Hidden Management Department.
3rd Floor, Reception Room.
"You want me to live at the garrison?!!"
On the sofa, Kisara pointed at herself in stunned disbelief.
Standing nearby, Luo Shu took a sip of the black tea freshly brewed by Megumi Kato before nodding:
"Since we know Truth Astronomy might target you, I naturally want to keep you in the safest place possible."
"Overall, the garrison's security measures are more robust than Sakura Apartments."
On one hand, the Akihabara Grand Barrier made casting techniques here extremely troublesome. On the other hand, the Hidden Management Department's garrison provided additional protection through its defensive wards.
Yet for Kisara, leaving the love nest she'd painstakingly built to live with Luo Shu was simply unthinkable. Still, she didn't dare disobey his request.
In the end, she could only gaze at Luo Shu with puppy-dog eyes, as if trying to awaken his conscience through sheer visual pleading.
Sighing, Luo Shu seemed to have anticipated this reaction:
"I'll move in with you."
"And as an extra precaution, I'll be sticking close to you for the foreseeable future."
Instantly, Kisara's reluctant expression transformed into eager anticipation:
"When do we move in?"
"Tomorrow? Today? Or right now?"
Nearby, Yukino Yukinoshita's eyelid twitched at this rapid mood swing. While she understood Kisara's dependence on the Director, this was too much.
Meanwhile, La Folia - who'd been shamelessly squatting at the garrison for days - piped up curiously:
"Since Kisara and Luo Shu are moving in... maybe I should relocate too?"
Luo Shu turned to give her an exasperated look:
"Didn't Megumi say you're already staying upstairs with Kanon?"
La Folia declared without shame:
"Sneaking around is completely different from proper cohabitation!"
Luo Shu sighed at this woman who seemingly lacked any sense of embarrassment:
"Fine, you have my permission in principle."
"Actually, you staying here means you can continue mentoring Eriri."
"Speaking of which..." Luo Shu glanced around, "Where is Eriri? She hasn't even appeared in the group chat recently."
Yukinoshita calmly explained:
"In the underground Hidden Management Zone, undergoing paired training with Honjo-san and Ms Tokisaki."
"They insist she must master Class fundamentals before your return."
"I see..." Luo Shu could already imagine Eriri's recent hardships.
But putting aside her struggles, the immediate concern was Kisara's situation. Turning to Joan of Arc, he said:
"Joan, you'll be staying at the garrison with me, too."
"Incidentally, Tifa should be here as well - you can keep each other company."
"Me?"
Joan blinked, recalling how Megumi had taken Tifa to tour the Hidden Management Department headquarters.
Living with that gentle girl didn't seem like such a bad thing after all.
"As for me, I'm fine with anything. I'll accept the arrangements."
Hearing Joan of Arc say this, Luo Shu also breathed a sigh of relief.
Though there was some suspicion of keeping Joan under close surveillance, having her stationed at the garrison would indeed provide considerable protection.
After all, they were dealing with a Demigod currently undergoing a ritual, and one with a Top Tier Class at that. There was no telling when they might truly become a Top Tier Class Demigod.
Such combat strength would easily rank among the top five in the Hidden Management Department, significantly bolstering its protective capabilities.
Meanwhile, La Folia, sitting beside him, wore a hesitant expression:
"Luo Shu, are you already arranging the two-person team plan?"
"But then again, only favouring one per night is indeed too inefficient. It would take ages to get through everyone... Mmph...!"
Black bandages suddenly materialised from the void, sealing La Folia's lips.
The one who'd acted was Natsuki Minamiya, who'd been silently sitting on the single sofa.
"You promiscuous silver-haired princess! No one would mistake you for mute if you kept quiet!"
"Mmmph~" La Folia struggled to tear off the black bandages while glaring resentfully at Natsuki Minamiya.
Natsuki Minamiya snorted coldly:
"Messaging me privately won't help. And don't say things like 'I can move in too' - even if I did, I wouldn't behave as shamelessly as you."
After saying this, she paused thoughtfully before turning to Luo Shu:
"Though this might sound shameless, my moving in could actually help guard against Aya."
"That woman may have become a Demigod, but she's been avoiding me for a year. If I live here, she probably wouldn't dare attack Kisara again."
Luo Shu glanced at Natsuki Minamiya before sighing: "I believe you, but defending against Aya isn't my current concern."
"Didn't I mention on our way back? Kisara appears to be the direct descendant of one of Hell's monarchs - an irresistible lure for Truth Astronomy's Demon Warlocks."
"Natsuki, you might stop Aya, but could you stop other Demon Warlocks?"
"Aya might spare you some face, but what about others?"
Natsuki Minamiya fell silent at this.
She sighed softly before unfurling her ever-present folding fan to conceal half her face:
"But doesn't the saying go 'you can't guard against thieves forever'?"
"Constant defence inevitably fails - surely you understand this, Luo Shu?"
"I know. That's why I'm preparing two approaches."
"Two approaches?" The girls, including Yukino Yukinoshita, looked curiously at Luo Shu.
Luo Shu calmly sipped his black tea:
"The first is naturally defensive - keeping Kisara in the safest place to avoid danger."
"Though frankly, regardless of whether Kisara would agree, I'd never want her living in constant hiding."
"So I actually favour the second approach."
Here, Luo Shu smiled coldly:
"Make it impossible for Truth Astronomy to target Kisara!"
After a pause, Natsuki Minamiya said:
"Are you planning to reveal the Hidden Management Department's full strength to eradicate Truth Astronomy?"
La Folia, having finally torn off the bandages, asked doubtfully:
"But wouldn't that draw excessive attention from the Five Great Powers?"
"Given your personality, Luo Shu, you don't seem the type to make unprofitable deals?"
Luo Shu gave La Folia a strange look.
'Are you the worm in my stomach or something?'
Mentally grumbling about La Folia, Luo Shu then said:
"Having exposed Demigods make a move isn't an issue. We can treat it as a show of force."
"If it draws attention, then let it come. We can't just turtle up in the garrison forever, can we?"
Yukino Yukinoshita frowned at this point: "But what about Truth Astronomy..."
"How many Demigods does Truth Astronomy even have?"
Hearing Luo Shu's sarcastic remark, Kisara quietly added: "Luo Shu, didn't you mention before that they only have that Witch of the Notaria as their sole Demigod..."
"So it's 3 against 1. The advantage is ours—wait, no, shouldn't say that carelessly."
Luo Shu hastily made spitting gestures to ward off the jinx before correcting himself:
"What I mean is, besides us, we should find Truth Astronomy some other opponents to divert their attention."
"Opponents? Who?" Joan of Arc blinked in confusion. What organisations in this world could oppose Truth Astronomy that she didn't know about?
Facing Joan's puzzlement, Luo Shu gave a sinister smile:
"There's a certain capricious Leviathan who's currently in Tokyo~"