Chapter 122 : Choso and the Fragment
At evening, street lamps lit up one by one, brilliant sunset spreading the last golden-red afterglow.
Geto Suguru moved nimbly through the bustling crowds of people heading home from work, following the cursed spirit Mahito who was leading the way ahead.
Jiang Lai followed alongside the two. When they reached the edge of the urban area, his gaze passed over the low houses to admire the brilliant daynight transition scenery for a moment.
After reaching the vicinity where the fragment fluctuations were relatively strong, Mahito suggested they split up. He and Geto Suguru would go to the fragment location to collect it, while having Jiang Lai patrol and wait nearby.
Mahito's rhetoric was very skillful. His mismatched eyes curved as he said: "After all, this is our mission. We can't let you take risks, my friend. It's dangerous around the fragment, so leave it to us to handle. Please just guard outside the veil and wait for us to come out."
Though these words put Jiang Lai's safety on the surface, the underlying plan was to prevent Jiang Lai from approaching the fragment collection site to avoid accidents like Ryomen Sukuna last time.
Additionally, this method allowed them to reasonably separate. Thus, Mahito could fully discuss with Geto Suguru inside the erected veil about their specific coordinated attack method against Jiang Lai later.
At the same time, Mahito knew about Jiang Lai's spatial technique abilities. As long as Jiang Lai guarded outside, it would isolate danger without worrying about other cursed spirits attracted by the fragment interfering with their mission, ensuring successful completion.
This maximized the plan's value.
After hearing Mahito's words, Jiang Lai quickly analyzed the implications. However, his expression didn't reveal anything. Following the surface meaning of those words, he showed a light smile in response.
"Alright." Jiang Lai nodded. "I'll wait outside for you."
"Then we'll leave the outside to you, my friend!" Mahito waved, his lips curving up. "After we complete this mission, we'll take you to find other companions of your kind."
Geto Suguru standing behind Mahito wore his squinting fox smile mask, nodding lightly at Jiang Lai, the bangs in front of his forehead bandage swaying slightly.
His hands were naturally pocketed, the fine black-gold Buddhist robe fabric flowing smoothly down.
Though the two hadn't exchanged anything, their secret understanding had already made them comprehend in this final eye contact.
When Mahito planned to strike later would also be when Geto Suguru and Jiang Lai prepared to counterattack. The situation would reverse in an instant.
The blue-haired, triple-braided cursed spirit and the man-bunned youth entered the prepared veil to handle that divine status fragment.
The sunset's final afterglow lit up at the horizon, then slowly sank into the dark blue night.
Jiang Lai blinked lightly. At the moment the sun's shadow sank, he released his spatial technique around the area.
He was sensing information about another weak divine status fragment that only he had detected.
That small fragment released few fluctuations, almost buried under the vibrations from the fragment that Mahito and the others went to handle. But as an [Existence], Jiang Lai could clearly sense every fragment.
He paused in place for a moment, concealing his aura, then followed his senses toward where that tiny fluctuation was located.
The urban edge was sparsely populated. Even the street lamps were old and poorly maintained, flickering with poor contact.
Under the dim, flashing light, a figure with twin ponytails and sea urchin hair was half-crouched in front of a small, glowing fragment, seemingly hesitating whether to touch it.
It was the special-grade cursed spirit, Choso!
Jiang Lai recognized him immediately.
He hadn't expected to encounter him right after hearing about him? Jiang Lai was slightly surprised but quickly and silently approached while calmly speaking:
"Don't touch it."
Having concealed his aura, Jiang Lai's stealth ability was excellent. Only when he stepped into the open did Choso notice him!
The twin ponytailed, sea urchin-haired Choso was greatly startled, quickly half-rising and stepping back, his expression cold as he assumed an attacking stance!
The street lamp illuminated half his face, revealing the deep purple mark across his nose bridge in the light.
His body was tense, but the unavoidably slightly trembling arms exposed his poor condition.
Jiang Lai stood in place, not correspondingly assuming an attacking or defensive stance, just stopping steadily: "No need to be nervous. I have no ill will toward you."
Choso half-squinted his eyes, not immediately relaxing his vigilance. His gaze swept over Jiang Lai, then fell on that floating tiny fragment.
Light green radiance flowed. That fragment was so small, only the size of a pinky fingernail.
Jiang Lai lightly raised his hand. Under Choso's alert gaze, he used a wisp of delicate cursed energy code to lift that fragment, then naturally grasped it in his hand.
This action stunned Choso, who obviously hadn't expected Jiang Lai to so easily catch the fragment with one hand!
Clearly this thing was very dangerous, almost untouchable...! Choso stared at Jiang Lai's hand. He had just tentatively tried to touch and take away this tiny fragment, but was fiercely injured several times by that power. How could this guy directly...
Choso tried to see some special cursed tool in Jiang Lai's hand, like woven gloves.
However, the black-haired youth's hands had nothing attached, including cursed energy.
Jiang Lai appeared natural, opening his hand forward to reveal the light green tiny fragment in his palm.
That dangerous fragment lay quietly in the black-haired youth's clean palm, like an ordinary crystal gem, reflecting shallow light under the street lamp.
"If you had touched it, there would have been danger. So I told you not to move earlier." Jiang Lai said. "It's harmless to me."
Choso raised his eyes. He still maintained his prepared attack and retreat stance, just not as tense as before.
After a few seconds of silence, he spoke with a low voice and unclear meaning: "...Is this your thing?"
"No." Jiang Lai shook his head lightly, his eyelids lowering. After a long pause, his tongue slipped out barely audible low words: "It's my family's, family without blood relations but naturally close."
He added the second half, giving the opposite Choso a subtle hint.
Because Jiang Lai vaguely guessed why Choso was here.
The reason that could make him risk danger and tentatively try to take away the fragment bare-handed must be related to his younger brother. After all, Choso was a super brother-complex who upheld his big brother duties.
The younger brother still alive in this world should be Itadori Yuji.
Probably because Choso and Itadori were both part of the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings, Choso could faintly sense some [Existence] aura on Itadori Yuji, thus connecting it to the divine status fragment's aura.
Perhaps Choso didn't necessarily know the term [Existence], but he could guess that the fragment was related to Itadori Yuji. That's why he tried to risk taking away the fragment.
By saying those words at this moment, Jiang Lai was actually indicating that he had a connection with Itadori Yuji, but not a blood relationship connection.
He couldn't speak too directly, as that would be too obvious and make the other suspicious. This kind of seemingly involuntary revelation was most appropriate.
Choso was smart enough. Jiang Lai believed that just the right hint would let him guess quite a bit of the truth.
The twin ponytailed, sea urchin-haired man was silent, his eyes fixed on Jiang Lai. He didn't quickly respond.
Jiang Lai didn't make additional hints. He kept the fragment in his hand, his brown eyes glancing at the other.
With a light smile on his face, he objectively reminded with completely peaceful words: "Leave this place. It looks like you need quiet rest and recuperation."
First meetings shouldn't be too enthusiastic, so Jiang Lai didn't say too much at this moment.
He indeed planned to cooperate with Choso to fight the Supervisory Committee together, but not now.
There was still Mahito's matter waiting over there. Jiang Lai had to handle Mahito's issue first. Everything had priorities.
Moreover, Choso wouldn't trust him based on these few simple sentences. He'd probably secretly verify some things. Jiang Lai gave him time.
For now, a first meeting and leaving clues that could be deeply explored was enough.
Jiang Lai believed they would meet again afterward.
Choso's gaze swept over Jiang Lai's hand again, his lips moving as if to say something.
But after waiting a moment, he ultimately didn't speak. He suddenly shot a blood rush at the ground, using the recoil to quickly retreat backward!
Jiang Lai stood quietly in place. He watched that figure disappear into the night, then withdrew his gaze.
He stepped back to return, preparing to wait outside the veil over there.
This time the fragment happened to fluctuate when they arrived in Chiba Prefecture. They came quickly, established a veil on site, plus the strength of two special-grade cursed spirits. They should finish collecting soon.
However, it might still take some time. Jiang Lai thought leisurely. Mahito had to discuss inside with Geto Suguru specifically how to coordinate in scheming against him.
He played with that tiny fragment in his hand, thinking about what posture to adopt first to continue fooling Mahito.
Speaking of which, Mahito's technique was changing souls. Physical attacks couldn't hurt Mahito.
Therefore, the blue-haired, triple-braided cursed spirit's true nemesis was probably only Itadori Yuji, who housed Sukuna inside his body.
Jiang Lai was certain he could use spatial techniques to trap Mahito, but he wasn't sure if he could attack Mahito's soul. Even if he could, Geto Suguru might not be able to explain it to the Supervisory Committee afterward.
While counter-scheming against Mahito, he had to think of a reasonable method too. Jiang Lai's thoughts flowed quickly.
The light green fragment in his hand emitted a faint glow in the night. Jiang Lai prepared to put the fragment in his clothes pocket.
At the moment of putting it in, he paused again.
Wait, maybe he could make use of this tiny fragment.
Jiang Lai knew that divine status fragments were powerfully strong. Except for [Existence] and naturally born [Gates], other living beings couldn't directly bear the fragments' power.
If so, unexpectedly making Mahito swallow this tiny fragment later should severely injure him, right? This would definitely be damage that struck directly at the soul!
This way, it would also be convenient for Geto Suguru to explain when he returned.
For example, Geto Suguru could say that Mahito had attempted to try swallowing the tiny fragment's power but ended up injuring himself instead. So he took advantage of this to roll this treacherous guy into a cursed spirit orb and absorb him.
The Supervisory Committee and special-grade cursed spirits had a cooperative relationship, while Geto Suguru could be considered part of the Supervisory Committee. The relationship dynamics were clear.
Thus, bringing back two fragments, large and small, giving the Supervisory Committee an unexpected pleasant surprise, Geto Suguru could probably fully prove his ability and loyalty, eliminating the trust crisis.
Yes, Jiang Lai planned to give that small fragment to Geto Suguru.
He would ultimately reclaim all the fragments and merge them into nature as [Origin] wished, but for final victory, he had to make certain arrangements along the way.
He couldn't always hold all the chips tightly. He needed to temporarily release some at appropriate moments to numb and deceive the enemy.
His mind worked, and after taking a deep breath, he adjusted his mood.
Just then, Jiang Lai sensed the [Veil] behind him beginning to retract. Geto Suguru and Mahito were coming out.