Just as a fifth often appears among the Four Heavenly Kings, since four Special Grade Sorcerers were said to exist on the surface, there was bound to be an extra one in private.
Kinji Hakari was that extra one, the uncrowned Special Grade Sorcerer.
Just how strong was he?
Two Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerers had given him evaluations:
Gojo Satoru: Kinji and Yuta are Jujutsu Sorcerers who can stand beside me in the future.
Yuta Okkotsu: As for Hakari-senpai, if he's in good condition, he can beat me.
What do you think he relied on to manage this underground fighting arena?
This wasn't some legitimate business.
Curse Users frequently came here, including Curse Users like Awasaka Jiro who could rival or even slightly surpass a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Did he rely on simple management skills?
No, he relied on his fists!
Mahito wanted him so badly.
(T/N: Ayooo that's kinda gay bro)
Compared to Jogo, Hanami, and Dagon, his abilities were far superior.
While intelligent Special Grade Cursed Spirits were loyal and had no ulterior motives, their minds were too rigid;
they could be generals charging into battle, but not marshals.
To develop, one could not lack a marshal.
Kinji Hakari, this uncrowned Special Grade Sorcerer, was the marshal he had chosen.
As for Kenjaku?
He'd kill him sooner or later.
Most importantly—
He was the only Special Grade Mahito currently felt confident in defeating!
It wasn't that he wasn't strong;
on the contrary, his Cursed Technique combined with Domain Expansion made him almost invincible.
Even the original Mahito at his peak would have been beaten to death by him.
But the current Mahito was not the original Mahito—
now he was confident he could easily handle Kinji Hakari.
This was an attribute counter!
That was why he was sitting here.
Suppression through force brought the ambition to recruit him.
Mahito was full of confidence, determined to win over Kinji Hakari!
Kinji Hakari slammed the table.
"Are you looking down on me, Cursed Spirit?!"
Well, as expected.
Jogo couldn't take it anymore.
He had been standing behind Mahito like a bodyguard, but now he suddenly stepped forward.
"Watch your tone, old human!" Jogo said arrogantly. "Standing before you is a candidate for the Throne of God who can bring evolution to both humans and Cursed Spirits! If you don't want to be abandoned in the new world, you'd better—"
Mahito raised a palm, and Jogo swallowed the rest of his words.
His expression twisted, but he ultimately shut his mouth.
Kinji Hakari didn't spare Jogo so much as a glance, only glaring fiercely at Mahito, his voice sounding like the roar of a tiger in the hunt.
"I indeed find the current jujutsu world an eyesore, but I haven't fallen so low as to oppose my mentor. Do you think just because many Curse Users frequent my place, I'm a Curse User too? Don't look down on me!"
"Even though I was suspended from Jujutsu High, opened an underground fighting arena, took in Curse Users to make money here, and ignored the rules of the jujutsu world by openly telling guests about the existence of Jujutsu Sorcerers—even being put on a wanted list..."
He paused between each word and said,
"I am still a legitimate sorcerer of the jujutsu world."
"A Cursed Spirit actually wants to talk to me about cooperating to overturn the jujutsu world?"
"How ridiculous."
He called it ridiculous, yet there was no smile on his face.
His gaze remained locked on Mahito, his Cursed Energy boiling as if he would erupt and kill in the next instant.
That's right.
Although Kinji Hakari was indeed wanted and had committed many acts violating the prohibitions of the jujutsu world, he really wasn't a Curse User.
His wanted status was merely for being brought back for solitary confinement.
He felt he wasn't wrong, so he didn't obey the order.
The so-called wanted notice was just that, not the same as a traditional Jujutsu Sorcerer's warrant.
He really was a legitimate Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Mahito had already prepared to start fighting five seconds into the meeting because his words indeed carried a condescending insult, especially for someone like Kinji Hakari, who dared to defy the traditionalist faction of the jujutsu world.
But he didn't expect Kinji Hakari to actually endure it without attacking.
The first reason he thought of was that Kinji Hakari was taking Kirara Hoshi's wishes into account.
For his companion's sake, Kinji Hakari was temporarily enduring.
But soon, he keenly perceived the fluctuations in Kinji Hakari's soul—
Kinji Hakari was pretending to be on the verge of exploding, but in reality, he didn't want to fight at all.
This wasn't endurance, but a scheme.
He was bluffing.
This was the first time Mahito had encountered a true master of words.
Before this, even an old fox like Kenjaku hadn't done this.
That's it.
Mahito suddenly understood.
Because Kinji Hakari had no idea he had eyes that could see through the soul, he was testing Mahito in his own way, wanting to obtain more information.
Should I play with him? Mahito thought.
Splash, splash, splash.
Kirara acted as if they didn't see the tense atmosphere, pouring wine with ease.
They took out two wine glasses, placing them in front of Kinji Hakari and Mahito respectively, and raised the bottle, pouring with practiced movements.
They asked casually,
"So, if I were to ask you to use your Cursed Technique for me, what would be required?"
After thinking for a moment, they added,
"Oh right, if you say you want me to whisper in his ear to change A-Jin's mind, I'll refuse. Although I'm looking forward to your Cursed Technique, I care more about A-Jin than my own wishes. I unconditionally follow all of A-Jin's decisions."
Mahito glanced at Kirara and smiled.
He said to Kinji Hakari,
"You have a good woman."
Kirara looked triumphant.
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