Given the greedy nature of the American Union, why would they openly compete for a Top Tier Class inheritance?
This was practically an announcement of 'I have a conspiracy' in bold letters.
'The True Dragon Legacy isn't complete yet, and completing it - or at least part of it - requires powerful and numerous sorcerers?'
Luo Shu stroked his chin in thought before chuckling:
"The American Union doesn't even seem to be trying to hide their intentions..."
Lin Qi smiled at this and said:
"Director Luo's speculation aligns with our internal discussions."
"In fact, our contacts in Thailand did mention that the True Dragon Sorcerer Class seems to have certain defects, making it difficult to complete with just Thailand's national strength."
"That's why, under pressure from the American Union, Thailand so readily handed over this Top Tier Class inheritance."
"A wise choice made under duress," Luo Shu sighed faintly, though internally he was considering how to avoid such situations befalling the Hidden Management Department.
But upon reflection, Luo Shu felt such scenarios were unlikely to happen to them.
The reason Thailand had no choice but to relinquish the True Dragon Legacy was primarily due to internal leaks that made the matter public from the outset.
Simply put, it was a failure of intelligence work.
With the entire Hidden Management Department being Familia members, and support staff like chefs, cleaners, and even security being either puppets or intelligent machines, sealing information was practically the simplest thing imaginable.
For an internal leak to cause a collapse within the Hidden Management Department was indeed an extremely difficult scenario.
Thinking this, Luo Shu rubbed the Mist Ring on his right hand while smiling at Lin Qi:
"I wonder if the American Union will deliver the invitation letter to me."
Hearing this, Lin Qi froze momentarily before his expression turned hesitant.
"They probably will, right?"
Though it was announced as an open competition for all mystic side factions.
Everyone understood that if an organisation like the Hidden Management Department, with multiple Demigods, participated, the likelihood of the True Dragon Sorcerer Class falling into their hands would be extremely high.
The Hidden Management Department's interest lay in preventing too many Class holders from emerging among the Five Great Powers, to avoid an excess of Demigods that could suppress them in turn – something any intelligent person could deduce.
Under these circumstances, if the Hidden Management Department joined the competition, they would either go all out to seize the True Dragon Legacy or simply prevent anyone from obtaining its power.
Whether the American Union would allow the Hidden Management Department to participate in this competition was indeed a delicate question.
"If the American Union doesn't extend an invitation, we're willing to relinquish all participation slots. Afterwards, we wouldn't need the True Dragon Sorcerer Top Tier Class, but would exchange this support for a more widely applicable Common Class."
Hearing Lin Qi's words, Luo Shu suddenly looked enlightened and blurted out:
"Many hands make light work, right?"
Lin Qi paused at this, then couldn't help smiling:
"Exactly, many hands make light work."
After a moment's contemplation, Luo Shu sighed lightly:
"I understand your position. If the American Union truly doesn't send an invitation, I'll consider cooperating with your side."
Seeing Luo Shu had said this much, Lin Qi slapped his knee and stood up:
"In that case, I won't take up any more of your time!"
With that, Lin Qi extended his hand to Luo Shu with a smile:
"Looking forward to our cooperation."
"Looking forward to it!"
After shaking hands and properly seeing Lin Qi out, Luo Shu returned to the reception room, picked up the tea on the table, drained it in one gulp, then exhaled:
"So the Five Great Powers have already recognised the importance of Classes, have they?"
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita, who was tidying the tea set, looked up at Luo Shu and responded:
"Are we really going to compete for the True Dragon Legacy?"
Luo Shu fell silent for a moment before sighing:
"...Hard to say."
"While suppressing the mystic side forces of the Five Great Powers maintains SDS's advantage in Demigods, frankly, I'm not optimistic about this defensive approach."
"In this era of Abyss Descent, the entire world is like a giant sieve – you never know where a Class inheritance might turn up."
"If even a small place like Thailand could accidentally obtain a Top Tier Class, what more the Five Great Powers who control the world's largest organisations?"
"To put it bluntly, although Lin Qi wanted to buy Class information from me, I strongly suspect that China's Union already has a Class. It's quite possible they're trying to use me to spread the misinformation that China's Union lacks a Class."
"That Mr Lin had that intention, too?" Yukino Yukinoshita blinked, her expression full of surprise. "But I always felt he seemed like the straightforward type?"
"How to describe this feeling... military bearing, yes, the military bearing of China's Union."
Hearing this, Luo Shu shot a glance at this person who judged others by their demeanour and couldn't help sighing:
"In China's military, perhaps that's the case. But since Lin Qi could become the head of military attachés stationed abroad, he definitely wouldn't lack cunning."
"That military image might just be a facade."
Shaking his head, Luo Shu fell silent for a moment before saying:
"Of course, it's also possible this is a test."
"For example, if Lin Qi tells me China's Union has no Class, and I leak this information, once they find out, I'd probably be marked as untrustworthy."
"A trust test?" Yukino Yukinoshita immediately understood Luo Shu's meaning, saying, somewhat startled: "That Mr Lin had such considerations?"
"Who can say? Utaha isn't here right now."
At this point, Luo Shu patted his head, somewhat regretful:
"Pity Utaha isn't here today. Otherwise, I'd have definitely called her over to help serve tea."
"What a waste of such a good opportunity."
After speaking, Luo Shu glanced at the emptied teacup, observing the tea leaves at the bottom, and couldn't help adding:
"And what a waste of such fine tea leaves."
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita remained expressionless. Though she knew Luo Shu had intended to cheat using Utaha Kasumigaoka's Mind Reading ability, couldn't the Director at least consider that she had been the one brewing the tea just now?
Why did it feel like his comment was implying dissatisfaction with her tea-making skills?
Before Yukino could fully grasp Luo Shu's meaning, he spoke again:
"Yukino, did you perhaps take the wrong tea leaves?"
"This black tea... seems to be the Da Hong Pao that Mr Siegel gifted me?"
Yukino Yukinoshita fell silent for a long moment before replying:
"I didn't pay attention earlier. Moreover, I took the leaves from the guest tea cabinet."
"Who swapped my tea?" Luo Shu's expression turned peculiar. He pondered for a while but couldn't figure out how his tea leaves had been replaced.
Was there really a girl in the Familia who'd play such a prank?
Something felt off...
After some thought, Luo Shu privately messaged everyone in the Divine Pantheon group chat. He received instant replies from several members, but none admitted to the deed.
"Could a Familia member have mistaken them by accident?"
Yukino said as she collected the tea set and approached the cabinet.
The tea cabinet in the 3rd-floor reception room was custom-made. As Lacus particularly enjoyed tea ceremonies, it was stocked with a variety of teas.
The leaves regularly used for guests were placed on the easily accessible fourth shelf, while the tea gifted by Mr Siegel—Lacus's father—to Luo Shu was stored on the sixth shelf.
This happened to be at a height where Luo Shu, standing at 180cm, could reach it effortlessly, but most female Familia members couldn't.
"Which Familia member would accidentally mix up my tea? Actually, there might be someone..."
Luo Shu immediately thought of Tohka Yatogami—though Tenka Yatogami was also a possibility.
However, Tenka probably wouldn't bother with such trivial matters.
Given her temperament, if she were displeased with me, she'd likely drag me to the Dream Simulation Chamber like yesterday morning and pummel my stomach relentlessly.
With these odd thoughts, Luo Shu watched Yukino reorganise the tea leaves, memorising their new arrangement, before asking:
"Where's Lacus right now?"
"Probably in America, attending the Union conference."
Yukino turned to explain. As a confidential secretary, she was routinely updated on the Chairwoman Lacus's whereabouts to keep Luo Shu informed.
"Do you require an immediate meeting with the Chairwoman?"
"America, huh..."
Considering the Five Great Powers conference in America, though reluctant to disturb Lacus, the matter concerned the SDS's Class advantage over the Five Great Powers. Luo Shu sighed:
"Notify Lacus to prepare for a virtual space meeting when she has time."
Having finished rearranging the tea leaves, Yukino turned back and responded formally:
"Understood, Director. I'll make the arrangements immediately."
Hearing this, Luo Shu waved his hand, signalling Yukino Yukinoshita to hurry up with her work, then turned to gaze at the tea cabinet, gradually losing himself in thought.
An open competition for the True Dragon's Legacy...
What a troublesome matter indeed...