"Found it. There are faint traces of a Cursed Spirit in the largest chemical plant in Iwate Prefecture." Suguru suddenly spoke.
He then looked at Renji, the standard black sedan of Jujutsu High had been waiting at the alley entrance for a long time.
"Let's go."
Renji and Suguru walked toward the car.
As the sound of the car's engine roared, the two disappeared from the alley entrance.
"So that's a Special Grade Sorcerer. How nice. Ah! I forgot to ask him for an autograph. Saisai-senpai would definitely love an autograph of a powerhouse like that. Speaking of which, I don't think I've seen Saisai-senpai for several months now." Murakami Taro scratched his head and muttered to himself.
Murakami Taro walked out from behind the police line.
He was in his first year on the job.
"Good work, everyone. How about we go for a drink tonight?" Murakami Taro said with a smile as he looked at the other busy supervisors.
"Sure. I didn't expect you to actually know Geto-san, Taro. They say he's very easy to get along with, it's just that his Cursed Technique is a bit..." One supervisor clicked his tongue.
"Don't say that. Geto-san does it to protect us. It feels wrong to slander him behind his back like this." Murakami Taro scratched his head.
Another supervisor seemed to suddenly remember something and looked at Murakami Taro. "By the way, Taro, last night a contact from Jujutsu High asked me to give you a box. It seems to be Saisai-senpai's things. Remember to pick it up after we're done drinking."
"This kid... he couldn't actually be dating Saisai-senpai, could he?"
"Please, no. Watching a bro fall in love is more painful than my own breakups."
"It's nothing like that." Murakami Taro smiled somewhat sheepishly.
At the same time, inside an Iwate Prefecture subway station.
"Iwate! How many years has it been since I last came here? Hahahaha!" An elderly man who looked quite energetic stroked his mustache.
"Clan head, please keep a low profile. This incident is not that simple." A First-Grade Sorcerer wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the old man with some embarrassment.
Under the lights, the bustling crowd swept past the old man.
"What's the big deal? Come on, smile. Hahaha!"
The old man was none other than the current head of the Zenin clan—Zenin Naobito. Beneath his loose training clothes were sturdy muscles. His white hair was combed back in a streamlined style, and he held a wine gourd in his left hand.
The crowd in the subway station dispersed. Soon, only Zenin Naobito and his accompanying sorcerer, Zenin Jinta, remained. Both were First-Grade Sorcerers, though Naobito was much more powerful because he was extremely proficient in Projection Sorcery.
"Clan head, I thought at first you came to teach that Special Grade a lesson. After all, he beat up Naoya-sama. With Naoya-sama's temperament..."
Zenin Jinta put down his phone. He had just contacted the members of the Zenin clan's Kukuru Unit who were out in Iwate Prefecture.
Naobito sat on a subway bench and chuckled. "Although Naoya's personality is infamously bad, he is still a child who admires strength. After witnessing that Special Grade Sorcerer's power, he won't go looking for trouble."
Naobito watched as the next subway train stopped and a flow of people poured out again.
"Then is your purpose for coming to Iwate this time to find that thing?" Jinta pushed back his hair and asked with some confusion.
Naobito stood up and walked toward the exit.
"Yes, and also to visit an old friend. Besides, I heard that Special Grade brat came to Iwate. If I have time, I'll go take a look. Also, Jinta, the car is here."
As soon as Naobito finished speaking, Jinta's phone vibrated.
"Clan head, wait for me."
...
The Iwate Prefecture chemical plant was located on the outskirts of the entire prefecture. It was a well-known factory in the vicinity. According to locals, for the past two years, someone would mysteriously jump into the corrosion tanks every year and be turned into skeletal remains while still alive.
At first, some speculated it was murder, but after watching the surveillance footage, those people had all climbed onto the corrosion tanks for some unknown reason. Then, as if searching for a sound, they looked around before jumping into the tank the very next second.
Because such incidents happened frequently, the factory was gradually abandoned. Now, there were only a few night-shift security guards in the plant.
Click!
Renji and Suguru opened the car doors.
"Please set up a Curtain." Suguru looked at the supervisor driving the car.
"Understood, Geto-san." The supervisor immediately got out of the car and set up the Curtain.
"What do you say?" Suguru and Renji stood side-by-side at the factory entrance.
"Let's get the civilians inside to leave first. It wouldn't be good to involve the innocent." Renji stepped toward the security room.
He looked through the glass into the security room.
No one?
Steam was still rising from the teapot on the table, and the blankets were rumpled, indicating someone had been here just moments ago. The slippers under the bed were still neatly placed with no sign of anyone leaving. Based on the traces, someone had been here five minutes ago.
"Was the security guard taken? This is a bit troublesome. Hurry up and search."
Suguru formed a seal with one hand, and a transparent Manta Ray Cursed Spirit flew toward the factory interior.
They entered the factory workshop.
According to the factory map, just two workshops ahead was the storage location for the acid tanks. That Cursed Spirit should be over there.
"Watch out!" Suguru's voice suddenly rang out.
The next second, Renji instantly unsheathed Murasamemaru.
Buzz!
A stone was slashed in half, hitting the ground with a thud that made one's ears go numb.
Looking toward the sound, they saw a monkey-type Cursed Spirit, approximately a Semi-Grade 1, hanging upside down from a dilapidated iron railing by its tail. All six of its deformed hands were clutching stones, which were stained with blood.
"Come out, Rain..."
Suguru's Cursed Technique was not yet fully deployed before Renji stopped him.
"Leave it to me, Geto. I also know a little bit about summoning. Shiromuku, tear it apart." Renji gently stroked the red string on his left hand and spoke softly.
The next second, a terrifying laugh erupted from the red string, causing the monkey Cursed Spirit that was about to attack to stop instantly. It then looked at Renji warily, seemingly considering whether to continue its assault.
Immediately after, a woman, whose face could not be clearly seen, stood quietly behind Renji. After locking eyes with Renji, a Grade 1-level Cursed Energy instantly erupted, and she suddenly appeared above the monkey Cursed Spirit's head.
"Darling said to tear you apart" Shiromuku let out a piercing shriek.
The monkey Cursed Spirit's pupils shrank. It had never imagined that throwing a random stone would lead to its death. It wanted to flee, but it was pinned in place by Shiromuku's gaze, unable to move.
Pfft!
Crack!
The white of Shiromuku represents purity and flawlessness. It also signifies that after entering the husband's family, it can be dyed any color, meaning it easily integrates into the husband's household.
However, at this moment, it was being splattered with a terrifying dark purple as those sharp claws continuously descended.
A few seconds later, the monkey Cursed Spirit's body could no longer be recognized.