After a brief meeting.
Copernicus Residential District.
Inside a villa heavily guarded by autonomous machines.
Luo Shu, who had just entered, sat on the sofa, accepted the warm water handed by Lacus, took a sip, and then voiced his confusion:
"So why was it absolutely necessary to choose Tabane Shinonono to propose this human experimentation plan for virtual games?"
Just moments ago, with Tabane's agreement, the plan had been basically finalised.
Tabane would propose the outrageous scheme, forcing the Commerce Department to cooperate and pressuring Lacus to concede.
Meanwhile, Lacus would ostensibly oppose it while secretly suppressing the Commerce Department's objections, thereby forcing the Commerce Department to comply with the Research Department's work.
Once the plan was approved and the Commerce Department compromised, the Research Department would invoke confidentiality requirements to bring in the Hidden Management Department.
This way, Luo Shu could be invited to serve as the de facto controller of the virtual game human-experimentation project.
The Commerce Department's virtual game-related assets would gradually be transferred to him, while its members would be misled into believing Luo Shu was merely the nominal leader, with the real authority held by the Research Department's mad scientists.
In short, it was a classic bait-and-switch manoeuvre by Luo Shu and Lacus, using Tabane as their cover.
However, Luo Shu was curious why Tabane had been chosen to play along.
"Having her propose this is meant to leverage the virtual game's success to make her the Research Department's Director, right?"
"Logically speaking, shouldn't Verde be more suitable for this position than Tabane, followed by Ania?"
"Making Tabane responsible doesn't seem like the normal choice, does it?"
The SDS Research Department operated on a multi-core chain mechanism centred around top scientists, with each core laboratory as a standard unit.
Simply put, each super scientist corresponded to one core research lab.
Every scientist was essentially a mini Research Department Director.
For instance, the Kamijo Hospital established by the SDS in Japan was entirely managed by Verde as Tokyo's research base.
Luo Shu wasn't entirely clear about its research focus, but he'd vaguely heard it involved the Adjuster Drug, supposedly part of the Superman Project.
Tabane held a similar position to Verde, though her expertise in military technology meant her base was actually Space Colony Copernicus.
Meanwhile, Ania's ability to manipulate luck played a decisive role in breakthroughs in fundamental materials science. Her research lab was stationed at Copernicus and, to some extent, served as a check on Tabane Shinonono, preventing her from going too wild.
Due to its multi-core structure, the Research Department had no Director and reported directly to Lacus.
This time, Lacus had Tabane propose an outrageous plan, only to have Tabane publicly compromise it, giving Luo Shu a strong sense of déjà vu.
It was as if she was deliberately creating the impression to outsiders that Lacus Clyne couldn't even control her own core departments.
Thinking this, Luo Shu frowned and said solemnly:
"Is it because of pressure from the Union?"
Lacus stood quietly beside him, simply watching.
Faced with her silence, Luo Shu sighed and raised a hand to rub his temples:
"It seems taking action against that viscount from True Hell was indeed a miscalculation."
"I should have waited longer—let that demon viscount cause a major bloodbath in Tokyo before barely managing to resolve it."
"Instead of handling it so cleanly with almost no civilian casualties."
At this point, Luo Shu couldn't help but grumble:
"Tch. How does minimising innocent deaths end up making the Union wary of me?"
As he complained, Lacus hesitantly interjected:
"Luo Shu..."
"When you're alone with Utaha and the others... do you always talk about serious matters like this?"
Luo Shu froze at her words, turning to look at Lacus.
Seeing the troubled expression on the girl's face, he felt inexplicably awkward:
"Not always..."
What serious matters could he possibly discuss when alone with Utaha Kasumigaoka?
That woman would subtly brush her black-stockinged toes against him while discussing light novel plots, suck on his fingers when feeding her chocolate sticks, and always... well.
Hiss...
Remembering those moments, Luo Shu suddenly realised that every private encounter with Utaha Kasumigaoka inevitably escalated into R-rated territory.
By comparison, Kisara—the demon who constantly proclaimed her intent to monopolise him—was actually the shyest one.
Even Eriri accepted all sorts of play, protesting verbally while urging him to continue with her hands.
Miss Kisara... really was full of contradictions.
Just as he thought of Kisara, Luo Shu felt a weight against his side. Turning, he saw Lacus leaning into the crook of his arm, resting her head against his chest as she whispered:
"Sometimes—no, when we're alone like this—could we not talk about such serious things?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu finally grasped what Lacus meant. His voice grew husky:
"Is Mukuro asleep?"
"She's already asleep."
At those soft—almost fragile—words, torn between restraint and indulgence, Luo Shu decisively chose the latter.
...
Copernicus.
Inside Tabane Shinonono's laboratory.
Kirika Tachibana maintained a stern expression, seemingly watching Tabane play Mario while her thoughts wandered elsewhere:
"That Lacus... she's probably trying to win Luo Shu over right now, isn't she?"
"Hoho, using her own body to trap that man so tightly? That's so like her..."
At some point, Tabane Shinonono turned her head and asked curiously:
"Is Kirika feeling jealous?"
Kirika Tachibana paused, her expression twisting slightly:
"Jealous? It seems even the First Generation Adjuster Serum's suppression of emotional systems isn't foolproof."
"But come to think of it, am I jealous that Lacus stole Luo Shu, or that Luo Shu stole Lacus?"
"It should be Lacus stealing Luo Shu," Tabane Shinonono asserted.
"After all, Lacus-chan~ has been pestering me daily to research arousal drugs, worried her Gene Adjustment might prevent physiological reactions."
Hearing this, Kirika immediately pictured Luo Shu lying nervously in bed, clutching the sheets, while Lacus smiled, swallowed a handful of capsules, and then forcefully pounced on him.
"Isn't this scenario backwards? Shouldn't Luo Shu be taking the drugs?"
Tabane Shinonono hesitated before replying:
"But according to the White Knight's latest data, if Luo Shu took those drugs at that pace... it would literally kill someone."
"Gasp!!" Kirika inhaled sharply.
A level that could kill someone?
For a moment, Kirika Tachibana didn't know whether to envy Lacus or to envy Lacus again.
"Hmph, boring romantic affairs."
Kirika composed herself and sneered coldly:
"Ultimately, such trivial matters pale in comparison to one's career."
"Mhm mhm mhm!" Tabane Shinonono nodded repeatedly.
"Compared to strengthening one's abilities, it's utterly tasteless."
"Mhm mhm mhm!"
"Neither Lacus nor Luo Shu understands how foolish it is to let sex hormones dominate one's brain."
"Mhm mhm mhm."
Tabane nodded rapidly again before asking:
"By the way, tomorrow will be my alone time with little Luo Shu."
"So, Kirika, could you not come tomorrow? I don't want Luo Shu to misunderstand."
Kirika Tachibana: "..."
Was there even any place left for her in this SDS anymore?
Fuck!!