Upon hearing Luo Shu's words, the golden-haired girl floating in space merely tilted her head again:
"Do you take Muku for a fool?"
"Why should Muku trust someone suspicious who claims to help her?"
"Can't argue with that."
Luo Shu sighed, though he understood this outcome was entirely expected.
It must be said that Tabane Shinonono's previous capture attempt had raised Mukuro Hoshimiya's vigilance to its peak.
Under the current circumstances, peacefully recruiting Mukuro Hoshimiya would likely be a hellishly difficult task.
"How about we both take a step back? We'll cease all actions against you, and in return, you refrain from attacking us. What do you say?"
No sooner had Luo Shu finished speaking than Mukuro Hoshimiya flatly refused:
"Muku refuses!"
"Why should Muku give up on eliminating you?"
"It was you who disturbed Muku first. Therefore, to avoid further disturbances, eliminating you is the safest option, no?"
Mukuro Hoshimiya spoke these terrifying words in a calm, almost cute tone:
"You disturbed Muku first, so isn't it only fair that you be prepared to be eliminated?"
...
In the Copernicus command centre.
Through the device embedded in Luo Shu's spacesuit, the personnel heard this exchange.
"Don't look at me like that~"
Under the gazes of Lacus and Ania, Tabane Shinonono awkwardly covered her ears:
"You both know I was in my rational state before. So when that version of me saw this little girl sleeping peacefully in space with her eyes closed, completely defenceless, wasn't it perfectly reasonable to send a GINN to retrieve her?"
"At most, the equipment used was slightly advanced, and I didn't report it to you beforehand, Lacus. But it's not like she suffered any actual harm!"
"I never imagined things would turn out like this!"
Hearing this, Ania asked doubtfully, "You're certain there was no harm done?"
Beside her, Lacus also hesitated: "And you're sure you only attacked once?"
"Certain, absolutely certain!"
Seeing their scepticism, Tabane Shinonono gritted her teeth in frustration:
"Leaving aside how my remaining funds after modifying the IS only allowed modifying one GINN, you both saw the capture attempt in the surveillance footage."
"The GINN simply tried to scoop her up in a containment unit and slowly bring her back. She just woke up midway and immediately attacked it!"
"I admit my intentions weren't pure, but I didn't actually do anything bad!"
Ania believed this much - while Tabane Shinonono often acted recklessly and caused major incidents, she always arranged proper cleanup afterwards.
If not for this, Lacus wouldn't have entrusted her with Copernicus, the SDS's most crucial base.
Unlike Ania, Lacus was more concerned about something else in Tabane's explanation:
"Insufficient funds? Well then, Doctor, I suppose you really didn't do anything too terrible."
"If you put it that way, I might cry. I'll genuinely start crying right now."
Tabane Shinonono looked thoroughly depressed at this.
How could her rational, emotionless self have been so foolish - just investing her own resources, working day and night to cut costs, squeezing research budgets for both IS and the global life monitoring system from limited funds?
Was her rational self some kind of self-sacrificing saint?
Shouldn't funding be obtained through creative accounting and embezzlement?
What kind of scientific advancement came from penny-pinching austerity?
"Just one capture attempt has provoked such intense hostility. It seems our target is the type who always repays grudges."
As Ania said this, she glanced at Tabane Shinonono:
"Thanks to you, our relationship with the target is now well below freezing."
"I said I was sorry, didn't I?" Tabane Shinonono slumped over the equipment pitifully: "Whether it's being stripped naked and spanked by Luo Shu, or being tied up in tortoise shell binding like a jiangshi, I'll accept it all. So please, just let this go."
'Are you sure this is an apology and not seduction?'
Ania's face twitched, thinking Tabane Shinonono was truly full of nothing but dirty thoughts.
Why was she so fixated on Luo Shu? Could something have happened between them before she picked up Luo Shu and Lacus?
While Ania was puzzled, Lacus spoke into the communication device beside her:
"Did you catch all that just now?"
...
"Loud and clear."
In space, facing Mukuro Hoshimiya, Luo Shu raised his hand to his helmet.
At that moment, Lacus's voice came through the helmet: [I suspect this girl has an exceptionally strong vengeful streak. Can you ask her what her purpose was in staring at the ship earlier?]
Hearing this, Luo Shu understood and looked at Mukuro Hoshimiya opposite him, asking:
"So, was your approach towards the ship earlier intended to eliminate us?"
Mukuro Hoshimiya looked slightly confused at Luo Shu:
"You really do think Muku is an idiot, don't you?"
"Why would Muku need to eliminate you here?"
"Can't Muku just follow you back, find your base, and wipe you all out in one go?"
Correction: This girl's vengefulness really isn't ordinary...
Luo Shu's mouth twitched. He never expected Mukuro Hoshimiya to have plans for total annihilation.
But why would she openly state such intentions?
Frowning, Luo Shu couldn't help but ask:
"So why are you telling me all this?"
"Because Muku is a merciful girl."
With her beautiful face, Mukuro Hoshimiya spoke cruelly:
"Letting you die here in ignorance would be too cruel. So Muku permits you to know the truth."
"You're going to kill me?"
Luo Shu's gaze sharpened slightly as his expression cooled:
"Even though I'm not one of those trying to capture you?"
"Don't try to trick Muku."
Mukuro Hoshimiya looked calmly at Luo Shu:
"The robot that bullied Muku came to where Muku sleeps in something just like yours."
"You're with the people who bullied Muku."
"So you must be eliminated too!"
As she spoke, she raised her irregular key-shaped staff, pointing it at Luo Shu:
"That ship has already run far away. Muku will deal with you, then catch up with it."
"So please, could you die now?"
Facing the most hostile Spirit he'd ever encountered, Luo Shu remained silent for a moment before making one last attempt:
"What I said earlier about coming to help you wasn't a lie."
"I know your origins, Mukuro Hoshimiya."
"I also know you're sleeping in space because you fell out with your family."
"If I said I could help reconcile you with your family, would you believe me?"
This was the honest truth. After all, the conflict between Mukuro Hoshimiya and her adoptive parents wasn't some major issue, and Luo Shu had plenty of means to resolve it.
Even if his methods failed, at worst, Luo Shu could simply contact the SDS to assemble a team of interpersonal relationship experts to help Mukuro Hoshimiya settle her family disputes.
Yet these very words made Mukuro Hoshimiya fall silent.
Slowly, she closed her emotionless eyes. When they opened again, they were like stagnant water—filled with indifference and pure killing intent:
"Muku dislikes those who dig at Muku's scars."
"Decided!"
"Here, Muku will kill you!"
As soon as she spoke, the irregular key-shaped sceptre in Mukuro Hoshimiya's hand twisted with a click. Somewhere in the cosmos, it was as though a door had been opened.
[Luo Shu, watch your head!]
Lacus's warning rang in his ears.
At that very moment, a circular portal—deep violet bordering on black, over a kilometre in diameter—quietly unfurled above Luo Shu.
A blinding crimson light erupted from within.
Luo Shu raised his head, gazing at the unfamiliar yet familiar meteor above, then glanced at the cold-faced Mukuro Hoshimiya before sighing softly:
"I really am no good at persuading people with words."
As his quiet words fell, his gaze sharpened.
"So, let's settle this with force!"
The next instant, Luo Shu's eyes locked onto Mukuro Hoshimiya.
—Calamity descended in an instant!