"Huh?" Kotoko Iwanaga's gaze froze momentarily, as if she hadn't anticipated Luo Shu saying such a thing at all.
'Become his?'
'Wait, wait, could this possibly be a marriage proposal?'
"Hey, hey, hold on a second, hold on a second. While I'm quite satisfied with your looks, you're not actually... a lolicon, are you?"
Kotoko Iwanaga was genuinely flustered now—truly flustered.
If Luo Shu really was a lolicon, wouldn't that make her situation dangerous?
Just thinking about it was so exciting... no, terrifying.
Kotoko did her best to display a frightened expression, but what emerged instead was something resembling a creepy grin.
Seeing Kotoko's awkward reaction, Luo Shu immediately smiled and said:
"I was joking."
All expression on Kotoko's face halted at that moment. A full five seconds passed before she recovered, staring blankly at Luo Shu:
"I see. Payback for my earlier joke, was it?"
"What a man who refuses to suffer even the slightest loss!"
"Even if it were a real proposal, I'd probably be rejected with 'I don't date men who play the field,' wouldn't I?"
Hearing Luo Shu say this, Kotoko nodded in deep agreement:
"I certainly would! It seems you understand me quite well!"
"Just a bit of perspective-taking."
Luo Shu chuckled in response before asking:
"So, Miss Iwanaga, have you already identified your target within the Phenex Society?"
"You mean the phoenix's whereabouts?"
Kotoko frowned at this point:
"I've tried confirming several times, but there's never been any concrete information. Both the president and other executives have remained tight-lipped about it. Aside from that phoenix codenamed Flame Demon existing in the Akihabara Abyss, I haven't received any related intel."
'You approached the president and still expected information?' Luo Shu gave Kotoko a peculiar look.
'Letting Ravel, the president, know you're searching for a phoenix—how bold of you!'
'Right in front of the phoenix herself, declaring you'll track her down and make her bleed and cry, is that it?'
Feeling rather bemused, Luo Shu glanced at Kotoko before saying:
"So the reason you agreed to meet was to leverage the SDS's strength in capturing the phoenix and obtaining their tears?"
"Capture isn't strictly necessary—the tears are the important part."
Kotoko sighed, rubbing her temples with a troubled expression:
"From my investigations, it seems these can only be produced voluntarily by a phoenix, which complicates things immensely."
"To be honest, my actual goal is to establish a connection with that phoenix in the Abyss and negotiate an exchange for a portion of Phoenix Tears."
"To achieve something like this, one would definitely need to spend time with that phoenix, building rapport or at least identifying their key interests. And that's impossible without prolonged contact."
At this point, Kotoko Iwanaga turned to look out of the nearby glass window and sighed softly:
"But as Director Luo Shu is aware, given my circumstances, if a phoenix truly existed near me, we'd probably be hounded to death by endless ill-intentioned individuals."
Luo Shu seemed somewhat surprised: "Surely it wouldn't come to that? Don't you have many yokai serving under you?"
Kotoko sighed, propping her cheek on one hand as she explained wearily:
"Although I'm treated as the Princess of Yokai, this recognition is actually a very loose connection."
"Many yokai are willing to humour me and lend a hand when there's no danger, but very few are willing to fight for me."
"Ultimately, though I'm called a princess, I'm actually quite alone. When risks are minimal, people still listen to me, but when dangers escalate, without the protection of a major power, I'm basically just a talking Abyss Artefact in the eyes of those secretive organisations."
"This is my greatest dilemma at present."
After listening to Kotoko's explanation, Luo Shu pondered for a moment before biting his nail and saying:
"So your actual request is for us to facilitate your acquisition of Phoenix Tears and what you desire, while leaving the phoenix itself for the SDS to handle."
"In that case, regarding the phoenix, you're suggesting we handle the combat aspects while you deal with matters requiring intellectual solutions?"
"More or less."
Kotoko sighed again before continuing ruefully:
"Personally, I've never been fond of violence, so when choosing my Class during childhood, I leaned towards support roles."
"But in this day and age, without combat capability, one can't survive properly in the mystic side's world."
"And then I got tricked."
Kotoko's expression turned utterly resigned:
"My Class abilities have always been support-oriented, only gaining any combat potential at Hero Rank. But to advance to Hero Rank, I need Phoenix Tears, and given the current situation..."
Seeing Kotoko's conflicted expression, Luo Shu could easily imagine her predicament without needing further explanation.
Gaining self-defence capabilities required becoming a Demigod.
Becoming a Demigod required Phoenix Tears.
Obtaining the tears required sufficient self-defence capabilities.
The three factors overlapped, creating an impossible cycle.
Shaking his head to dismiss his urge to comment, Luo Shu asked:
"So that's why you chose me as your collaborator? Because the SDS is currently the only organisation suspected of having a Demigod?"
"That's only one reason among many. I actually considered multiple factors."
Suddenly, Kotoko produced a small blackboard from under her skirt along with chalk, and under Luo Shu's bemused gaze, began writing:
"First, the partner must be an official organisation with sufficient credibility and strength. The SDS naturally meets this criteria, as I'm well aware of your Supreme Chairwoman's principles, and I don't need to worry about military capabilities."
"Second, the partner must have corresponding urgent needs. Director Luo Shu's Hidden Management Department is newly established, correct? You must have a high demand for talent."
"A pureblood phoenix, whether utilised crudely or refined into a subordinate, would be excellent personnel."
"Now for the third and most important point."
Kotoko Iwanaga stopped writing and smiled at Luo Shu:
"The most crucial factor is that Director Luo Shu was the first to contact me~"
"So I suspect I might possess some unexpectedly valuable bargaining chips."
"That's why I believe cooperating with you is the optimal choice..."
'Your selection isn't wrong, but there's a significant discrepancy regarding key details. Just the fact that the so-called phoenix in Akihabara Abyss is actually a Spirit would be enough to derail your plans...'
Luo Shu silently supplemented Kotoko Iwanaga's information before asking:
"So these are all your demands?"
"Correct."
Kotoko Iwanaga nodded, then watched Luo Shu's face as if waiting for his conditions.
Not standing on ceremony, Luo Shu stated:
"Since you've already mentioned the disposition of Akihabara's phoenix, we needn't discuss it further."
"The absorption of Phenex Society's rank-and-file goes without saying. Beyond that, I'll require your assistance in controlling their Director, Ravel, to ensure complete integration."
Kotoko Iwanaga nodded repeatedly: "Mhm mhm, no problem there. I can provide support for Ravel's capture, and I don't mind personally persuading her either."
Luo Shu glanced at her but avoided digressing, continuing:
"Additionally, considering I'm assisting your ascension - a formative favour - you'll owe me three more favours. These would be unconditional favours I could call upon within reasonable limits. Surely that's not difficult?"
Kotoko Iwanaga blinked, turned her head and tapped her ear as if suddenly gone deaf.
To this, Luo Shu merely smiled and said:
"Is what I'm saying difficult to understand?"
"No, I just find it hard to understand how you have the nerve to bring it up."
Kotoko Iwanaga retorted, turning her head to glare at her angrily:
"Three favours? You've got some nerve! One at most! Not a single one more!"
"Deal!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Shu revealed a sly smile.
Kotoko Iwanaga froze for a moment, inwardly cursing with regret, feeling she'd likely been tricked by Luo Shu. This guy's bottom line was definitely much lower than she'd imagined.
But thinking that if everything went smoothly, she could obtain the Phoenix Tears, Kotoko Iwanaga felt somewhat comforted.
'At least I didn't lose out, right? No loss is a victory—a victory for me, Kotoko Iwanaga!'
Meanwhile, Luo Shu watched Kotoko Iwanaga, who was regulating her emotions with deep breaths, with an exceptionally mocking smile.
'I only agreed to help you get a phoenix's tears, not Ravel's. Who told you to set your sights on the 'phoenix' codenamed Flame Demon in Akihabara?'
'When you fail, one favour plus the real Phoenix Tears—I don't believe you can escape my grasp.'
'Miss Iwanaga, this deal is my win!'