Dusk gradually fell.
The illuminated Shirogane household fell into silence.
"So there really were some..."
Kei Shirogane's cheek twitched as she observed the various Abyss Artefacts Luo Shu had identified from their belongings.
Spread across the floor were:
-An ordinary blue worker's uniform.
-A tree branch with its leaves trimmed off.
-A string of Buddhist prayer beads.
-A crystal ball.
-A seashell.
Luo Shu, who hadn't expected to uncover so many items, looked equally dumbfounded:
"Though they're only Common or Excellent Rank items, they're still anomalous artefacts."
"Mr Shirogane, you certainly have a talent for picking things up..."
"Can you really call it picking up, though?"
Shirogane scratched his head as he explained: "The work clothes were bought from a store, the branch was a gift from a florist I know, and the prayer beads, crystal ball and seashell were props for my fortune-telling stall."
"These all came from perfectly normal social interactions or work necessities."
He then pointed at the towering pile of miscellaneous items Kei had stacked nearby, reaching up to her chest:
"And look how many more completely normal things are over there!"
"Are you actually proud of this?"
Kei couldn't suppress her retort before examining the artefacts again:
"Come to think of it, I vaguely remember when we got most of these – they're all fairly recent acquisitions?"
"Seems that way." Shirogane gestured towards the maneki-neko figurine set aside. "Most appeared after we got the Lucky Cat."
"Thinking about it now, it must be what Luo Shu mentioned about fortune being converted..."
Having heard Luo Shu's explanation about the figurine's properties, Shirogane mused:
"No wonder I couldn't find any part-time work recently – I thought it was just the economic downturn... Actually, that's why I started the fortune-telling stall in the first place..."
"So your financial luck was converted into general fortune, passively accumulating these Abyss Artefacts?"
Luo Shu stroked his chin thoughtfully before casting a glance at the maneki-neko on the floor.
"Speaking of which, Abyss Artefacts with mild side effects but useful abilities are quite rare."
"The Research Department probably wouldn't mind paying a premium for study rights."
"What about these things..." Kei Shirogane pointed at the pile of miscellaneous items on the floor. According to Luo Shu's explanation, they seemed somewhat useful but not particularly valuable.
Like that blue jumpsuit - it passively granted the wearer an agility buff, with the side effect of making them clumsy for half an hour after taking it off.
The crystal ball could emit light to scare people. Though it had no side effects, its only ability was illumination.
The Buddhist prayer beads had inherent evil-warding properties, but the side effect was making the wearer more conspicuous to Evil Spirits - practically useless.
As for the seashell, its ability was to make people hallucinate that it was money.
Wasn't this thing tailor-made for con artists?
"These... if the Research Department wants them, just sell them. I wouldn't recommend keeping them."
Luo Shu sighed helplessly while handling these Abyss Artefacts:
"They probably won't fetch much anyway. Keeping them isn't out of the question."
"The most important item here is the Lucky Cat. I strongly advise you to retain ownership, at most letting the Research Department pay to study it."
"As for side effects, it's simple - just don't worship it seven days consecutively."
"Actually, using it is out of the question." Shirogane scratched her head hesitantly: "This kind of ability that transfers luck and wealth around could easily lead to trouble."
"Exactly!" Kei Shirogane nodded vigorously: "What if we go bankrupt while using it?"
Clearly, her childhood experience of her family's factory bankruptcy had left deep scars.
Both Luo Shu and Shirogane understood this well.
Suddenly falling from wealth to poverty, parents divorcing and separating, the family scattering overnight, followed by years of hardship...
After such experiences, Kei's trauma response was understandable.
"In that case, you could sign a long-term leasing agreement with the Research Department. I'll try to get them to offer a good price."
Luo Shu made the suggestion but wouldn't interfere further.
Once items entered the Research Department, going through the Hidden Management Department was inevitable. Luo Shu only cared about absorbing the points from the Abyss Artefacts - actual ownership didn't concern him.
Of course, this casual approach only worked because the Lucky Cat wasn't high-grade. For a Demigod Rank Abyss Artefact, even Luo Shu might be tempted to make an offer they couldn't refuse.
"Let's just sell it." Kei Shirogane seemed rather eager.
Though Luo Shu had promised high salaries, the money hadn't materialised yet.
Compared to these strange Abyss Artefacts, she'd rather have cash stored in the home safe.
Why not a bank?
What a joke - in Japan's banks, you'd end up paying them to hold your money.
"Then we'll sell them." Shirogane had no objections either. Some extra household income wouldn't hurt.
They couldn't very well request salary advances right after joining the organisation.
Just as they reached this decision, a ringing sound interrupted.
Luo Shu glanced at his pocket, retrieving his phone to answer the call.
Before long, Chika Fujiwara's voice rang out:
"Hurry, hurry, come out quick! Kei-chan's brother seems to be back!!"
Hearing this, Luo Shu froze momentarily, puzzled as to why Chika would refer to Miyuki Shirogane that way.
Then it suddenly struck him - Chika Fujiwara was only in her first year of high school now, not yet part of the student council. Similarly, Miyuki Shirogane had just joined the student council as a freshman and was not yet acquainted with Chika.
On the other hand, Kei Shirogane was in the same middle school class as Moeha Fujiwara, indirectly knowing Chika through her and becoming good friends.
'What a situation...' Luo Shu shook his head before responding:
"Understood, we'll handle it here."
As he spoke, Luo Shu looked up at Shirogane.
At that exact moment, Shirogane and his daughter Kei exchanged glances before speaking in unison:
"Let's keep it from Miyuki (big brother)!"
"That boy always overthinks things. Knowing too much would just burden him." This was old man Shirogane's assessment.
"Big brother's too dense anyway. Even if he knew, it wouldn't help. It's not like we can turn him into a Vampire, too, right?" This was Kei's argument.
To this, Luo Shu could only say:
"As long as you're happy with it."