Beika District.
Living room of Yoshimura's rented villa.
"I've only got two cards left~"
Chika Fujiwara cheerfully waved her last two playing cards.
Observing this, Kei Shirogane silently glanced at the pair of twos in her hand, then turned to Luo Shu with a meaningful look.
Got any cards left? If not, the landlord's about to win.
Holding six cards himself, Luo Shu didn't hesitate before slapping down four:
"Four aces."
"Double Joker! Double the multiplier!"
Chika Fujiwara triumphantly slammed her final two cards - the big and small jokers - onto the glass table, grinning widely:
"I knew one of you was hiding a bomb! Tricked you into playing it!"
Kei Shirogane threw her cards onto the pile with a pout:
"My luck's been terrible today. This is my fourth loss already."
Luo Shu glanced at the pair of twos remaining in his hand, then at Chika's delighted expression before conceding:
"I'm done. Lost too much already - even my peanuts are gone."
"Aww..."
Chika looked disappointed but didn't pressure him for another round.
As she gathered the cards, she asked curiously:
"Speaking of which, how long are we staying here?"
"My father went to the minister's office to assist with investigations. Should we wait for him?"
"Let's wait for now. No point rushing anyway. Rather than worrying about that, you should think about what to have for dinner." Luo Shu replied offhandedly.
Hearing this, Kei Shirogane turned to look out the window at the sunset hues and gasped:
"Ah! It's already evening. I need to go home to cook."
She started to rise, but Luo Shu quickly called out:
"Hey, hey, wake up. Where exactly are you going to cook?"
Kei froze, then flushed red as she realised her mistake and sat back down.
In official records, she was currently kidnapped. To her family, she was staying at Chika's house. Where could she possibly go to cook?
Chika giggled at the sight:
"Kei-chan's so cute~"
Kei's face turned even redder as Chika's smile widened.
At that moment, Luo Shu, lounging on the sofa, casually asked:
"Have you two decided about what I asked earlier?"
"Eh?" Kei blinked in confusion.
Chika caught on first: "You mean joining the SDS?"
Luo Shu glanced at her: "More precisely, joining the Hidden Management Department under my command."
"Considering your current circumstances, you can think of this as temporarily joining a school club."
No matter what, Luo Shu couldn't possibly drag two people whose mindsets were still normal and who were minors into the affairs of the mystic side.
While the mystic side didn't have child protection laws, major organisations generally avoided assigning frontline work to untrained newcomers without long-term preparation.
"I personally don't mind, since Dad already agreed."
Chika Fujiwara tilted her head in thought, but her hands moved swiftly to gather the playing cards and tuck them back into their box:
"What about you, Kei-chan? Do you want to go home and ask your uncle?"
"Ask him..."
A look of distaste immediately appeared on Kei Shirogane's face:
"I'd rather decide for myself."
If her father hadn't brought those strange things home, would she be in this situation where she couldn't even sit properly now?
That father of hers really knew how to mess with his daughter!
Hearing Kei's words, Luo Shu instead spoke in a relaxed tone:
"I'd personally recommend discussing it with your family."
"Though based on what we know now, the chances of Shirogane-san's father escaping the influence of that Abyss Artefact aren't high."
At this point, Luo Shu suddenly remembered that Kei's father shared the same voice actor as DIO - Takehito Koyasu.
Didn't that mean becoming a Vampire was practically his destined fate?
Hearing about the Abyss Artefact, Kei frowned with concern:
"Senior, aren't you planning to retrieve that Abyss Artefact?"
"Something that can change someone's race must be quite a rare item, right?"
Luo Shu gave Kei a slightly surprised look:
"Shirogane-san, do you really want me to go to your house and take your family's belongings?"
"I'd advise against that."
"While I wouldn't mind acquiring a decent Abyss Artefact myself, since you might be joining the Hidden Management Department as my subordinate, I should warn you."
"Discovering and submitting an Abyss Artefact before joining the SDS is different from doing so after joining."
"The former only grants some financial compensation, while the latter offers more options."
"For instance, if the Abyss Artefact's danger level is low, internal members can keep it while selling its development and research rights to the organisation."
"Simply put, you could retain ownership while enjoying monthly financial benefits and internal contribution points, rather than a one-time deal like direct submission."
At the mention of money, Luo Shu noticed Kei's eyes visibly brighten.
He simply added:
"Joining the SDS comes with a salary, transparent promotion channels, and most importantly... due to our special occupational circumstances..."
Luo Shu smiled here:
"...our income is tax-free."
"Even taxes paid on daily necessities can be reimbursed at year-end."
"I'll join!!"
Kei Shirogane agreed almost the instant she heard 'tax-free'.
'You should've said that earlier - I'd have agreed ages ago!'
Do you know how much a girl who delivers newspapers by bicycle every morning, works part-time at a bookstore after school to earn pocket money, has to wait for sales to buy cosmetics, and can only purchase bento boxes during discount hours after 9 pm craves income?
She wants money! Lots and lots of money!!
As long as it's legal income, she wants it all!!
'This kid seems to be having a really hard life...'
Watching Kei Shirogane like this, Luo Shu silently added in his mind.
Thinking this, Luo Shu stood up and said:
"In that case, before officially signing the contract, let's first go to Shirogane-san's house to deal with that troublesome item."
Kei Shirogane hesitated: "But aren't we being kidnapped right now?"
Although she wanted to go home to deal with that strange cross, she also knew that at this time, neither her father nor brother would be home. Compared to that, the trouble Chika Fujiwara was facing seemed more pressing.
"It's already evening, and Shirogane-san shouldn't overestimate Japan's surveillance coverage. Even if we're caught on camera, it's fine - there are too many ways to deal with that thing."
As he spoke, Luo Shu got up and picked up his jacket from the nearby sofa:
"We'll drive there, deal with it and come back. It won't take much time. Perfect opportunity to grab dinner outside, too."
"Um... can I come too?" Chika Fujiwara raised her hand, her face full of grievance: "Don't leave me behind!"
Seeing this, Luo Shu silently used the Mysticism Encyclopaedia to divine the fortune of taking Chika Fujiwara along. Getting an extremely auspicious result, he immediately said:
"Then let's all go together."
"Yay!"
Chika Fujiwara immediately jumped up and began packing her things to leave.
Watching this, Luo Shu shook his head with a smile, then put on his jacket, walked to the entryway to put on his shoes, grasped the door handle, and was about to push it open.
At that moment, Luo Shu sensed something unusual.
Simultaneously, the door creaked open with a click, and a female voice rang out.
"We're home... Eh? Who are you..."
Luo Shu looked down at the two petite figures before him - one slightly taller than the other - but his gaze focused on the shorter girl.
Looking at her shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, Luo Shu's mind was filled with question marks.
This girl... seems to be Ai Haibara?
So here's the question!
Why is Ai Haibara here?