"My, my, she's completely terrified~"
Watching the girl cower behind the sofa cushions, her tears falling like pearls, Kurumi Tokisaki smirked and teased Luo Shu:
"Should I congratulate Luo Shu on achieving the feat of frightening a child?"
"But that didn't really count as frightening her, did it?" La Folia chimed in innocently, repeating:
"Rather than the Phoenix Tears, what I truly desire is you yourself."
"That line sounds like a flirtatious way of saying he fancies her body, doesn't it?"
Upon hearing this, Megumi Kato unconsciously added with deadpan delivery:
"But... compared to threatening a child, isn't fancying a child's body even more perverted?"
"That does seem to be the case."
"Though if Luo Shu prefers that sort of play, I suppose I could give it a try."
La Folia suddenly understood, glanced at Luo Shu, then said to Kurumi Tokisaki with a smile:
"So, Miss Tokisaki, I might need your help tonight to turn me into a child's form, too."
"..."
Kurumi Tokisaki fell into rare silence upon hearing this, seemingly surprised by how wild La Folia and Luo Shu's tastes were.
"Well~ I personally don't mind helping with this sort of thing. It'll give me more practice with my newly developed 14th Bullet ability anyway..."
Hearing Kurumi's agreement, Luo Shu couldn't quite keep his composure.
He looked at the two women with a speechless expression before sighing:
"Isn't any one of you going to comfort her?"
"But given our current position, any comfort from us would just frighten her more, wouldn't it?"
"See, like this..."
Megumi stood up and walked over to the trembling Ravel, deliberately using a soft yet threatening tone:
"Hey~~ if you keep crying, we're going to eat you up~"
The childish teasing tone made Ravel burst into laughter despite herself.
Immediately, Ravel stopped crying and looked at Megumi with tearful amusement:
"What kind of threat was that? You sound nothing like someone who'd eat people!"
"I wouldn't eat people to begin with."
Megumi said in her gentle voice, words ripe for misunderstanding:
"But our Director might be different. After all, he's a terrifying cannibal who devours girls every night~ And the girls always cry so pitifully, only to return the next night begging to be eaten again. Truly a horrifying monster~"
Before anyone could react to Megumi's words, La Folia covered her face in embarrassment:
"Oh my, Megumi, how could you reveal such things? Now, how am I supposed to visit Luo Shu's room without feeling shy~"
Her response gave all the girls present rather... complicated thoughts.
Was this "eating people" the proper kind of eating?
Meanwhile, Ravel immediately understood the subtext upon hearing this exchange.
So that's what they meant by "eating"!
Having grown up in demon society, Ravel had none of humanity's sexual taboos and was quite familiar with such matters.
Realising Luo Shu wanted to "eat" her in that sense rather than literally, Ravel found this version of being devoured somewhat more acceptable than the alternative.
After glancing at Luo Shu's face and considering for a moment, she decided she could tolerate it:
"I understand what you mean now. I'll cooperate properly."
She paused, then added firmly:
"But I won't bear your child. A half-breed offspring would disgrace the Phenex family's honour - I'd rather die than allow that."
Hearing this, Luo Shu's face twitched as he turned to look at Megumi Kato and La Folia, who had already returned to their seats, pretending nothing had happened. He couldn't help but remark dryly:
"Your methods of comforting people are... quite unique!"
She'd stopped crying, alright, but now she was dead set against bearing his children. Truly impressive work.
Upon hearing this, Megumi Kato and La Folia immediately zoned out, as if completely deaf to reality.
Sighing, Luo Shu glanced at Mammon and said:
"Miss Mammon, it seems you'll need to explain the situation to your young mistress."
After all, among the three Familia members present, every single one was eager to see him suffer. As for explaining things, his credibility as the one who'd captured them wasn't exactly strong.
So when all was said and done, it fell to another captive to clarify matters.
Damn it, why had Yukino been dragged off to Ginza for a feast by Haruno?
He really needed that diligent pair of sisters right now...
Only in their temporary absence did Luo Shu realise just how crucial two proper, hardworking women could be.
Under Luo Shu's insistence, though still nervous, Mammon obediently approached Ravel and began whispering explanations into the infantilised girl's ear.
Soon enough, exclamations of "Eh? The SDS? Like Twin Wings?" could clearly be heard in the room.
Luo Shu didn't have to wait long. After about four or five minutes, Mammon temporarily withdrew to stand aside.
At this point, Ravel was studying Luo Shu with a peculiar gaze, scrutinising him for a good ten seconds before cautiously speaking:
"I understand the situation now... Director Luo Shu of the SDS."
Here she hesitated, glancing at La Folia beside her before confessing:
"I apologise for harming your organisation's members..."
Luo Shu finally exhaled in relief at these words. Recognising that matters could now proceed properly, he immediately said:
"Miss Ravel seems to be avoiding the main point?"
Hearing this, Ravel tensed up.
The man before her stood alongside Europe's monstrous Sword Saint as one of the world's strongest beings who'd reached Demigod status.
For such a figure to personally capture her, the reason - both she and Mammon had reached the same conclusion - could only be one thing.
Their plan for the Underworld's invasion of the mortal realm had been exposed...
With the sky about to fall, the world's pinnacle beings would naturally take action.
As East Asia's Demigod, Luo Shu's approach seemed direct - he appeared intent on apprehending and eliminating the masterminds attempting to open the inter-realm passage.
Having reasoned this out, Ravel began trembling uncontrollably.
Her greatest fear was being eaten as a dish. Her second greatest fear was undoubtedly death.
After all, it was precisely the fear of death that had driven the phoenix's evolution into an immortal bird.
Observing Ravel's stiff, silent expression, Luo Shu said quietly:
"Still clinging to wishful thinking?"
Ravel shuddered at this before lowering her head:
"I... I can produce Phoenix Tears... So... please don't kill me..."
Seeing Ravel's willingness to cooperate, Luo Shu nodded:
"Then explain your plans."