"How did the Commerce Department's virtual game project end up hiring that bastard Akihiko Kayaba?"
Hearing Luo Shu's disgusted tone, Yukino Yukinoshita asked in surprise:
"Is there something wrong with that Dr Kayaba?"
"...I wouldn't say there's anything wrong specifically. Technically speaking, he's probably indeed a top expert in quantum theory and VR game design."
Technically, Luo Shu couldn't fault Akihiko Kayaba. As an ordinary person, he could only look up to a technician capable of handcrafting VR games.
"The problem lies in his psychology - it's probably pathological by now?"
"Does Dr Kayaba have psychological issues?" Yukino Yukinoshita didn't seem particularly surprised.
In Japan's workplace, people with psychological problems weren't rare.
Like her sister, who usually accumulated much resentment from working at their family's company, not to mention the suffering from social obligations within the family, though she rarely showed it outwardly.
If even her iron-willed sister was like this, what about a technician conducting research under investor pressure?
"Is it a difficult condition to handle?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked curiously.
"Oh, not really."
If Luo Shu remembered correctly, Akihiko Kayaba's dream was apparently to adventure in another world? To that end, he forcibly turned the virtual game into a death game where dying in-game meant dying in reality, all to find a sense of authenticity in a virtual otherworld.
Setting aside that insane behaviour, if it was just about going to another world, didn't the Underworld from High School DxD count? Didn't the Warring States period from Inuyasha count?
If those didn't count, the SDS had still discovered several stable Abyss fragment worlds in America.
In terms of quantity and variety, it would probably make Akihiko Kayaba dizzy with choices.
And apparently, the Commerce Department was prohibited from contacting mystic side matters - only certain higher-ups knew about such things.
As for those guys in the Commerce Department...
Based on Luo Shu's understanding of Kirika Tachibana, they seemed to be remnants from when his father-in-law, Siegel Clyne, was still active in leadership.
Many were even commercial elites from the arms company belonging to the Patch Tribe - Siegel's wife's family.
Kirika had bluntly stated: Those bastards would genuinely dare to instigate civil wars in countries just to sell arms to both sides.
Considering this situation, Luo Shu stroked his chin and said suspiciously:
"Seems like we could try poaching people from the Commerce Department."
"I think it would be better if you contacted the Director of the Commerce Department."
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't want any conflict arising between the Hidden Management Department and the Commerce Department. That would make things very difficult for her as the working secretary.
"The Commerce Department doesn't have a Director. Or rather, the Director is Mr Siegel, but he delegated authority to Lacus long ago."
At this point, Luo Shu shook his head and said:
"Those profit-feeding vampires don't even respect Lacus, so what's the point of communicating with them? Let's just poach their people directly."
"Besides, I don't know anyone from the Commerce Department~" Luo Shu spread his hands with an innocent expression.
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at Luo Shu with exasperation:
"But you know Chairwoman Lacus, you know Miss Meer, and you were personally brought into the SDS by Director Kirika Tachibana from Operations? With these connections, you still can't reach them?"
"Well then, here's the question."
Luo Shu's tone became more serious when he heard Yukino Yukinoshita's words:
"Intelligence, Operations, even the Supreme Chairwoman - they're all my people. Yet I don't know anyone from Commerce. Don't you think that's rather strange?"
Yukino Yukinoshita's expression froze slightly.
Now that Luo Shu mentioned it, the situation did seem rather odd.
After some hesitation, she asked: "Are the Commerce Department people... special in some way?"
"Quite special indeed."
Luo Shu nodded, then took another bite of orange:
"They're the type who consider themselves elders with sovereignty over the entire organisation, yet constantly betray it through their actions - the perfect suspicious insiders. They'd be considered special in any organisation."
"Traitors~ Always a minority, yet always the loudest."
"Well!"
"But since Commerce has corresponding plans, let's just take them."
"After all, I'm firmly in the Lacus faction - the Freedom and Peace faction - so we should absolutely take a hardline approach."
Yukino Yukinoshita looked confused: "Shouldn't the Freedom and Peace faction avoid using force when possible?"
Seeing Yukino's adorable bewilderment, Luo Shu chuckled:
"The Freedom and Peace faction believes those militant types are too petty and timid! Our ideas are the true path to peace!"
"Looking down on militant strategies as too small-minded is exactly what peace advocates should do."
Spouting his own twisted logic, Luo Shu smiled at Yukino Yukinoshita:
"Yukino, have Haruno prepare a research report and compile the Hidden Management Department's financial expenditure. I'll go pull some strings upstairs!"
"Play poor, beg for funds, then poach their people - I shouldn't need to explain this trick, right?"
"...Understood."
Upon receiving these instructions, Yukino Yukinoshita silently mourned her sister Haruno for a few seconds.
Tonight would likely be another overtime night...
Though thinking about her sister working late in the study while she could rest comfortably in bed didn't seem so bad after all.
...
Space Colony Copernicus.
Central Axis Hub.
Lacus, who had just returned from the new spatial ring production line, held Mukuro Hoshimiya's hand while speaking to Kirika Tachibana in surprise:
"Luo Shu is planning to come to Copernicus?"
"Ah, he said there's something important he needs to discuss with you." Kirika Tachibana gripped a space handrail, floating mid-air as she grumbled:
"Honestly, why does he need me to relay this to you? Couldn't he just contact you directly?"
Hearing this, Lacus chuckled softly: "Probably because he felt bad about disturbing me last time while I was sleeping."
"So it's fine to disturb me instead, is that it...?" Kirika's lips twitched, her expression one of thorough exasperation.
Lacus merely smiled in response.
"So sleepy~ Big Sister, can we call it a day early?" Mukuro Hoshimiya, her eyelids drooping heavily, mumbled lazily.
She had been floating the entire time, only moving forward in the low-gravity environment because Lacus was pulling her along.
At Mukuro's whining, Lacus smiled gently:
"You've really been working hard lately, Mukuro."
"A diligent girl deserves a reward."
'A reward?'
Kirika glanced at Lacus curiously, but before she could ask what the reward was, she received a message from Yukino Yukinoshita announcing Luo Shu's imminent arrival.
Kirika sighed in exasperation:
"This guy... really acts on impulse the moment an idea strikes him, doesn't he? Can't he wait a second?!"
'Sure, East Asians are known for their work ethic, but this is taking it too far. I don't even know what he wants to discuss—how am I supposed to make an accurate judgment?'
"Lacus, this guy is probably going to give you a massive headache in the future."
"It can't be that bad... Luo Shu is a very good person, you know."
"That's just your opinion, isn't it?"
With a minor grumble, Kirika sighed helplessly and called Lacus to head toward Luo Shu's landing point together.