Metropolitan Police Department parking lot.
After obtaining the Ghoul documents, Kirika Tachibana took her leave first.
Once she was gone, Juzo Megure assigned the more reliable Wataru Takagi to drive Luo Shu to the crime scene while he and Miwako Sato coordinated with colleagues in a separate vehicle.
At that moment, Luo Shu and Kisara were following the ever-obliging Wataru Takagi to fetch the car.
Just then, Kisara, who had been trailing closely behind Luo Shu, quickened her steps and whispered:
"Shu-kun, that girl from earlier is following us."
Luo Shu, engrossed in flipping through the green folder, barely looked up as he replied casually:
"Leave her be. Let her follow if she wants."
At this point, Luo Shu couldn't help but glance at Kisara. Seeing her guarded and wary expression, he asked curiously:
"You've been silent until now, so why become so proactive when Yomi Isayama followed us?"
"Because that girl is dangerous." Kisara's small face was tense, her expression extremely serious.
"Dangerous?" Luo Shu tilted his head slightly, looking somewhat puzzled.
He hadn't sensed any danger from Yomi Isayama earlier, but considering Kisara was a demon, she might have sharper senses.
Thus, Luo Shu actively invoked the power of the Mysticism Encyclopaedia to simulate his chances against Yomi Isayama.
The final calculation gave him a 99% chance of victory versus Yomi Isayama's 1%.
And this probability was only achieved after the Mysticism Encyclopaedia performed multiple divinations, factoring in Yomi Isayama's hidden guardian beast Nue, and even accounting for possible assistance from Noriyuki Izuna.
This was considered dangerous?
Luo Shu gave Kisara a strange look and asked, "Where exactly is she dangerous? Can you explain?"
He then added, "I don't like girls who lie to me."
Hearing this, Kisara, who had been about to make up an excuse, guiltily averted her gaze and muttered:
"...Because Shu-kun really likes this type of coldly elegant girl with long black hair."
Having said that much, Kisara dropped all pretence and gritted her teeth:
"Utaha Kasumigaoka is this type, Yukino Yukinoshita is the same, and Miss Takina too – all long black-haired girls."
"Also, Shu-kun's favourite thing is staring at their legs, especially when they're wearing black stockings. For pink-haired goddess types, you prefer white stockings. If they're busty, you stare at their chests; if not, you check whether their legs appeal to you..."
Luo Shu was utterly dumbfounded by these words. Seeing Kisara about to continue, he hastily made a stopping gesture:
"Stop, stop, stop, Miss Kisara, please don't say another word."
After silencing her, he turned to look at Wataru Takagi, who was walking ahead. Although the man was ostensibly leading the way, his ears were twitching noticeably – clearly eavesdropping. Luo Shu sighed in exasperation:
"Hah... Kisara, you really do understand my preferences well..."
"Of course! My common sense was taught by Shu-kun!" Kisara lifted her chin proudly, thrusting out her chest, which surpassed that of her peers.
Seeing this, Luo Shu's eye twitched: "I'm considering sealing away that common sense bestowal ability..."
While the Mysticism Encyclopaedia derived from the Authority of Knowledge was helpful, this common sense-granting ability might be better off sealed.
Before Kisara mentioned it, who could have guessed that even Luo Shu's personal preferences were considered common sense?
As Luo Shu wallowed in gloom, Wataru Takagi reached a police car and deftly opened the rear door:
"Director Luo, Miss Kisara, please get in. I'll now take you to the scene of the corpse theft case."
Luo Shu entered the car without hesitation, shifting to make room for Kisara. Just then, through the front windshield, he spotted Juzo Megure leading his team on the opposite shore, preparing for deployment.
He glanced briefly without comment. After Kisara entered and closed the door, he tossed her a folder:
"Ghoul materials. Have a look too, Kisara."
"Okay." Kisara obediently took the folder and began reading.
At this moment, Luo Shu's eyes flickered slightly as he observed the obedient Kisara.
After spending these past few days together, Luo Shu was quite satisfied with Kisara.
She was adorable, obedient, and though she would feel jealous when other girls appeared around him, she never acted out excessively. Instead, she cared deeply about his feelings.
She was capable, strong in a fight, knew how to act cute, could cook, and was obedient. Aside from being a bit possessive, she had almost no significant flaws.
If one disregarded her identity as a demon, Kisara's personality would make her a perfect housewife.
This had also allowed Luo Shu to let go of the last remnants of wariness he held towards this unfamiliar demon.
He could consider recruiting Kisara into his Familia. Coincidentally, she also met the system's requirements as a protagonist.
'It's a shame I have no idea which anime she's from. Otherwise, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble and could just recruit her directly like I did with Utaha.'
Because he didn't know Kisara's origins, Luo Shu had taken the time to observe her carefully.
Now that the results were satisfactory, he naturally wanted to bring her into his circle.
'Hmm, I'll frame the investigation into the Ghouls as an assessment. Once it's over, regardless of how much effort Kisara puts in, I'll use the completed assessment as a pretext to recruit her into the Familia. I'm also curious to see what kind of abilities a demon might awaken.'
Having settled on his plans for Kisara, Luo Shu glanced at Wataru Takagi driving ahead before closing his eyes to rest and conserve his energy.
Soon, three police cars swiftly departed the police headquarters, their sirens blaring as they headed towards Beika Town.
After the three police cars passed, Noriyuki Izuna, visibly irritated, drove a BMW with Yomi Isayama, who was distracted, in the passenger seat, quickly following the police convoy.
The two groups moved in succession, swiftly disappearing from view.
...
After their departure, inside a KFC on the third floor of a building by the roadside...
Miss Meer, with her waist-length pink hair and charmingly delicate features, held a hamburger in one hand as she observed the activity on the street while eating.
"They're moving so quickly. As expected of Luo Shu-kun, always so decisive~"
Hearing Meer's words, the petite, sweet-faced girl sitting across from her propped her chin on one hand and replied in a slightly hoarse voice:
"Are those people in the police cars the 'big shots' you mentioned, the ones who could decide the fate of the Ghouls?"
The petite girl fixed an inquiring gaze on the well-known information broker of Tokyo.
"Yes, that important figure is indeed in one of those police cars."
Meer nodded seriously before addressing the girl who had treated her to the meal:
"Takatsuki Izumi-san, revealing information about such a prominent individual doesn't come cheap, you know."
At this, Takatsuki Izumi's eyes sharpened as she stared at Meer, her tone grave:
"I won't short you a single cent of the two million USD. But I need to know their identity, preferences, and background."
"Sorry, I can't disclose any of that." Meer shook her head, refusing Takatsuki Izumi.
Seeing this, Takatsuki Izumi was somewhat surprised: "Oh? Even information brokers like you have intel you don't dare sell?"
Meer shook her head again, then smiled and reminded her: "It's not that we don't dare to trade, but information concerning executives of that organisation has a standard industry price of ten million US dollars. If it involves specific abilities or background, the price triples. For preferences and weaknesses, the reward required is five times that."
"Miss Takatsuki Izumi, I heard your financial situation hasn't been very comfortable lately?"
Takatsuki Izumi's face twitched slightly before she silently stood up:
"My apologies for disturbing you. Goodbye."