Luo Shu gazed calmly at the resplendent woman who had rejected him twice, meeting her fiery red eyes directly.
After a moment, he smiled:
"It seems my stalling tactic has failed."
Originally, Luo Shu had planned to urgently contact Kurumi Tokisaki and summon Origami Tobiichi and Mukuro Hoshimiya to surround Aya Tokoyogi. But now, he abandoned the futile effort.
Because the two before him were no longer the real individuals, but rather something akin to products of a technique.
One had to admit, Aya Tokoyogi acted remarkably fast—managing to slip away covertly the moment they met.
This speed...
Are all Demigods this difficult to catch?
With this thought, Luo Shu curiously glanced at the shadow Aya Tokoyogi had left behind and asked:
"I'm curious about your reason for appearing in the parking lot."
"I considered you might be looking for me—confirming enemy intelligence would be plausible."
"But upon reflection, normally you'd send subordinates to gather information on me. Approaching a high-ranking member of an opposing organisation directly seems rather reckless."
As early as the Akihabara incident at the end of April, Luo Shu had deliberately allowed rumours of his suspected Demigod status to spread.
As a high-ranking member of Truth Astronomy, an organisation opposed to the SDS, Aya Tokoyogi couldn't have missed this intelligence.
Knowing he was a Demigod, it was highly unlikely that Aya Tokoyogi, also a Demigod, would approach him without any prior reconnaissance.
Thus, Luo Shu suspected this might be a chance encounter.
Though thinking this, he intentionally leaked some information to Aya Tokoyogi:
"Considering this, I believe you were more likely looking for Natsuki."
"But I know Natsuki's whereabouts—she wasn't nearby at all, so that possibility is also ruled out..."
"Natsuki?"
In the distance, aboard a yacht.
Aya Tokoyogi had initially been listening to Luo Shu's lengthy speech with an indifferent expression, though secretly controlling a projection. She frowned slightly:
"So, she told you about me?"
Seeing this, Luo Shu couldn't help but feel somewhat exasperated:
"Only Natsuki's name gets a reaction from you..."
"Is this what they call a love-hate relationship between best friends?"
Hearing this, Aya Tokoyogi merely scrutinised Luo Shu with her crimson eyes before letting out a cold laugh:
"Using Natsuki Minamiya as a deliberate pretext—do you really think I still harbour any lingering affection for that traitor?"
Observing her reaction, Luo Shu nodded with sudden understanding and remarked pointedly:
"The more something matters to you, the more you pretend it doesn't?"
"Lesson learned, lesson learned!"
"Should I say, as expected of a senior? You really do love playing the teacher."
As he spoke, Luo Shu even began clapping, as if Aya Tokoyogi had genuinely been instructing him just now.
In response, she merely shot him a cold glance and sneered:
"Pathetic theatrics."
"You're not the only one stalling for time."
With those words, a thick black-bound book materialised in Aya Tokoyogi's hands.
The pages flipped open automatically, rustling as waves of azure light washed over them.
It was the glow of a magical technique taking form.
Seeing the radiant sigils and sensing the explosive power condensed within the spell array, Luo Shu merely raised an eyebrow before calmly stating:
"Your first appearance was near the parking lot."
"Obagiu and his group detected you."
"The Patch Tribe's shamans seem to possess the ability to discern concepts, making Demigods particularly conspicuous in their eyes."
"So, your discovery might have been purely accidental."
"And if we assume I wasn't your target, and Obagiu spotting you was also unintended, then it means someone else in that parking lot was."
"Though a bit troublesome, it wouldn't be difficult for the SDS to investigate everyone present there today."
"However, there's one thing that's been bothering me."
Here, Luo Shu paused, his expression gradually turning grave:
"Aside from the unexpected arrivals of Obagiu and Bard, there were also two members of the Hidden Management Department in the parking lot at the time."
"And one of them was..."
Thinking of Kisara and Yukino Yukinoshita, who had been present, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes and said thoughtfully:
"Your target was Kisara, wasn't it?"
Among those present at the time, only Kisara could have been the subject capable of drawing the attention of a witch like Aya Tokoyogi.
This wasn't mere deduction—Luo Shu had used Raziel to investigate the identities of everyone in the parking lot and arrived at this conclusion.
Out of the 82 people present, only Kisara's identity would capture this woman's interest.
While Yukino Yukinoshita's Class as the Fairy of Knowledge might also have been a potential lure for Aya Tokoyogi, there were two key points: first, Kisara's identity as a demon originally stemmed from leaks by a Truth Astronomy defector, and second, Yukino had never publicly revealed her abilities.
Considering these factors, Luo Shu naturally suspected Aya Tokoyogi's motives.
Hearing Luo Shu's explanation, Aya Tokoyogi showed no surprise, her expression remaining as impassive as ever.
Instead, it was the slender witch with emerald-green hair, C.C., who spoke up with a look of surprise:
"Judging by the situation, it seems your objective has been guessed, Aya."
"My, my, this is quite troublesome. The hope of retrieving the pureblood seems to have vanished in an instant."
Luo Shu's lips twitched slightly.
'Sis, your blatant backstabbing is way too obvious... Aren't you afraid Aya Tokoyogi might just eliminate you right here?'
Yet to Luo Shu's surprise, Aya Tokoyogi showed no reaction to C.C.'s words at all, merely staring coldly at Luo Shu as she said:
"So you knew from the beginning that she was Behemoth's descendant, yet still kept her by your side?"
"I underestimated you – to make the descendant of Avarice obey so willingly."
"But do you truly believe a Demigod's power can protect the descendant of Avarice?"
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow slightly at her words.
'Descendant of Avarice? Behemoth?'
'The monster created by God, one of the Seven Princes of Hell – Behemoth, the Prince of Avarice, famed alongside the great beast Leviathan?'
'Kisara is his descendant?'
Perhaps Behemoth was unfamiliar to many, but the name 'Behemoth the Colossus' would surely ring bells.
'Kisara is a descendant of the Behemoth? A juvenile Behemoth?'
Just as Luo Shu was inwardly shocked, Aya Tokoyogi seemed to lose interest suddenly. Her projected form rapidly grew pale and ethereal, clearly dispersing the technique.
Before vanishing completely, her cool voice echoed in the air:
"Brat, prepare yourself. That child is coveted by more than just me."
Hearing this, Luo Shu was about to respond when he sensed something and turned to his side.
At that moment, a flicker of light appeared beside him, and Natsuki Minamiya materialised, asking:
"Where's Aya?"
"...She left." Luo Shu sighed.
'So that "warning" just now was actually given out of respect for Natsuki Minamiya?'
'This woman really... If I didn't know you two weren't a couple, I'd almost suspect something.'
"Left? Just like that?" Natsuki Minamiya eyed him suspiciously.
With another sigh, Luo Shu turned and walked towards the airport.