Third floor, Luo Shu's office.
Yukino Yukinoshita was unusually dressed in a form-fitting office skirt and red-framed glasses, styled like a proper secretary.
Yet, her alluring attire was paired with an utterly expressionless face.
Yukino Yukinoshita lowered her head to examine the report in her hands.
Though called a report, it was essentially just a document with a single title: Feasibility Report on Establishing a Virtual Gaming Company.
Beyond that, there was nothing else—like a blank exam paper waiting to be filled.
Yukino understood all too well that the man before her, who had somehow conjured yet another bizarre idea, was waiting for her to complete this "report."
That said, while she had read light novels featuring VR technology, surely no one actually believed that reading such novels qualified her to start a VR company?
"So, you went to a meeting and came up with this?"
Yukino Yukinoshita adjusted her red-framed glasses and said in a deep tone:
"If I recall correctly, according to the group chat messages, you were supposed to be exchanging intelligence about the Hell Sect with Miss Enigma and Miss Sharon, weren't you?"
Luo Shu nodded upon hearing this, then asked curiously:
"Right, did Sharon mention it in the group chat?"
"Then what made you think that the solution to dealing with the Hell Sect was to establish a virtual gaming company?"
Listening to Yukino Yukinoshita's voice, which sounded like a volcano about to erupt, Luo Shu tilted his head slightly while peeling an orange Megumi Kato had just brought in.
After tasting the sweet citrus, Luo Shu raised his eyebrows and said to Yukino Yukinoshita:
"Yukino, tell me, if our Hidden Management Department were to conduct a census, what method would be the most convenient and discreet?"
"A census is something for government agencies and social research institutions, isn't it?"
After saying this, Yukino Yukinoshita sighed and frowned:
"However, if you have an essential reason for needing census data, I could try contacting the relevant departments to obtain it from official sources and affiliated organisations. That would be more efficient."
Hearing this, Luo Shu questioned: "Is official information reliable?"
"You must understand that even a slight error in intelligence could lead to immeasurable consequences."
Yukino Yukinoshita remained composed: "If you need frontline information, perhaps driving schools and healthcare companies would be better options."
Luo Shu realised Yukino Yukinoshita hadn't grasped his meaning, so he shook his head and added:
"But I said I need it to be discreet... and preferably as precise as names, appearances, and family backgrounds."
Upon hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita fell silent for a moment before saying:
"Though it sounds like something only a stalker would do, I think I understand your point now."
"Using a virtual gaming company to obtain citizens' basic personal information?"
"You want to discreetly and extensively search Japan for potential Familia candidates?"
Yukino Yukinoshita's expression was one of disbelief, as if her homebody child had suddenly decided to go hunting.
Although Senior Utaha Kasumigaoka had long suggested using census methods to recruit Familia members, Luo Shu had rejected the idea, citing insufficient core personnel to collect national information properly and discreetly.
Later, when Senior Utaha and the Director became ambiguously involved, Senior Utaha stopped mentioning nationwide searches altogether.
Yukino Yukinoshita could somewhat understand Utaha's subtle desire to keep things exclusive, but what intrigued her was why Luo Shu had suddenly changed his stance:
"So, you believe a virtual gaming company can bypass official channels to collect citizens' information discreetly, hence this idea."
Hearing this, Luo Shu clapped his hands approvingly:
"Yukino, you understand me so well~"
"I feel nothing but despair at the fact that I understand your thinking."
Yukino Yukinoshita sighed, wondering when she'd become so adept at guessing Luo Shu's thoughts:
"However, if we're going by your requirements, perhaps only virtual gaming—specifically a VR company—could meet your needs."
Basic citizen information in Japan was highly fragmented.
Although a household registration system existed, there were no restrictions on registered addresses, allowing people to live anywhere in the country.
Health insurance records started from birth but remained incomplete.
Due to privacy laws, aside from driver's licenses, most identification documents lacked photographs, let alone comprehensive background details.
Gathering complete data would inevitably involve official organisations.
And as for the authorities... judging by Luo Shu's recent attitude, he seemed to be already wary of them.
Yukino understood this perfectly. After all, even she had caught wind of the Five Great Powers' intention to have the SDS form a new Joint Task Force for the Akihabara Trading Special Zone.
Though she'd heard it from Chisato Nishikigi, who claimed her 'Friend A' at the Metropolitan Police Department had mentioned it.
With the Union's movements, combined with Chairwoman Lacus's explanations in the Divine Pantheon group chat and Meer's warnings, any Familia member paying attention knew the Hidden Management Department's situation was growing sensitive.
During such a delicate period, if Luo Shu revealed he needed to collaborate with Japan's government to investigate national data, things would almost certainly become extremely complicated.
Thus, the advantages of VR gaming became obvious.
Typically, purchasing VR equipment requires inputting user biometrics—fingerprints, iris scans, names, or even basic height and weight data—allowing buyers to register their devices with minimal effort.
Shipping addresses for VR devices could also pinpoint purchasers' locations.
By controlling just one VR company and a dozen or so affiliated businesses, they could secretly gather national data.
With the Familia's current membership, managing such enterprises wouldn't be difficult—even without business expertise. Both Utaha Kasumigaoka and Enigma possessed the means to control elite corporate executives.
Considering this, Yukino fell silent before speaking again:
"If it's a VR company you're after, the Commerce Department already has some plans in motion."
"When Senior Utaha was managing the publishing house, she received cooperation documents from the Commerce Department requesting partial novel copyrights for potential VR game development."
"However, I heard a particularly influential technical expert vetoed many proposals."
"Utaha's suggestions got rejected? Who has nerves of steel?"
Luo Shu found it hard to believe someone could resist Utaha Kasumigaoka's temptation to adapt her beloved novels into VR games.
Even without using her newly ascended Hero Rank psychological abilities, Utaha's persuasion skills had grown formidable—few could escape her rhetorical pace.
Was Japan's technical expert actually competent?
Hearing this, Yukino glanced upward in thought before replying:
"I believe... the expert's surname was Kayaba?"
"Akihiko Kayaba?!!" Luo Shu hissed, then asked uncertainly, "It can't be that name, can it?"
"I think it was that name..." Yukino Yukinoshita also sounded unsure, since in Utaha Kasumigaoka's words, he had been referred to as Dr Kayaba.
"So it really is him..." Luo Shu's expression turned somewhat peculiar at this point.
If he remembered correctly, Akihiko Kayaba had trapped tens of thousands of players in virtual devices for the sake of his own dream, causing his employer - the virtual game manufacturer - to go bankrupt and restructure...
So...
That bankrupt virtual game manufacturer was under the SDS?
That was his money!!