About a week later, Mahito and Kenjaku were seated on the Shinkansen heading to Kyoto.
Mahito stared out the window, bored, and asked, "By the way, is it really necessary to make a special trip like this? Couldn't you just have him come over, or communicate by phone?"
Kenjaku smiled and replied, "That won't work. We can't establish a binding vow unless we're face-to-face. If any of our information leaks before the operation, it would be very troublesome for me."
To the other passengers on the train, it looked as though Kenjaku was talking to himself, but nobody seemed to notice or care.
Changing the subject, Kenjaku said, "I didn't expect you to cause such a huge stir after killing Kento Nanami that day. The ripple effects of that incident have left them quite overwhelmed recently, which has made my activities much easier."
"Then how about I kill a few more?" Mahito asked with a smile.
Kenjaku shook his head slightly. "Jujutsu Sorcerers other than Satoru Gojo—even Grade 1 sorcerers—aren't much of a threat. If you act too frequently, you might provoke Satoru Gojo instead."
Mahito seemed to be gazing out the window, but in reality, he was observing Kenjaku's reactions. He wanted to see whether Kenjaku had noticed the incident at Mount Miharayama.
In fact, before leaving with Kenjaku, Jogo had already fully recovered the Cursed Energy lost in his battle with Satoru Gojo, using the fermenting public outrage from the Mount Miharayama explosion. Moreover, as the volcano's influence expanded over the past few days, just as Mahito had hoped, Jogo's power gradually exceeded its previous limits, confirming that Mahito's theory and plan were correct.
With this confirmed, all that remained was for Jogo to guide the eruption of Mount Fuji at the right moment, amplifying fear through a greater crisis. After all, to instill even more dread than a Mount Fuji eruption, one would perhaps need to simultaneously detonate all the volcanoes in Area 11—but executing such a plan would be far more difficult than targeting Mount Fuji alone and is currently impossible.
As for timing, Mahito planned to act during the Goodwill Event at Tokyo Jujutsu High. According to the plot in the manga, only he and Hanami would participate in the operation this time, making it the perfect opportunity for Jogo to act.
Mahito only needed to conceal his intentions from Kenjaku for the moment. Once the plan succeeded and Jogo gained the strength boost brought by the incident, it would be difficult—and unnecessary—to hide it from Kenjaku.
For a brief moment, Mahito felt the urge to strike Kenjaku with Idle Transfiguration, but he restrained himself.
Kenjaku noticed Mahito's gaze reflected in the glass. "What is it?"
"I was just thinking how cunning you are, Geto," Mahito said, diverting the topic. "All the things that can't be handled face-to-face fall to us."
Kenjaku laughed. "If you put it that way, it's true. But for the sake of finally resolving the hidden danger that is Satoru Gojo, I'll have to trouble you all for now."
After arriving in Kyoto, it took them some time to reach the secret base where Kokichi Muta was located.
As soon as he entered, Mahito pinched his nose and waved his other hand at his face, exaggerating his disgust. "The musty smell is awful. Can people really live in a place like this?"
They were greeted by a large number of puppets controlled by Kokichi Muta, their barrels aimed squarely at Kenjaku and Mahito.
Mahito didn't take these "toys" seriously and sneered, "It seems the owner isn't very welcoming. To be safe, maybe we should just kill him, right?"
Kenjaku calmly dissuaded him. "You shouldn't say that. With his ability to control these puppets, there's almost no limit to the distance he can reach. The fact that he's willing to meet us in person already shows great sincerity."
Nearby was a bathtub connected to a dense network of pipes, filled with an unknown medicinal liquid. Lying in it was a person wrapped tightly in bandages, leaving only the mouth, nose, and eyes exposed. This was Kenjaku's target for the trip—Kokichi Muta.
Kokichi Muta slowly sat upright, his body trembling slightly with the movement. His gaze finally fell on Mahito as he addressed Kenjaku.
"Is it him? The one you said can free me from this pain?"
Kenjaku nodded. "Yes. He is the existence that can heal you."
"Prove it," Kokichi Muta said coldly, almost like a command.
Kenjaku glanced at Mahito. Mahito pulled a Portable Monkey, compressed to the size of a finger, from his pocket. Under Kokichi Muta's gaze, he used Idle Transfiguration to restore it to human form.
The demonstration shocked Kokichi Muta.
Kenjaku explained, "His Cursed Technique differs from the Reverse Cursed Technique's healing—it can thoroughly heal you at the root. So, can we reach an agreement now?"
Kokichi Muta did not agree immediately. "You must accept one more condition before I cooperate with you."
"What a headache. Do you take us for Santa Claus?"
Mahito slapped both hands onto the Transfigured Human he had just restored. The figure immediately assumed a combat stance, clearly showing Kokichi Muta that he was unaware of future events and dissatisfied with him.
"Don't be in a hurry. Let's see what he wants," Kenjaku said calmly. Among the two Jujutsu Highs, only Kokichi Muta held such a suitable bargaining position, due to the weakness imposed by his Heavenly Restriction.
"I want you to make a binding vow not to attack the Jujutsu Sorcerers of Kyoto Jujutsu High. Only then will I accept this deal and provide you with intelligence."
Kenjaku asked Mahito, "By the way, during the Goodwill Event, some Curse Users I called will also participate. Want to meet them now?"
Mahito feigned disinterest. "Curse Users? Is that necessary? They won't be wearing Jujutsu High uniforms anyway—won't they be identifiable at a glance?"
But that was only a superficial answer. In reality, Mahito planned to find an opportunity during the Goodwill Event to kill the Curse Users, starting with Juzo Kumiya. After all, Curse Users are also Jujutsu Sorcerers, and it would be far more entertaining to transform a few more Cursed Spirits.
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