Chapter 13 : Jiang Lai - Experienced.jpg
When hearing the news that Megumi lives next door, a complex mixture of expressions crosses Fushiguro Toji's face, but with his very strong emotional management, he adjusts within a breath.
Jiang Lai notices the ghost in front of him unconsciously placing his right hand over the back of his left hand just now. His gaze also imperceptibly glances down.
Body language often reveals many unspoken emotions. He glimpses several circles of bandages wrapped around Fushiguro Toji's left hand. Uh, why would a spirit form specifically construct wrapped bandages?
...Is it a clothing habit, or is something hidden underneath?
Jiang Lai doesn't stare at Toji's left hand for long. He very naturally shifts his gaze away, making eye contact with the drooping sea urchin-haired man in front of him.
Fushiguro Toji has already resumed his usual lazy, casual appearance: "Oh, that's quite surprising news. I haven't gone out to look."
At this moment he has no intention of hiding, instead openly admitting it. He knows Jiang Lai has probably already deduced this point, so he has no intention of continuing to conceal.
"Can't go out?" After the other party's direct answer, Jiang Lai also asks directly, "Trapped in this house?"
"To be precise, not this house." Fushiguro Toji denies, then suddenly looks up and asks, "What's his full name?"
Jiang Lai pauses for a moment before reacting to what the other party wants to ask: "Fushiguro Megumi."
"Not surnamed Zenin..." Fushiguro Toji chuckles softly upon hearing this.
The ghost gentleman's mood seems to have improved somewhat. Jiang Lai leans back against the sofa. In the quiet house, only one person's shallow breathing can be heard.
They look at each other calmly.
In the silence, Jiang Lai blinks and speaks first: "First, let me clarify I have no malicious intent, just want to make a deal with you, if you're willing to take it."
"You can call me Jiang Lai." Only now does he truly introduce himself.
Fushiguro Toji observes Jiang Lai for a while, then his scarred lips curve slightly upward, drawing out his voice: "Jobs with adequate compensation... I always take them."
The ghost gentleman floats closer, shortening the distance between them.
After several rounds of probing, they finally openly release some defenses, positioning themselves as employer and bounty hunter.
For two people with their own thoughts, this is the most convenient way to communicate and the most suitable cooperation model.
Jiang Lai's request isn't actually difficult. He says he just wants to hire Toji to cooperate with him.
Fushiguro Toji raises an eyebrow: "Cooperate?"
"What's the extent of your control over non-living objects?" Jiang Lai asks in detail.
"As you can see. I can simply use non-living items, like locking doors, turning on TVs, but can't transmit information. Also, sustained use like watching TV has time limits."
Jiang Lai continues the thought: "Besides, you can't use them one hundred percent either, right? It looks like there are some obstacles, like those unavoidable snow static effects."
"I am a ghost after all." Fushiguro Toji snorts with laughter. "Don't expect too much from a ghost."
"What else?" Jiang Lai points to the glass on the table in front of the sofa. "Can you touch actual real things?"
"Generally, no." Fushiguro Toji extends his arm forward, his semi-transparent fingers passing through the glass on the table.
"But?"
"But if I concentrate, I can move it some distance." Fushiguro Toji places his hand on the glass surface again. The glass on the table is moved forward slightly by the spirit form, stopping at the edge.
Well, this really does have quite the horror movie effect. Jiang Lai complains internally. Whether it's a TV that automatically turns on with static without electricity, or an empty glass mysteriously falling off the table, happening in daily life would indeed bring people enormous psychological pressure...
His imagination only lasts an instant. Jiang Lai quickly returns to his thoughts and asks the most important question:
"So, can you suspend dangerous objects approaching me, like incoming daggers or tiles falling from overhead?"
This is what Jiang Lai most wants to ask about.
His reason for making a deal with Fushiguro Toji is to use an invisible spirit form's control over non-living objects to create a mode similar to Limitless, or at least some kind of spatial manipulation effect.
Fushiguro Toji turns his face upon hearing this, raising an eyebrow with some curiosity: "You want me to be your bodyguard? Let me say upfront, in my current state, I can't be like before."
"It's fine, I don't have such high requirements." Jiang Lai shows a smile. "Can you do it? Just suspend objects approaching me."
"If it's just suspending, I can probably do it." Fushiguro Toji shrugs. "But you need to know, as a ghost, when objects with momentum come at you, even if I can help you suspend them, I can only stop them for... a few seconds. Within ten seconds."
Fushiguro Toji considers himself a fairly reliable bounty hunter. This kind of thing that should be explained naturally needs to be clarified with the employer beforehand, to avoid future troubles for both parties and task delays.
"A few seconds is enough." Jiang Lai nods. He knows that as long as he can achieve the effect of manga appearance pause moments, that's sufficient. He continues asking, "Do you have time limits for appearing?"
"Sort of." Fushiguro Toji answers. "Controlling non-living objects consumes energy, I need rest. So I was used to resting during the day before, waiting to watch midnight gambling programs at night."
This is reasonable. Jiang Lai thinks. After all, in transparent state, it's a kind of lonely boredom. In such times, sleep is also a way to pass time.
Fushiguro Toji's answer is very frank, at least superficially very frank. This somewhat surprises Jiang Lai.
Perhaps the other party feels there's no need to fake during trading. After all, only by demonstrating one's abilities can one exchange for more trading chips.
Fushiguro Toji's frankness also reflects... maybe what he wants in exchange will be somewhat troublesome.
Jiang Lai's thoughts flow as he crosses his hands and continues asking: "You said earlier 'not trapped in this house,' so what is restraining you? You didn't question my bodyguard request about 'suspending objects' just now, indicating you assume you can go out with me."
"Since you can see me, that makes things easier." Fushiguro Toji smiles, pulling at his scarred lips.
He floats leisurely, guiding Jiang Lai to the hanging painting area by the living room window.
This is a decorative landscape oil painting. The elements are common: forest, river, houses.
...Could Fushiguro Toji be attached to the painting? That thing would be a bit inconvenient to take out. Jiang Lai hesitates.
Fushiguro Toji lifts his eyes and says: "Inside this hanging painting."
Jiang Lai lifts his hand to move the painting. The frame, untouched for years, is covered with a thin layer of dust. Between the painting and frame, there's a small rectangular locust wood pendant.
He picks up that pendant. It feels cool and woody to the touch, with some unknown talisman drawn on it.
"This is it. I rest inside." Fushiguro Toji confirms. "I can't be too far from it. If you take it out, I can naturally go out too."
"Is this the reason you're lingering here?" Jiang Lai stares at the talisman on it, wiping it with his hand.
"No." Fushiguro Toji's tone is definite. "Though I'm not clear what this specifically is, my lingering has nothing to do with it."
So Toji is very clear about the reason for his lingering? Jiang Lai organizes clues in his mind. Currently, this pendant allows Toji to rest but also limits his activity range.
Besides these, there's still a very crucial link hidden within.
Who initially brought this pendant with an attached ghost to this place?
The question hangs at his throat. Jiang Lai looks up. Fushiguro Toji floating to one side seems to guess what the person beside him is thinking, lazily saying: "When I became conscious, I was already here."
Oh, that makes sense too. Matsuda and Hiromitsu both mentioned spirit forms initially have a period of unconsciousness. Seems this mystery can only be sought for answers later.
Jiang Lai looks down again at the pendant in his hand, curving his lips with a bright smile: "If I carry this around, I won't lose lifespan, will I?"
Seems like a joke, but hides real doubt.
Fushiguro Toji lifts his eyelids: "I have no designs on your lifespan." Though the words are casual, his tone is certain.
"I thought you'd want to resurrect?" Jiang Lai places one hand under his chin. "As payment for the deal, I can try to help you resurrect. No need to doubt, just like how I can distinguish and see you unlike everyone else, I naturally have unique ways to accomplish this."
Comparing to the experience of helping Matsuda and Hiromitsu resurrect in the Detective Conan world, using the 'belief level' of people from two worlds to complete settings should also work in the jujutsu world. He thinks.
However, the person in front of him refuses quite decisively: "I have no interest in resurrection." The answer comes without half a second's hesitation.
This actually stuns Jiang Lai slightly: "Don't want to resurrect...? Then what type of payment do you want?"
"Two points. If you agree, I'll fully cooperate." Fushiguro Toji holds up fingers. "First, same as before, just give money."
Jiang Lai hesitates: "Uh, set up a basin and burn some paper money for you?"
Fushiguro Toji: "...I want real money, not burned."
The ghost gentleman states that he was once a bounty hunter, and monetary transactions are the most common and familiar.
Though now a spirit form and unable to personally enjoy many things, playing his favorite gambling is naturally possible.
With money, he can naturally place bets.
Jiang Lai: Truly unforgettable thoughts have their echoes.jpg
After simple discussion, they agree on a salary amount with daily settlement.
As for bank accounts, this naturally isn't a problem. The skills Jiang Lai honed in the Detective Conan world can forge an undetectable account. He even specially takes time on the spot to open one for Fushiguro Toji, to make the other party more at ease.
After settling wages and compensation, Jiang Lai asks: "Then, what's the second point?"
Fushiguro Toji's lowered eyes lift slightly, his voice hoarse: "I'm not interested in resurrection, just want to go the way I should go."
Jiang Lai is stunned for a few seconds before understanding the other party's meaning.
Return to true death, heading to that perhaps existing, perhaps non-existing other shore.
"You want to escape the state of soul lingering?" He doesn't rashly agree, but cautiously responds: "If it's within my capabilities, I can consider helping, provided you tell me the reason."
The semi-transparent ghost now floats to the living room window, seemingly casually looking outside. Jiang Lai follows his gaze.
At midnight, through the glass, you can see distant buildings' never-extinguishing neon lights, the iris flower pattern embedded at the very top particularly bright in the night.
Then Fushiguro Toji withdraws his gaze and smiles:
"Able to see me, recognize me, know my son's name, possess the ability to pay relatively high fees, master network technology beyond ordinary people, can rationally analyze situations. I think you're not an ordinary person disconnected from the jujutsu world."
Indeed, the other party has been silently observing and probing all along. Thoughts flow through Jiang Lai's mind while his surface maintains a smiling expression.
"However, if you help me... you probably can't do it." His words carry no contempt or mockery, just stating facts calmly. "It's not what it appears to be."
Though not saying what directly, combined with what Toji was looking at just now and the real situation, he should be talking about... the Regulatory Committee?
This organization indeed has problems. Jiang Lai tilts his head slightly but doesn't say much, just waiting for Fushiguro Toji's next words.
"So I actually don't need you to personally do it." Fushiguro Toji chuckles softly. "The second point of the deal just requires you to deliver some words, but the condition is you must make him believe the content of these words."
"Deliver words? To whom?" Jiang Lai pours himself a glass of water, then says, "Your son?"
"No." Fushiguro Toji shakes his head. He half-turns his face and says, "Though I've never gone out and don't know the specific situation outside. But Six Eyes, he must be the strongest now, right?"
...Gojo Satoru! Jiang Lai's heart pauses.
When hearing this answer, though Jiang Lai's heart stirs slightly, it's not particularly surprising.
How to put it, he was somewhat prepared. A name spoken from "Heaven and Tyrant" Toji's mouth definitely isn't ordinary.
He just doesn't know what Toji wants him to tell Gojo Satoru, and ensuring the other party believes it, what that means exactly.
Jiang Lai jokingly thinks: Surely not planning some yin-yang dual scam, intending to extort some money from the Gojo family Young Master?
Of course, he knows the facts probably aren't so, likely involving some troublesome matter.
Because he's currently the only person who can truly communicate with him (Toji said he can't rely on non-living objects to transmit information), so he entrusts these matters to himself.
But what if the words to deliver are misleading information? There's a chance of harming others or being misunderstood himself.
And he currently doesn't even know under world consciousness influence what his relationship with Gojo Satoru is...
Jiang Lai narrows his eyes and replies cheerfully: "I can help deliver words. But whether he believes them is his problem."
"..." Fushiguro Toji floats, falling into thought.
But Jiang Lai interrupts his thinking, continuing leisurely: "Rather than the suggestion just now, you might as well choose me and tell me more detailed information about that organization."
The black-haired youth gently places the water glass back on the table, smiling brightly.
"Maybe I'll find a way to become the BOSS?"