Chapter 217 : So What If I'm Protective
Just like in various movies and TV shows, the police always arrive late, reaching the scene only after the incident has ended.
Now, the people sent by the jujutsu world higher-ups were the same. They only came to Mount Shichi after that unidentified [Kuroi Misato] had left.
Although these were people sent by the jujutsu higher-ups, at their core they were still just workers.
The auxiliary supervisor leading them faced the strongest Six Eyes with great respect.
He knew Gojo Satoru wasn't the type to harm his allies, so he wasn't worried about his personal safety, but rather feared that this big shot, who seemed to be in a bad mood during the livestream, might casually blast away the mountaintop and make the scene even harder to clean up.
"Gojo-sensei." The lead auxiliary supervisor politely bowed, his gaze sweeping over the empty ice crystals and the ice crystal fragments on the ground, his expression looking somewhat hesitant, as if he wanted to ask something but didn't dare.
Gojo Satoru looked straight ahead, and within his Six Eyes that possessed a wide field of vision, there was no longer any trace of that [Kuroi Misato].
So he turned his attention back to his side, saying: "No need to search, that guy has already withdrawn long ago."
The auxiliary supervisor hadn't asked, but Gojo Satoru had already seen what he wanted to ask.
Because the people present had all come at the higher-ups' orders, the higher-ups' focus would definitely be on Kuroi Misato, so they had most likely instructed the auxiliary supervisor early on about what to ask first upon arrival.
"Ah, I see." Hearing Gojo Satoru's reply, the auxiliary supervisor was stunned for a second, but still asked, "You didn't stop her?... By the way, why did Miss Kuroi leave?"
This auxiliary supervisor didn't seem to be completely ignorant; being able to say Kuroi Misato's name meant he probably knew about the Star Plasma Vessel incident from years ago.
"She's not Kuroi Misato." Gojo Satoru's expression was indifferent as he spoke directly.
The auxiliary supervisor in front of him looked somewhat strange.
"Or rather, that body is indeed Kuroi, but now it has become an incarnated vessel for some unknown character." Gojo Satoru rarely softened his voice, his tone slightly heavy, "The real Kuroi is already dead."
"An incarnated vessel?!" The auxiliary supervisor was stunned.
The information revealed in this statement was too shocking, even somewhat like an excuse or joke.
Logically speaking, there were very few special grade cursed objects currently in existence, and even fewer that could become incarnated vessels. How could it be such a coincidence that one appeared in Kuroi Misato?
The auxiliary supervisor was somewhat suspicious that this was an excuse from the person in front of him, intended to make the higher-ups shift their attention away from Kuroi Misato.
So he straightened his expression and said seriously: "Gojo-sensei, the jujutsu higher-ups have urgently formulated an emergency plan to protect Miss Kuroi and investigate related matters. You don't need to worry, you can safely let Miss Kuroi go to the higher-ups' sanctuary."
"I said, Kuroi is no longer there." Gojo Satoru raised his eyebrow, his azure eyes staring at the auxiliary supervisor, faintly showing some coldness, "Sanctuary? The higher-ups are really confident in themselves. If you want to find that guy, you can go look for them yourselves."
"This incident is too bizarre, we must find the mastermind. The higher-ups... also want to invite you to come sit with them." The auxiliary supervisor's voice became much quieter.
The white-haired man first paused slightly, then smiled again, though this smile didn't reach his eyes: "Oh, the higher-ups want to find me too? Not bad, not bad. I haven't gone looking for them yet, but they want to actively come find me."
"This incident, I also have quite a few questions I'd like to have a good chat about with those rotten oranges."
"Mount Shichi's curse rumors have been around for a long time. Someone hiding in the mountain, and they couldn't gather a single piece of intelligence?"
"Letting the ice and snow drift here for more than ten years, how interesting. Compared to their usual habit of making a big fuss over the slightest anomaly, it's like they're completely different people."
Every word revealed sharpness. Gojo Satoru didn't hide his suspicion of the higher-ups. Actually, according to the script they had discussed, he indeed needed to show suspicion toward the higher-ups to lay the groundwork for future actions.
However, beyond the scripted acting, Gojo Satoru's demeanor also mixed in real cold anger.
"Gojo-sensei..." Facing the Six Eyes emanating coldness, although the auxiliary supervisor knew he wouldn't take his anger out on these workers, his voice still trembled involuntarily, and he lowered his head even further.
Finally, he still squeezed out the latter half of his sentence: "Also... the higher-ups said they would also like this young man to come along for simultaneous questioning."
"Looking for him?" The white-haired man reached out to pull Little Sheep Jiang Lai to his side, his hand resting on his shoulder, his tone slightly raised, "Those rotten oranges can just talk to me if they have something to say. This little friend is a minor~ Minor affairs can all be handled by me, an adult."
"Or is it that the higher-ups have some special ideas and insist he must go?"
He had a curved smile on his lips, wearing his usual carefree grin. Only the cursed energy pressure around him was like an arctic iceberg, revealing his true mood.
All the jujutsu sorcerers present felt an invisible, heavy pressure, making even breathing somewhat difficult.
The people behind couldn't help but step back half a pace, while the auxiliary supervisor at the front broke out in a cold sweat.
This time, the lead auxiliary supervisor finally wisely shut his mouth.
Compared to work, life was naturally more important. Honestly, he also wanted to complain about the higher-ups: why did they have to provoke the Six Eyes, this great deity?!
"Gojo-sensei." From the side, a soft, warm boy's voice suddenly rang out.
The brown-haired boy with a small ponytail took hold of Gojo Satoru's sleeve with one hand, blinking as he spoke: "Actually, going wouldn't be impossible. I'm also quite curious to meet the legendary jujutsu world higher-ups~"
Gojo Satoru's blue eyes turned toward Jiang Lai, and the frost between his brows dissipated considerably. He raised an eyebrow slightly: "You want to go?"
The protection just now was an unconscious behavior. Gojo Satoru wouldn't overprotect, and Jiang Lai wasn't someone who needed his overprotection.
Gojo Satoru respected his good friend's choices. If Jiang Lai wanted to go, then they would go.
As for whether there would be any trouble afterward: would those cowardly higher-ups really dare to make things difficult for them? If so, he would let those rotten oranges know what real trouble meant.
He had never hidden his disgust for the higher-ups. All these years, he hadn't acted recklessly or killed them, only because he had temporarily changed targets and was busy cultivating the new generation of students. Additionally, it was to cooperate with his good friends in playing the long game to catch the big fish and dig out the Supervisory Committee behind them.
If those old folks insisted on challenging his patience, he naturally wouldn't tolerate it... After all, he had never been a good-tempered person. The strongest had always been arrogant.
His gaze glanced at Little Sheep Jiang Lai beside him, and Gojo Satoru thought again: Well, it's not impossible to endure a bit longer. He'd see how it goes. He could discuss with Lai about letting the line out a bit more.
After the brown-haired boy spoke, Gojo Satoru reined in the cold cursed energy pressure he had been emanating.
The jujutsu sorcerers present all let out deep breaths, feeling like they had escaped disaster.
The lead auxiliary supervisor wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at Little Sheep Jiang Lai with gratitude for defusing the situation.
However, he soon learned why Little Sheep Jiang Lai had spoken up: it wasn't to actively defuse the situation, but to set up another trap!
"I'm a bit regretful now that I turned off the livestream too early." Little Sheep Jiang Lai deliberately sighed, putting on a pained expression, "If I had broadcast what came after, I could have had another paid option."
Jiang Lai actually didn't want to use Kuroi Misato's matter as a gimmick. Although he had never interacted with Kuroi Misato and Amanai Riko, he still mourned the loss of life in his heart.
However, at this moment, he had to use this as a lead-in to bring up what came next.
Jiang Lai planned to meet with the higher-ups, taking this opportunity to get close contact and perhaps glimpse more information about the Supervisory Committee from their side.
But he couldn't just go along with them so easily. There needed to be twists and additional demands to make it seem reasonable.
"Now, since the higher-ups want to hear it, then let them listen." Little Sheep Jiang Lai pulled out a small calculator from somewhere and began tapping away, "But the accounts still need to be settled clearly. Let me think..."
"The most basic transportation fees, equipment fees, intelligence fees, and mental distress fees go without saying. Additionally, there are detailed description fees, secondary brain memory review fees, minor special additional fees, elderly special markup fees, special anti-higher-ups welfare fees..."
The first few items were still reasonable, but the later ones became increasingly ridiculous. The lead auxiliary supervisor's mouth twitched, but adult composure and Gojo Satoru's gaze prevented him from interrupting.
After Little Sheep Jiang Lai finished his long list, the auxiliary supervisor coughed and tentatively asked: "Aren't these paid options a bit too numerous?"
"Too many? No, not at all." Little Sheep Jiang Lai put away the small calculator, his expression casual, "If you think it's too many, then we simply won't go."
"..." The auxiliary supervisor was somewhat dumbfounded.
How had it suddenly become that they needed to pay fees to arrange a meeting? Just now, weren't they agreeing that even if the higher-ups didn't mention it, they would seek out the higher-ups (to settle accounts)?
"Ah, this: I can't make that decision." The auxiliary supervisor spoke up, pulling out his phone and politely gesturing, "May I request instructions from the higher-ups?"
"Of course you can." The brown-haired boy's eyes crinkled with a smile, looking very cute, though what he said wasn't cute at all, "However, the longer the waiting time, the more waiting fees need to be paid."
Auxiliary supervisor: "..."
He quickly dialed the higher-ups' contact number, rapidly explaining the situation at the scene, including the long list of fee items that Little Sheep Jiang Lai had proposed.
What surprised Jiang Lai slightly was that the auxiliary supervisor in front of him had actually remembered that long string of randomly made-up terms that even he himself hadn't remembered...
Indeed, people who could hold positions around the higher-ups all had some special talents!
The higher-ups on the other end seemed quite furious, but still maintained that high-and-mighty attitude, saying in a deep voice over the phone's speaker: "How ridiculous! Is the Gojo family so short of money?"
"Naturally not short~ But my good student seems to really enjoy playing this kind of money game. As the strongest spicy teacher, of course I indulge him~~" Gojo Satoru said with one hand in his pocket, his tone lazy and casual.
"How rude, completely lacking the attitude a new member of the jujutsu world should have! Since you're his teacher, how can you allow a student to behave like this!"
"Hey hey, my student isn't your place to butt in, is it?" Gojo Satoru took the phone from the auxiliary supervisor's hand, casually throwing the words back, "Rather, are you guys that short of money?"
"If you have money, pay up. If you don't have money, shut up. If you have objections:" Gojo Satoru suddenly smiled, "Hold them in."