"Director?"
Megumi tilted her head slightly, looking puzzled at the man sitting on her bed.
His neatly trimmed black hair, handsome features that could make any woman blush, and those seemingly smiling yet disaster-laden dark eyes.
Dressed in Toyogasaki High School's male uniform, he sat cross-legged on her bed, watching her actions with an amused expression.
After a moment's thought, Megumi lowered the gun and looked at Luo Shu with curiosity.
Noticing this, Luo Shu asked with interest: "Why put the gun down?"
Megumi tilted her head thoughtfully before replying: "Because it's the Director, not an enemy."
Luo Shu then asked: "Then why hesitate earlier?"
"Because I wasn't sure if it was really you," Megumi said softly, voicing her thoughts.
"And why lower it in the end?" Luo Shu's face still held that smile.
"Because whether it's you or not, I wouldn't be able to handle it."
Megumi stated this matter-of-factly.
Three hours ago, she'd been just an ordinary high school student. Even now, that hadn't changed.
So whether it was someone impersonating Luo Shu or Luo Shu himself, she stood no chance of resisting either way.
Resisting would be pointless. Better to stay calm and look for survival opportunities first.
Hearing Megumi's answer, Luo Shu raised his hands and gave three light claps.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
After the crisp applause, Luo Shu looked at Megumi with appreciation:
"Honestly, your adaptability is remarkable - far surpassing Eriri's, even Yukino's."
How quickly she'd accepted the reality of the mystic side truly exceeded Luo Shu's expectations.
By comparison, Yukino merely had courage, Utaha only rationality. As for Eriri... well, best not mention her. He could only hope Kurumi Tokisaki would correct her spoiled habits.
Despite Luo Shu's praise, Megumi's expression remained perfectly calm as she countered:
"So... the reason for your visit, Director...?"
"Some things are better discussed away from the garrison and prying eyes. That's why I came to you directly."
At this, Luo Shu crossed his arms and glanced towards the door:
"I originally considered helping you explain things to your family, but it seems you can handle that deception without me."
"Ah, if the Director were to explain, it would definitely become more complicated."
Megumi stated this with absolute certainty.
And reality would likely unfold exactly as she predicted.
If their friendless daughter suddenly had a senior from school visiting their home, Megumi didn't even need to think hard about how her family would react.
After all, her parents had started dating in high school and married straight after university. If Luo Shu came to explain things personally, she knew exactly what outcome to expect.
Luo Shu held a negative stance towards Megumi Kato's rebuttal:
"I'm quite confident in communicating with parents."
Look, hadn't he persuaded Yukino Yukinoshita's mother, Chika Fujiwara's father, and Kei Shirogane's father rather well?
"...As long as you're happy." Megumi seemed to have given up hope of convincing Luo Shu.
After all, this was someone who could willfully drag her into the mystic side. Megumi had little confidence in persuading him:
"But if possible, please keep it secret from my family..."
"I wouldn't recommend that."
Luo Shu smiled at Megumi, his eyes filled with meaning as he gazed at her:
"A protagonist gaining supernatural power, hiding it from their parents for safety reasons - that's indeed the approach Utaha prefers for light novel protagonists, but personally, I don't advise it."
Megumi opened her mouth to retort, but was immediately cut off by Luo Shu:
"What if your parents encounter danger related to the mystic side?"
"Who has higher survival chances - those completely ignorant of the mystic side, or those with some understanding?"
Megumi couldn't answer.
"In the coming period, you'll likely be spending long periods at the garrison, perhaps even full weekends there. How will you explain this to your parents? Part-time job? Or school club activities?"
Megumi pressed her lips together without speaking.
Seeing Megumi like this, Luo Shu couldn't help but laugh:
"See? You can't solve the troubles you're worried about. In fact, your actions might create unnecessary complications."
"So, still refusing my suggestion?"
"Director, has anyone ever told you your working style is quite overbearing?"
Megumi glared at Luo Shu with rare anger.
First, suddenly pulling her into the mystic side, then forcing her to come clean with her family, even someone as composed as Megumi was developing some resentment.
Faced with this unusual display of anger, Luo Shu chuckled instead, leaning back against the headboard:
"Did Yukino give you a stack of blank documents to read at home?"
Hearing this, Megumi turned to look at the khaki satchel on the desk. Inside it was indeed a stack of documents given to her by Yukino Yukinoshita.
"Yukino should have mentioned that by igniting Dying Will Flames with a ring and touching the document, you can view its contents, right?"
Luo Shu spoke of the confidentiality measures currently being implemented within the SDS, smiling faintly as he continued:
"She probably intended for you to bring it back first, then review the contents tomorrow after your Gene Adjustment, when you'd meet the preliminary conditions for awakening Dying Will Flames. That was my initial plan, too. But later, I reconsidered—given your temperament, you might be ready to accept more truths ahead of schedule..."
Megumi Kato frowned at his words. "What's recorded in those documents?"
With a casual gesture, Luo Shu summoned the files from the bag into his hand:
"The origins of certain Abyss Artefacts currently under the department's supervision—those within your clearance level, of course. Mostly Common and Excellent Rank ones."
"Actually, what I wanted you to see were precisely the origins of those Abyss Artefacts."
Here, Luo Shu's expression softened with a hint of pity:
"If you have any interest in anthologies of tragic tales, I'd recommend giving them a thorough read."
"See how ordinary people, after obtaining not-so-powerful Abyss Artefacts, gradually descend into despair."
Hearing this, Megumi already grasped the underlying message of those files, though it remained somewhat vague.
"A basic primer."
"Abyss Artefacts can be ingested to grant abilities."
"And those who accidentally consume them in the wild, gaining powers, serve the same function."
"Various organisations actively recruit these wild ability users. Sometimes, the line distinguishing good and evil organisations lies in their recruitment methods."
Suddenly, Megumi understood what Luo Shu was implying.
She turned her head, staring at the stack of blank documents in the bag. In her mind's eye, rows of pale records in stark black ink seemed to materialise.
They were stories of people who suddenly gained supernatural abilities beyond the ordinary—only to be swallowed by despair within human society.
Ingesting Abyss Artefacts grants powers. Ingesting those who've ingested them does the same.
"Basic primer, part two."
"Akihabara is the world's largest trading hub for object-type Abyss Artefacts."
"Southeast Asia hosts the largest market for living Abyss Artefacts."
"56% of missing persons across Asia and globally circulate through Southeast Asia."
After Luo Shu's words, Megumi closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, then asked in confusion:
"So, Director, why are you telling me all this?"
At this, Luo Shu's lips curled into a faint smile:
"Congratulations—you've grasped the key point, Kato-san!"