Hidden Management Department Garrison,
3rd Floor Reception Room.
With the tap-tap of footsteps, the smart system installed under Yukino Yukinoshita's supervision automatically illuminated the reception room.
As the lights came on and the door slid open, Luo Shu strolled in without turning back:
"Come in, all of you."
At his words, Miko Yotsuya - clinging nervously to Hana Yurikawa's arm - timidly stepped inside.
"Excuse us."
"Excuse us~~"
Unlike the visibly nervous Miko Yotsuya, Hana Yurikawa was curiously surveying their surroundings with keen interest.
Ever since stepping into the garrison, she'd been observing everything like an inquisitive child.
Though brimming with curiosity, she hadn't asked Luo Shu any questions along the way, obediently following behind him until they arrived here.
Taking in the obviously expensive sofa at the room's centre, the cabinet filled with exquisite tea canisters on the right, and the floor-to-ceiling window ahead offering a clear night view of Akihabara, Hana let out a puzzled "Eh?" before asking:
"This doesn't seem like a hotel, does it?"
"Why would it be a hotel?" Miko blinked, momentarily confused by the question.
She immediately regretted asking.
"Because isn't Miko going to offer herself to him?"
As Hana's innocent words registered, Miko pressed her palm to her forehead:
'I'm such an idiot. I shouldn't have asked.'
Meanwhile, Luo Shu, who had already settled into the single armchair, crossed his legs and chuckled:
"Offer herself? If Miss Yotsuya agrees, I could book a room right now."
"But before that, why don't you both take a seat?"
"What do you mean if I agree? You're the one who brought it up..." Miko muttered under her breath, though she and Hana still sat opposite Luo Shu.
She could tell now that Luo Shu's suggestion had clearly been in jest.
Most likely, Luo Shu had invited them to this so-called garrison because there were matters inconvenient to discuss at the café.
And these matters probably concerned controlling her Mystic Eyes.
That's why, despite her initial panic, Miko had accepted Luo Shu's invitation to come here with Hana.
Of course, the more crucial reason was Luo Shu's assistance during the Evil Spirits incident at the café and the earlier demon maid encounter, which had led her to subjectively view him as a decent person who wouldn't act improperly.
Otherwise, no matter what, two attractive high school girls wouldn't follow a man they'd just met into an enclosed room.
Their presence here stemmed entirely from Luo Shu's actions, having fostered a basic sense of trust.
As the girls settled in, a knock sounded at the door, which then opened automatically to reveal Yukino Yukinoshita still clad in her Toyogasaki High School uniform:
"Pardon the intrusion."
Yukino's sharp gaze briefly swept over Miko and Hana before she addressed Luo Shu:
"Director, shall I prepare the usual black tea?"
'Her eyes are so piercing... and she's stunningly beautiful...' Miko inhaled sharply, avoiding direct eye contact.
"Black tea, please. And some light desserts if you would."
After giving these casual instructions, Luo Shu turned back to Miko and Hana with a smile:
"This is my secretary, Yukino Yukinoshita."
Both girls hurriedly bowed slightly, offering polite greetings while introducing themselves, to which Yukino responded in kind.
Once introductions were complete, Luo Shu added:
"By the way, would you like anything else to drink?"
"Just water for us, please."
Miko Yotsuya whispered while subtly nudging Hana Yurikawa beside her with her elbow, settling the slightly restless girl down.
Noticing this, Luo Shu nodded at Yukino Yukinoshita. As she moved aside to prepare drinks, he turned and snapped his fingers:
"Activate Protocol Four."
Yukino Yukinoshita, who had been preparing tea, paused momentarily, her expression tinged with surprise.
If she recalled correctly, Protocol Four involved deploying the highest-level barrier to prevent information leaks—a security measure second only to classified meetings held within the Divine Kingdom itself.
Was such an extreme precaution really necessary just for a conversation with two girls?
While Yukino Yukinoshita was puzzling over this, the garrison's intelligent system had already activated the barrier at Luo Shu's command.
From a perspective invisible to ordinary eyes, a network of tightly interwoven rhombus-shaped grey-blue planes enveloped the entire Hidden Management Department, sealing the garrison within.
Simultaneously, every surveillance device, electronic equipment, and concealed weapon inside the garrison was placed under the intelligent system's comprehensive monitoring, poised to act at the slightest sign of trouble.
To Hana Yurikawa, however, all they noticed was the lights flickering twice after Luo Shu's command—nothing else seemed amiss.
Miko Yotsuya, on the other hand, wore a slightly peculiar expression.
Because to her, this garrison Luo Shu had brought them to was... unusually clean.
For someone with Mystic Eyes who could see countless Evil Spirits, this was truly a rare sight.
However, considering this might involve Luo Shu's secrets, Miko Yotsuya didn't press further. She sat tensely in her seat, waiting for him to speak first.
At that moment, upon hearing the electronic voice announcing the completion of Protocol Four overhead, Luo Shu relaxed his posture, leaning back into the single-seater sofa as he looked at Miko Yotsuya and said:
"Alright, we can begin our discussion now."
After a pause, he then asked her:
"Miko, being noticed by an Evil Spirit when you look at it like just now... this isn't the first time, is it?"
Hearing this, Miko Yotsuya's face paled. She nodded hurriedly, then shook her head:
"I'm not sure if it counts as being noticed before. But whenever an Evil Spirit says 'you can see me', as long as I don't respond and pretend not to see it, they'll usually quiet down after a while."
She added:
"Normally, the Evil Spirit would repeat 'you can see me' several times, and only I can hear it. This is the first time everyone could hear it, even leading to physical confrontation."
"So I don't know if this is truly the first time I've been noticed, because previously, when they said 'you can see me', I'd just pretend not to see them until they stopped."
"An Evil Spirit shouting once, then immediately charging at me like just now... that's completely new to me."
Luo Shu listened quietly until she finished, his eyes gradually narrowing:
"How many times did you hear the Evil Spirit say 'you can see me' just now?"
Miko hesitated: "...Twice."
"Eh? Wasn't it just once?" Hana Yurikawa, who had been listening, expressed surprise.
"It was twice. I definitely didn't misremember." Miko emphasised with a serious expression: "First directed at me, the second time, it immediately charged."
"I only heard it once, too."
Luo Shu corroborated Hana's account while adding:
"And after hearing it, I saw the Evil Spirit, simultaneously sensing its appearance, which allowed me to intercept and counterattack."
"I don't believe this was coincidental."
Luo Shu looked up at the ceiling, pondering aloud:
"Although the sample size is small, considering your circumstances, Miko..."
"Can I hypothesise that only when an Evil Spirit's words penetrate into reality, audible to everyone, does it gain physical form in our world?"
"Hence why, despite you seeing Evil Spirits wandering the streets daily, very few incidents actually occur in reality?"
"I think you can understand this explanation?"
Miko froze, then her expression changed dramatically as she said with extreme discomfort:
"Does that mean...?"
"Correct."
Luo Shu slowly lowered his gaze from the ceiling to Miko's pale face:
"The Evil Spirits successfully manifest in reality because you see them, Miko."
"Your eyes are the bridge connecting Evil Spirits to our world."
"You're the only person who can see them."