Assassinate Luo Shu?
At this topic, Pride actually laughed, not even bothering to hide his amusement:
"Haha, can't solve the problem of your identity being exposed, so you solve the person causing the problem instead?"
"That is certainly an... interesting approach."
Hearing this, Enigma relaxed slightly. But before she could feel relieved, Pride continued:
"At least it's interesting in its stupidity."
Enigma's expression froze. She looked up at Pride with puzzled eyes, utterly confused by his choice of the adjective "stupid."
It was then that Pride spoke in an indifferent tone:
"Assassinating a Demigod – or at least someone with Demigod Rank combat power. What price do you think you could possibly pay for that?"
"Hiss!!"
Jealousy sharply inhaled at these words.
As for Enigma, her face completely stiffened, her complexion turning extremely unpleasant.
A Demigod?
One of the Hidden Management Department's newly appointed Directors was actually a Demigod?
One of the four Demigod Rank combatants within the SDS?
She wanted to issue a mission to assassinate a Demigod?
She was being targeted by a Demigod?
Instantly, Enigma's expression fluctuated between shock and dread.
Meanwhile, Jealousy, as one of Japan's Great Yokai, asked bluntly:
"Is this intelligence accurate?"
Pride merely smiled in response: "This was personally verified by the previous Lord Gluttony."
"Several days ago, during the operation to stop Nue's Demigod Ascension Ritual, the Director of the Hidden Management Department demonstrated abilities only a Demigod would possess."
"As a result, Nue's ascension was thwarted, leading to his eventual demise."
Hearing this, Jealousy immediately fell silent.
The Kyoto Nue incident was quite famous in yokai circles.
Whether in the underworld or legitimate society, everyone had heard about the incident and knew Nue's ascension had been stopped by the Hidden Management Department.
Come to think of it, the best way to stop a Hero Rank from ascending to Demigod would naturally be to deploy an actual Demigod against them.
Viewed this way, it made perfect sense that Luo Shu, who had come forward to kill Nue, was a Demigod.
The realisation that Japan's SDS was garrisoned by a Demigod gave Jealousy a headache:
"So that's why one of our mission targets, the Star Gate, was placed under the Hidden Management Department in Japan?"
"A Demigod standing guard – now that's what I call serious security."
Fortunately, Jealousy's responsibility only extended to the Flame Demon summoning ritual. The actual task of seizing the Star Gate fell to Greed.
Although the Flame Demon summoning ritual had been disrupted, only the executing demons and their cultists had been captured, with the core operatives remaining largely intact.
This thought comforted Jealousy somewhat, even putting them in the mood to enjoy Greed's impending troubles.
'Oh? Even projections can show such rich expressions, can they?'
By this point, Enigma's face had turned ashen.
Fortunately, all participants in the meeting were using avatars composed of black and white lines.
So while it was possible to tell her expression looked somewhat unpleasant, the full extent couldn't be discerned.
But.
Stealing an important Abyss Artefact from an SDS branch guarded by a Demigod?
The key issue was—her identity might already be under suspicion by that very Demigod?
What the hell was she supposed to do?!
Continue issuing assassination missions for Luo Shu?
Don't be ridiculous. According to Pride's words, killing a Demigod would require dispatching at least three other Demigods to target them.
How could she possibly afford the price of mobilising three Demigods?
And as the SDS's stationed Demigod in Japan, who knew what kind of life-preserving methods that Luo Shu had up his sleeve?
What if she spent an enormous fortune to actually hire three Demigods, only for the target to escape?
By then, if the other side mobilised the full force of the SDS—or even sent four Demigods after her—who could withstand that?
Enigma was certain she definitely couldn't.
In that case... There was only one way left.
At this thought, Enigma took a deep breath, then spoke solemnly to Pride:
"Mr Pride, I need to temporarily suspend my current mission."
"Oh?" Pride sounded surprised, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Enigma gritted her teeth, her hesitation and doubt finally transforming into resolve:
"I need some time to shake off that Demigod from the Hidden Management Department."
Pride smiled faintly: "I shall convey your request to the Grand Dukes."
Enigma relaxed slightly. At least from his tone, he was willing to give her time to evade Luo Shu.
As for informing the Grand Dukes, Enigma seriously doubted Pride would actually bother them with such trivial matters.
After agreeing to Enigma's terms, Pride glanced around before smiling at Jealousy:
"Do you also need time to prepare the Flame Demon summoning ritual anew?"
"I do." Jealousy answered without hesitation.
With her entire Akihabara team wiped out, she genuinely needed to reorganise.
Since Pride was offering this grace period, she naturally wouldn't refuse.
Whether she could actually operate under the nose of that Demigod from the Hidden Management Department would depend on luck.
Seeing Jealousy also request time, Pride nodded understandingly:
"It seems we have no further matters to discuss for now."
"As for candidates for the new Gluttony, let each of you search independently before submitting names for evaluation."
"Then this meeting is adjourned."
As his words faded,
The hall's scenery shattered like glass.
When Enigma reopened her eyes, she had returned to the temple beneath the blood-red sky, standing before the Fudō Myō-ō deity statue.
She studied the statue for a long while before exhaling deeply:
"A Demigod, huh..."
"No wonder he was immediately appointed as branch Director..."
"Truly, a monstrous talent..."
Muttering to herself, Enigma turned decisively and vanished into the crimson night.
...
Akihabara, Dreamland Maid Café.
Having just finished treating several accidentally injured succubi - and enjoying quite the eyeful - Luo Shu stood in the corridor, surprised by Maria Naruse blocking his path with an awkward expression:
"You want me to be a guarantor for your family's immigration?"
"Are you sure you're not joking?"