Chapter 9 : The Ghost Gentleman in the House
Although Jiang Lai doesn't mind haunting and such, the proper house viewing process still needs to be followed. He must conduct an on-site inspection before determining if it's suitable.
And... what if there really are cursed spirits? He still needs to make a trip to check.
The landlord had already given the keys to the agency, so he can go view the house with agency personnel anytime.
With the thought of finishing house selection early to get things done, after eating breakfast, Jiang Lai contacts the agency personnel, preparing to go look.
This agency's service is very comprehensive. After Jiang Lai reports his hotel location, they dispatch someone to pick him up by car, heading to the rental property location.
While waiting at a red light at an intersection on the road, Jiang Lai again notices the black and white iris flower logo atop a distant shopping mall.
Pausing, Jiang Lai asks: "Is this iris flower some brand?" He smiles, "Just arrived here, noticed quite a few, somewhat curious."
"Hmm?" The agency personnel turns his head to look, then explains: "Oh, that one, it's not a brand, it's the Regulatory Committee."
"Regulatory Committee?" Jiang Lai is stunned. What's this?
"About twenty-something years ago, various problems occurred frequently, but the causes were all sorts of strange things. Back then there were multiple accident incidents, and the public was very dissatisfied."
The agency personnel slows his tone, explaining.
"Later, under government leadership, with joint efforts from various consortiums, major families, and citizen organizations, this Regulatory Committee was established after agreed-upon rules, to ensure quality and safety of finished products from small items like food to large things like buildings. The logo is the black and white iris flower."
"..." Jiang Lai blinks, "Equivalent to a market inspection regulatory department?"
"Not really. Because the Regulatory Committee essentially has no mandatory functions and doesn't have legal authority." The agency personnel says, "But its influence is very significant. The general public basically pays attention to whether goods or shops have the iris flower logo, which means they've passed the Regulatory Committee's inspection."
... Somewhat unexpected. Jiang Lai is silent.
Logically, this kind of thing should be the government's job, but it's given to a free organization's regulatory committee, and all capital groups have no objections, and the masses still trust it? Seems a bit unrealistic, right?
"Who are the people in the Regulatory Committee?" he asks.
"To be precise, I'm not clear either. The obvious ones are all publicly known volunteers," the red light ends, the agency personnel continues driving while answering, "but the core members are kept secret. Probably to prevent bribery or malicious harm?"
Hard to say. Thoughts flow through Jiang Lai's mind. This Regulatory Committee feels somewhat... unusual.
Real life can hardly have free organizations with such functions. It sounds more like a utopian hypothetical existence.
But mysteriously, it can actually overcome all troubles and continue to exist, spread throughout all aspects, and maintain such high status in people's hearts.
Don't know how it specifically operates. Perhaps this is a special setting of the new Jujutsu series world.
Jiang Lai leans back against the chair: "But won't counterfeiting occur? The iris flower logo wouldn't be hard to imitate."
"Counterfeiting is almost impossible, there would be rather serious accountability. And the iris flower logos issued by the Regulatory Committee have rather special effects... I'm not good at describing it, you'll know if you look carefully."
"Special effects?" Jiang Lai recalls last night's sukiyaki restaurant signboard and the patterns on the interior walls, feeling they were just ordinary decorations. He looks up again at the gradually distancing shopping mall rooftop logo.
The agency personnel seems to understand Jiang Lai's meaning, smiling honestly: "What you're seeing are all deliberately enlarged logos, or some decorative paintings that merchants make so people can see at a glance."
"Actually, the certification logos issued by the Regulatory Committee aren't large. According to requirements, they're posted above doorways."
Above the main entrance? Jiang Lai really didn't notice that at the time.
But no matter, since it's so common, there will be opportunities to learn more later.
Then, he recalls the membership card with iris flower logo that Fushiguro Megumi showed in the manga, so he pauses and asks seemingly casually:
"Does that mean only merchants have this logo-related thing?"
"There's another possibility. It's said the Regulatory Committee gives people they evaluate as having special contributions a kind of card. With the card, they can get discounts when consuming at various shops that passed inspection." The agency personnel recalls.
"Of course, this discount money isn't actually paid by the merchants, but by the Regulatory Committee. Every year the Regulatory Committee does unified reimbursements."
Special contributions... Connecting to Fushiguro Megumi at that time, could this be benefits for jujutsu sorcerers? Does the Regulatory Committee know about the jujutsu world's existence?
Well, not surprising, considering major families' participation.
"The Regulatory Committee always notices good deeds and then evaluates special contributions." The agency personnel says with emotion, "The Regulatory Committee always does great work."
... Uh, good deeds? Jiang Lai is stunned for a moment. That's also reasonable. This way, providing benefits to jujutsu sorcerers mixed in won't seem abrupt.
But from the side, you can also see the Regulatory Committee has very rich information channels.
Jiang Lai lowers his eyes, thinks for a few seconds, then uses his phone to search for information about this so-called "Regulatory Committee."
This Regulatory Committee's full name is very simple, seemingly named based on when it was established: the 1990 Supervisory Committee.
Online encyclopedia information is very rich. He quickly scans through, filtering out unnecessary information, finally focusing on one point: when it was established.
From back then to the current winter of 2018 (Jujutsu world timeline, Itadori Yuji's first year at Jujutsu High is 2018), the time isn't long, but not short either. But this establishment timing is very subtle...
Because the once-in-a-century Six Eyes, the globally attention-grabbing Gojo Satoru, was born on December 7th, 1989. That is to say, this 1990 Regulatory Committee was established shortly after Gojo Satoru's birth.
... Could there be some connection?
Of course, it could also be pure coincidence. Maybe he's overthinking.
Jiang Lai puts away his phone.
Currently, this Regulatory Committee seems to serve the people, regulate markets, commend good deeds, and apparently provide benefits to jujutsu sorcerers.
As for the Regulatory Committee's funding issues, the data shows the foundation amount was already large in the year it was established. Plus every year major families allocate funds, and there are also donations from anonymous social figures, so their funding is very sufficient.
A supervisory plus charity organization that does practical work? Probably. Or perhaps there's another hidden side. Jiang Lai withdraws his thoughts, deciding to investigate further later.
At this moment, the vehicle finally arrives at Asazawa Apartment's parking space. This is the address of the house Jiang Lai wants to rent.
The building isn't very tall. This ordinary apartment building isn't equipped with an elevator. They walk up to the third floor.
Today is a sunny day, rare to have such good sunshine in winter. This house's lighting is just as good as described. Gentle warm-colored light penetrates the windows, illuminating the interior scenery.
Jiang Lai maintains caution, wearing shoe covers and walking several circles through the house. He doesn't see any traces of cursed spirits, so finally relaxes.
Excluding the possibility of cursed spirits, Jiang Lai is very satisfied with this house.
Although this apartment building has some age, proper maintenance doesn't affect anything. In the initial period, this place as a base would be convenient and comfortable.
The agency personnel has been somewhat nervous throughout.
The agency person in charge who brought him today is a middle-aged man. His facial skin is tight, lips pressed straight, eyes staring at his feet, not looking around randomly.
Jiang Lai half-jokingly, half-probingly asks: "I've heard there are haunting rumors here, but looking now, the atmosphere here doesn't seem like a place where horror movies would happen."
"Ah... yes, there have always been haunting rumors here. Though you can't tell from the surface." The agency personnel exhales, "I, honestly, I'm indeed somewhat afraid of this kind of thing."
"Previously a tenant was my friend. He was very bold, but after living here for just a few days he also moved out. Afterward he even read various books for self-adjustment for several months..."
Jiang Lai blinks with some surprise. Could it really not be environmental illusions or mice causing trouble, but truly scary haunting?
The jujutsu world actually has ghosts besides cursed spirits. What rich biodiversity.
He internally complains lightly, looking up thoughtfully: "Currently I'm quite satisfied with this house. But hearing you all say this..."
He's not afraid of ghosts, just worried that so-called haunting incidents might disturb his rest.
"Ah, it's fine, sir. The landlord himself said he can give tenants a three-day free trial period. You can stay a few nights, then see whether to rent." The agency personnel gestures with his fingers, saying, "If it doesn't work, we can take you to see other properties anytime!"
"Good," this is exactly what Jiang Lai wanted to hear. He nods, "Then let's try it first."
Let's see if he can communicate with the so-called ghost in this house, learning more about this world's background through another channel.
Asazawa Apartment. Midnight.
Jiang Lai is awakened by television sounds coming from the living room.
Through a door, television broadcasting sounds mixed with crackling static noise drift faintly through gaps.
The television volume isn't deliberately lowered or raised. In any case, even through a door, for Jiang Lai with high alertness, it's enough to wake him.
Jiang Lai opens his eyes looking at the ceiling overhead, then gets up, planning to go see. He's currently wearing pajamas, casually grabbing the phone from his bedside table, walking toward the room door.
He listens carefully to the sounds outside. The television seems to be broadcasting boxing gambling matches. He can hear the commentator's rapid, precise commentary and excited cheers from the audience in the background.
Jiang Lai reaches out to turn the door handle. The door doesn't open.
He raises an eyebrow slightly, discovering the room door seems to be locked from outside.
Every room door here is key-lock style, not twist-style. The agency didn't give him room door lock keys.
After the door is locked, it can't be opened without keys.
Jiang Lai: No matter, I know how to pick locks.jpg
Thanks to Detective Conan world experiences, Jiang Lai developed good skills. Lock-picking technique is naturally a required course.
Though he hasn't practiced for a while, this kind of house door lock is very simple. Jiang Lai doesn't take long to open it.
In the middle of the night, the pitch-black living room only has television light glowing faintly, abruptly illuminating a small area ahead.
On screen, crackling snow static occasionally blurs fighting scene images. Cold winter wind outside howls whistling. Interweaving sounds are like unknown whispers. Cold air slips through gaps, spreading and lowering the entire living room's temperature.
Jiang Lai's gaze sweeps ahead, using his phone's flashlight mode for illumination, turning to walk toward the circuit breaker location on the interior wall.
"Click."
He turns off the living room circuit breaker.
However, the television after power cutoff still remains bright, completely unaffected, still softly crackling and occasionally flickering with snow static.
On screen, just as one round ends, loud cheers have penetrating power, echoing in the current quiet environment, appearing increasingly eerie. Horror story atmosphere rises to the extreme.
But Jiang Lai is quite calm.
In the darkness, he slightly looks up: "I don't mind having one more tenant in the house... but please keep it down."
He faces forward, speaking as if talking to himself in the quiet environment.
Cold wind outside whooshes sweeping across streets. The living room television still broadcasts underground boxing matches, with constant crackling sounds.
Jiang Lai sighs lightly, continuing:
"I think you should understand, it's standard rest time now, Zenin-san."
With the final address in his words, the semi-transparent black figure in front of the television finally slowly turns his head.