As Luo Shu and Kirika remained silent.
Lacus sat on her chair, leaning back slightly against the backrest, holding a cup of black tea with calm composure:
"All the Research Department needs to do is discreetly announce that they require VR technology to conduct certain experiments on human brains, urgently needing a large number of test subjects."
"The rest of the operations would follow naturally~"
"How many test subjects are needed?" Kirika gave Lacus a strange look.
Lacus's public image was either that of a peace ambassador, a noble corporate princess, or a decisive yet humane leader.
In short, Lacus, who always maintained a positive image, didn't hesitate to propose such a plan.
'I always knew your true colours, but to show them so blatantly in front of Luo Shu...'
'Has he really corrupted you that much?'
Just as Kirika was internally complaining about Lacus being influenced by Luo Shu.
Lacus pondered for a moment before smiling and saying:
"Demanding over ten million people on paper shouldn't be too difficult, right?"
"Then, we'd require the experiments to be conducted on American soil, along with a batch of voluntary high-IQ individuals to actively participate."
"Hmm, it would be best to imply that the volunteers should preferably be elites within the Commerce Department, especially the older ones."
"Isn't there a saying - the older, the more cunning?"
"In that case, as an acknowledgement of those Commerce Department elders' intellect, wouldn't it be perfectly reasonable for the Research Department to request using them for brain experiments?"
'Reasonable. Extremely reasonable. So reasonable that I'm starting to suspect you're using this as an excuse to eliminate those Commerce Department people...' Luo Shu thought to himself before stating bluntly:
"This proposal was never meant to be approved from the start, was it?"
"You want those Commerce Department people to compromise on this plan, don't you?"
This was the famous tactic—if you want to open a window, first demand to tear off the roof.
That way, those who would never agree to your window will compromise out of fear that you might actually remove the roof.
Lacus smiled, tacitly acknowledging Luo Shu's interpretation as she cheerfully added:
"For those uncles in the Commerce Department, compromise is practically their spinal cord."
Beside them, Kirika Tachibana, fearing Luo Shu might not understand, promptly explained:
"Most of the Commerce Department's upper echelons actually consider themselves officials of the American Union."
"Consider themselves? Then what are they actually?" Luo Shu asked curiously, somewhat surprised.
"If we're talking about what they actually are..."
Kirika gave Luo Shu a meaningful look before continuing:
"Luo Shu, you should be quite familiar with how China uses temporary workers, shouldn't you?"
"Understood." Luo Shu instantly grasped the implication—I'll do the dirty work, you take the blame when things go wrong. That's what temporary workers are for.
So in reality, those Commerce Department fossils were just gloves for the American officials?
No wonder Lacus found these uncles such a headache.
When beating a dog, one must consider its master—and the Commerce Department's master, the American Union, wasn't someone to be trifled with.
Considering this, Luo Shu glanced at Lacus and asked curiously:
"So, what's our actual demand here?"
"The experiment will be conducted in Japan with an estimated participation of no more than 100,000 people. Additionally, volunteers from the Commerce Department's elites are not required."
Luo Shu nodded before asking: "How will the Hidden Management Department intervene?"
"Under the pretext of the Research Department, we'll demand that the experiment be conducted covertly. Thus, the Hidden Management Department will serve as security personnel, effectively controlling the experiment's safety measures."
"Of course, I'll also dispatch my Direct Action Team to monitor this inhumane experiment."
Luo Shu immediately realised Lacus intended to station Angelene's squad long-term in Tokyo and raised a key question:
"So if I understand correctly, this plan was proposed by you, Lacus, but you can't be directly associated with it?"
Beside them, Kirika Tachibana chuckled:
"This is just standard procedure~"
"Luo Shu, you must have heard before how 'under strong insistence from Director of Operations Kirika Tachibana, Lacus was forced to compromise and initiate multiple projects'?"
"How many of those 'forced compromises' do you think were actually my idea?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu could only stare speechlessly at Lacus.
The woman calmly sipped her black tea, showing no trace of embarrassment, even smiling at Luo Shu.
"So who's going to stage the coup this time? Me?"
Kirika Tachibana immediately vetoed: "The Chief God of a Familia being pressured by his own Familia - even if fake - wouldn't sound good."
"I'll do it as usual. I'm used to it anyway. After all, everyone knows I'm the SDS's militant faction."
'Good grief, you're actually the dovish one...'
Luo Shu's lips twitched, feeling some pity for Kirika Tachibana.
How many radical project black hats has this woman worn over the years?!
"Not you this time, Kirika."
Lacus set down her teacup after finishing her drink and stated calmly:
"Using the same tactic too often invites suspicion."
"Then me?" Luo Shu sounded somewhat eager.
A staged coup? Sounded interesting. Could he actually scold Lacus during an SDS executive meeting?
He was quite curious how she'd react.
But Lacus shook her head again: "Not you either, Luo Shu. Your Hidden Management Department will need to oversee related industries afterwards."
"Then who should..."
Mid-sentence, Luo Shu suddenly realised something and turned to look at Tabane Shinonono.
Simultaneously, Kirika Tachibana fell silent.
In the café booth, apart from the distinct breathing sounds of the drowsy Mukuro Hoshimiya leaning against Luo Shu, only the clacking of Tabane Shinonono's keyboard remained.
"Hmm?"
Tabane Shinonono, busy updating White Knight data nearby, seemed to receive some signal as her mechanical rabbit ears twitched. She turned around with a baffled expression:
"You're not expecting me to submit the experiment proposal and forcefully demand Lacus-chan approve it, are you?"
"Surely you don't think having this insane draft plan attributed to me would make the Commerce Department or the American Union backing them consider it perfectly reasonable?"
"Exactly! That's precisely what we think!!"
"This madwoman really is the perfect one to propose the draft."
Both Kirika Tachibana and Luo Shu completely agreed with Tabane Shinonono's assessment.
"How cruel, I'll cry, I really will cry."
Hearing this, Luo Shu tentatively offered: "Then shall I stay an extra day tomorrow to keep you company?"
"Deal!!"
Tabane Shinonono agreed without hesitation.
Faced with this situation, Kirika Tachibana finally couldn't hold back her complaints:
"How come you're treating yourself as a comfort item too!!"
'Well, it is comfortable and useful...' Luo Shu muttered inwardly before forcing a dry laugh:
"This is a necessary sacrifice for the sake of a peaceful future."
At these words, Kirika's eyelid twitched, her entire face radiating speechlessness.
'So world peace requires your... piston output, does it?'
'Utter shamelessness!'
'No, beyond shameless! Absolutely!'