"So there's this connection too..."
Upon learning that Hao Asakura was actually the ancestor of Lacus's stepmother, Luo Shu found it rather odd:
"So that's why he's never taken action against the SDS?"
Could his descendant's stepdaughter really be reason enough for Hao Asakura to hold back? Luo Shu found that hard to believe.
"That's just one of the reasons, and probably the most insignificant one at that."
Lacus smiled faintly, her eyes revealing little emotion:
"The real reason is quite complex, but I once heard something from the leader of the Patch Tribe, my mother's Native American clan."
"What was it?"
Luo Shu asked curiously.
Lacus sighed softly before explaining:
"At the time, the old clan leader of the Patch Tribe told me, 'Hao Asakura's body contains death that cannot be erased. No matter what he does, he cannot change his destined fate of death. This path was one he chose for himself. We need to do nothing but stand behind him and watch him walk towards his end.'"
"At the time, I asked the old clan leader if this was his judgment of Hao Asakura."
"The old clan leader corrected me: 'This is prophecy.'"
As Lacus reached this point, her expression became hesitant as she explained:
"Though the reasons remain unclear, intelligence experts who've studied Hao Asakura extensively have made some tentative conclusions based on his apparent acceptance of death."
Lacus paused, adopting a more serious expression:
"Hao Asakura may be planning something that requires his life as a sacrifice, and his current actions are all preparations for the world after his death."
"Through comprehensive investigation of his movements, intelligence discovered that Hao Asakura began searching worldwide for talented sorcerers eighteen years ago, nurturing them in his own way."
"The Onmyou Agency came under his covert control during this period."
"Beyond the Onmyou Agency, he's secretly supported clan leaders across America, China, the Middle East, Africa and even Europe to train gifted individuals."
"Rumours in Europe suggest he may have reached the legendary Fountain of Wisdom, obtaining the true essence of sorcery there."
"Later verification showed this rumour originated from Truth Astronomy's then-newly appointed Witch of the Notaria..."
"Others reportedly reaching the Fountain of Wisdom include Europe's Witch of the Notaria..."
At this point, Lacus turned to Luo Shu with a smile: "...as well as Miss Kotoko Iwanaga from Japan."
"It's said she also reached the Fountain of Wisdom of Norse mythology."
Luo Shu frowned at this point, asking with some confusion:
"According to Kotoko Iwanaga's explanation to me, she obtained Class information from the Fountain of Wisdom and sacrificed an eye and a leg to complete the Top Tier Class ritual at Hero Rank."
"And both the Witch of the Notaria Aya Tokoyogi, Hao Asakura and Kotoko Iwanaga reached the Fountain of Wisdom?"
"Could it be that Aya Tokoyogi and Hao Asakura also obtained their Class information from that Fountain of Wisdom? Did they become Demigods because of it?"
"What exactly is that Fountain of Wisdom? Could it truly contain all knowledge in the universe as Norse mythology claims?"
'This sounds too mystical...' Luo Shu thought suspiciously to himself. The more he heard, the more he sensed that there was something amiss about the Fountain of Wisdom.
Apart from his Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System, any information related to Classes seemed traceable back to the Fountain of Wisdom.
What exactly is going on with this thing?
Thinking this, Luo Shu turned his gaze towards Nia Honjo standing nearby.
"Why are you looking at me..."
Nia, who had been standing there holding a tuna sushi about to eat it, looked utterly innocent:
"I already told you Raziel isn't truly omniscient~"
"Besides, something like the Fountain of Wisdom that sounds incredibly powerful probably has authority no lower than an Apostle's, right?"
"Even investigating Apostle information requires me to risk my life and squeeze my brain dry, let alone something this extraordinary."
"If you really want to know, go ask my mother. She'd definitely know something."
"Assuming you dare to release her."
'Release Mio Takamiya? What a joke...' Luo Shu immediately rejected the idea in his mind and glared at Nia, his eyes clearly conveying his refusal.
As a holder of the Almighty God Class, even one-tenth of Mio Takamiya's divided power could create ten unique Classes, effortlessly elevating someone to Demigod Rank or higher.
Her rank, in Luo Shu's estimation, was at least Divine Rank, possibly even higher.
She was essentially a living deity!
A god, moreover, one sealed deep within the Divine Kingdom for unknown reasons - Luo Shu would have to be insane to release her.
Release Mio Takamiya so she could chop him in half?
Shooting an exasperated look at Nia for her terrible suggestion, Luo Shu turned his attention back to Lacus:
"Let's set aside the Fountain of Wisdom for now. According to what you're saying, Hao Asakura is actually a helpful senior who actively nurtures newcomers?"
'This feels so contradictory...' Luo Shu couldn't help but complain internally.
Based on his memories of his past life, Hao Asakura seemed intent on creating a world exclusively for ability users like Shamans, where everyone could see and communicate with spirits.
His specific method was to eliminate all non-Shamans worldwide...
Wasn't that textbook villain behaviour?
How did he become some benevolent mentor now?
Could the Abyss have so many extreme monsters that it actually turned Hao Asakura into a good guy?
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Luo Shu glanced at Lacus only to find her already looking back at him.
At that moment, Lacus smiled at Luo Shu and said:
"Enemy or friend? Isn't that something only you can decide, Luo Shu?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu was momentarily speechless.
He glanced at Lacus, gave a wry smile, raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, and sorted through his thoughts:
"So, currently, Hao Asakura poses no threat to us because we're essentially promising juniors in his eyes?"
Lacus also found the situation rather strange, her expression slightly confused:
"That's more or less the gist of it?"
"But Kirika said we should maintain absolute vigilance towards Hao Asakura, after all, he's someone whose heart was once devoured by demons."
"On that point, I actually share Kirika's view..."
Luo Shu muttered to himself. In his opinion, Hao Asakura was absolutely a potential danger without his 'restraining device'.
And this restraining device... generally speaking, Luo Shu believed Hao's mother, Asanoha, was most effective, followed by Hagoromo Gitsune.
Due to her proximity in legend and her nature as a reincarnated yokai, Hagoromo Gitsune could naturally communicate with the world of the dead.
With this talent of hers, if she studied the Asakura Family's Shaman Arts, she might be able to summon Asanoha from the Underworld directly.
Thinking this, Luo Shu suddenly realised there might be a reason why Hao Asakura - who supposedly valued nurturing successors - hadn't actively appeared before him.
'Afraid I might summon his mum to beat him up?'
Luo Shu grinned oddly, genuinely thinking this was an excellent idea worth strongly supporting Hagoromo Gitsune's practice of Shaman Arts.
After all, what a perfect opportunity to control a Demigod~
Just then, Nia Honjo, who was eating supper nearby, quipped:
"Suddenly grinning so slyly, who are you scheming against now?"
"You, actually."
Luo Shu replied without thinking, then casually asked:
"By the way, Kirika messaged me earlier saying Hao Asakura seems to want to meet and talk."
"What do you think? Should I go see him?"
"Nia-chan, quick! Use your almighty Raziel to divine the future for me!"
Nia Honjo blinked, stood up and walked over, first feeling Luo Shu's forehead, then her own:
"Hmm, must be a fever."
"Stop messing around." Luo Shu swatted away Nia's playful hand and said helplessly, "Just joking. But that Great Onmyoji really did extend a meeting invitation."
"But with your personality, you'd definitely prepare thoroughly before meeting, wouldn't you?"
"Like after becoming a Demigod yourself, or having some absolute method to subdue him..."
As she spoke, Nia turned to Lacus:
"Right, Lacus-chan? That's just how he is, isn't it?"
"That does seem rather indisputable." Lacus tilted her head slightly with a light laugh.
Hearing this, Luo Shu could only sigh - two mind-reading women really left him no room for pretence:
"Fine, fine, I'll think about this myself."
"The priority now is dealing with this Akihabara incident properly."
Kotoko Iwanaga's recall... The follow-up handling of the Akihabara Grand Barrier... Kotori Itsuka's contract... Covering Enigma's infiltration back into the Hell Sect... And most importantly, the materials needed for the Demigod ascension... This involved the situations with Eriri and Conan, which could extend into a whole pile of other matters...
Luo Shu felt his brain almost giving up on thinking at this point.
Ah, he nearly forgot about the demons from the Underworld...
At this thought, Luo Shu paused, recalling the cross-world channel casually crushed by the True Hell's Viscount during his descent earlier. His expression turned peculiar:
"Speaking of which... Ajuka must be having a hard time right now?"