'The School of Life...' Hearing this name, Luo Shu immediately understood the progress of Kirika Tachibana's investigation and sighed softly.
"Another subordinate faction of Truth Astronomy?"
"From the results, it seems so." A polite smile appeared on Kirika Tachibana's face, but what she was cursing in her heart, Luo Shu had no way of knowing.
It was probably some very, very dirty words that couldn't be said openly.
At this, Luo Shu shook his head slightly, folded his hands in front of him on his lap, and mused, "Why does it always feel like whenever there's this kind of chaotic mess, Truth Astronomy has a hand in it?"
Hearing Luo Shu's description, Kurumi Tokisaki tilted her head slightly and summarised based on her own experience with Truth Astronomy, "Probably because Truth Astronomy is too chaotic?"
As she spoke, Kurumi Tokisaki couldn't help but explain, "Although in theory, Truth Astronomy is divided into three main philosophies—serving demons, devouring demons, and coexisting with demons—in reality, the major and minor factions that have extended from these three philosophies number a full 69 branches, and these 69 branches have in turn spawned over 500 smaller factions."
"Among so many factions, if even a tenth of them are villains, the impact would be massive."
Seeing this, Kirika Tachibana, as a frontline operative, felt it particularly keenly and directly complained, "So whenever there's any man-made supernatural disaster in this world, if you trace its origin, you can basically find your way to Truth Astronomy's door."
"Because at present, all sorts of explorations into supernatural powers, as well as various demonological concepts, all originate from the reckless dissemination by Truth Astronomy."
"The Five Great Powers, for instance, will at least consider whether their research into the mystical will affect the order of civilisation, so they won't take things too far. But the fanatics within Truth Astronomy are completely without scruples."
Hearing Kirika Tachibana's complaint, Luo Shu couldn't help but glance at Kurumi Tokisaki and ask, "So what's the situation with the School of Environment you joined, Kurumi?"
Kurumi Tokisaki touched her chin upon hearing this and explained with a smile, "I'm currently affiliated with the School of Environment, which advocates the philosophy of coexisting with demons."
"In the eyes of the School of Environment, the world we live in is the real hell, and the so-called demons are born from humanity's own various desires."
"So, coexisting with demons is essentially about acknowledging one's own desires, controlling them, and coexisting with them, thereby achieving a spiritual balance."
Listening to Kurumi Tokisaki explain the philosophy of the coexistence faction, Kisara couldn't help but blink and say, "Affiliated? So, Sister Kurumi, you're still in contact with them?"
Kisara had thought that after joining the Familia, Kurumi Tokisaki had cut off all contact with Truth Astronomy. But from the looks of it now, Kurumi Tokisaki didn't seem to have severed this connection and was still affiliated with that School of Environment?
Regarding Kisara's question, Kurumi Tokisaki said in a rather playful tone, "An organisation with no salary, where rewards are only given for accepting and completing missions, naturally doesn't care whether the people under it are moving forward or backward~"
The implication was that an organisation with no jobs and no logistical support, which relied entirely on the people below to spontaneously grind missions, naturally didn't care whether its members were traitors or loyal.
Hearing this, Kisara was stunned for a moment and said with a strange expression, "Described like that, this School of Environment sounds a bit like one of those adventurer's guilds you only see in novels!"
It was only responsible for issuing missions, luring people to complete them in exchange for rewards to achieve its own goals. Beyond that, its control over its members was extremely weak, to the point of being completely indifferent.
From this perspective, this School of Environment really did seem like just an adventurer's guild, except that this adventurer's guild's revered philosophy was that humans are demons.
But from a realistic point of view, the idea that humanity itself is demonic actually seemed quite plausible.
At least Kisara, as a demon, was quite receptive to this kind of thinking.
"Still, it's pretty outrageous that you can still be a member there, Sister Kurumi."
Kisara muttered under her breath.
One had to remember, Kurumi Tokisaki was a Demigod of the Hidden Management Department!
And she was the very first Demigod at that.
Furthermore, she had taken action multiple times during some missions, not even bothering to conceal her face.
From this perspective, among the Five Great Powers, eighty per cent of them probably already had a dedicated file on Kurumi Tokisaki.
Although the Five Great Powers might not have locked down Kurumi Tokisaki's identity, a corresponding file would absolutely exist, at most with some ambiguity in her appearance and name.
But even with a Kurumi Tokisaki like this, the School of Environment had no reaction whatsoever. While maintaining contact, they had absolutely no intention of using Kurumi Tokisaki's identity to make a move.
Of course, it was also possible that the School of Environment simply didn't know about Kurumi Tokisaki's current situation, but the possibility that they knew and didn't care was not non-existent either.
Thinking back to the Desire Faction, which couldn't wait to make a move the moment they received news of a pureblood demon within the Hidden Management Department, the School of Environment was so Zen-like it resembled an old fossil that had seen through the mortal world.
Regarding Kurumi Tokisaki's situation, Mira Tsubakihara smiled and teased:
"I can't help but feel that Tokisaki's actions are like an interpretation of the saying, 'cheating isn't cheating if you don't get caught'."
As Mira Tsubakihara was joking, Luo Shu promptly interrupted their digressing conversation and asked directly:
"So, what's the situation with the School of Life within Truth Astronomy?"
To this, Kurumi Tokisaki replied in a playful tone:
"Probably a faction of fanatical believers who serve demons?"
"Generally speaking, factions within Truth Astronomy that serve demons will have a Demon God as the object of their faith."
"And the god the School of Life believes in is the God of Life and Domination."
"In the eyes of the School of Life, all life originates from the God of Life and Domination. He is the father of all life, the origin of life, and also the dominator of life."
"Therefore, in the eyes of these members of the School of Life, all life should be under the domination of the God of Life and Domination."
"Under this philosophy, all non-believers are rebellious children who have turned their backs on their god and defied their father."
"And those with noble and powerful bloodlines are even more unforgivable, because they have enjoyed more of the God of Life and Domination's blessings than ordinary people, yet have turned away from the god's glory."
Hearing this, Luo Shu's brow twitched. He delved deeper with a profound tone:
"So, plundering the bloodlines of these noble individuals is to return that glory to the god's domination?"