After listening to SCP-055's words, Luo Shu abandoned his attempt to persuade SCP-096 outright and instead tried to extract information about "God" from it.
"Do you know that old bastard 'God'? He took your photo—why didn't you kill him?"
SCP-096 responded blankly, "'God' Grandpa is good to me. I listen to him. I don't kill him."
Another anomaly calling SCP-343 "Grandpa."
So, it had willingly let "God" take its photo to frame Luo Shu?
SCP-343 had quietly built a faction within the Foundation—SCP-053, SCP-096… who else?
Luo Shu gritted his teeth. If only I'd known earlier.
But trying to get SCP-096 to betray "God" was futile.
"Fine. What do you know about 'God' Grandpa? What is he?"
"I don't know what 'God' Grandpa is. He's just good to me. I listen to him."
Useless.
SCP-096 really was as bad at conversation as SCP-049 had said.
Luo Shu switched tactics, attempting to manipulate it:
"'God' Grandpa said the person who saw your photo is your friend. You can't kill him. He showed it to you so you'd remember him."
A gamble—if it worked, he could simultaneously resolve the crisis and add SCP-096 to his Friend of the Anomalies milestone.
But SCP-096 screamed in rage.
"Liar! 'God' Grandpa said he's a bad guy! 'God' Grandpa told me to kill him! You're lying! I'll kill you!"
Luo Shu ducked behind SCP-055.
Shit.
SCP-096 had strong mental resistance—even to Persuasion.
But it still couldn't see him, thanks to SCP-055's anti-memetic effect.
That didn't solve the problem, though.
Luo Shu's eyes turned cold.
You forced my hand.
He flipped to Page 15 (SCP-035, Possessive Mask) and placed a hand on SCP-096's shoulder.
Domination.
The Shy Guy's murderous glare faded into confusion.
"Who do you obey now? 'God' Grandpa or me?"
SCP-096 trembled. "I… I don't know…"
Still resisting.
"God's" influence ran deeper than kindness—it was mental conditioning.
Luo Shu escalated.
He turned to Page 21 (SCP-012, Unfinished Composition) and warned SCP-055:
"Turn around. Don't look."
Then he canceled Unobservability and activated Martyr's Light.
SCP-096's face twisted—first in rage, then submission, then fanatical devotion.
It collapsed to its knees, rotting flesh sloughing off as it cried:
"Praise you, my Lord! I offer you everything!"
Two against one—Luo Shu won.
SCP-055 sighed. "You made a mess."
Luo Shu wordlessly activated SCP-101 (Big Mouth Bag), dumping the gore into a dimensional trash chute.
SCP-096's body hit the floor—not dead, but healing.
The real test would come when it revived.
Would it still obey?
Luo Shu couldn't wait to find out.
Site-19 was on alert. He had to return to his room before suspicions arose.
The Aftermath
Back in his dorm, Luo Shu checked the Anomaly Catalog's title page.
[Friend of the Anomalies]
[New Ally: SCP-096 ("Shy Guy")]
Success.
But at what cost?
SCP-343's reach was deeper than he'd imagined.
And now, "God" knew Luo Shu had stolen one of his pawns.