefecture, and our SDS."
Hearing this, Shirogane didn't seem surprised, only asking:
"Is the pay good?"
"What would the work entail?"
Luo Shu gave him a look.
"Naturally, the salary will be generous. You'll receive the same benefits as Kei, possibly even more."
"After all, your situation is somewhat special. You'd likely be assigned to the Research Department in name, though some blood sampling for studies would be unavoidable. As for the exaggerated experiments you see on TV—well, I'm sure you understand how that goes."
"It's just cinematic exaggeration!" Shirogane laughed. "Who would've thought that even in middle age, I'd end up joining some mysterious organisation? This is really..."
At this point, he found it rather amusing. During his chuunibyou phase, he'd certainly fantasised about becoming a superhuman. But as he grew up and faced reality, his ambitions shifted towards becoming a successful entrepreneur to provide a better life for his family.
Yet here he was – not a tycoon, but drowning in debt instead. Just as he'd resigned himself to working hard to repay loans and support his children, fate had other plans, dragging him into a secret organisation as a superhuman.
"Life really does come full circle."
After saying this, he turned to Luo Shu:
"Looks like both father and daughter will have to rely on you, Luo Shu."
Kei Shirogane, standing nearby, couldn't help but interject: "Dad, must you phrase it so ambiguously?"
"Hahaha, my apologies!"
Shirogane laughed heartily before addressing Luo Shu:
"So, Senior, what should we do now?"
Being addressed as 'Senior' by a middle-aged man left Luo Shu torn between laughter and exasperation:
"Right now?"
"First, bring out all the local specialties you've collected so we can inspect them as a precaution."