The one who had suddenly appeared behind Maria Naruse was none other than Luo Shu.
With an amused smile, he watched the stiffened Maria, who sat frozen on the sofa, as if observing some adorable little creature.
At that moment, Maria turned her head slightly to glance at Luo Shu standing behind the sofa. After swallowing hard, she asked:
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Since you started explaining how to handle the internal inquiries from Truth Astronomy."
As he spoke, Luo Shu walked around the sofa and sat down. Glancing at the untouched cup of black tea in front of him, he beckoned to Maria.
Seeing his gesture, Maria hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth, standing up, and walking over to Luo Shu—only to plop herself onto his lap.
The petite white-haired succubus suddenly settling into his arms made Luo Shu pause briefly before he wrapped an arm around her waist and remarked:
"I don't mind, but isn't this apology method a bit too... transactional?"
Maria blinked in confusion. "What? Didn't you wave me over to sit on your lap?"
"..."
Luo Shu fell silent for a second, barely suppressing a laugh. "Is there a chance I was just thirsty and wanted you to pass me the tea?"
Maria's face instantly flushed red, and she immediately tried to stand up and escape his lap.
But just then, Luo Shu's arm tightened around her, trapping the blockhead in his embrace. He sighed in exasperation:
"You're already here—why run?"
"Just sit still."
"Maybe if you cheer me up enough, I'll let the whole 'stealing credit' thing slide."
"Don't even try. You're definitely going to grope me, then drag me to the bathroom while I'm too scared to resist, and use this as leverage to make me do all sorts of things..."
The moment the words left her mouth, Maria clapped her hands over her lips, turning her head to glare at Luo Shu with a mix of embarrassment and fury:
"Did you use that ring of yours to control me again?"
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Maria immediately deflated:
"You totally hypnotised me again, didn't you? Otherwise, why would I blurt out my thoughts like that?"
Luo Shu narrowed his eyes and looked up at Nia Honjo.
There she was—holding Raziel, pen in hand, smirking mischievously. Luo Shu could only shoot her a look of utter disdain.
At this moment, Maria Naruse also noticed Luo Shu's gaze. She glanced up at Nia Honjo and, though she didn't understand what Raziel was, she immediately grasped the situation.
So it wasn't Luo Shu who screwed her over, but Nia Honjo?
Then what she just...
Meanwhile, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow, feeling the petite succubus in his arms had gone as limp as a boneless plush toy, soft and pleasantly scented.
Yet because Maria Naruse didn't resist, his teasing enthusiasm waned.
Perhaps this was just how men were?
"My, my, something quite interesting seems to be happening here?"
Nia Honjo, holding Raziel, wore an expression of surprise as she arched a brow at Luo Shu:
"I originally thought you came to play with Maria, but it appears you're actually here for me?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu looked at Nia Honjo without much surprise:
"You already know the situation? It seems after your promotion to Demigod, Raziel's power has upgraded enough to check my level?"
Demigod?
The previously limp Maria Naruse instantly stiffened, staring at Nia Honjo with doubtful eyes.
This woman?
A Demigod?
This cowardly old pervert is on the same rank as Luo Shu?
Maria Naruse could barely suppress her urge to complain.
Right then, Nia Honjo said with a mischievous smile:
"I can't investigate you, but I can look into Miss Lacus. As a fellow Familia member, my abilities allow me to check her recent activities."
After saying this, Nia Honjo glanced at Maria Naruse and added slyly:
"Little Maria's being naughty. If you keep badmouthing me in your head, I might just send you to Luo Shu's bed?"
Maria Naruse's right eye widened while her left eyebrow twitched, glaring with mismatched eyes:
"Are you sure that's not a reward?"
This succubus, already practically absorbed by the Hidden Management Department, yet still acting out for merits, now suddenly entangled with her superior—are you sure this is a threat and not a reward?
Though that's what she thought, Maria quickly backpedalled after speaking:
"Are you making me say things again?"
Nia Honjo made an exasperated face, staring wordlessly at Maria Naruse. Controlled or not, shouldn't you know best?
'This timid little pervert, calling me out...'
Nia Honjo couldn't help but complain internally.
At this point, realising Nia Honjo still couldn't use Raziel to investigate him, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow slightly:
"So Raziel's investigation still has limits?"
"When it comes to Angel Rank information, if the subject intends to conceal it, I can't access it."
Nia Honjo made no attempt to hide this from Luo Shu, waving Raziel in her hand:
"So-called omniscience depends on the user's capability."
"If Mother were using it, she'd be nearly omniscient—omnipotent even—with almost no secrets in this world escaping her notice."
"But I'm not Mother, nor am I Raziel's true master."
Unlike Tohka Yatogami and Tenka Yatogami, who are natural Spirits, Nia Honjo remains fundamentally human, merely having appropriated a Spirit's power.
This was also the reason why Tenka Yatogami's attitude towards Nia Honjo was rather indifferent.
If it were the Spirit herself, Tenka might have acknowledged a sisterly bond, but given Nia Honjo and the others' current state, they were merely usurpers.
Seeing Nia Honjo speak in such a manner, Luo Shu nodded in understanding and asked:
"So what information can be uncovered now?"
Hearing this, Nia Honjo blinked and said:
"Oh, there's quite a lot we've found out~"
At these evasive words, Luo Shu couldn't help but twitch his eyelid and replied with a strained smile:
"Then focus on the important details."
Understanding his meaning, Nia Honjo chuckled and stroked her chin:
"Very well, let's start from the beginning."