Anime Multiverse: Building a Pantheon from Scratch

At Luo Shu's loud command, the squad members—aside from those stationed at high points—quickly converged from all sides. While they moved, Luo Shu issued instructions with practiced ease: "Team Three, prioritize removing the demon's corpse. It's an extremely valuable research specimen. Then, send Team One to check inside the villa. Assign another team to call in the medics."

"Oh, and send a squad ahead to check if that young lady from the Kannagi family has actually left. If she turns back, signal for an immediate retreat. Move fast, quickly!"

After barking out a string of orders, Luo Shu fished out his special-issue phone—not to make a call, but because Tachibana Kirika was already connected on the other end.

"According to your instructions, Chief, I've managed to talk her into leaving. So far, nothing's gone wrong."

"By the way, Chief, where did you even find that reinforcement? She took down that brutal demon in a single strike… absolutely terrifying."

On the other end, Kirika let out a dry chuckle. "That's the next head of the Kannagi family, wielder of at least a Class 3 dangerous artifact as her hereditary weapon. Strength is expected from her. It'd be strange if she wasn't strong."

"And don't be fooled by her age—many state-level sorcerers aren't as deadly as she is. The fact that we tricked her into showing up? Heh, that's an excellent omen."

"By the way, you didn't cause any trouble with her, did you?"

"Of course not! I sweet-talked her so well that she almost dropped to her knees in gratitude." Luo Shu quickly added, "All I did was mention that since she dealt with the demon, Chiba Prefecture would award her some bonus money. Oh right, Chief… speaking of which… do I get any bonus?"

"...." Kirika fell silent for a moment, as if stunned by Luo Shu's sheer bluntness.

After a pause, she replied, "A bonus? I'll notify the Cabinet and have them inform Chiba's officials. It wouldn't be appropriate to bypass the chain of command. Whatever amount they issue, you can collect it yourself."

"Also, your report came in at just the right time. It coincided with the moment I received news that the Kannagi girl was en route. Otherwise, I really would've worried about your team taking casualties."

"Chief, about my bonus though~~" Luo Shu threw in casually.

"Wasn't that already… oh, you mean the internal bonus? Got it. I'll approve the maximum rate for you. Don't worry about that. But get that site cleaned up ASAP, and submit your report to me afterwards."

At this point, Kirika couldn't help but warn Luo Shu, "And listen—if that young lady realizes what happened, just report my name directly. Tell her it was all on my orders. Let her come to me. Don't try to be a hero. Understand?"

Luo Shu's temper instantly flared. "Chief, what are you saying? I always dump the blame on others. Even if you hadn't told me, I'd have pinned it on you. Don't worry, not even a little bit!"

"…I really ought to thank you for that!" Kirika snapped sarcastically, then hung up with a sharp beep.

Beside him, Takina Inoue stood slightly dazed, watching Luo Shu's smooth handling of the situation. She felt completely lost.

Why did it feel like she was the rookie in SDS, and Luo Shu was the experienced veteran?

"Done." Luo Shu ended the call and glanced at Takina curiously. "What's wrong?"

"N-No, nothing…" Takina couldn't exactly say that watching Luo Shu scam bonuses had left her in complete disbelief.

"Don't worry. Since I'm getting a bonus, you'll definitely get one too."

Saying that, Luo Shu approached the charred corpse of the demon. He glanced at it with some discomfort, then frowned. His instincts told him there was something strange about the corpse, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Something wrong?" Takina, who had followed him, asked curiously.

"Nothing."

Luo Shu shook his head. Just then, a member of the Red Squad ran over and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Huh? The victims want to meet me?"

Luo Shu hesitated briefly, but then, remembering the Yukinoshita sisters and the potential contribution points they represented, nodded. "Alright, I'll go meet them first."

Before leaving, he glanced once more at the demon's remains and reminded the white-coated technician cleaning up the site, "As soon as you finish the autopsy report, get it to me immediately."

"Understood, Agent Luo!"

Receiving the reply, Luo Shu looked at Takina, who understood and promptly followed him.

At the perimeter wall of the affluent district, Ayano Kannagi—having sprinted all the way there—looked around quickly. Seeing no one nearby, she jumped lightly, effortlessly vaulting over the wall and landing on the empty street beyond.

With the lockdown still in effect, the street was deserted, much to Ayano's relief.

"What's with that guy… talking like it was an emergency on the phone but then smiling like nothing happened."

Muttering, she pulled out her phone from her jacket pocket. Glancing at the screen showing over a dozen missed calls from someone saved as "Ryuya-nii," she immediately called back.

The moment the call connected, a flustered male voice came through: "Young Lady?! Where are you?! Why'd you just jump out of the car after that phone call?!"

"Huh? I'm at…" Ayano looked around, spotted a closed pharmacy across the street, and answered, "I'm right across from the Hinomaru Pharmacy."

"Stay right there! Whatever you do, don't wander off again!"

With that, the call ended. Minutes later, a black sedan rounded the corner and pulled up in front of Ayano.

Spotting Kazamaki Ryuya through the front windshield, Ayano waved. As the car stopped, she opened the rear door herself, got in, slammed the door shut, and stretched lazily. "It's done, Ryuya-nii. Let's go home."

"It's done?" Ryuya blinked, confused, before realizing something. "Wait… that call earlier?"

"SDS called. Said the target took hostages. Claimed it was an emergency. Asked me to help." Ayano explained with some annoyance, but also a hint of pride. "That SDS guy kept calling me some kind of hero… wanted to get me some sort of municipal bonus too. I said no, and then he started quoting that story about Zǐ Gòng redeeming hostages or whatever. Honestly, I just went there to kill the demon. What do I care about bonuses...?"

Ryuya, hearing Ayano's indifferent yet oddly pleased tone, chuckled carelessly. "Bonuses, huh? I've gotten those too. At most, five or six hundred bucks. Enough for a meal. You could keep it as a souvenir if you like."

"That little?!" Ayano's face fell immediately. "That guy said I saved Chiba from economic losses in the billions! I thought I'd get a fortune…"

"That's just talk. Official rewards are always symbolic," Ryuya said as he drove. "Compared to a demon crystal worth at least a billion yen, or a demon's corpse of similar value, those bonuses are just pocket change."

As he finished speaking, Ryuya suddenly sensed something off. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he saw Ayano's stunned expression.

"What's wrong? Young Lady? Are you feeling sick?"

Ayano opened her mouth but took a long pause before asking quietly, "Um… Ryuya-nii… what's a demon crystal?"

"The crystallized core of a demon's power. Kind of like an Abyssal artifact. Usually located in the chest."

Ryuya explained, but then his expression froze.

"Wait… Young Lady… you didn't get the demon crystal from the SDS guys? You're the one who killed the demon, aren't you?"

As for the corpse—Ryuya wasn't blind. Ayano hadn't taken anything just now. Obviously, she hadn't brought the corpse with her.

Under Ryuya's questioning, Ayano finally snapped out of her shock, lowered her head, and took a deep breath.

"That damned liar!!!"

"I absolutely won't forgive you!!!"

As her furious shout rang out, flames erupted around her, engulfing the entire rear seat.

An instant later, BOOM—the car exploded.

Using his control over wind elements to escape at the last second, Kazamaki Ryuya hovered high above, staring nervously at the raging inferno below and the girl standing at its center, losing her mind. He hesitated for a long moment, unable to speak, until he suddenly heard his phone ring.

He pulled it out, saw the caller ID marked "Clan Leader," and hurriedly answered.

"Clan Leader? It's me, I—what? Bring her back? But Young Lady… she got tricked by SDS into handing over the demon crystal… there's additional compensation? Understood. I'll persuade her."

After ending the call, Ryuya floated silently in midair, watching the asphalt road melt under the searing blaze below. The corners of his mouth twitched helplessly.

"Why do I feel… like I've just accepted a nightmare of a job..."