Tsumiki Fushiguro showed not the slightest hint of embarrassment and nodded gently. "I am deeply grateful for your care. Megumi would not dare to disobey."
Toji Fushiguro asked beside her, "How's that kid Megumi doing?"
"A bit lazy," Tsumiki Fushiguro said. Though she spoke of laziness, a smile unconsciously appeared on her face. "But he has a group of very good friends. He is no longer alone."
"I see." Toji Fushiguro nodded expressionlessly. "I didn't think you'd still care about him."
"He's the one I entrusted to Gojo Satoru right before I died," Toji Fushiguro said flatly. "I'm not concerned about him. I just simply want to know how he's doing."
Mahito slapped Toji Fushiguro on the shoulder. "In this era, tsundere isn't in style anymore, especially for men!"
Toji Fushiguro said without changing his expression, "In our era, tsundere was still a popular term."
"Mahito, it's you who's spoiled these people!" Kinji Hakari couldn't take it anymore and even cursed his own boss. "Damn it, I really thought we were playing house! We're the darkest, most evil faction aiming to overthrow the Jujutsu World, not some damn comedy troupe! This atmosphere has to be corrected!"
Mahito continued to laugh and comforted Kinji Hakari. "Alright, alright. You might think attacking Tokyo Jujutsu High was comical now, but wasn't the result good? Besides, if we were to attack seriously, I don't think you'd want that either, right?"
Kinji Hakari was speechless.
Well, that was indeed true. If he really had to take action, he wouldn't be able to do it either!
Kenjaku regained his spirits. "At least our minimum objective has been achieved. Mahito obtained the Cursed Techniques of all the students at Tokyo Jujutsu High, and I retrieved the cursed womb: Death Paintings from the dangerous warehouse of the Star Corridor. Mahito has grown stronger again, and we can add three more Special Grade Sorcerers... Hmm, Tengen might reach the rank of Special Grade Sorcerer. As for the others, they are at least Special Grade Cursed Spirits."
Mahito seemed thoughtful and asked, "Were the casualties heavy at the Star Corridor?"
"No, I stopped him from killing anyone," Kinji Hakari said coldly. "Mahito, this guy is dishonest, always digging pits for you. He wants to completely destroy the great Japanese barrier!"
The most important duty of the Star Corridor staff is to assist Tengen in maintaining the great Japanese barrier and the normal operation of the Star Corridor.
In the original work, when Mahito broke in, besides going to the warehouse to get the Death Paintings, his most important task was actually killing people. The more he killed, the heavier Tengen's workload would become, making her less able to pay attention to Kenjaku's schemes.
That's right. In the original work, during the crucial battle to seal Gojo Satoru, the reason Tengen paid no attention at all was because too many people died at the Star Corridor. Her workload increased, forcing her to abandon dealing with Gojo Satoru and instead handle matters concerning the entire great Japanese barrier.
Moreover, in Tengen's mind, if Gojo Satoru was taking action, wouldn't success be guaranteed?
It can be said that Kenjaku truly understood Tengen too well, calculating her moves clearly from start to finish. Tengen's defeat was truly not unjust.
But the current Mahito is openly aiming to rule the Jujutsu World. The great Japanese barrier, of course, cannot be destroyed; otherwise, with Cursed Spirits running rampant, what would there even be to rule?
Putting aside other things, if Mahito really did that, even if he forcibly ruled the world by force, rebellions from below would definitely not be few.
Violence has always been a necessary condition for rule, but it is not the only condition.
The important reason why Kinji Hakari could go to see Gojo Satoru with such carefree confidence was that he himself was completely clean, and Mahito was also clean.
Well, although Mahito destroyed the Zenin Family, according to the rules of the Jujutsu World, the Zenin Family brought it upon themselves. Moreover, Mahito has never harmed anyone and actively restrains Curse Users and Cursed Spirits. In the eyes of the Jujutsu World, he truly is clean.
In the original work, didn't Maki Zen'in also directly destroy the Zenin Family? Maki Zen'in was even more ruthless than Mahito, even exterminating the Hei members who were out.
She wiped out the elderly and children completely. Didn't she still attend the final battle with dignity? After the final battle was won, she still participated in the protagonist group's post-war debriefing without any restrictions.
Mahito is much stronger than Maki Zen'in. He spared the elderly and children of the Zenin Family, and he didn't pursue the Zenin members who were out and hadn't returned. Setting aside his identity as a Cursed Spirit, he is more merciful than any Sorcerer. Even though he destroyed the Zenin Family, everyone recognizes his supreme benevolence and goodness. This is the reason.
Such an approach can very effectively reduce the will to resist when Mahito rules the Jujutsu World in the future.
Kenjaku immediately said, "I absolutely had no such intention. Those staff members are Tengen's die-hard loyalists. If we don't kill them, even I wouldn't be able to find Tengen."
This was the truth. In Mahito's vision, Kenjaku's Soul showed no fluctuation, indicating he was telling the truth.
Kenjaku glanced at Mahito and continued to explain:
"Later, the reason I could find her was because I didn't expect the person maintaining the barrier to be changed to Okkotsu Yuta, who is not skilled in Barrier Techniques. If I had known Okkotsu Yuta was the one maintaining the barrier, I wouldn't have killed the Star Corridor staff."
This was also the truth; Kenjaku's Soul still showed not the slightest wavering.
But how could Mahito fail to see Kenjaku's little schemes?
Mahito lowered his head and looked at Kenjaku, asking lightly, "Teacher Ken, do you remember the Binding Vow between us?"
Kenjaku rolled his eyes and smiled. "Of course, I remember very clearly:
"Both parties regard each other as allies. Neither party shall betray the other, whether subjectively or indirectly.
"I must offer all the knowledge I possess, holding nothing back, speaking exhaustively. In exchange, I receive one opportunity for your necessary assistance.
"The above Binding Vow will be dissolved after overthrowing the Jujutsu World."
Mahito said seriously, "Teacher Ken, you've overstepped. You shouldn't have deliberately killed the Star Corridor staff."
"Although looking at the result, it indeed wasn't necessary," Kenjaku said helplessly. "But at the time, I truly didn't know Tengen wasn't in the Star Palace."
His Soul showed not the slightest wavering. This was the truth.
"In the plan, Tengen was only the highest target, not a necessary one. I believe this should be our consensus," Mahito pressed forward without hesitation. "You were the one who actively sought out Tengen. When you realized you had to kill Star Corridor staff to find Tengen, you should have decisively given up. But you didn't. Therefore, you overstepped."
Kenjaku's smile gradually faded. He felt the intense killing intent in Mahito's heart and looked at him in confusion.
"You want to kill me? Why? I should never have shown you any malice. On the contrary, I have always sincerely helped you.
"Almost all your current knowledge was taught by me. The people around you were all gathered by me. Even the Second Generation that you are now meticulously cultivating—I gave Jogo the target. Hanami and Dagon—he could find them."
This was true. Although all the forces gathered around Mahito now are convinced and follow him as their leader, before this, they were indeed gathered by Kenjaku as the intermediary, including the current newborn Intelligent Cursed Spirits.
Even Mahito's original core members—Jogo, Hanami, and Dagon—were brought by Kenjaku.
"I am just reminding you, Teacher, not to test my patience," Mahito said lightly.
Kenjaku's mind raced, immediately realizing, "How did your duel with Gojo Satoru end?"
A smile curled at the corner of Mahito's mouth. "Evenly matched... no, I was at a slight disadvantage."
Kenjaku fell silent.
He looked deeply at Mahito and sighed. "The younger generation is formidable."
After a pause, he raised a smile again. "Sorry, sorry, I overstepped. I swear I won't make similar moves again. We haven't overthrown the Jujutsu World yet, and I'm still very useful, aren't I? Even if I become useless, throwing me into another world would at least make a good watchdog."
"I know how to read the situation," Kenjaku said with a playful smile.
These words were true. Even without looking at the Soul's fluctuations, Mahito knew.
After all, in the original work, he had done the thing of clinging to Ryomen Sukuna's side. He openly stated his reason: if he dared to leave Ryomen Sukuna's side for even a moment, he would definitely be killed by Gojo Satoru.
Although Kenjaku is a troublemaker, he is not a fool. He knows how to read the situation; otherwise, he wouldn't have lived this long.
It must be known that not only does he want to kill Tengen, Tengen also very much wants to kill him! But he stubbornly kept changing brains and reincarnating right under Tengen's nose, and Tengen, the overseer of the great Japanese barrier, simply couldn't find him.
Now, upon sensing Mahito's killing intent, he promptly admitted his fault.
Mahito nodded. "I want all of Teacher Ken's knowledge accumulated over a thousand years."
This was what Mahito had proposed when establishing the Binding Vow before, and now he was proposing it a second time.
Kenjaku smiled. "It seems your battle with Gojo Satoru has allowed you to grow. The nourishment you've accumulated until now has been fully stimulated, and you need to accumulate anew.
"Then, my answer is the same as before."
Kenjaku looked around at Hanami, Dagon, Kinji Hakari, Ashiya Magon, Tsumiki Fushiguro, and Toji Fushiguro.
Except for Toji Fushiguro, who was completely unaware of Kenjaku's character, everyone looking at him carried a trace of malice, ready to act.
He said seriously to Mahito, "I will hold nothing back, speaking exhaustively."
His words were more sincere than ever before.
"Then first," Mahito extended a hand and gently touched the stitched line on Kenjaku's forehead, "let me restore your body first. Release your Soul's defense. You know I will only read the information in your Soul, not alter it. Unlike you, I won't make any small moves."
Kenjaku pursed his lips, sighed mournfully, and released the defense of his Soul.
The Binding Vow to overthrow the Jujutsu World was originally meant to protect Mahito himself. But from this moment on, this Binding Vow became Kenjaku's protection.
From then on, offense and defense switched positions.
It's impossible not to make small moves.
Mahito's killing intent was genuine. If not for the protection of the Binding Vow, Uraume dared to guarantee he would already be dead. And even with the Binding Vow's protection, it couldn't guarantee that at the very moment the Jujutsu World was overthrown, his head wouldn't be taken off by Mahito.
Uraume was certain this was something Mahito would indeed do.
As for why he treats me this way, even though I've nurtured him with such sincerity?
Ahem, probably, maybe, perhaps, it's because he saw through too many of the pits I dug?
Oh well, you can't blame me for that. Faced with this unprecedented King of Curses, what researcher wouldn't be deeply moved? Kenjaku dared to swear no researcher could resist.
Moreover, he didn't want the King of Curses to die. On the contrary, he very much hoped the King of Curses would live more brilliantly.
But the problem was, compared to the King of Curses, he cared more about the great Cursed Spirits. With a heavy heart, he chose the great Cursed Spirits over the King of Curses.
That's right, I need you to be a little patient and not appear before Mahito.
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