"Don't just stay quiet. This is a legendary special grade cursed tool! One of the top weapons in the entire jujutsu world!"
Seeing the brothers remain silent, Ninagawa quickly began to explain everything he knew about the blade.
The Split Soul Katana, a special grade cursed tool, carried a unique effect. It could cut through anything, ignoring the hardness of any material. As long as the wielder had enough strength, even steel-like bodies could be cut off with ease.
What made it even more terrifying was that its strikes could reach the very soul, making it one of the most effective weapons for exorcising curses.
Toji reached into the wooden box and pulled the sword free. Standing up, he swung it a few times. The blade spun so fast that the people present could only catch glimpses of faint afterimages. The cutting wind was sharp enough to make those nearby feel as if even the tips of their hair were being sliced away.
"It handles well. I just don't know if its ability is really as good as you claim." Toji studied the katana carefully. Though he could not see anything special, he could feel its weight, its balance, its sharpness. It was not an ordinary weapon.
He tapped the flat of the blade with his finger, his gaze shifting between Ninagawa and Mukuro. His younger brother's powers were strange and unpredictable. Perhaps he could tell if this weapon was truly a good one.
"If you want to know for sure, why not test it out?" Mukuro suggested.
"Good point. But what should I test it on?"
"Down below!" Ninagawa called out, panic flashing in his eyes as he noticed Toji turning his attention to the other treasures in the room. "In the chamber underneath this floor, I keep many reinforced steel plates. Their hardness is extremely high. If you don't mind, you can test the blade on those."
"Oh? Then I suppose we could go there."
Toji slung the sword over his shoulder and followed Ninagawa and Ren into the elevator.
Once they stepped out onto the underground floor, rows of massive reinforced steel plates came into view. Each was set upright like a wall, several inches thick, and every one carried target markings from years of use in firearms training.
Toji stepped forward, pressed his hand against one plate, and applied force. The steel groaned, and a clear palm-shaped dent sank into its surface.
"No way! That's reinforced steel! Even bullets can't penetrate it!" Ren's jaw nearly dropped from fright.
He too could manage dents if he used cursed energy. But this man had done it barehanded, without any build-up of power. To press an imprint into specially-forged plates like that… such a thing was beyond human.
"Not bad. It'll do for a test." A grin tugged at Toji's lips. He flipped the sword into the air, caught it, and then vanished. In that instant, all that could be seen was a storm of steel flashing under the fluorescent lights.
A thunderous crack followed.
Bang!
When the others blinked, the rows of steel plates had already collapsed. Every one of them bore perfect, clean cuts, sliced apart with uncanny smoothness.
"Deal. Consider the extra payment canceled. We'll take the sword," Toji said, looking at the blade in his hand. It was unscathed, not a single nick or blemish, as if it hadn't even been used. He nodded in satisfaction.
"That's wonderful to hear, truly wonderful." Ninagawa let out a breath of relief, wiping sweat from his brow. He had been prepared to bleed more money if necessary, but he had gotten away with less than expected.
* * *
"Then we'll be on our way. If you have more jobs, have him contact me. And because you gave us the blade, I'll even give you a ten percent discount."
Back upstairs, Toji rested the sword casually across his shoulder, the other hand gripping two heavy cases of money. Mukuro and Shiu rose to their feet, and the three of them headed for the exit.
"Take care."
Ninagawa stood and ordered a few servants to escort them to the door.
"Huuh…"
Only once the three had left the villa did Ninagawa collapse into his chair, panting heavily. His undershirt was drenched with sweat. He had faced many dangers in his life, but sitting across from those two brothers was like staring into the eyes of predators. It had felt like his very life could be taken at any moment.
"Master, are you alright?" Ren rushed forward, alarmed.
"I'm fine… call my children abroad. Tell them I've decided to leave the country."
Ever since his beloved granddaughter died because of the Kiyomaru clan's cruelty, his children had left Japan, unable to bear living here anymore. Ninagawa alone had stubbornly remained, vowing to take revenge. Now that his wish had been fulfilled, there was nothing left binding him here. It was time to go.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Shiu's car.
"You two better be careful with that blade. Don't scratch my seats."
Through the rear-view mirror, Shiu saw Toji resting the huge sword across his lap, while Mukuro leaned against the window. He rubbed his forehead in frustration.
"Relax. If it cuts anything, it won't be your car. The sword's good, but it's a pain to carry around. Don't you think?"
Toji ran a hand along the blade. It was the first special grade cursed tool he had ever owned, and he couldn't deny the satisfaction. Still, carrying something so large wasn't exactly convenient for assassination work. His gaze shifted to Mukuro, silently asking for a solution.
"No rush. We'll figure something out," Mukuro rested his chin on his hand and answered lazily. In truth, he wasn't sure what he could do, aside from using his abilities to conceal it. But that would only work if he stayed close. What his brother needed was a way to carry it freely without depending on him.
He thought briefly of the Inventory Curse. Where was that fellow now?
"Speaking of which, with all this money you've earned, why don't you guys buy a car yourself? It's a hassle having me drive you everywhere," Shiu grumbled with a cigarette between his lips. After just a few days, he felt like he'd become their personal chauffeur.
"A car, huh…" Toji glanced at his brother, considering it.
"Why are you looking at me? I don't even know how to drive. But he's not wrong. A car would come in handy sooner or later." Mukuro shrugged.
"Fine, fine," Toji gave a halfhearted reply.
The three of them fell into casual conversation as the car rolled along.
* * *
An hour later, the brothers finally arrived at the Zenin clan estate.
"You want to come in for some tea?"
In good spirits, Toji even extended an invitation as he stepped out of the car.
"No thanks. I've got other business." Shiu waved, started the engine, and drove away.
"Boring guy."
"Don't act like you'd be interested in a man anyway."
Mukuro's sharp remark earned a shrug from his brother. The two of them turned toward their home, the Split Soul Katana resting easily on Toji's shoulder.
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