Why could Ai Hayasaka enter the Hidden Management Department just by facial recognition at the main gate?
Why could she walk straight past the security personnel on the first floor by facial recognition?
Why could she meet Luo Shu, the Director of the Hidden Management Department, without any obstruction along the way?
Standing before Luo Shu in the third-floor office, Kaguya Shinomiya felt her head completely filled with question marks.
Just as Kaguya's mind was in turmoil, Luo Shu, leaning back in his office chair, teased Ai Hayasaka with a smile:
"Rushing to see me so suddenly doesn't seem like something your personality would do, Ai."
Facing Luo Shu's teasing, Ai Hayasaka replied expressionlessly:
"Because some unexpected circumstances arose."
Luo Shu glanced at Kaguya Shinomiya upon hearing this and said without surprise:
"Because of the Shinomiya family matters?"
"Correct."
Ai Hayasaka nodded, then asked:
"What exactly are your arrangements regarding the Shinomiya family?"
Hearing this, Kaguya Shinomiya's ears twitched as she couldn't help but think inwardly:
'There's no way he'd just say it outright!!'
'This involves the Hidden Management Department's current stance towards the Shinomiya family—the very issue the Cabinet is most uncertain about. How could he possibly reveal it so casually here?'
At that moment, Luo Shu nonchalantly tossed over a pre-prepared report from his desk and said calmly:
"It's not much of an arrangement, really. Just planning to acquire some Shinomiya family assets at 10% of their actual value."
"Additionally, any sales of Shinomiya family industries must undergo SDS's comprehensive oversight."
"Other than that, nothing much else."
—He actually said it!!!!
Kaguya Shinomiya screamed internally.
She truly hadn't expected Luo Shu to actually disclose it.
Ai just asked, and he really answered?
What kind of relationship do these two have? How can such confidential matters be revealed so easily?
'Ai...have you been lying to me all along?'
Kaguya turned her head, gazing at Ai Hayasaka's profile with deeply wounded eyes.
You said he merely wanted you as a maid... Are you really just a maid?
Father, you said the Hidden Management Department was beyond the Shinomiya family's reach... Yet now, Ai is about to reach it.
Ignoring Kaguya's turmoil, Ai Hayasaka took the document, skimmed through it briefly, then frowned and said:
"If we follow this document, doesn't it mean over 95% of the Shinomiya family's industries are being seized?"
"Seized" was putting it mildly.
With industrial control rights being sold off and the proceeds deposited into the Cabinet's special accounts to cover deficits, what little remained for the Shinomiya family could practically be counted on one hand.
This proposal might as well have demanded every Shinomiya family member owe Japan's Ministry of Finance a hefty sum.
Moreover, the key point Ai Hayasaka noticed was the signature at the end of the document.
It bore the signature of the Cabinet's Special Supervision Bureau—not Luo Shu's.
Meaning, this was actually the Cabinet's plan, not Luo Shu's idea.
As for Luo Shu's thoughts, as mentioned earlier, it was about purchasing a batch of needed industries at low prices and exchanging the unneeded ones with other factions.
Thinking this, Ai Hayasaka couldn't help but say:
"Is this why Gan'an Shinomiya is in such a hurry to marry off the young lady—because of the Cabinet's plan?"
"Gan'an Shinomiya has this plan too?"
Upon hearing this news for the first time, Luo Shu showed surprise.
He glanced at Kaguya Shinomiya, who stood nearby with an expressionless face, appearing completely unmoved, and suddenly mused:
"It seems that old fox Gan'an Shinomiya is looking for a new protective umbrella!"
At this point, Luo Shu considered which forces in Japan could oppose the Cabinet's will and allow the Shinomiya family to retain most of their wealth, then chuckled and said:
"Did he choose the Onmyou Agency or that yokai group?"
"It's probably leaning towards the Onmyou Agency. After all, within Japan, only the Onmyou Agency has the confidence to stand against the Cabinet."
Hearing this, Kaguya Shinomiya exclaimed in surprise: "What about the Bujin-shū and those yokai groups? Aren't they capable?"
Seeing Kaguya Shinomiya's question, and out of respect for Ai Hayasaka, Luo Shu smiled and began to explain his thoughts:
"That old fox Dogen Takayanagi wouldn't oppose the Cabinet. For him, the Takayanagi Family already controls the strongest fist of the Metropolitan Police Department. If they were to seize financial power too, their current stability would be jeopardised."
"As for the yokai groups... Nurarihyon's Nura Clan only has one young grandson left, and the yokai princess herself is female. Kyoto's Hagoromo Group has already been destroyed, and the remaining Seto Group's current generation also only has a daughter."
"These options were never viable from the start. The only real choice is the Onmyou Agency's noble families - and it would have to be the direct Tsuchimikado line."
"However, the main Tsuchimikado branch probably wouldn't deign to associate with the Shinomiya Family. While Onmyoji don't rely entirely on bloodline, some powerful contracts do depend on lineage. Risking the leakage of Tsuchimikado's arcane arts for mere money isn't a good trade."
Hearing Luo Shu's explanation, Kaguya Shinomiya froze.
Because everything Luo Shu said matched perfectly with what her father had told her - in fact, he'd gone even deeper.
Regarding the Onmyou Agency, Luo Shu confirmed that apart from the main Tsuchimikado line, no other family could possibly protect the Shinomiya Family.
As for Dogen Takayanagi, head of the Bujin-shū, Kaguya doubted her father understood the man better than Luo Shu did.
The SDS operated all its Japanese branches under the Metropolitan Police Department's name. Luo Shu himself held a senior position there and was technically Takayanagi's colleague. His assessment clearly carried more weight than Gan'an Shinomiya's superficial friendship with the man.
"So... Father's plan was doomed from the start?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu couldn't help but laugh: "Gan'an Shinomiya still thinks he can preserve most of the Shinomiya Family's assets?"
"A fat pig dreaming of escaping the butcher's knife? Does he even have that capability?"
As Luo Shu sneered, Ai Hayasaka shot him a resentful look.
Noticing this, Luo Shu glanced at Hayasaka before calmly continuing:
"Well, if you really want to try something, it's not completely impossible."
Kaguya immediately looked up at Luo Shu with hopeful eyes.
Meeting her gaze, Luo Shu said impassively:
"Isn't Oko Shinomiya currently detained at the Metropolitan Police Department, refusing to confess?"
"Make him confess. Have him admit he conspired with the Desire Faction to assassinate me."
"I need a legitimate reason to intervene. Understand?"
Kaguya's eyes lit up, but her expression soon turned awkward:
"But... I have no way to see my elder brother..."
Luo Shu clicked his tongue, his disdain palpable.
"Then what use are you?"
Kaguya's smile froze, but facing Luo Shu, she could only maintain a perfectly harmless expression.
Sighing, Luo Shu turned his head slightly and said quietly:
"Hayasaka, you handle it."
"I'll arrange for Metropolitan Police Department personnel to deliver your message."
"Once it's done, return to work under me."
Hayasaka sighed, realising her days as Kaguya Shinomiya's maid were effectively over.
Still, at least this would salvage Kaguya's future, so she had no regrets.
"Understood, Director!"