Chapter 117 : Liquid Fox and Cursed Spirit Orb
Encountering Geto Suguru was absolutely beyond Jiang Lai's expectations. He had originally planned to follow the traces of special-grade cursed spirit Mahito to find him, then through Mahito find Geto Suguru.
Unexpectedly, after passing through the quiet street in front of the buildings, a silhouette in black-gold monk robes suddenly flashed into his field of vision.
Catching sight of the figure not far away, Jiang Lai was momentarily stunned, the other's name instantly popping into his mind: Geto Suguru!
How could he be here?!
......But it looked like he was fine?
The current situation was like preparing to solve a difficult problem, having thought of solutions one, two, three, only to flip the page before writing and discover there was an answer key.
Jiang Lai instinctively wanted to step forward to catch up, but paused slightly before accelerating.
Wait a moment.
He didn't rashly pursue, but first used [Existence]'s excellent vision to quickly scan the distant figure.
Jiang Lai didn't see any trace of the liquid fox.
The liquid fox was a remnant from his time reversal back then, so Geto Suguru hadn't signed a master-servant contract with it and couldn't dismiss it like other cursed spirits.
Logically, the liquid fox should be by Geto Suguru's side. But he couldn't see that fox now.
Jiang Lai's thoughts churned.
Though it was possible that like in the previous alley, the liquid fox had wandered off to play (or rather, look for food), in the current situation, it was better to be cautious.
With his rich Detective Conan experience, Jiang Lai knew that sometimes enemies would use disguises and impersonation to probe for the truth. Maybe the same was happening here.
Having just experienced a cursed spirit capable of creating illusion techniques, Jiang Lai remained vigilant about the appearance of friendly figures.
But then again, if they really wanted to test the true relationship between Geto Suguru and the technical college through impersonation, it would be more appropriate when Itadori Yuji and Nanami Kento were both present, right?
Now in the middle of the night, with the streets nearly empty and Itadori Yuji and the others having taken new missions back to the technical college, if it really was an enemy disguise, such wandering probes would seem meaningless.
After the analysis circled through his mind, Jiang Lai maintained his indifferent expression, quietly restraining his aura and cursed energy. He neither accelerated nor deliberately avoided, continuing at his previous pace toward the black-gold robe silhouette's position.
The distant figure turned into a side angle ahead and disappeared from view. When Jiang Lai turned the corner, only streaming moonlight remained at the scene.
Jiang Lai, who had prepared to face either enemies or friends, sighed lightly in his heart upon seeing this empty street scene.
Back to the earlier problem-solving analogy. Though there was an answer on the back of the difficult problem, he didn't know if this answer was right or wrong. He still had to return to the previous steps one, two, three to verify.
Thinking this, Jiang Lai was about to step away when his sixth sense suddenly detected an unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar wet, cold cursed energy.
He unhesitatingly raised his hand, setting up a spatial barrier of cursed energy code at lightning speed by his side!
Since Jiang Lai didn't sense killing intent, the flowing code firewall was only symbolically erected without stirring up much cursed energy. But even so, it remained incredibly solid.
A small black figure attacking from the side crashed into the firewall with a thud, then tumbled to the ground.
Jiang Lai: "......?" What was that?
Unlike the imagined attack, Jiang Lai temporarily dismissed the cursed energy code firewall, though he cautiously maintained spatial protection around his body like an unlimited barrier, looking down.
What had crashed into the firewall and rolled on the ground was a puddle of pitch-black unknown liquid, leaving wet, dark traces on the ground.
After half a second, that puddle of liquid gathered and reorganized into a fox with pointed ears and red spiral eyes.
It plopped down on the ground, and Jiang Lai could actually read some grievance from this cursed spirit face.
Jiang Lai: "......"
This was... the liquid fox nightmare fox??
Jiang Lai sensed this creature's cursed energy while also vaguely detecting traces of natural familiarity and closeness slowly rising. After all, this thing was a derivative of his time reversal.
Compared to his memory, the liquid fox seemed to have lost some weight. Jiang Lai thought instinctively.
He had just been thinking about this creature, and unexpectedly it appeared on the scene. From this perspective, that figure just now should indeed be Geto Suguru, right?
But why would Geto Suguru appear here, and why wasn't he carrying the liquid fox with him?
Questions immediately popped up in Jiang Lai's mind. His expression unchanged, his gaze fell on the liquid fox squatting on the ground.
So... perhaps just now, when he noticed Geto Suguru, Geto Suguru had also noticed him. But he hadn't stopped for him, instead leaving the liquid fox in the area early.
If so, Geto Suguru probably appeared here for some matter, and Geto Suguru had something to say to him but found it inconvenient to contact him directly. So he let the freely wandering liquid fox make contact with him.
The black liquid fox stood back up, shaking its body and jiggling like jelly. It raised its head, gazing at Jiang Lai.
Jiang Lai didn't speak, but didn't erect the firewall again either.
He didn't know what Geto Suguru had privately told the liquid fox after their alley meeting, but the liquid fox's attitude was more relaxed than before. It didn't seem to fear Jiang Lai, nor did it show hostility or killing intent.
"Cursed spirit. You." The liquid fox made gurgling sounds in its throat, tilting its head slightly with a seemingly confused expression, then repeated: "Cursed spirit, you, really are?"
Jiang Lai nodded slightly, speaking sparingly: "Mm."
During their last alley meeting, he had mixed cursed spirit and human elements, unlike now being in complete cursed spirit form.
Though he knew the creature before him was his own derivative, Jiang Lai didn't show obvious familiarity on his face.
Just in case, like during their previous alley meeting, he displayed indifference and subtle vigilance.
Meanwhile, Jiang Lai secretly spread his spatial technique's tendrils throughout the surroundings.
Only after confirming there were no other people or cursed spirits nearby, nor any detectable surveillance or recording equipment, did he slightly restrain some of his hostile aura.
Jiang Lai reached into his coat, pulling out a pen he carried from his inner shirt pocket.
He spun the pen between his fingers for a few seconds, watching the liquid fox's obviously widening red eyes, his lips curving slightly.
But the liquid fox was much more restrained this time, not directly pouncing to eat or muttering the word "clock." Perhaps Geto Suguru had said something.
It just pattered around, circling twice on the ground, then plopped down again, looking up at Jiang Lai.
Jiang Lai didn't continue teasing it either. Time was limited, and now he knew this little fox was his derivative, so he lightly turned his wrist, precisely tossing the pen imbued with some cursed energy toward it.
The liquid fox's form twisted and deformed, soaring into the air and swallowing the pen in one gulp with an "ah-woo"!
Having finished eating in one bite, the liquid fox smacked its lips, looking like it hadn't eaten its fill. It stamped its little feet in place, then looked expectantly at Jiang Lai again.
How long had this thing been hungry... Could it be that what it usually ate didn't count as real feeding?
Or perhaps only items touched by him, the original master, had so-called "flavor."
Knowing the liquid fox might have been hungry for many years, Jiang Lai felt slightly guilty for a second, then quickly refocused. Now was not the time for affection and care.
Geto Suguru leaving the liquid fox behind should have been planning to send a message, right?
Jiang Lai's expression showed no familiarity with the liquid fox. Following their previous alley agreement, he put on an appropriate smile and said:
"We agreed on an exchange before, didn't we? I fed you something to eat, so now it's your turn to say or do something."
He reminded the liquid fox this way not to just focus on eating, but think about whether there were matters to convey.
The liquid fox tilted its head again, its pointed-eared head twisting at an incredible angle. It seemed to recall for a moment, then said: "You are a good cursed spirit, recommended."
"Recommended?" This word sounded very strange. Jiang Lai didn't understand.
"Recommended to be eaten." The liquid fox said, "Master Suguru eat."
Jiang Lai: "......"
While the first half was half-confused, hearing the second half, Jiang Lai understood what this sentence meant. It meant someone had recommended him, suggesting Geto Suguru subdue and swallow him as a cursed spirit orb!
Who recommended this? The people who knew about special-grade cursed spirit him could be counted on one hand. Jiang Lai frowned. And what did this suggestion to Geto Suguru mean? Was it a test, or genuinely just a recommendation?
"Who recommended it?" Jiang Lai asked calmly.
The liquid fox replied: "Blue-haired cursed spirit with stitched lines on face, Master Suguru's colleague."
It was special-grade cursed spirit Mahito! Jiang Lai immediately determined. This guy was too despicable!
Mahito had first learned about him becoming a complete special-grade cursed spirit during the Satozakura School incident. At that time, Mahito had shown an attitude of trying to recruit him, but he hadn't approached.
Even as fellow special-grade cursed spirits, even if Mahito was displeased with his indifferent attitude then, it wouldn't be enough to immediately turn around and operate like this, would it?
Jiang Lai pondered, then asked: "When was this recommendation made?"
"Long time ago. Mentioned. Meeting new special-grade cursed spirit. Such vague sentences." The liquid fox said, "This afternoon when met. Recommended."
"He said. Just right. Master Suguru recently lost several special-grade cursed spirits. Can replenish now. He will assist."
Jiang Lai extracted information from the liquid fox's unique speech pattern, summarizing important intelligence.
Previously, Mahito had no intention of harming him. This time's suggestion was probably because he knew the one who broke the illusion and took the finger today was him, so he planned revenge.
Also, since this afternoon they could encounter each other so coincidentally, it meant Mahito and Geto Suguru originally had a meeting planned. Perhaps it was a joint mission assigned by the Supervisory Committee, which is why Geto Suguru appeared here.
And what the liquid fox mentioned about Geto Suguru recently losing several special-grade cursed spirits... could this be why he had disappeared for nearly two months without replying to Gojo Satoru's messages?
Had he been injured, or temporarily confined and had his power extracted?
Either way, there should be other reasons preventing Geto Suguru from sending messages.
Otherwise, knowing Mahito's idea, Geto Suguru would definitely contact Gojo Suguru and inform him, rather than urgently leaving the childish liquid fox to relay messages now.
Could his devices have been bugged with surveillance? If so, Geto Suguru was probably facing a crisis of trust.
Under such crisis, he still sent the liquid fox to warn him... Seeing the liquid fox's initial appearance, Geto Suguru probably didn't believe he had actually become a special-grade cursed spirit, but was still keeping watch out of concern.
However, Mahito's "recommendation" might also be a trap. If he precisely avoided it, it might actually increase suspicion about Geto Suguru secretly passing information. It would also increase the enemy's suspicion about his true identity.
"You go." The liquid fox looked up, "Master Suguru said, you go."
"I won't go." Jiang Lai smiled with curved eyes, "How about telling me what mission brought you here? I, a wanderer roaming around, am also interested in gathering activities."
"Also, I know Mahito too. We agreed to 'meet next time' last time, so we should indeed meet."
Turn the tables, eliminate some of the trust crisis Geto Suguru faced as much as possible, while seeing what mission Geto Suguru and Mahito had this time, glimpsing some Supervisory Committee information. Jiang Lai thought.
Besides, maybe he could reverse the situation.
Perhaps Geto Suguru indeed needed a special-grade cursed spirit to replenish, but why did it have to be him? He thought Mahito, this special-grade cursed spirit, was also quite good.