Chapter 8 : Jiang Lai - It's Haunted, Then I'm Relieved!
What's it like to wake up to 99+ messages?
Jiang Lai: Thanks for asking, conditioned reflex gives a kind of panic about missing early morning classes/being late to work/forgetting meetings.
But wait, didn't I already graduate college/take work vacation/go out traveling??
Jiang Lai reacts for a few seconds after drowsy awakening, finally breaking free from instincts carved into his DNA.
Right, I've transmigrated now and am still looking for the way back. He calms down and opens his phone.
Looks like it should be messages from Matsuda and the others... could the manga have updated again? Jiang Lai's thoughts flow through his mind. Updates are so fast. But perhaps it's because the time flow between the two worlds is different.
Indeed, as Jiang Lai just guessed, all the message notifications come from the "Loving Family" group chat. Jiang Lai scrolls up to the top and starts browsing one by one.
The first few are all @ing him, telling him the manga updated again and he can check the official website (followed by links).
Jiang Lai clicks the links and quickly reads through the updates, taking mental notes of key points while also somewhat surprised by the manga's portrayal of himself at the train station.
Was he really that imposing at the time? He ponders for two seconds, giving a mental thumbs up. Good, wrap another red envelope for the dark filter!
However, Mahito's performance when greeting him seemed quite interested in himself. And didn't expect that when meeting Itadori, Sukuna actually silently opened his eyes...
Jiang Lai rubs his temples. Attracting the attention of these guys isn't exactly a good thing. Getting involved with two special grades right from the start, isn't that a bit absurd?
Forget it, take it one step at a time.
At least currently, these two special grade cursed spirits haven't shown hostility or aggression toward him.
No matter what, he still needs to quickly enrich himself and become stronger. Jiang Lai is very clear in his heart. Don't hope for enemies' mercy and inexplicable momentary interest, only having combat power himself gives him capital for survival and negotiation.
He exits the manga official website and roughly browses several forum threads, thinking and pondering as he reads.
Overall browsing, although netizens speculate toward higher-powered identities, they have no specific guesses, just a vague impression.
Jiang Lai tries to feel himself, attempting to draw out possible "primordial power" within his body, but unfortunately, still no special feelings.
Is it because the ability speculation isn't specific enough? He recalls the partial skills he learned through forums in the Detective Conan world, all were specific to certain categories.
Seems like surface-level evolution alone isn't enough. Jiang Lai's fingertip brushes over his phone back, thoughts flowing through his mind. Need to guide toward specific directions.
He remembers Matsuda Jinpei's chat with him in the group earlier, using the fake name Gojo Lai, he could develop toward a technique similar to but not actually Limitless.
But a technique similar to Limitless... Jiang Lai holds his forehead. This thing is a bit hard to demonstrate. How should he act to make people in both worlds believe?
Jiang Lai records this point in his memo, planning to carefully ponder and research a reasonable route.
Then he returns to the chat group.
The latter content is discussions between Matsuda, Morofushi, and Akira around these chapters, and things happening in the Detective Conan world.
It also mentions the great detective Kudo Shinichi.
In the crisscrossing exchanges between group friends, Jiang Lai smiles, as if he can visualize everyone communicating.
During this time, Matsuda Jinpei and others in the Detective Conan world also contacted Kudo Shinichi.
Kudo Shinichi and Jiang Lai naturally know each other, though initially it was a misunderstanding-based acquaintance. Back when he was still Conan, he'd occasionally be startled by Jiang Lai shrouded in dark filters (Jiang Lai: Actually I'm a good person, really!).
Of course, later they successfully revealed identities and united fronts. After the Detective Conan world overthrew the Black Organization and created antidotes, Kudo Shinichi resumed his high school identity, continuing his brilliant detective career.
Now, Kudo Shinichi is both a good friend and a famous detective with an excellent mind, naturally the perfect choice for helping analyze clues.
So the next day after Teitan High School let out, Matsuda Jinpei and the others went to find Kudo Shinichi.
When Kudo Shinichi heard everything, he paused, his hands naturally crossing on the table: "I understand, this is a reasoning game meeting gift planned by Jiang Lai? Thank you. So this time's game, the culprit is one of three among you?"
Matsuda & Morofushi & Akira: "???"
Kudo Shinichi's sapphire blue eyes focus with the seriousness and activity of solving cases, looking up calmly: "From the beginning, Officer Matsuda please repeat the entire process from airport to home again."
Matsuda Jinpei gestures explanations: "No, it's not a reasoning game, and no acquaintance crimes! Though it sounds ridiculous, Jiang Lai really transmigrated!"
Three seconds of air silence.
Kudo Shinichi: "...But, transmigration doesn't sound scientific no matter how you hear it."
"Cough, actually our world isn't very scientific either... growing and shrinking, aging reversal and such." Matsuda Jinpei complains, mentally adding [even resurrection from death, something from nothing, even more ridiculous stuff].
Morofushi Hiromitsu pats the famous detective's shoulder, eyes slightly curved, warmly saying: "Though it sounds surprising, surprises do indeed happen."
Kurosawa Akira raises calm green eyes without speaking, but his expression already explains everything. He silently takes out a manga volume from his bag.
"'Jujutsu Kaisen [New Series]'?" Kudo Shinichi looks down at the title, expression somewhat surprised, "Not long ago Komura-san from our class handed me one, asking me to help analyze hidden information inside when I have time."
"Hmm... I still remember Komura-san and Kadoya-san recently always discussing, what was it, Gojo Lai?"
Matsuda Jinpei: "Ah yes yes yes, that's Jiang Lai!"
Kudo Shinichi: "?"
Kurosawa Akira's expression shows no fluctuation. He flips pages backward, turning to a full-body shot of Jiang Lai's appearance, showing it to the person in front: "When you analyzed manga details, didn't you feel this character looked somewhat familiar?"
Friends from daily interactions becoming 2D images actually can't be immediately recognized at first glance.
But after being reminded and refocusing on the picture character, many details become apparent.
Especially this appearance with brown eyes slightly deep, seeming to smile but not, lazy yet dangerous... the more you look, the more familiar it becomes.
Kudo Shinichi is silent for a moment, can't help recalling his feelings as Conan back then:
This dark filter aura, no wonder it felt so familiar when reading, turns out it was you, Jiang Lai!!
Kudo Shinichi: That's how he scared me back then!!!
"The Adventure of the Empty House" has a classic quote: When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
After briefly processing this impactful news, Kudo Shinichi puts down his crossed hands: "...Alright, I roughly understand somewhat." He pauses, "Also, could you explain in more detail?"
The above is the process depicted through group friends' back-and-forth descriptions. Jiang Lai can even visualize the scenes from text.
His eyes curve with smiles, looking down at the screen as if he can see through it to meet his friends.
Later, Kurosawa Akira sends four photos, indicating these are what Kudo analyzed and annotated.
"..." Jiang Lai focuses intently.
These are several physical images from the new series manga with red ballpoint pen annotations. Circled out are black and white iris flower patterns.
Jiang Lai had seen this logo on the sukiyaki restaurant's signboard and walls.
But he didn't expect it to appear on airport billboards, train station bulletin boards, and the card Fushiguro Megumi showed when entering the store!
He narrows his eyes, re-examining these annotated areas.
Among them, the patterns appearing at the airport and train station are very blurry, only showing vague outlines, hidden in the manga's bustling crowd backgrounds.
Kudo Shinichi keenly discovered these details and circled them out.
The patterns here look like some kind of symbol... could this be a widely popular brand with broad business scope in the Jujutsu world? He forgot to look at the name at the sukiyaki restaurant.
Jiang Lai shifts his gaze to the card Fushiguro Megumi showed.
This manga segment appears in the sukiyaki restaurant after Jiang Lai left and freed up space, when Itadori Yuji and others confirmed dining there.
Fushiguro Megumi takes out this card with black and white iris flower patterns from his wallet, handing it to the server.
...Uh, what is this?... A membership card?
Jiang Lai stares at these circled iris flower patterns, doubts stirring in his heart.
Logically, manga doesn't need to draw advertising brands and membership cards commonly seen in Jujutsu so clearly, and appear so many times.
Unless...
On sticky notes in the photos, the great detective also wrote concisely:
【Repeated details must be useful, but still uncertain about the meaning behind. Perhaps not just simple commercial brands, suggest paying more attention going forward.】
Indeed, perhaps not simple. Jiang Lai nods.
He continues scrolling down. The rest are speculations by Matsuda and others about possible situations, similar to forum reasoning content.
At the end, Morofushi Hiromitsu sends photos of additional pages attached to the physical manga purchase in the group.
The additional content is several cute Q-version four-panel comics. The first three are funny daily life of Itadori and others, the last is a single image rich in content.
In the image, Q-version Itadori Yuji, Fushiguro Megumi, and Kugisaki Nobara surround the table with shocked expressions. Separated by a wall outside the store, Q-version black-haired brown-eyed little person smiles with narrowed eyes, slightly tilting his head.
At the center of everyone in the picture is a spiral-eyed purple gecko.
This single image is titled "Dying Surrounded by Everyone."
Jiang Lai: "..."
The official knows how to play with memes! Gecko got the main character Itadori's treatment (not)!
But it's quite cute. Jiang Lai looks at Q-version everyone and himself in the manga, also smiling. Too bad he temporarily can't stand together with them.
The other side of the additional content is new information, and Jiang Lai focuses intently. What's described is precisely information about the feather necklace he wears!
Only the described content is somewhat unexpected.
"..." He raises an eyebrow, looking at the small text annotated beside the feather necklace on the additional page.
【Appears to be ordinary decoration, actually an undetectable cursed tool. Because it itself has the ability to hide, blur, or distort cursed energy.】
This passage doesn't specify that the feather necklace can let him switch feelings between cursed spirits, ordinary people, and jujutsu sorcerers, only generally explaining cursed energy control.
Jiang Lai sees another point from this, when he has techniques, it might be able to hide or change residual filth.
This is a very useful skill! Equivalent to cleaning crime traces at crime scenes, don't know if it can also transfer suspects and frame others...
Of course, this is just a metaphor. Jiang Lai states he's a good four-virtue youth.
Specific operations still need practical judgment. He thinks. Need to quickly try mastering the ability to control cursed energy.
After Jiang Lai finishes reading through the chat records, he replies in the group.
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: Just woke up and saw this, thanks, family!!]
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: (otter spinning and clapping.gif)]
[#Good Luck Lai Coming#: Also help me thank the great detective, I'll pay attention to those annotated flower patterns.]
After he exits the chat app, he coincidentally receives a new email notification.
Jiang Lai opens his mailbox and sees the sender is a rental agency he consulted before sleeping.
Because he needs to stay in the Jujutsu world for a while (estimated to be quite long), Jiang Lai plans to rent a house as a base.
Last night before sleeping, he browsed the internet and finally left his housing requirements and contact information with a well-reviewed rental agency with complete certifications.
Didn't expect this agency to be quite efficient. Jiang Lai blinks and opens the email.
The house this agency found has a good location, convenient transportation, and many surrounding shopping areas.
Inside it's two bedrooms and one living room with perfect lighting. The photos show the furniture is surprisingly complete (in Japan, rental houses usually don't have furniture), and all equipment looks new.
Such an advantageous house, yet the price is unexpectedly low... Jiang Lai's gaze moves to the monthly rent. Why?
If this agency wasn't indeed very famous and reputable, Jiang Lai would think this is some kind of scam. He pauses and decides to call the phone number attached to the email to inquire.
The agency lady on the other end is very enthusiastic. After simple communication, Jiang Lai asks about the price issue.
"Ah, about that, the price was set by the landlord himself." The agency lady hesitates for a moment and sighs, "This house actually... hasn't been rented out for a long time, it has some problems. Because we uphold the principle of loyalty to customers, we always investigate all aspects of properties clearly and inform accordingly."
"What problems does this house have?" Jiang Lai frowns slightly, "Is the quality substandard?"
In this country prone to earthquake disasters, it better not be some shoddy construction that could collapse overnight. In that case, no matter how suitable, Jiang Lai wouldn't rent it.
Just kidding, he doesn't want to be buried while sleeping!
"Ah, no. This house has all proper qualifications, absolutely no problems with hardware." The agency lady replies. She pauses, seeming to struggle with how to organize her words, "But the previous tenants..."
Hearing such hesitant words from the other side, Jiang Lai guesses: "Did someone die in this house? Did all the previous tenants unfortunately meet with accidents?"
Could there be cursed spirits?! Jiang Lai's heart sinks. Dense mysterious deaths could very likely be cursed spirit activity!
The operator lady quickly replies: "Ah no, no death incidents!" She coughs, hesitating: "But it does have strange incidents, simply put, it's haunted."
"Haunted?"
"Though it sounds like urban legends, this house really has these occurrences. Previous tenants, shortest a few days, longest a few months, all fled. The landlord rarely goes there either. Setting the price low probably because it's hard to rent out." The agency lady says.
"Previously there were also people who supposedly specialize in handling these kinds of incidents who came to look... but it seemed useless, still haunted afterward."
Long duration, no deaths or injuries, then it shouldn't be cursed spirits. Jiang Lai relaxes slightly upon hearing this. And there were specialists, probably jujutsu sorcerers who looked at it, so the haunting is most likely unrelated to curses.
As long as it's not cursed spirits, that's good. As for ghosts... back in the Detective Conan world, he was already used to getting along with spirit forms of Matsuda and Hiromitsu, even planning their resurrections!
Whether this kind of thing exists in the jujutsu world or not, Jiang Lai isn't afraid at all.
So Jiang Lai exhales and smiles in reply: "I was worried before, but if it's really just haunted... then I'm relieved."
Operator lady: "???"