"Gojo Satoru, I'm asking you again, what happened at that time?"
"Did you see who took the girl?"
"Who the hell knows."
Gojo Satoru propped both feet on the table, slouching rebelliously like a delinquent, swaying back and forth in the chair. His pair of Six Eyes looked up at the flickering light, not sparing a glance for the person in front of him.
"I don't know."
Gojo Satoru played dumb; acting completely ignorant was the correct approach.
However, he was certain that Riko had been taken by Kenmyo's people before he fell unconscious. But business is business; these people shouldn't expect to hear anything about Kenmyo from his mouth.
You can ask all you want, but I'm not cooperating.
Gojo Satoru, looking utterly disgusted, said slowly, stretching out the words:
"What did you say? I didn't catch that."
Gojo Satoru's completely uncooperative and lazy demeanor thoroughly infuriated the interrogator.
"Bang!"
He slammed his notebook hard onto the table.
"Gojo Satoru!"
"I'm asking you one last time, was Riko Amanai taken by—mmph."
Before the name could be uttered, the other person recording at the same table reacted immediately, breaking out in a cold sweat when his colleague seemed emotionally agitated enough to say something inappropriate.
Quick as a flash, he turned off all the recorders and audio equipment beside him, and immediately stood up to cover the guy's mouth before any irreparable damage was done, preventing him from saying the rest of the sentence.
"Idiot, don't say things you shouldn't."
After chastising him, he quickly apologized to Gojo Satoru.
"Our apologies, Mr. Gojo. Thank you for your cooperation today."
"Whatever."
Seeing the person opposite nod, Gojo Satoru took his feet off the table, stood up, and left without saying another word.
"I'm leaving now."
Only when the room contained just the two of them again did the man sigh in relief and lower his hand.
The man, whose face was red and neck thick—either from lack of oxygen or anger after nearly being choked—yelled furiously at his partner:
"What are you doing!"
But the guy who had nearly choked him was even more agitated, his eyes fierce enough to devour someone. He violently yanked his tie and pressed him against the wall.
The force was so great that the wall shook slightly, instantly terrifying the man leaning against it.
"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you."
The recording person said in a chilling tone:
"This case involves the highest secrets of the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association, the next head of the Kamo Family, and the next head of the Gojo Family."
They are all behemoths; you cannot afford to offend any of them.
Look at their status, and look at yours.
Waving a feather duster like a mandate—do you really think the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association's clients hired us to investigate thoroughly?
We are just freelance Jujutsu Sorcerer lured here by high pay, doing outsourced work.
This is merely to shut the Gojo Family up, just following a procedure to show that we didn't do anything inappropriate to your family's heir.
"Don't let the fact that they aren't much older than the kids in our families fool you; if you anger them, they could crush you and me with a single finger."
"Do you understand!"
Our side is just a formality; the real decisions are made by those "big shots" above.
Do you really think that anything we find here will immediately allow this to be classified as a kidnapping case?
Know what you should and shouldn't do.
Otherwise, you'll get the money but won't live to spend it.
Meanwhile, at a long-abandoned, overgrown soccer field, the first visitor in a long time arrived.
"Hey, I'm here."
Walking in the dark from the team entrance of the soccer field was a weather-beaten middle-aged man. He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and a phone in his hand, walking onto the field itself.
"Where are you?"
However, the city lights not far away allowed his face to be faintly visible: it was Kong Shiyu, wearing his usual gray suit.
"I see you."
The voice on the phone was crisp and decisive, and perhaps still uneasy, it added another sentence.
"You weren't followed by anyone else, were you?"
"Idiot, since when were you so cautious?"
Kong Shiyu replied in an annoyed tone:
"Of course. To the place you chose, not even a ghost could follow."
"That's good."
As soon as the voice on the phone ceased, lights capable of fully illuminating the central field area of the small soccer stadium all switched on simultaneously.
The sudden, blinding glare transitioning from darkness to light made it hard for Kong Shiyu to open his eyes, and he instinctively shielded the light with his hand.
Only after his eyes fully adjusted did he see the scene on the field.
"Hey, hey, hey."
However, the sight Kong Shiyu saw still made him feel uneasy.
"Why did you set this up like a kidnapping?"
Kong Shiyu's tone was helpless.
"I'm not a human trafficker."
Kong Shiyu saw a girl wearing a JK uniform, her head covered by a plastic bag poked with several small holes for breathing. Her hands and feet were bound, leaving her immobile.
Worst of all, the girl was suspended by a rope. Because she was hanging sideways, deep red abrasions were visible on her arms.
It could be roughly inferred that she had been hanging there for a long time, which is why Kong Shiyu called this guy truly excessive.
"Don't be hypocritical."
Sitting below was Fushiguro Toji, cross-legged on the ground, with a small dagger stuck into the soil beside him.
"It's disgusting. If it weren't for the job you gave me..."
Hearing Kong Shiyu's words, Fushiguro Toji rolled his eyes at him and said dismissively:
"Would I have dragged her all the way here?"
From their conversation, it was clear that the person hanging high above was none other than Riko Amanai.
"Alright, bro, I've been waiting for you forever."
Fushiguro Toji waved his hand, deciding not to argue with Kong Shiyu. He pulled the small dagger from the ground and casually tossed it upward.
"I've been on edge, terrified of being discovered."
The sharp blade immediately sliced the rope suspending the girl.
She instantly plummeted, dropping right beside Fushiguro Toji just as he rose from the ground.
So, Fushiguro Toji only needed a slight grasp to catch the girl by the neck, preventing her from falling further.
This was merely to help the girl cushion her falling momentum, not an act of tenderness.
"Is she dead?"
Kong Shiyu saw the target was motionless and assumed she was dead.
"How could she be? Didn't you say the living one fetches a higher price than the dead one? Why would I let her die?"
Fushiguro Toji, finding it troublesome, simply lifted the entire girl with one hand and then cleanly tossed her at Kong Shiyu's feet.
She was slammed mercilessly onto the ground, face first—one can imagine how painful that was.
The girl with the bag over her head woke up at this moment.
But since she was completely bound and unable to move, the poor girl just squirmed around.
To be honest, with the bag over her head, she looked quite comical.
"However, this brat waking up is a bit troublesome."
So Fushiguro Toji slowly walked over and gave her head a hard kick, as if kicking a soccer ball.
"After all these years, you still ask such foolish questions. I really don't know what goes on in your head."
Fushiguro Toji urged impatiently:
"Hurry up and finish the procedure, it's already dark."
If he didn't finish things soon?
Those two brats would think their old man had run away and wasn't coming back.
He was terrified, truly terrified.
If they started making a fuss, Fushiguro Toji would be the one in trouble.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
Kong Shiyu noticed that Fushiguro Toji's recent mental state was much better than before, so he made a joke.
"It looks like Megumi and Tsumiki are taking good care of you."
"Huh?"
Fushiguro Toji glared fiercely at him. He truly didn't know what kind of eyesight this guy had to come to that conclusion.
"Bastard, what are you looking at? Clearly, I'm the one taking care of them!"
"Heh, given your circumstances, it's really hard to say who's taking care of whom."
Kong Shiyu removed the bag from the girl's head, looked at her face, which matched the wanted poster, and nodded.
"It is indeed Riko Amanai."
"But you've got some skills, you bastard."
"To actually snatch this target away from those three monster rookies."
The reason why Riko Amanai's bounty broke the upper limit for Curse Users' bounties, drawing so many Curse Users to compete for this mission, was:
It was because Riko Amanai's bodyguards held a formidable reputation among people in their circle.
Yet Fushiguro Toji directly stole the target from those three. Even Kong Shiyu wanted to tell Fushiguro Toji, "Awesome."
"Hmph, of course."
Fushiguro Toji showed a hint of pride on his face and rubbed his nose.
"Who do you think this great me is?"
"Three mere brats? They are nothing in front of Lord Toji."
"Alright, alright, alright."
Kong Shiyu saw that after just a couple of casual compliments, the guy immediately got carried away, and he said helplessly:
"Sorcerer Killer is the best in the world."
This is the man who now prioritizes his family, huh? Truly terrifying.
To have such an intense desire for money is quite outrageous.
In Kong Shiyu's view, Fushiguro Toji took an enormous risk to snatch Riko Amanai, alive, from Gojo Satoru and the others. He must have been influenced by those two children.
Before, if one person ate their fill, the whole family ate their fill.
Now there are two more mouths to feed, so Fushiguro Toji really had to go out and work.
Kong Shiyu took out his phone and, before dialing a number, said to Fushiguro Toji,
"Let's go, I'll take you to see the employer."
"To settle the final payment."
"You want me to carry her?"
Are you kidding me?
Fushiguro Toji said, displeased.
"Otherwise?"
Kong Shiyu didn't spare Riko Amanai on the ground a second glance; he started dialing the employer.
"Hello? Is this Mr. Sonoda?"
"We've completed the mission. Yes, that's right."
"And Riko Amanai is alive, for you to dispose of as you wish."
"That's right."
Since Kong Shiyu had confirmed it was Riko Amanai, and she was alive, the scope for negotiation became much larger.
Perhaps he could even let this scoundrel earn a bit more, and his own commission could also increase.
Flexible communication with clients—that's the mark of a qualified agent.
"Hmph, you'll be scared to death later."
Fushiguro Toji watched Kong Shiyu walk further and further away, pouting, clearly annoyed.
He deftly hoisted the unconscious Riko Amanai onto his shoulder like a sack, then walked forward, slowly following Kong Shiyu's footsteps.
As the two walked further away, in the flickering lights behind them, a faint figure could be seen, indicating that besides Fushiguro Toji and Kong Shiyu, there was a third party present on the scene.
At this moment, the person in the shadows slightly curved their lips upward, seemingly quite satisfied with the outcome of Riko Amanai being taken away.
Soon, in a remote mountain forest on the outskirts of Tokyo, a black car slowly drove in.
The mountain road was in terrible condition, a gravel path mixed with stones and mud. It seemed to have just rained in the mountains, making the road even more muddy and the car extremely bumpy.
Fushiguro Toji had his arm resting on the open window, his face as dark as water; not a trace of a smile could be seen.
"Damn it, what kind of godforsaken place is this?"
After all, who could endure a two-hour car ride just to reach this desolate place?
"It's good enough that there's a road to drive on."
Kong Shiyu, who was driving, sneered and said,
"I heard this Star Plasma Cult might have provoked someone they shouldn't have, so their entire sect moved into the deep mountains and old forests just to avoid being discovered by enemies."
"What kind of enemy is that powerful?"
Fushiguro Toji was a bit curious about an enemy so terrifying that it could make a sugar daddy with so much cash hide in the deep mountains.
How terrifying could that enemy be?
"I don't know, anyway, the Star Plasma Cult has kept this information tightly sealed; very few people know about it."
Kong Shiyu shook his head, indicating he didn't know either.
"We also happened to use the opportunity of 'door-to-door debt collection' to find them."
"Look, we should be there."
Fushiguro Toji looked in the direction he pointed, and saw an inconspicuous crevice in the valley.
From a distance, it looked tiny, but upon driving in, one would find it was actually quite large, capable of accommodating a large truck.
Are they really completely hidden inside the valley?
They sure know how to hide.
From satellite imagery above, one could only see mountains, not the scene inside the valley.
Inside the valley, there were many completed buildings, constructed against the mountain, so they looked quite sturdy.
Finally, the car stopped steadily in front of a building. After getting out, several people were already waiting there.
"Please follow us."
Fushiguro Toji, carrying Riko Amanai, walked towards a room.
A respectful attendant at the door opened it.
Inside, two elderly men were already seated on the sofa, waiting. One of them, an old man with a protruding forehead somewhat resembling a goldfish, was Kong Shiyu's client, a high-ranking member of the Star Plasma Cult.
Sonoda Shigeru, dressed in a white zippered suit, greeted them with a kind smile, looking particularly benevolent.
The other was an even older man than Sonoda Shigeru, with graying hair and dry skin like old, withered wood, leaning on a cane while sitting on the sofa.
In such a setting, anyone else present would likely be the Star Plasma Cult's patriarch, its highest leader.
"Welcome, two esteemed guests."
Sonoda Shigeru stood up to welcome Fushiguro Toji and Kong Shiyu, showing great enthusiasm.
"No, I'm not here as a guest."
Fushiguro Toji heavily placed Riko Amanai, whom he was carrying on his shoulder, onto the coffee table, expressing his exhaustion from the journey.
His attitude was also very rude, like a street thug.
His manners were practically nonexistent.
"Where's the money? Where's the money?"
Kong Shiyu didn't stop him or tell him to restrain himself, because he himself was quite tired from driving.
Damn it, earning money even requires driving on mountain roads.
"Sir."
Sonoda Shigeru expressed understanding. After all, due to the threat from a certain brat, they had moved their entire sect to the deep mountains, and they themselves were quite vexed.
Not to mention the serious trouble it caused for old customers who came to visit and those who funded the Star Plasma Cult.
"If that truly is Riko Amanai,"
"Then I will give both guests an additional 10% on top of the original amount as compensation."
"Oh, as expected of the Cult Leader, so generous."
Upon hearing about the increased money, Fushiguro Toji's previous displeasure completely vanished.
He even actively praised him.
Where was that arrogant and overbearing demeanor from before?
"This guy..."
Kong Shiyu was quite helpless with this money-grubbing fellow, and he even called the wrong person.
"Hey, Toji, he's not the Patriarch."
Calling the wrong person is quite embarrassing.
"The one behind him is."
"Is that so? My apologies."
Fushiguro Toji scratched his head.
Since the money had increased, he might as well do a bit more.
So he voluntarily stepped forward and untied the hood binding Riko Amanai, revealing her face to the two old geezers.
The moment her face appeared, their breathing instantly became rapid.
That face, they would never forget, was the Star Plasma Vessel.
After all, this might be their closest step to the future Master Tengen.
Their excited hearts, their trembling hands.
Master Tengen, finally, no longer needs to be defiled by such a filthy wretch.
They protected Master Tengen.
"Yes, we confirm that is Riko Amanai."
So, Sonoda Shigeru proactively took out two briefcases from a small room, each containing thirty-five million.
That's seventy million.
So much more than the expected amount?
Fushiguro Toji and Kong Shiyu were both startled; what the hell?
They said 10%, but this was at least double.
"No, no, being able to help us, this amount is nothing."
Sonoda Shigeru respectfully said,
"Please accept it."
Fushiguro Toji cursed inwardly,
Damn it, seeing the other party being so sensible, he honestly felt a little uneasy.
"Idiot, don't fall for their sugar-coated bullet."
Kenmyo's voice came through Fushiguro Toji's earpiece, with a hint of exasperation.
"Don't forget, we're here for a double-cross."
Regardless of whether that guy was ready or not, Kenmyo was ready.
At this moment, surrounding Kenmyo were hundreds of black and red butterflies, their wings adorned with grotesque patterns of wailing Skulls.
Kenmyo called them "Hell Butterflies."
Don't let their small size fool you; each one contains a highly concentrated compression of Cursed Energy from a 'Skull,' meaning they are equivalent to high-explosive bombs.
The concentration of the pollutant source is extremely high.
The inspiration came from the brat playing with blue butterflies, whom Kenmyo killed with a gun.
"Go, bring destruction upon my defiant enemies."
These colorful butterflies descended from above the valley, directly assaulting the buildings below.
When the leading Hell Butterfly touched a building, it gently flapped its wings, and instantly, as if melting, it collapsed from its core to its limit, then reached its pressure peak and released all at once.
After a black and red cross-shaped flash rotated, a dark purple orb shimmering with lightning directly exploded.
But that was only the beginning, as more and more Hell Butterflies would arrive at their designated positions, then bloom into the most brilliant fireworks.
Kenmyo overlooked it all.
Where the Hell Butterflies dance, death thrives endlessly.