With no newcomers around, Luo Shu naturally reclined on the sofa, his movements languid and expression relaxed.
Behind him, Utaha Kasumigaoka smiled as she massaged his shoulders, using techniques she'd recently learned from Meer to relieve Luo Shu's fatigue.
However, even as her hands worked, Utaha couldn't resist teasing him:
"Using conceptual power during your speech to the newcomers, deliberately suppressing all the girls into silence—is this the Chief God's idea of fun?"
The Concept Entanglement possessed by Hero Rank individuals of Top Tier Classes and Demigods born through orthodox paths wasn't limited to offensive applications. It could also be wrapped around one's body to project a special kind of pressure.
Luo Shu had clearly employed this method earlier, albeit very lightly.
"You know I don't have much experience being a superior, so using a little trick to help is only reasonable."
Luo Shu kept his eyes closed, enjoying the massage as he curled his lips:
"In that kind of situation, I couldn't very well have a casual chat with those young girls, could I?"
"What about my dignity?"
"You never cared about dignity before." Utaha couldn't resist poking Luo Shu's cheek with her fingertip as she teased, "When you threatened Eriri into joining by using Eri Kashiwagi's identity, I didn't see you worrying about face."
"Times change." Faced with Utaha's teasing, Luo Shu couldn't help but sigh. "But speaking of which, the Familia really has started to develop now."
Although internal positions were not yet clearly defined, there wasn't a complete, universal Class system, and they lacked a proper headquarters, seeing newcomers like Ayano Kannagi join through formal assessments gave Luo Shu the feeling that the seed called 'Familia' had truly taken root.
Recalling the past few months, even Luo Shu couldn't have imagined the Familia would become what it is now.
Hearing Luo Shu's sentiment, though Utaha also felt how much things had changed, she couldn't resist taking a jab:
"Too much reminiscing will make you old."
"It seems Miss Utaha has forgotten that ageing is also a form of misfortune."
Luo Shu snorted, his tone laced with faint mockery.
After advancing to Calamity Priest, Luo Shu had gained the ability to absorb his own ageing. As long as it didn't exceed his body's limits, death from old age was impossible.
As for those limits, Luo Shu estimated they'd be measured in tens of thousands of years at a minimum.
According to Nia Honjo, ordinary wild Hero Ranks typically lived about three hundred years, while those with Classes could survive for millennia. Some special Classes might even reach ten thousand years.
Though he didn't know if all Top Tier Class Hero Ranks lived this long, Luo Shu's lifespan as a Calamity Priest was exceptionally lengthy.
More crucially, he could not only extend his own life but also absorb ageing from his Familia members, granting them longevity too - an even greater advantage.
To his rebuttal, Utaha Kasumigaoka responded with an amused smile:
"So you plan to wield ageing absorption as a weapon, demanding special services from pretty girls to satisfy your depraved desires?"
"Like telling some beauties: 'Swallow my resolve and gain health with longevity'?"
Hearing Utaha's suggestive phrasing, Luo Shu blinked in surprise before exclaiming:
"That's actually an option?!"
"Eriri's latest doujinshi plot features a protagonist bearing certain resemblances."
Utaha betrayed a certain fool before teasing Luo Shu:
"Incidentally, Sawamura's artistic skills have improved remarkably recently - especially when depicting tearful swallowing scenes."
"I wonder if certain individuals have any particular thoughts about this."
Luo Shu's expression turned awkward as he avoided Utaha's gaze.
After all, he had indeed provided Eriri with much... firsthand experience lately.
"How do you know so much about Eriri's drawings?"
Utaha calmly explained:
"Sayuri-neesan created a subgroup in the Divine Pantheon chat, updating everyone whenever Eriri releases new works."
"Incidentally, Sawamura's current project has three female leads. One resembles Sayuri-neesan, while the others... shall I continue?"
"No need." Luo Shu raised his hands in surrender, feigning innocence. "I admit to some questionable behaviour, but it was necessary for advancement!"
Though come to think of it, if he bullied Eriri daily yet she still had energy to draw such material, perhaps he'd been too gentle?
"Marvellous justification for advancement."
Utaha draped her arms around Luo Shu's neck from behind, whispering into his ear:
"Though it's hard on poor me - someone's been too busy bullying others with excuses to visit lately."
'So today's picking on me stems from loneliness, eh?'
Luo Shu mused internally before grasping Utaha's hands:
"Has it occurred to you that bullying you requires no excuses?"
Utaha burst into laughter, pinching Luo Shu's cheek:
"You're utterly shameless!"
"If I didn't adore you, would I let you bully me so freely?"
After playfully pinching Luo Shu's cheek, Utaha Kasumigaoka leaned against his shoulder, closed her eyes, and explained:
"Honjo-san asked me to inform you about something."
"The Spirit Liquid sent by the Kannagi family has arrived. Although progress is still lacking a bit, Suzuka Dairenji has already located the leyline node."
"If things go quickly, all the preparations for the ritual could be ready by tonight. The only thing missing would be the nature spirit bloodline from Eriri to summon the nature spirit."
Hearing this, Luo Shu frowned deeply and said somewhat hesitantly:
"Although Eriri has obtained a Class, the amount of essence blood extracted recently hasn't been much. If we hold the ritual now, we'd probably still be short by half."
At this, Utaha Kasumigaoka hooked a finger against Luo Shu's chest and said:
"Do you think we hadn't considered that?"
"That Sawamura girl reports every bit of progress to me."
"Wait, what?" Luo Shu was stunned, completely dumbfounded.
'Every time I bully Eriri, she reports it to you? What kind of game is this?'
Utaha Kasumigaoka smirked mischievously, clearly pleased with Luo Shu's reaction, but for now, the most important thing was to discuss the matter at hand:
"According to calculations by Joan of Arc and Aya Tokoyogi, the missing amount can be supplemented with the Spirit Liquid exchanged from the Huang Family. So as long as the Huang Family's Spirit Liquid arrives, the ritual's requirements will be fully met."
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately perked up, even showing a hint of excitement:
"When will the Huang Family's Spirit Liquid be delivered?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka replied at this moment, "The chartered flight is at 9 tonight. Ms Tokisaki has already gone to escort it."
"Escorting a chartered flight?" Luo Shu's expression turned playful.
Not using the Star Gate for direct teleportation but opting for an escort—this was rather intriguing.
"Has news of the Spirit Liquid transaction leaked? Is someone targeting our shipment? Who is it?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka smiled at this point:
"It's a victim you bullied quite badly before."
The victim he had bullied recently... The ambassador from England? No, he wasn't qualified enough, nor did he have the capability to pull this off.
Someone with the ability to do so and who had previously opposed him...
Luo Shu suddenly understood, narrowing his eyes as he said:
"Truth Astronomy?"
"Now this is interesting."