Near Shiba Park in Chiyoda Ward, a luxury apartment building.
The car slowly pulled over by the roadside.
As the car door opened with a sound, Mahiru Shiina stepped out holding a plastic bag, then turned and bowed towards Luo Shu inside the vehicle:
"Thank you so much for driving me here."
The half-lowered window rolled down completely, revealing Luo Shu's face. He glanced at Mahiru and smiled:
"The thanks should be from my side."
"Thanks to you, Mahiru, we've finally finished that troublesome shopping."
"Well, someone's cosmetics and daily necessities have been sorted out. How delightful." Luo Shu's tone was completely flat as he spoke, devoid of any emotion.
Sharon, standing nearby, immediately recognised this as a dig at her messy lifestyle, her expression turning distinctly awkward.
Mahiru Shiina, however, missed Luo Shu's sarcasm and nodded earnestly in agreement.
After helping Sharon purchase so many items, she'd already deduced that the woman lacked basic life skills. Though puzzled about what kind of upbringing could produce such a woman, Mahiru restrained her curiosity and didn't pry.
"I'm really glad I could help."
Mahiru spoke with a hint of relief. Simply assisting with shopping for daily necessities in exchange for solving her accommodation issue seemed like an incredibly fortunate deal to her.
"Then I won't disturb you two any longer."
Watching Mahiru bow in farewell, Luo Shu nodded and rolled up the car window, gradually starting the vehicle.
Sharon tilted her head, observing the growing distance between them and Mahiru, then watched as the girl turned to enter the luxury apartment with its floor-to-ceiling windows before narrowing her eyes:
"Seems like an unhappy child from an unhappy home."
"Hmm?" Luo Shu made a surprised noise while driving.
At this, Sharon turned back and leaned against the seat, stating calmly:
"Her parents entered into a nominal marriage under family pressure, each maintaining their own separate families outside."
"Mahiru Shiina's birth was entirely an accident resulting from drunken passion, so from the very beginning she received no affection, merely existing as a symbol of the two families' union."
"Aside from the long-term hired nanny, no one at home cared about her - that's what the child believes."
At this point, Sharon revealed a somewhat amused smile:
"Such an untrained little thing is far too easy to interrogate."
Hearing Sharon's villainess-like remarks, Luo Shu's expression turned awkward:
"So you managed to extract her entire life story while shopping together?"
During their recent supermarket trip, Luo Shu had spent most of the time sitting aside while the two girls chattered away in the cosmetics section and the fitting rooms. He hadn't realised Sharon had been deliberately gathering information.
Truth be told, most of his attention had been focused on the Dream Simulation Chamber where Kurumi Tokisaki was challenging him, so he'd missed Sharon's actions.
Understanding that Luo Shu had clearly been distracted, Sharon glanced at him before saying:
"Not at all. I merely pieced it together from occasional remarks and expressions."
"You seem quite taken with her," Luo Shu asked curiously, wondering why Sharon showed such interest in Mahiru Shiina.
Nodding in acknowledgement, Sharon admitted:
"That child possesses an exceptionally pure soul. According to the nuns who raised me, she has Saintess potential."
"Saintess?" The term surprised Luo Shu somewhat.
"It's the Church's term for women naturally capable of containing high-purity sacred power. There's also a male counterpart - the Saint."
"In my original world, such individuals were natural members of the Holy Order who could channel Divine Power to exterminate powerful demons."
Understanding dawned on Luo Shu: "So that's why you're so interested in Mahiru Shiina?"
Sharon couldn't help sighing:
"It would be such a waste for that child to squander her talents in an ordinary world."
"Moreover, she's currently at a crossroads in life..."
Her expression turning serious, Sharon looked directly at Luo Shu:
"My Lord, I request permission to bestow your power upon that child."
Frowning slightly, Luo Shu remarked:
"I see... A Female Job Class then..."
Although Sharon's Class, Holy Maiden (Elite Rank), was special, its prerequisite Class, Nun (Common Rank), represented the most fundamental tier in the Holy Order system.
Starting from the basic Nun, differentiation occurs at either Excellent or Elite evaluation.
For instance, Sharon's Holy Maiden originates from the Excellent evaluation (Sacred Nun) of Holy Order members—the foundational tier of the system.
All transformations occur either at this stage or the next.
The evolution of Classes typically depends on individual characteristics.
At its ultimate stage, this path leads to the angels of the Christian system.
Fundamentally, this Holy Order Class system evolved from the Kabbalah Tree possessed by captured Spirits of Origin through the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System.
Sharon initially awakened to this Class because her power's essence was similar, hence she was bestowed the Class. In fact, powerful Familia members recruited into the system would generally be bestowed with Classes with high compatibility.
As a system-regulated Class with strong versatility, the Almighty God Job Class naturally aligned with this path.
After all, the deity occupying this Class's origin was the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System itself, so recruiting Familia members with close affinity was only logical.
As the host of the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System, Luo Shu also possessed certain intervention rights over this Class.
However, according to the God's Servant, Luo Shu would only gain the basic power to exercise intervention rights upon reaching the Demigod Rank.
Thus, even if non-Familia members were recruited as Class holders, Luo Shu wasn't worried about losing control over this Class system.
According to Sharon, she seemed intent on guiding Mahiru Shiina towards the Holy Order system.
For his own people, Luo Shu disliked dictating their life paths. For something as lifelong as a Class, he preferred letting Familia members decide for themselves.
Of course, if a Class proved exceptionally suitable, Luo Shu would still offer suggestions.
Considering this, Luo Shu inquired with the God's Servant whether this would affect Mahiru Shiina's potential.
[500 Points required.]
The response left Luo Shu speechless.
'This costs points, too?'
He nearly floored the accelerator.
'Fine, fine. 500 Points it is.'
As his heart bled internally, Luo Shu considered whether to test all Familia members.
What if the system could provide them with highly compatible Classes? That would mean more options.
But given his current limited Class inventory - only Nun and Fairy of Knowledge, plus Mira's unfinished Alchemist prototype - he temporarily shelved the idea.
[System derivation commencing...]
The God's Servant calculated instantly, extracting all data on Mahiru Shiina.
The cost was Luo Shu's 500 Points - a sum the cash-rich (300,000) man could comfortably afford.
[Based on existing data, Mahiru Shiina demonstrates high adaptability to the Holy Order system. With basic cultivation, high probability (73%) of attaining Saintess (Demigod) potential.]
Scanning the system's report, Luo Shu paused, then ran the same analysis for Sharon.
The results made him glance at Sharon with newfound understanding.
So the so-called Saintess was actually the female Holy Order's evaluation at Demigod Rank.
According to system projections, Sharon's Class upon reaching Demigod would likely be Dragon Subduing Saintess.
The name alone revealed the profession's nature.
After Sanctuary Guardian's ultimate defence, comes Dragon Subduing Saintess's ultimate offence?
Yet with basic cultivation, Sharon's probability was only 43%?
Though unclear about the system's calculations, the data clearly showed Mahiru Shiina's greater suitability for the Holy Order path.
"I understand. Permission granted to branch out the Holy Order Class. Provide appropriate guidance to Mahiru Shiina when necessary."
A genius with a 73% probability of becoming a demigod—not knowing would be one thing, but now that Luo Shu was aware, he naturally paid close attention.
Moreover, from what Luo Shu understood, the Holy Order system at the Elite Rank already had the ability to bestow basic Classes to others by dividing their own power.
While it might have some short-term impact on Sharon, the long-term benefits for Mahiru Shiina made it worthwhile. Since it cost no points, it was essentially free—why not go for it?
"Thank you, my Lord."
It seemed only during serious religious matters that Sharon truly adopted the attitude of a devout believer.
After agreeing to Sharon's idea, Luo Shu pinched the bridge of his nose as he drove back to the Hidden Management Department, thinking to himself:
'Perhaps I could use Mira to give Mahiru Shiina a little push?'
'Before tricking someone into joining, first lure them closer?'
Suddenly, Luo Shu felt an uneasy premonition.
Following this line of thought... wouldn't Sakura Apartments eventually become a place where everyone except him was part of his Familia?
Surely it wouldn't get that ridiculous...
For a moment, Luo Shu felt the terrifying pressure of what could only be described as a battlefield of emotions.