Chapter 138 : Silver Snake Akira
The playful banter was only momentary, and their conversation quickly returned to serious matters.
Fushiguro Toji finally gave Jiang Lai a brief rundown of the Zenin family's layout, giving Jiang Lai a good understanding.
Although Jiang Lai still remembered his visit to the Zenin family years ago, he knew he definitely didn't understand it as well as Toji, so he listened attentively.
After briefly describing the general layout of the Zenin family, Fushiguro Toji returned to the wooden plaque again.
Even when awakened, Fushiguro Toji remained a ghost that shouldn't exist and was still being rejected by the world's will, so Jiang Lai didn't force him to stay, to prevent excessive energy consumption that might lead to too long a slumber.
After this conversation, Jiang Lai, who had switched back to his Little Sheep disguise, lay in bed no longer sleepy.
He thought about what to do tomorrow.
He should still try to trick Naoya into going to the family head's room. Although he hadn't scouted the route in advance tonight, maybe with good luck tomorrow he could quickly find where the cursed tool compartment was located.
As for judging the position of Zenin family head Naobito and his wife... he probably needed to probe indirectly and make direct contact. Of course, this didn't need to be rushed.
But observing alone seemed insufficient. It would be good if he had companions to help, but unfortunately, it wasn't convenient to directly tell Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki about these details.
Jiang Lai sighed silently, lowering his eyelids, his thoughts pausing slightly.
He remembered what Fushiguro Toji had said earlier, and what his Detective Conan friends had told him before: he was never alone, and there were friends to weather storms together on the road.
...Perhaps he could summon Detective Conan friends to be another pair of observing eyes?
Thinking of this, Jiang Lai paused and took out his phone.
In terms of concealment, the silver-scaled snake that could change size and form might be most suitable... but he didn't know what time it was in the Detective Conan world. He'd privately message Akira tomorrow morning before summoning.
He hoped Akira would be free.
Having planned tomorrow's agenda in his mind, Jiang Lai reviewed the Zenin family structure that Fushiguro Toji had described. As he thought, the lost drowsiness gradually returned.
...Sleep first. Rest well to prepare for tomorrow.
He yawned slightly, put down his phone, and let himself slowly drift into dreams.
The next day.
After breakfast, everyone gathered at the agreed meeting point.
Fushiguro Megumi and Kugisaki Nobara exchanged glances, both seeing faint dark circles under each other's eyes.
Both of them had spent the night thinking about the next day's situation. After all, they needed to find a way to get something from the family head's room, which was equivalent to causing trouble right under the Zenin family head's nose, so they couldn't help feeling nervous.
Only Itadori Yuji still looked very energetic, seemingly completely untroubled by their predicament.
Under the gazes of Fushiguro Megumi and Kugisaki Nobara, the cherry-pink haired boy scratched his head, guessing what his classmates wanted to ask. He blinked and smiled:
"Because Sukuna often chatters and bothers me, I'm used to it. Usually, I fall asleep very quickly and deeply at night."
Fushiguro Megumi & Kugisaki Nobara: "..."
Right, being constantly bothered by Sukuna's noise, Itadori had developed godlike sleeping skills!
The last to arrive was Little Sheep Jiang Lai, rubbing his cheeks and looking like he was in the same sleep state as Fushiguro Megumi and Kugisaki Nobara, appearing as if he hadn't slept well.
Fushiguro Megumi paused slightly, sighing softly in his heart:
It seemed Watanabe-kun was also secretly nervous. Although he had shown a determined youthful demeanor yesterday to reassure them, inevitably he still suffered from insomnia.
He had to successfully obtain the item and not disappoint his friends' and Watanabe-kun's expectations and cooperation. The sea urchin-haired boy steeled himself internally, slightly clenching his fists.
Jiang Lai didn't know what Fushiguro Megumi was thinking, or he might have silently complained:
No, my insomnia wasn't because I was nervous, but because I spent half the night chatting with your dad and planning deeper, more complex things.
Zenin Naoya alone wasn't enough to make him nervous.
After all, compared to Detective Conan's red and black characters and the jujutsu world's Supervisory Committee members who were scheming from head to toe, Zenin Naoya could be said to be a simple-level monster.
Moreover, the new series' Colorful Cloud Pig had even less experience and obvious weaknesses, making him easier to handle than in the original story.
At this moment, walking up to the group of Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki, he waved hello.
As his hand moved, his sleeve naturally drooped with gravity, revealing a silver little snake coiled around his wrist.
"Hey, this..." Itadori Yuji paused, having some impression of Little Sheep Jiang Lai's special spirit shikigami.
"Oh, this is one of my shikigami, Silver Snake. I let it out for some fresh air." Little Sheep Jiang Lai smiled brightly. As he spoke, the snake lazily coiled around the boy's wrist lifted its head and flicked out its red forked tongue.
Fresh air? Fushiguro Megumi's shikigami didn't have this concept, but he didn't ask further.
Probably because their abilities were different.
Thinking this way, Fushiguro Megumi quickly put this aside and pointed out today's focus, nodding to Little Sheep Jiang Lai: "Then, we're counting on you for later."
The words didn't specify details, but everyone understood the reference.
"Mm, no problem." Little Sheep Jiang Lai made a gesture, his eyebrows dancing with youthful, vigorous laughter, "More precisely, it's everyone cooperating together."
After everyone chatted briefly, Zenin Naoya appeared wearing a different kimono from yesterday, walking with arrogant, casual steps, arriving fashionably late.
The blonde young man's kimono patterns today weren't as exaggerated as yesterday's, his attire relatively more casual, but still displayed the aristocratic bearing of a feudal great family. His obsidian earrings highlighted his rebellious nature even more.
His upturned eyes swept over everyone, carrying some mockery:
"What's this, you all look like you didn't sleep well. First time sleeping in the Zenin family's exquisite beds, so excited you couldn't contain yourselves?"
Everyone: "..." There really was no way to respond to this kind of self-praising plus mocking way of speaking.
After a day of contact with Zenin Naoya, the group of Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki had realized it was better not to engage with Naoya's provocations when nothing was happening, unless they had Little Sheep Jiang Lai's ability to verbally battle pigs.
"After all, even you who've slept for over twenty years haven't gotten used to it. How could we get used to it after just one day?" Little Sheep Jiang Lai smiled, gesturing under his eyes to indicate Naoya also had dark circles, "Right, delicate Princess and the Pea?"
This teasing method made Zenin Naoya's mocking smile freeze instantly, his fox eyes staring over sharply!
The moment Naoya released his aura, the silver snake coiled around Little Sheep Jiang Lai's wrist also suddenly straightened half its body, its gray-green eyes coldly watching Naoya.
Though the silver snake was small, its hostile aura was incredibly powerful.
Zenin Naoya naturally noticed the little snake, frowning: "What is this?"
Jiang Lai raised his other hand, lightly patting the straightened silver snake to signal it to calm down, while answering: "I don't only have game shikigami, I also have some special spirit shikigami. This is one of them."
"Special spirit shikigami..." Zenin Naoya's voice trailed off, then cut short, "Too bad I'm not interested in this kind of shikigami."
Zenin Naoya only loved game characters. But Jiang Lai's purpose in summoning Akira wasn't to attract Naoya anyway.
Little Sheep Jiang Lai curved his eyebrows amiably, going along with the conversation: "Alright, I had originally thought I could develop another business line. Looks like today's business will be the same as yesterday, with photo subjects still being game characters."
Zenin Naoya, thinking he had seen through Little Sheep Jiang Lai's another money-making scheme, curled his lips and snorted with laughter, then said: "Enough, no need for so much nonsense. Follow me later."
Like yesterday, mission owner Zenin Naoya took charge of spirit interaction and photo route planning.
The group of Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki exchanged glances, while Little Sheep Jiang Lai in front maintained his usual smile, not rushing to say anything.
He called to his group, set up the special cursed tool camera, and followed Zenin Naoya as they toured the Zenin family, taking photos in various places after servants had been dismissed.
After touring several rounds, Jiang Lai judged the timing in his heart. Noticing that Zenin Naoya was no longer striding forward directly like at first but standing in place pondering, he seemed to casually mention:
"We've taken quite a few outdoor shots. How about developing some indoor business?"
Zenin Naoya was very perceptive: "You want to charge double again?"
"Hey, am I that kind of person?" Little Sheep Jiang Lai showed fake hurt, then under Naoya's unmoved gaze, spread his hands and started giving up, "Fine, I am."
Zenin Naoya: I knew it!!
Little Sheep Jiang Lai stood in place, then continued: "But my suggestion just now was genuine. The game activity requirements state that indoor and outdoor can participate in different competitions. Don't you want to get more game rewards? The obtained items can't be purchased."
Zenin Naoya was first stunned, then his expression showed some contemplation.
Little Sheep Jiang Lai smiled cunningly, blinking: "For teammates' sake, I can give you a ten percent discount."
"At most you only pay the price for one, choose the location with the best scenery, then take photos. Even if you don't participate in the activity, you can keep it for personal commemoration. Get it all done at once."
Not knowing which sentence moved Zenin Naoya, he raised his eyebrow and said: "Fine, this time let's get everything complete at once, and save me from seeing your money-grubbing face in the future."
Zenin Naoya's gaze flowed around the surroundings, apparently choosing a suitable indoor space. They happened to be standing not far from the family head's room.
Little Sheep Jiang Lai appeared casual, looking around, then as if casually selecting a target, pointed toward the family head's room building and said offhandedly:
"I think that building's decoration looks nice, and it's close to us. How about there?"
Zenin Naoya could naturally recognize the family head's room at a glance. He had originally planned to refuse, but suddenly remembered the phrase "personal commemoration" from Little Sheep Jiang Lai's earlier words.
If only taking one indoor photo, the one that could best showcase status on the platform and serve as future commemoration would naturally be the family head's room.
Zenin Naoya didn't care about identity exposure, since his social circle was already locked within the Zenin family with no outside contact, so it didn't matter whether his gaming identity was exposed.
He even thought that displaying the family name might get him more platform benefits.
Anyway, he would definitely become family head in the future, so taking a photo early in his youth wasn't bad.
As the Zenin family heir, plus his smooth, pampered upbringing, Zenin Naoya had no reverence for the family head's room location, and naturally assumed the next person living there would be himself.
While Naoya was thinking, he heard Kugisaki Nobara's hesitant voice: "That building probably isn't allowed... It feels different from the surrounding buildings, looks like an important location we can't go to."
Fushiguro Megumi's voice was calm: "Indeed, to avoid trouble, it's better to stay away."
Itadori Yuji scratched his cheek, seeming confused: "Huh? What's wrong with there? Are there places even Naoya-san can't go... Maybe we should change locations."
The group of Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki whispered among themselves, but as a jujutsu sorcerer, Zenin Naoya could naturally hear clearly.
The blonde young man snorted, crossing his arms over his chest with raised eyebrows: "Go, why wouldn't we go? My standards are high, and photo location is part of that."
"But your instincts are quite accurate. That place would indeed make your legs weak." Zenin Naoya stepped forward with relaxed steps, glancing at everyone with somewhat careless mockery, "Follow me, brats."
Everyone seemed stunned for a moment, hesitating briefly before following.
After Zenin Naoya turned around with his back to everyone, the group of Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki exchanged glances with Little Sheep Jiang Lai, their eyes showing none of their previous expressions.
Everyone: Perfect cooperation.jpg
The silver snake coiled around Little Sheep Jiang Lai's wrist moved up his sleeve, emerging from his collar and nuzzling his ear, expressing slight displeasure toward Naoya with hissing sounds.
Jiang Lai curved his eyebrows, poking the little snake by his ear with his finger, saying softly: "It's fine, I'm used to his sharp-tongued personality... But really, internet-addicted youth are so easy to fool." He curled his lips in a smile.
His gaze fell on the family head's room ahead, and Jiang Lai's relaxed mood sank again.
He wondered if Zenin Naobito was inside... and whether that wife had prophesied anything in advance.
Stepping into the family head's room meant stepping into another unknown battlefield.
But regardless, they had to move forward. Fortunately, this time there was another pair of eyes helping with observation.
Jiang Lai's eyebrows curved as he gently raised his hand, the silver little snake cooperating perfectly as it slid to his wrist along his finger.
Under his sleeve, those gray-green eyes observed the outside world with absolute calm.