'Virtual reality games?' Kaguya Sumeragi froze for a moment, then frowned slightly, a hint of doubt on her face.
She knew what virtual reality games were, but she was puzzled. Had someone actually developed something that was, for now, only theoretical?
Inside the room, the puppet emperor was in a similar state of confusion.
"Virtual reality games?"
"Has one of the financial conglomerates made new progress in this area?"
It wasn't that the puppet emperor looked down on Japan, but even if one of their own conglomerates developed a virtual reality game, they wouldn't be able to get their hands on it.
Something like that would inevitably be developed by America and could only belong to America. They, at most, would get a taste of the broth.
"It's not a conglomerate." Daichi Fujiwara's tone held a hint of amusement. "Heh, if a conglomerate had developed it, Your Majesty knows what the final outcome would be."
"Not a conglomerate..." The puppet emperor seemed to understand the situation. "The SDS is also researching virtual technology? I thought their research was all in the military domain."
Daichi Fujiwara did not deny this.
After all, the upper echelons of the major powers were more or less aware that the SDS was researching extremely dangerous superweapons.
The reason they tolerated the SDS doing so was that they genuinely possessed superweapons.
Whether it was superweapons from the mystic side—those monsters known as Demigods—or superweapons from the technology side, the SDS had them all.
Under these circumstances, although the SDS was a transnational mystic organisation with few members, it was tacitly acknowledged as one of the world's poles of power, and one with few demands for its own interests.
Therefore, in national collaborations, the SDS was in high demand.
At least cooperating with them wouldn't involve the kind of political demands that came with America or China.
It was for this reason that Daichi Fujiwara was here, suggesting to the puppet emperor that they use an SDS industry as a means to divert public attention.
And he was not stingy with his explanation.
"I've heard that an industry controlled by the Hidden Management Department is about to release a virtual reality online game. This kind of epoch-making technology tends to attract the most public attention. And because it originates from an organisation like the Hidden Management Department, it will also better capture the notice of those with special abilities."
An organisation from the mystic side, like the SDS, launching a high-tech virtual reality game was, in itself, a massive source of publicity.
The common people would be eager to understand its mysteries and want to play the cutting-edge game.
Figures on the mystic side would be suspicious of the virtual game's true nature and would attempt to probe the Hidden Management Department's secrets.
And the Imperial Family and the Cabinet needed this game to divert the public's attention, allowing them to secretly resolve the conflict between the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary, and to conceal the fact that the Imperial Family had become raw material for a certain Class's promotion.
The Hidden Management Department also needed to leverage Japan's influence to hype the virtual game and fully roll out the network nationwide.
With all parties benefiting, everything fell into place.
"...I understand."
The puppet emperor was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"I wonder if Minister Fujiwara has any intention of becoming Prime Minister?"
Hearing this, Kaguya Sumeragi, outside the door, knew almost without thinking that the puppet emperor wanted to support Daichi Fujiwara to gain an ally.
But to Kaguya's surprise, Daichi Fujiwara replied in a completely unchanged voice:
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister hopes that I will assume the office of Chief Cabinet Secretary in the coming days."
The implication was, 'I don't need your support; the current Prime Minister is already grooming me.'
Hearing this, the puppet emperor fell silent for a moment, then said:
"Then congratulations, Mr Fujiwara."
Evidently, the puppet emperor was somewhat annoyed at his own failure to invest in a more timely fashion.
However, he quickly changed tack and asked Daichi Fujiwara:
"Mr Fujiwara, I have a presumptuous request."
"Please speak, Your Majesty." Daichi Fujiwara's tone now had the feel of a patient angler, sure of his catch.
"I would like to know if the SDS has any intention of recruiting members of the Imperial Family?"
Hearing the puppet emperor's words, Kaguya Sumeragi said nothing, silently choosing to step back and turn to leave down the corridor.
Seeing her action, the person hidden in the shadows, while concealing Kaguya's movements from being discovered, asked curiously:
"You don't seem to want to know what happens next?"
In response, Kaguya Sumeragi wore a charming smile.
"Because there's no longer any need to know."
"After all, regardless of whether Minister Fujiwara agrees or not, His Majesty will choose to have members of the Imperial Family make contact with SDS personnel."
At this, the shadow let out a soft laugh, their tone tinged with amusement.
"You seem quite confident about joining the SDS yourself?"
"But of course." Kaguya's face was filled with confidence, her features brimming with youthful spirit. "Because I believe my bottom line will always be lower than that of my sisters."
"Whether it's joining an SDS team directly, serving as a temp for a fringe force, or even betraying the Imperial Family, I can do all of these things. And only I can strike the right balance."
Kaguya was well aware that among the direct line of the Emperor, the few, precious princes would absolutely not participate in this kind of inter-faction cooperation. The only ones who could were the Imperial Princesses and the Princesses.
And among the Princesses, apart from Kaguya herself, the others were generally older, had their own careers, and a common arrogance. It was naturally impossible for them to undertake the mission of connecting the Imperial Family with the Hidden Management Department.
As for the Imperial Princesses of the direct line, it wasn't that Kaguya was slandering them, but most of them were plotting to escape the Imperial Family. Under such circumstances, an alliance with the SDS would easily trigger their subconscious hostility.
Excluding all these risky individuals, within the Imperial Family, there was truly only Kaguya, this cheap Princess, who was most suited for such a job.
Given the situation, Kaguya was naturally confident that she was the only one for the task.
As for the only trouble...
"Miss Shadow, the only problem now lies with you."
At this point, Kaguya said with a beaming smile:
"If I really do join the SDS, and even become a direct member, can you continue to hide yourself from the eyes of the rumoured Demigods?"
Hearing this, the person in the shadow smiled faintly.
"It seems I've been underestimated~"
Seeing the shadow say this, Kaguya already understood the answer and said with a smile playing on her lips:
"It seems my worries were unnecessary."
With that thought, Kaguya withdrew her attention and began walking at a slow pace towards her residence.
She was returning to the palace where she lived to await the summons from her uncle, His Majesty.
Kaguya knew very well that this summons would not be long in coming.