Observing the levitating bronze mirror and its emerald-haired occupant—whose demeanour was alluring yet whose features were unremarkable—Luo Shu's lips curled slightly:
"Cross-dimensional communication? A truly astonishing method."
Meeting his gaze, Ajuka Beelzebub inquired evenly:
"How shall I address you?"
Smiling, Luo Shu raised his teacup in a toast towards the mirror:
"Luo Shu will suffice, Mr Ajuka."
"The Director of the SDS Hidden Management Department?" Ajuka looked over with slight surprise.
Luo Shu was also somewhat taken aback:
"Oh? It seems Your Majesty Ajuka is quite familiar with our affairs here."
"Just basic intelligence gathering."
Ajuka reined in his surprise and spoke in a grave tone:
"Though I didn't expect the rising new executive within the SDS would be a Demigod."
Here, Ajuka paused before fixing his gaze on Luo Shu:
"Though somewhat presumptuous, Director Luo, I presume you ascended to Demigod through orthodox Class rituals?"
Luo Shu's eyebrows rose slightly before he smiled:
"Is that information I need to disclose?"
Ajuka studied Luo Shu deeply before replying:
"But it determines whether our statuses are equivalent."
Hearing this, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes slightly before smiling and testing the waters:
"So an orthodoxly ascended Demigod can be equivalent to a Satan of the Underworld? Should I feel honoured by Your Majesty Ajuka's regard?"
However, Ajuka shook his head calmly:
"Not equivalent to the Four Great Satans, but equivalent to myself and Sirzechs."
This genuinely surprised Luo Shu:
"A Transcendent at Satan-Class?"
The so-called Transcendents were a special designation in their world - genetic mutants whose abilities exceeded their race's baseline, like brown pandas or white tigers.
Such individuals typically possessed traits that surpassed those of their peers.
Thus, in their world, even among Satan-Class demons, Transcendents like Ajuka Beelzebub and Sirzechs Lucifer far surpassed other Satans in power.
Hearing Luo Shu use the term "Transcendent," Ajuka appeared equally surprised:
"It seems Director Luo Shu is also quite knowledgeable about our world~"
After this exchange, Luo Shu and Ajuka locked eyes, then shared a knowing smile.
Both being intellectuals, they immediately understood what the other was probing.
Having confirmed neither side was operating blindly, eliminating opportunities for information-based deception, they naturally progressed to substantive discussion.
Luo Shu, believing himself better informed and psychologically advantaged, spoke first:
"I've heard the Demon Council has been restricting the Four Great Satans' authority?"
Ajuka responded with nonchalance: "Just some incompetent old fossils amusing themselves. Merely a matter of time and effort."
Seeing Ajuka's bravado, Luo Shu smiled:
"Yet I hear they're backed by a Satan-Class Transcendent named Lilin!"
"And that Lilin is apparently a co-founder of an organisation called the Khaos Brigade, having invited some prominent figure to lead while occupying the deputy position."
"I imagine this information holds considerable value for you, Mr Ajuka?"
Hearing this, Ajuka frowned deeply and gave Luo Shu a meaningful look:
"Intelligence of this calibre surely isn't obtainable through simple cross-border informants?"
Luo Shu didn't answer, merely smiling at Ajuka while awaiting his response.
Seeing this, Ajuka naturally understood that he wouldn't get much from Luo Shu, and that the earlier information about Lilin had merely been bait.
Yet, as an enemy of the Four Great Satans, Lilin was indeed someone Ajuka wanted to eliminate.
Hearing that the other party had actually established an organisation and invited an even stronger figure to lead it, alarm bells immediately rang in Ajuka's mind.
Under these circumstances, his attitude towards Luo Shu naturally shifted:
"I need information about the organisation's leader. Name your price."
"Dimensional interference technology and Evil Piece technology, plus ten complete sets of Evil Pieces, including mutation pieces."
Ravel, who hadn't intended to interfere in the negotiations between Beelzebub and Luo Shu, was utterly stunned by Luo Shu's demands.
As someone who'd come to the present world from the High School DxD universe, Ravel was familiar with both sides' situations.
She fully understood the value of Evil Pieces - technology developed by demons in the High School DxD world to transform humans into demons.
The so-called Evil Pieces.
Modelled after chess pieces - King, Queen, Bishop, Rook, Knight, Castle and Pawn - each type granted converted demons various power enhancements.
Each set contained 16 pieces, so ten sets meant 160 pieces, capable of creating up to 160 demons corresponding to 160 sorcerers of Excellent Rank or above, with additional strengthening effects for those already possessing sorcerer abilities.
This was practically equivalent to racial reincarnation items in games.
And Luo Shu was casually demanding ten sets?
Are you planning to rob them outright?
Noticing Ravel's astonishment, Luo Shu turned and smiled at her:
"Is asking for ten sets really that much?"
Ravel's face twitched as she couldn't help asking: "Do you actually understand what you're asking for?"
"I do." Luo Shu replied calmly. "While Evil Piece enhancements might not match High Tier Classes, the bloodline strengthening should reach Common Class standards by my estimates."
"Ten sets equal 160 sorcerers with Classes. If already powerful sorcerers willingly undergo conversion, the results could be even better."
"Though if it lacked such effects, I wouldn't be targeting it, would I?"
Hearing Luo Shu's explanation, Ravel fell silent at once.
Since Luo Shu clearly understood everything yet still demanded this price, what could she possibly say?
It all depended on Ajuka's attitude now - whether he'd be willing to take this fleecing.
Hearing Luo Shu's well-reasoned, Ravel-silencing extortionate demands, even though Ajuka had anticipated this, his face still twitched involuntarily.
The sheer audacity of selling a single name at such a price reminded Ajuka of Azazel, leader of the Fallen Angels.
Yet simultaneously, Ajuka found himself curious - what gave this new SDS Director such confidence that he'd pay this exorbitant price?
With this thought, Ajuka took a slight breath before saying:
"Aside from the mutation pieces, all other conditions are acceptable. Since you're aware of mutation pieces, you naturally understand their rarity—they're entirely random occurrences. Even I only have six in my possession. I can give you two mutated bishops, two mutated rooks, and two mutated pawns each. The rest, you'll have to produce yourself and rely on chance to obtain."
"Deal."
Upon hearing Ajuka's offer, Luo Shu agreed to the quantity without hesitation.
After all, the price was already favourable enough for him.
The moment Luo Shu uttered "deal," Ajuka turned his gaze towards him, awaiting the source of his confidence.
Not keeping Ajuka waiting long, Luo Shu spoke directly after his agreement:
"The leader invited to the Khaos Brigade is Ophis."
"The Infinite Dragon God Ophis!"
As the words fell, Ajuka's pupils contracted violently.