Chapter 245 : Jujutsu Return Battle
Jiang Lai opened his phone and looked through the email attachment Yoshino Junpei had sent him.
The attachment was a particularly clear analysis report with both text and images. From this intelligence attachment Yoshino Junpei had sent, one could see the cursed energy fluctuation conditions across Japan before this game called [New World] began.
Overall, the cursed energy fluctuations during this period had increased. The cursed energy fluctuations at barrier locations specifically mentioned in the rules were particularly obvious.
However, because the overall values were still within reasonable ranges, or perhaps because there were Supervisory Committee people within [Window], in any case, this information wasn't reported.
Jiang Lai flipped back and forth through these few pages of analysis report, his gaze focused on the images and text. In the Detective Conan world, he had once served as a hidden boss, so he was particularly sensitive to data.
He processed and analyzed this information again in his mind. After a moment, he raised his head.
The Detective Conan friends beside him didn't disturb during this process. They knew Jiang Lai was more familiar with the jujutsu world and had the ability to identify information, so they just needed to wait quietly for results.
"How is it?" Seeing Jiang Lai emerge from his contemplation, Morofushi Hiromitsu asked first, ripples flickering on his electronic screen.
"Brain-kun acts very covertly, controlling cursed energy fluctuations within a certain range, blending with natural environmental cursed energy, making it difficult to distinguish which were laid out by him and which occurred naturally."
Jiang Lai exhaled, then continued, "However, it's not without gains. Looking at the overall picture and comparing with cursed energy conditions from previous months, I found one area that stands out most."
Matsuda Jinpei moved closer, tilting his head slightly. The sunglasses on his electronic screen were erased, replaced by a map of Japan: "Where is it? Still the previous Hokkaido Mount Shichi area?"
Along with his words, the map on the electronic screen also enlarged, focusing on the Hokkaido region.
Witnessing the scene changes on the screen, for a moment, Jiang Lai really wanted to ask if this electronic screen was touchscreen.
However, touching friends' faces back and forth seemed inappropriate, so he quickly set this thought aside and reined in his freely wandering mind.
"No, not there." Jiang Lai shook his head, "The location is, Kyoto."
Kyoto.
When this city name came out, everyone present was slightly stunned, then showed various expressions.
[Kyoto] was the traditional base location of the Big Three Families. It was an ancient capital with a long history, whose name a thousand years ago was also called [Heian-kyo].
In the Jujutsu Kaisen new series, this region had very brilliant stories. Jiang Lai was a personal witness, while the Detective Conan friends were familiar with the manga plot. They all understood the significance of this city.
"Kyoto?" After brief silence, Kurosawa Akira nodded slightly, "Indeed, whether from Brain-kun personally or from the world's will perspective, having the barrier core located there is reasonable."
"Speculating from Brain-kun's position, this is where the Big Three Families' residences are located, the place where pure cursed energy gathers most densely."
"Brain-kun's previous layout of controlling the Big Three Families has reasons, presumably for his final plan. Perhaps to extract cursed energy from the Big Three Families' people and shrine faith to maintain the barrier and contract operations."
"From the world's will perspective, this is another new cycle."
Jiang Lai blinked lightly. He had actually guessed this layer of meaning too.
The ancient Heian-kyo City a thousand years ago, modern Kyoto a thousand years later. After a thousand-year cycle, similar people and forces would once again face a fateful decisive battle.
Jujutsu Kaisen, the so-called "Return" character must run through the beginning and end of destiny.
So placing the barrier core in Kyoto, besides Brain-kun's own decision, probably also had the subtle influence of the world's will.
Everything begins in Kyoto, everything ends in Kyoto.
"So we're going to Kyoto now?" Matsuda Jinpei tilted his head slightly and asked.
Morofushi Hiromitsu switched to his dual-form Pegasus shape and indicated: "I can carry you, very fast. Of course, you and Akira also need to switch to beast forms, otherwise I can't bear the weight."
"Holding a dog in one hand, hanging a snake in the other, riding on horseback, this picture is a bit beautiful." Jiang Lai coughed twice and joked, "How about Matsuda, you run on the ground while I bring little Akira."
"Hey hey, discriminating against dogs, right?"
"Of course, not." Jiang Lai smiled in response, then verbally pivoted and said seriously, "Back to business, let's change the arrangement."
"Matsuda, you maintain human form and let Hiromitsu take you. I'll use spatial technique acceleration and follow beside you. As for little Akira, he can go with me or Matsuda."
Kurosawa Akira said: "I'll become bracelet-sized and coil around Big Brother Jiang Lai's wrist."
"You want to follow alongside?" Pegasus Hiromitsu's blue eyes blinked lightly, "Do you need me to slow down?"
"No need." Jiang Lai smiled brightly, his manner cheerful, "With full technique activation, I can keep up. Getting there early also gives us more time for subsequent exploration."
"Don't worry, why would I be polite with you all?" Jiang Lai's brows and eyes curved, "If I can't keep up physically, I'll definitely say so immediately."
"Then I'll get off and you get on." Matsuda Jinpei naturally continued the second half of the sentence, "I'll switch to wolfhound form. Four legs run fast, should be able to keep up too."
"Hey, being so considerate, Matsuda?" Jiang Lai teased, "You were quite resistant just now."
"Please, I can certainly distinguish between doing it on purpose and having no choice." Matsuda Jinpei playfully punched Jiang Lai's back, "I'm telling you, after not seeing you for a while, how come you like playing these games so much?"
"Probably because there aren't many people here to joke around with me." Jiang Lai shrugged and replied, "I was just waiting for you all."
His position in the jujutsu world had always been as an elder, most of the time he was gentle, generous moonlight. Usually he only joked around with someone like Gojo Satoru who had no concept of seniority.
Occasionally he would also fool around with Geto Suguru, but high school period Geto Suguru had worries on his mind, and second playthrough Geto Suguru was at the Supervisory Committee, so they couldn't meet often.
In the Detective Conan world, Jiang Lai was more in a peer (2.0) and junior (1.0) position.
He and the Detective Conan friends could joke around without restraint, make harmless bets and arrange household chores. No one would be reserved or concerned, and everyone could meet frequently.
Of course, this didn't mean Jiang Lai favored the Detective Conan world more.
Different worlds' people, different bonds, different experiences were all equally precious to Jiang Lai. Sincere emotions had no hierarchy.
It's just that due to the subtle differences in elder and peer positions, he would show his cheerful, playful side more with the Detective Conan friends.
The distance from Tokyo to Kyoto wasn't far. Brain-kun's newly announced rules had almost paralyzed the entire society, so transportation naturally couldn't operate normally.
However, this was good for their travel method, no need to worry about colliding with normal people's travel.
Therefore, it didn't take them long to reach Kyoto's outskirts.
When approaching Kyoto, Jiang Lai felt the undulating cursed energy fluctuations in the air. His keen senses as an [Existence] allowed him to precisely detect the abnormality here.
As expected, Jiang Lai thought. There's a problem in Kyoto.
He waved his hand to dispel the spatial technique used for acceleration around him and landed on the ground.
At this moment, Kyoto was surrounded by an unknown barrier, with no one knowing the internal situation, because this barrier had the function of blocking inside and outside, just like the ancient Heian-kyo City a thousand years ago.
Perhaps this was why there had been no news from Kyoto. Jiang Lai intuited that the Big Three Families in Kyoto had probably already fallen.
Jiang Lai himself wouldn't be blocked by barriers, but the Detective Conan friends would be. So Jiang Lai had to circle around this barrier, trying to find the barrier's main entrance so the Detective Conan friends could enter with him.
He didn't choose to destroy the barrier.
First, because such action would be too conspicuous, and Jiang Lai didn't want to alert the enemy yet. Second, because he wasn't sure about this barrier's rules, destruction would also take considerable time.
Therefore, it was better to try finding an entrance.
Generally speaking, such city-surrounding barriers would have a relatively weak "door" spot.
Jiang Lai released his spatial cursed energy, feeling along the barrier's edge. When turning a certain corner, he sensed another slightly familiar cursed energy.
Almost instantly, he raised his head and looked straight ahead.
Outside the undulating barrier stood a black-haired figure. A jade hairpin held up the hair, light cyan eyes slightly narrowed. It was Gojo Kyufuin!
Jiang Lai was initially somewhat surprised, then felt it was reasonable. After all, Gojo Kyufuin was an important member of the Supervisory Committee. It was completely understandable for Brain-kun to assign him as gatekeeper.
The moment Jiang Lai noticed Gojo Kyufuin, Gojo Kyufuin also noticed them.
The Detective Conan friends immediately became alert, all silent with blue screens showing nothing on their electronic screen faces, their surrounding aura tense.
They all knew this guy was a pervert, and moreover a pervert who had targeted Jiang Lai.
"You've come." Gojo Kyufuin smiled and turned halfway, his gaze not even looking at the others beside Jiang Lai, focusing only on the black-haired young man, "I knew you would definitely detect the most crucial location."
"..." For caution's sake, Jiang Lai didn't reply immediately. He only looked back calmly with steady eyes, and after a moment said, "Are you guarding Kyoto?"
"Yes, but not entirely." Gojo Kyufuin admitted frankly, his lips curving as beautiful smiles bloomed on his pale, handsome face, "On one hand I'm guarding, on the other hand I'm welcoming, welcoming you."
Jiang Lai stood in place, his brown eyes slightly narrowed.
"Perhaps it's a bit presumptuous, but I've introduced you to Kenjaku." Gojo Kyufuin suddenly said the next sentence.
This sentence made Jiang Lai's heart suddenly tighten, and the Detective Conan friends beside him simultaneously burst with sharp warning intent!
What did Kyufuin mean by suddenly siding with Brain-kun?!
Jiang Lai's mind raced. No, that's not right. Gojo Kyufuin knew he and Brain-kun were two factions with irreconcilable conflicts. This extremist wouldn't assist the enemy.
Moreover, if Gojo Kyufuin really intended to help Brain-kun, he wouldn't tell him here that he had already notified Brain-kun.
So then...
Jiang Lai didn't rush to react, simultaneously raising his hand slightly to signal the Detective Conan friends not to rush into combat, giving Gojo Kyufuin some time to explain.
"Of course, I didn't fully reveal everything. I think what I did might be what you hoped for." Gojo Kyufuin smiled gently, speaking slowly, "I described it according to your memory loss script. I know this is what you want to show."
"Kenjaku wants to meet with you." Gojo Kyufuin said, "This is an opportunity for you, isn't it? Of course, you don't have to trust me and can go your own way. I believe you have the best choice."