In a high-rise building near Horikiri Park, Sotokanda, Tokyo.
"Your task today is to tidy up our office."
Luo Shu cheerfully placed gloves, a broom and a dustpan into Yukino Yukinoshita's hands, then patted the girl's shoulder:
"Do a good job, and I'll treat you to dinner in Akihabara tonight."
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the cleaning tools in her hands, then raised her gaze to survey the room before her - containing only a single desk, devoid of any other furniture, with a thin layer of grey dust covering the floor, clearly just renovated. After a momentary daze, she fixed Luo Shu with a steady look:
"May I interpret this as a test for newcomers?"
Luo Shu nodded slightly. "More or less an obedience test."
"I see." Yukino took a deep breath. "Are cleaning supplies prepared? With just a broom and dustpan, properly cleaning this room is impossible."
"Akihabara's shopping district is next door. You should find proper tools there."
As he spoke, Luo Shu retrieved a silver ring from his pocket and said to Yukino:
"Before cleaning, hold out your hand."
Yukino glanced at the ring in Luo Shu's hand, then up at his face, instinctively moving her hands behind her back:
"While I'm fairly certain this isn't a proposal, might I ask what this ring's function is?"
"Its full name is Nutrient Detection Machine."
Upon hearing this, Yukino immediately adopted a perfectly polite smile.
The kind of smile one makes when their intelligence has been insulted.
Seeing this, Luo Shu spread his hands:
"Well, that's the cover story. Think of it as SDS's newly issued internal staff authentication device."
"Actually, you've arrived at a good time. These were only recently approved for distribution."
He tossed the ring towards Yukino, who fumbled to catch it.
Luo Shu then explained:
"Its official function is continuous health monitoring. Paired with the reporting device being delivered, it can provide real-time health reports with medical and nutritional advice."
"Of course, that's the public explanation."
"The ring's true purpose..."
Luo Shu raised his left hand, revealing a far more elaborate ring on his middle finger, set with a blue gemstone.
Whoosh!
Indigo flames erupted from the ring, casting a cyan glow across Luo Shu's face.
"Dying Will Flames - fire ignited through resolve, or rather, spiritual energy. You might consider it a flame-based superpower."
"There are seven flame types in total. The ring lowers the ignition threshold, but to use them effortlessly, you'll need to complete your probation period and take the Adjuster Drug."
Those who complete the Adjuster Drug regimen and adapt can generally ignite Dying Will Flames to enhance themselves.
This outcome was likely anticipated by Dr Verde all along.
That old man, possessing extensive knowledge from the Hitman Reborn world, understood perfectly how to strengthen an organisation - hardly surprising given his former affiliation with mafia families.
"Under normal circumstances, Dying Will Flames and rings should be the signature abilities of SDS Members."
Hearing Luo Shu's explanation, Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes widened slightly.
She recalled the scene she had witnessed earlier in the basement of Café LycoReco.
Or rather, even now, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't forget how Luo Shu had effortlessly ignored bullets as if he were an illusion.
Yukino wasn't stupid. She quickly connected this to the questions Luo Shu had asked her several times before:
"So that's why the chief kept asking if I was prepared with resolve?"
"Exactly." Luo Shu snapped his fingers and smiled. "From what I understand, even without drug enhancement, one can ignite Dying Will Flames with a ring's help—provided they have sufficient resolve."
"As for what exactly this 'resolve' entails, you can think of it as willpower. With strong enough willpower and the right method, one can ignite Dying Will Flames."
Even if the quantity of spiritual energy is insufficient, a strong enough will can still ignite the flames.
This was the answer Luo Shu had obtained through the extended ability of his Authority of Knowledge, which he now called the Mysticism Encyclopaedia.
In simpler terms, the strength of one's will represents the intensity of their spiritual energy, which can roughly be judged by the lustre of the blue flame above their head—the flame symbolising spirit.
When he first met Yukino Yukinoshita, Luo Shu had observed her three flames through his spiritual vision. Among the three flames representing essence, energy, and spirit, the latter two burned brightly.
This indicated that Yukino's only weakness was her physical constitution.
And among them, the blue flame representing spiritual energy was the brightest.
Perhaps this was due to Yukino's strong character, forged from being isolated as a child?
Judging by the blue flame, if Yukino truly steeled her resolve, igniting Dying Will Flames wouldn't be difficult for her.
At this point, Yukino pressed further:
"If I ignite these so-called Dying Will Flames, will I be able to do the same things as you, Chief?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's eyes widened slightly as he studied Yukino Yukinoshita.
'Little girl, you haven't even learned to walk yet, and you're already thinking about driving?'
Before Luo Shu could say anything, Yukino seemed to grasp his meaning.
"It's not possible?"
"There's a chance—provided you can ignite Mist Attribute Dying Will Flames like me."
Luo Shu's gaze seemed to say, "Just give up on that idea."
"Then what is my attribute?" Yukino asked, a hint of unease in her voice.
"Cloud Attribute. Its ability is multiplication. Simply put, Cloud Attribute Dying Will Flames can multiply objects—or, more plainly, mass-produce copies of them."
Checking someone's Dying Will Flames wasn't troublesome for Luo Shu, especially with Yukino right in front of him. A quick glance through the Encyclopaedia sufficed.
Of course, what truly suited Yukino best at the moment was the Class of Fairy of Knowledge—something Luo Shu had also discerned but chose not to mention.
After all, he couldn't just casually hand over a Class with god-tier potential to Yukino Yukinoshita, even if the cost in Fragments of Knowledge Authority was negligible.
"Cloud Flames that multiply objects..."
Yukino rubbed the ring in her hand, murmuring to herself before looking back at Luo Shu:
"And what exactly is this 'right method' you mentioned?"
"The method is the infusion of Dying Will Flames!"
Luo Shu's lips curled as he suddenly raised his hand, producing a pistol as if by magic.
Seeing the gun barrel aimed squarely at her forehead, Yukino Yukinoshita's pupils contracted violently.
"Don't worry, it'll be over quickly."
Luo Shu disengaged the safety and smiled:
"By the way, what you'll want to do next is clean the room."
"Wait a moment—"
Before Yukino could finish speaking.
Bang!
Luo Shu pulled the trigger.