Facing Lynn's almost physical pressure of Cursed Energy and his blatant extortion for "mental damages," Zenin Shinrō's sanity completely snapped.
In his decades of experience, it had always been the Zenin Family taking from others. When had they ever been stepped on and extorted like this?
Furthermore, the opponent was using a sacred Cursed Technique stolen from the Zenin Family!
"You lowly person, speaking such arrogant words!!"
Zenin Shinrō let out a furious roar as his Cursed Energy exploded. The First-Grade Cursed Tool tachi in his hand glowed with a chilling blue light.
"Since you're seeking death, I'll grant it to you! After I hack you into pieces, I'll dig out your brain to see how you stole our Cursed Technique!"
"Everyone, form a formation! Kill him!"
Following his command, the remaining three Zenin Family warriors immediately scattered, charging at Lynn simultaneously from three blind spots. Their coordination was seamless and their swordplay sharp—clearly killing techniques honed through countless real battles.
Facing this lethal encirclement, Junpei subconsciously wanted to summon Yotsuki to help.
But Lynn raised his hand and stopped him.
"Just watch, Junpei."
Lynn stood his ground. Facing four blades sharp enough to cut through steel, he didn't even draw a sword, let alone move his feet.
He simply pushed up his glasses, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, as if looking at a rebellious student.
"Your movements are too stiff."
"Are these the so-called elites of The Big Three Families?"
In the next second, Lynn's hands quickly formed seals.
It wasn't a hand seal for a single Shikigami summon, but a much more complex and profound gesture.
It was a technique that could only be mastered by someone with an extreme understanding of the Ten Shadows Technique and immense talent for jujutsu—the Domain Amplification.
"Domain Amplification: The Well's Unknown Abyss."
Croak— Screech!!!
Accompanied by a strange, mixed cry, the shadow beneath Lynn's feet instantly exploded.
Flying out of the shadow were a group of eerie creatures with the wings of Nue but the bodies of Toads.
They weren't large, but their speed was startling, and there were many of them!
This was a composite Shikigami born from merging the Cursed Technique circuits of Toad and Nue.
"What?!"
Zenin Shinrō, who was charging at the front, had his pupils contract violently.
As a First-Grade Sorcerer of the Zenin Family, he naturally knew what this was. This was an Domain Amplification that only the most talented heads of the family throughout history could grasp!
That outsider... not only knew how to use it but had even performed a fusion?!
Before he could recover from his shock...
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Over a dozen winged Toads drew strange arcs through the air, not only avoiding their slashes but also opening their mouths.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Countless long pink tongues shot out like homing missiles, instantly wrapping around the wrists, ankles, and even the sword hilts of the four warriors.
"Dammit! I can't cut through them?!"
One subordinate discovered in horror that the Cursed Energy attached to these tongues was as tough as steel cables.
The momentum of the four men's charge was instantly halted, and they were left hanging in mid-air, looking as ridiculous as marionettes.
"Full of openings."
Lynn shook his head.
Holding his black cane, he walked step by step toward Zenin Shinrō, who was suspended in the air by the tongues, as if he were taking a stroll.
"Is this all the ability your proud bloodline has given you?"
"Bastard!! Let me go!!"
Zenin Shinrō struggled desperately, his eyes bloodshot. Being toyed with and hung up by an outsider using his own family's Cursed Technique was a humiliation worse than death.
"Let go? Of course."
Lynn walked up to him and smilingly raised the golden law.
Cursed Energy flowed over the black cane, and the kinetic energy that had been building up for a long time was roaring.
Bang!
The cane slammed hard into Zenin Shinrō's abdomen.
Even with Cursed Energy protection, the monstrous strength of the Special Grade Physique instantly pierced his defense. Zenin Shinrō's eyes bulged, and he couldn't even let out a scream as his whole body hunched over like a cooked shrimp.
But it wasn't over yet.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Lynn's figure flickered between the four of them.
One strike for each.
There were no fancy techniques, only the crushing weight of absolute power.
"This strike is to teach you how to respect a benefactor."
"This strike is to teach you not to point a sword at a creditor."
"This strike is to discipline your arrogance on behalf of your family's elders."
In just ten short seconds.
The battle was over.
Or rather, the one-sided beating was over.
The four Zenin Family elites, who had been so overbearing just moments ago, were now all kneeling on the ground with bruised and swollen faces.
The few Toads from The Well's Unknown Abyss were still tightly binding their joints, leaving them without even the strength to stand up.
The entire auction hall was deathly silent.
The surviving wealthy socialites and Curse Users watched this scene, trembling.
So brutal, yet so elegant.
That man in the suit was practically a tyrannosaur in human skin.
"Phew..."
Lynn pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away non-existent dust from his cane, then turned to look at Junpei.
"Junpei, take notes."
Junpei hurriedly pulled out a small notebook, his hands shaking slightly: "B-Boss, how much should I record?"
Lynn walked over to Zenin Shinrō, who was kneeling on the ground still coughing up blood, and looked down at him.
"Let me calculate."
Lynn counted on his fingers and said with a serious face:
"First, I saved four of your lives from the swarm of Cursed Spirits. Charging two hundred million per life isn't too much, is it? That's eight hundred million."
"Second, you just pointed a sword at me, causing great trauma to my fragile heart. Mental damages: one hundred million."
"Third, and most importantly."
Lynn pointed at the winged Toads still clinging to them and said with a smile:
"I personally demonstrated this move, Domain Amplification: The Well's Unknown Abyss, to you. This is an advanced course that even your family head might not necessarily teach. Charging you a hundred million in tuition is practically an act of charity."
"In summary."
Lynn extended a hand in front of Zenin Shinrō.
"That will be one billion yen. Cash or card?"
"You... you're dreaming..."
Zenin Shinrō's mouth was full of blood as he glared at Lynn through gritted teeth.
One billion? Even if they sold all four of them, they couldn't scrape together that much cash!
"No money?"
The smile on Lynn's face vanished instantly, and his eyes turned cold.
"You don't have money, yet you dare to be so arrogant?"
He leaned down and unceremoniously snatched the tachi from Zenin Shinrō's hand before he could even sheathe it.
The sword was pitch black all over, faintly emitting an ominous aura. It was clearly a high-quality First-Grade Cursed Tool.
"Since you have no money, then use items to pay off the debt."
Lynn casually tossed the sword to Junpei behind him. "This sword looks decent enough; let's count it as fifty million."
"Bastard! That was bestowed upon me by the family head..."
Slap!
Lynn backhanded him, slapping Zenin Shinrō's words right back into his stomach.
"It's mine now."
Following that, Lynn acted like a heartless bandit, directing Junpei to start "searching" them.
"This short sword is nice, take it."
"This amulet is also a Cursed Tool? Take it."
"This haori seems to be made of special defensive fabric? Strip it."
Under the dumbfounded gazes of everyone around, the once-majestic Zenin Family quartet was stripped by Lynn until they were left in only their underwear and inner garments, shivering in the cold wind like four plucked quails.
"Alright."
Lynn looked at the spoils of war piled in Junpei's arms and nodded with satisfaction.
"You can get lost now."
Lynn dispelled the Shikigami.
Zenin Shinrō crawled up from the ground in humiliation, his entire body trembling.
His sword was gone, his clothes were gone, and his dignity was gone.
He stared fixedly at Lynn, the malice in his eyes almost overflowing.
"You... you will regret this."
"You've not only offended the Hei organization, but you've also offended Lord Naoya and the entire Zenin Family!!"
"We will never let you go! That Cursed Technique... we will definitely reclaim it!!"
Hearing that name, Lynn's eyes lit up.
This was the sentence he had been waiting for.
"Naoya? Zenin Naoya?"
Lynn took a step forward, thoughtfully helping Zenin Shinrō straighten his remaining tattered collar, and whispered with a smile:
"That's perfect then."
"Go back and tell that fellow named Naoya, or your old family head who drinks all day."
"Want your dignity back? Want this sword back? Or do you want this Cursed Technique back?"
Lynn pointed to his own shadow.
"You're welcome to come to Tokyo and find me at Jujutsu High anytime."
"Remember my name."
Lynn stood tall and opened his arms toward the group of beaten dogs, with the ruins and corpses behind him serving as the perfect backdrop.
"I am Lynn."
"The owner of Exchange No. 8."
"As long as you bring enough money, I'll be waiting for you."
After saying that, Lynn didn't spare them another glance. He led the heavily laden Junpei and turned into the dark passage.
Leaving Zenin Shinrō standing there, clenching his fists until his nails dug deep into his palms and blood dripped down.
"Lynn..."
"I swear... I will tear you into a thousand pieces!!"
...Tokyo, late-night streets.
Inside the car, Junpei held the pile of Cursed Tools. Looking at his boss, who was resting his eyes in the passenger seat, he couldn't help but ask:
"Boss, by doing this... have we completely burned our bridges with the Zenin Family?"
"Burned our bridges?"
Lynn opened his eyes and watched the street scenery flying past outside the window, his lips curling into a meaningful arc.
"Hahaha, Junpei."
"There aren't many good people in the Zenin Family."
"I'm merely accelerating their predetermined fate."
Lynn touched the box in his pocket containing the special grade cursed object: Soul-Returning Face.
"They will come. Bringing stronger Cursed Tools, more money, and stronger sorcerers, they'll line up to deliver points to me."