"For some reason, I feel a subtle sense of pity for them."
Meer sighed softly, mourning for Japan's figurehead monarch's family for two seconds.
The moment two seconds had passed, Meer raised her hand and suggested, "Doesn't that mean if the person who assassinated the figurehead monarch's brother successfully gets promoted, then to get promoted again, he'll need to kill Japan's figurehead monarch?"
"That's about right."
Nia Honjo nodded. Cradling Raziel, she checked it as she spoke, "Meer, are you suggesting we use the figurehead monarch's family here in Japan as bait to lure out everyone in the country who has come into contact with the Bloodline Dominator Class?"
Hearing this, Meer placed her hands on her hips and looked at Nia Honjo, annoyed.
"Nia, did you investigate my thoughts again?"
"I just happened to flip through them, just a coincidence..."
Nia Honjo offered a perfunctory, apologetic smile, hastily flipping the pages of Raziel. Then she cleared her throat and said, "But honestly, this method of fishing does have a chance of success."
"After all, compared to the Five Regent Houses who make fewer public appearances, the figurehead monarch's family, whose movements are publicly announced, are indeed very good hunting targets."
"However... this method is a little costly in terms of people."
After all, with a fishing plan like this, one little mistake and the figurehead monarch's family would probably be down another member.
Luo Shu, however, was completely unconcerned about such matters.
"It's fishing. A few losses are perfectly normal."
Lacus couldn't help but glance at Luo Shu when she heard this.
In response, Luo Shu rubbed his chin, a puzzled expression on his face. "Lacus, what do you mean by looking at me like that?"
Lacus pondered for a moment, her expression tinged with helplessness.
"I just feel that... you're gloating, Shu."
"Is it that obvious?" Luo Shu touched his face and couldn't resist asking Nia Honjo.
Nia Honjo nodded in agreement and said with a snicker, "It's a bit obvious. The corners of your mouth are turned up so high you could hang a soy sauce bottle from them."
"Is it that exaggerated? I'll hide it, then."
Luo Shu rubbed his face, then asked Nia Honjo, "How about now? How does it look?"
Nia Honjo placed a hand on her hip, looking exasperated.
"Honestly, Luo Shu, there are no outsiders here. We all know you dislike Japan's higher-ups; you don't need to hide it at all."
"True, there's no need for me to pretend in front of you all."
Luo Shu nodded, admitting the fact, then joked, "I was just worried you'd think I was going a bit too far. After all, the figurehead monarch's family also has innocent... hmm? It seems there aren't any innocent ones..."
"'Then it's fine!"
Luo Shu had been about to say that the young children were innocent, but on second thought, a family kept alive by the taxes of the Japanese people, who'd long since feasted on the common people's blood...
"Then let's go with the previous idea and list them as bait for fishing."
"As for who will be in charge of this..."
Luo Shu thought for a moment, then his gaze fell upon Kirika Tachibana.
Noticing Luo Shu's gaze, Kirika Tachibana, who was sitting on the long bench, leaned against the tea table, rested her cheek on her hand, and grumbled at him, "You think of me when it's time for a thankless task, is that it?"
Hearing this, Lacus tried to smooth things over for Luo Shu. "Well, Kirika, you're the one here who understands the situation in Japan the best."
At these words, Kirika Tachibana couldn't help but avert her gaze and glance at Lacus.
Faced with her dear friend who stood behind Luo Shu and covered for him, Kirika Tachibana was also exasperated.
"Fine. Then have that little vampire... hmm, her name is Evangeline, right? Have that Evangeline control the Prime Minister to cooperate with me."
Seeing this request, Lacus looked at Luo Shu.
At this, Luo Shu nodded. "Alright, I'll arrange it. I'll leave things to you two."
Seeing Luo Shu say this, Lacus glanced at Kirika Tachibana again, seemingly sending her a private message on the sly.
"Are you done yet..."
The corner of Kirika Tachibana's mouth twitched. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, she muttered under her breath, "I'll take on the matter of stabilising the situation in Japan as well."
"In short, it's to secure the current Prime Minister, kick out that Chief Cabinet Secretary, and then support our own people to take their place, right?"
"That is indeed the matter at hand..."
Luo Shu pondered these words for a moment, then something suddenly occurred to him. He glanced at Lacus and decided not to delve any deeper into the topic, instead saying, "Then I'll leave these tasks to you."
'Meer is in charge of compiling common knowledge about the Divine Pantheon, I've assigned Nia to investigate the Scales of Order, and Kirika has taken on the Cabinet and the investigation into the Bloodline Dominator Class...'
'Then the only ones left with nothing to do for now are just me and Lacus, right?'
Realising this, Luo Shu immediately stopped assigning work.
If he assigned any more, he was afraid the tasks would fall on him or Lacus.
Wouldn't the rare opportunity to be alone together be wasted then?
Just as Luo Shu fell silent, Meer was the first to get up, stretching languidly before saying with a sigh, "Well then, time to get to work?"
"I feel like I've been troubled with the most difficult task..." Nia Honjo said as she rose from the long bench.
On the other side, Kirika Tachibana stood up while pulling a cigarette from her pocket.
"Then I'll leave the rest of the time to you two."
After the three of them had left with their own reasonable excuses, Luo Shu tapped his index finger lightly on the tea table in front of him. Once he was sure they were all gone, he finally turned his head to look at Lacus, who was watching him.
Seeing Luo Shu look at her, Lacus couldn't help but smile.
"Do you have time to go for a walk with me?"
"Alright," Luo Shu agreed first, before asking, "Where are we going?"
At that, Lacus gave a reply that Luo Shu found unexpected.
"The library, how about it?"
"Ah?" Luo Shu was taken aback, a slightly strange expression on his face as he looked at Lacus.
He had thought the destination would be a cinema, a coffee shop, or a park. He had even considered an amusement park, but he had truly never expected the library.
Seemingly noticing Luo Shu's confusion, Lacus smiled and added, "A while ago, Echidna asked me to help her organise the library, but I never managed to find the time."
"But now, the timing is just right, isn't it?"
Hearing Lacus say this, Luo Shu instantly understood and laughed knowingly.
"You're right, the timing is indeed just right!"