Chapter 14 : Jiang Lai - Human Version Limitless
"..." The ghost gentleman floats to one side as the atmosphere falls into brief silence again.
After a while, he continues the previous topic as if nothing happened: "When you meet him, I'll tell you what words to deliver."
Jiang Lai: "Eh? Completely ignoring my suggestion just now?"
"Sorry, I don't have a habit of joking during deals." Fushiguro Toji lifts his eyes lazily.
A joke? It sounds like one. But essentially, maybe it is, maybe it isn't.
Jiang Lai maintains his smile, thinking.
Since the Regulatory Committee is a major variable in the new series, presumably some new information is also contained within. Going deep into it is the only way to find hidden secrets and discover key points for completing the manga.
Like the Regulatory Committee's current situation, eliminating it from the outside might be quite troublesome, but eroding it from within would be easier. Disintegrating or changing some existence, internal blood replacement is more covert and thorough than external attacks.
Though currently there are no channels for contact with the Regulatory Committee, ideas and plans still need to exist. Advance preparation and readiness prevent panicked fumbling.
"As allies, you should also tell me more information, right?" Jiang Lai continues asking with a smile. He plans to learn more intelligence from Toji to grasp this world's situation.
"You'd better not be curious enough to go deep." The ghost gentleman says lazily, drawing out his tone. "If you die, I'd have no information transmission channel."
Worried about his safety? Reasonable. Jiang Lai thinks. But perhaps there's also a layer of incomplete trust (so Toji hasn't told him the specific content of words to deliver now).
Fushiguro Toji crosses his arms in front of his chest, reminding him of several points: "Anyway, if you don't want to be monitored, go less to places with those logos. Also, don't be too outstanding, unless you have the strongest power."
Indeed, those logos have observation and recording functions. Jiang Lai narrows his eyes. Fortunately, his feather necklace can hide and disturb, so he doesn't need to worry about this problem.
He looks up and asks one more question: "This organization, is it only humans behind it, or?"
The latter half doesn't need to be stated for Fushiguro Toji to understand. His eyes flicker as he chuckles softly: "If you believe it... snakes and rats in the same nest."
Snakes and rats in the same nest... Does this mean the Regulatory Committee has cursed spirit infiltration? Or is this establishment simply some kind of agreement reached between cursed spirits and high-level jujutsu officials? Jiang Lai's heart shakes as he simply filters and organizes information in his mind.
The ghost in front seems to have no desire to continue the conversation. He turns around again, silently gazing into the distance through the window, narrowing his eyes.
It's snowing lightly outside again, drifting white slowly and quietly covering every building.
After gazing at the snow scene briefly, the ghost gentleman is soon attracted by sounds behind him.
"...Dear audience friends! Tonight we'll hold the eight-to-four arena, the contestants everyone's been thinking about are all very well prepared... Alright, enough chatter, let's begin. I wish everyone can win their bets tonight and make big money!"
The host's excited voice comes from the television. Fushiguro Toji turns around slightly stunned, only to see Jiang Lai on the sofa has changed to a more comfortable position, turning his face with a smile:
"We're done talking business, won't you come watch? As agreed yesterday, tonight I'll help you place bets, consider it my down payment."
Fushiguro Toji raises an eyebrow, interest growing.
The ghost no longer stands by the window. He floats over, finding the best viewing position, his gaze falling on the TV: "Eight-to-four... not bad."
The TV has already started introducing contestant information. The gambling unfolds magnificently. Jiang Lai uses his phone to log into the website the midnight program host mentioned, entering the betting area.
"Who do you choose?" Jiang Lai asks.
Fushiguro Toji stares at the screen, one hand under his chin, thinking: "This round, I'll choose the blue corner."
"OK." Jiang Lai very generously places a bet for Toji, using the account specially opened for him.
Then he quietly switches and bets more money on the opposite person, leaving his own account for winnings.
Jiang Lai (thumbs up in his heart): Since Toji's luck is terrible, as long as I follow him and bet opposite, before long I can have a villa by the sea!
Smart Lai Lai has opened a new path to wealth!
A week passes. Jiang Lai gets along well with the ghost gentleman at home, becoming increasingly familiar. At least on the surface, neither is as guarded and cautious as initially.
Because he needs to complete "cooperation" work similar to bodyguarding during the day, Fushiguro Toji changes his rest time from daytime to after midnight gambling ends, resting at the same time as Jiang Lai.
Even after becoming a ghost, Fushiguro Toji's luck of losing almost every bet continues, quite magically.
He enthusiastically invests and loses money, not really caring about results since participation is key.
However, the ghost gentleman additionally notices Jiang Lai's cheerful mood beside him. One day he asks: "You seem to be in good spirits after every gambling session?"
Jiang Lai replies with a smile: "Because I bet correctly again and made money. Winning money naturally improves mood."
Fushiguro Toji shows some interest, his scarred lips curving: "Oh? You also like gambling? How do you bet, any experience?"
"Yes." Jiang Lai calmly replies. "The experience is to bet opposite to you, basically guaranteed profit."
Fushiguro Toji: "..."
In that instant, Fushiguro Toji's expression is quite spectacular!
Since that day they met, Jiang Lai hasn't seen Fushiguro Megumi again. The other party hasn't returned during this time.
During the day, when Jiang Lai goes out with the pendant in his shirt chest pocket, he also pays attention to surroundings, looking for any sign of Fushiguro Megumi.
After all, he and Toji are now partners, and initially the topic opener was about Megumi, so Jiang Lai also wants to let Toji see his son with his own eyes. However, they haven't encountered him.
Fushiguro Toji shows no particular expression, just saying flatly: "If there's fate we'll meet, if not then whatever."
"He's probably busy lately." Jiang Lai recalls and sighs. "With so many curses now, students often go on missions."
This statement actually has basis, the basis being recently updated manga. But naturally Jiang Lai doesn't mention this layer.
Contact with other worlds is the innermost secret. Jiang Lai won't tell everyone about it.
The phone itself also has the function of helping hide secrets. That is, pages related to the Detective Conan world like manga, forums, group chats can only be truly seen by Jiang Lai. To other people or ghosts in the Jujutsu world, the pages all appear as food encyclopedias.
Jiang Lai discovered this because Toji once casually asked why he's always reading food encyclopedias.
At that time, Jiang Lai momentarily wanted to joke and say "because I'm a demon-subduing imperial chef," but what came out was the relatively serious "spiritual food theory."
During this period, manga has been continuously updating, but nothing about Jiang Lai. Recent chapters are about new missions for Itadori Yuji and others.
Cursed spirits with high intelligence, though mediocre in ability, are more troublesome than others. Jiang Lai glimpses the troubles of upgraded cursed spirit intelligence in the new series.
Borrowing Matsuda's words: Brains are good things, too bad the enemies have them now.jpg
Fortunately, no cursed spirits have come looking for him yet. Jiang Lai thinks. Need to quickly simulate a technique.
With this thought, Jiang Lai works even harder practicing cooperation with ghost Toji for suspending objects, striving to achieve seamless natural effects without any patchwork traces.
Fushiguro Toji doesn't ask much about this. As a highly-rated bounty hunter, not prying into employer information is also his good virtue.
He always maintains the attitude of not doing unprofitable work and not asking about unrelated matters, floating around Jiang Lai.
When going out, occasionally in good mood, he'll actively point out several low-level cursed spirits in hidden corners.
A Heaven and Binding body strengthened to the extreme, even without cursed energy, eyes can still see curses. Now as a spirit form, Toji continues his ability to see cursed spirits.
"Around the corner ahead by the wall." Fushiguro Toji floating diagonally ahead leisurely turns back to say. "Also by the telephone pole."
"I see them, there really are so many curses." Jiang Lai says quietly. When no one's around he'll speak softly with the ghost.
"There weren't this many in my time, don't know about the current situation." Fushiguro Toji crosses his arms, lazily lifting his eyelids, adding one more sentence. "Or maybe you encounter more than most."
"..." In some sense, that's quite possible. Jiang Lai twitches his lips. He seems to really attract cursed spirits somewhat.
Fortunately, these cursed spirits show no intention of attacking him. But when possible to avoid, better to avoid them.
At this time evening approaches, the setting sun has only its last few traces of afterglow. Jiang Lai carries today's purchased vegetables, turning the corner to continue walking.
Floating Fushiguro Toji stops ahead and turns back: "The small alley to my left, if you don't want trouble you can stay away."
"What?" Jiang Lai blinks, hearing something different.
If it were ordinary cursed spirits, Fushiguro Toji would only point out locations, but now he says more.
"Not cursed spirits, just small trouble." Fushiguro Toji places one hand under his chin. "Intuition and observation... the guy inside is looking for targets."
Is it human? Jiang Lai immediately reacts. Probably street thugs. The security around here isn't great. Probably planning to rob while it's getting dark and foot traffic is sparse.
Wait... robbery? Jiang Lai's heart stirs as his eyes suddenly brighten.
Oh, this period he's been worrying about having no scenes to let Toji's suspension simulate Limitless in real situations. Now the opportunity comes!
He can also fish them out and eliminate harm for the people.
So Jiang Lai pauses, signals to Fushiguro Toji, backs up a few steps, and returns to the previous corner.
Fushiguro Toji raises an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled, but still floats back.
Jiang Lai stands in place, flipping down his jacket collar, brushing some stray hair to his forehead, softening his eyebrows, slightly drooping his eye corners, and pursing his lips. He also puts his wallet in an outer pocket with a corner showing.
Then he says to the ghost gentleman beside him:
"Looking at me now, do I inspire the desire to rob?"
Fushiguro Toji: "Hm?"
Jiang Lai: "Do you think I can become a robbery target?"
Fushiguro Toji: "Ah?"
Jiang Lai turns his face, blinking at the ghost gentleman who made two consecutive rising questioning sounds.
Spirit form Fushiguro Toji is looking at him with an indescribable expression, but instantly the ghost gentleman resumes his usual demeanor.
He looks Jiang Lai up and down twice, calmly commenting: "About right. Suggest making your aura a bit more timid."
"No problem." Jiang Lai takes several deep breaths, adjusting his state in subtle ways, while saying to the spirit form beside him: "Toji-san, please also adjust. Let's test using the robbery scene later."
Hearing this, Fushiguro Toji understands Jiang Lai's meaning: he plans to test the object suspension ability in the most realistic environment.
Fushiguro Toji doesn't say anything about possible dangers. He believes the other party must have preparations in mind. Moreover, he wants to see the abilities Jiang Lai has shown glimpses of.
So the semi-transparent ghost gentleman looks at the eager, properly-prepared black-haired youth, placing one hand by his lips and smiling:
"...If you want to go play around, alright, I'll accompany you."