"I've brought the person here. What happens next has nothing to do with me."
Shinsuke Zenin swaggered into Jujutsu High with Yuta Okkotsu and brought him to a secret room covered in talismans.
"You'll stay here. When you can leave will depend on your luck."
Shinsuke Zenin hung up the phone and said to Yuta Okkotsu,
"Huh? Wasn't I supposed to be punished?"
Yuta Okkotsu looked utterly bewildered. Even if they weren't going to make him atone with his life, there should at least be some punishment, right?
"Punished? The money I received didn't come with any such obligation."
Shinsuke Zenin waved his hand and turned to leave.
He still had to collect the money for the killing from the higher-ups.
After Shinsuke Zenin left, Yuta Okkotsu looked at the walls covered in talismans and immediately grew nervous.
Could this be the punishment? Were they going to lock him up here for the rest of his life?
"You're Yuta Okkotsu?"
"Ah!"
Yuta Okkotsu was startled by Satoru Gojo, who suddenly appeared beside him.
"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous. I paid ten million for you, so relax a little."
Originally, he had planned to personally pick up Yuta Okkotsu. After the higher-ups exposed Yuta's matter, he investigated his identity.
A curse belonging to an ordinary person couldn't possibly have such great power over ordinary people.
He guessed that Yuta Okkotsu must possess an extremely powerful bloodline. Unexpectedly, his investigation traced it back to the three great vengeful spirits of ancient times. He even deduced that Yuta might be related to the Gojo Family.
He felt that Yuta was a promising talent who shouldn't simply be erased.
When he was preparing to pick Yuta up, the higher-ups told him that the mission had already been handed to Shinsuke Zenin.
Knowing how much Shinsuke Zenin adored Cursed Spirits, Satoru Gojo called him in advance and asked him to spare Yuta's life.
The price? Ten million.
In other words, Yuta Okkotsu's life had been bought for ten million by him.
Fortunately, he was a Special Grade Sorcerer and normally had nowhere to spend money. Otherwise, if this continued, he would eventually be fleeced down to the last penny.
"You are...?"
Doubt rose in Yuta Okkotsu's heart. Judging by the situation, it didn't seem like he was going to be punished.
"I'm Satoru Gojo, your... future teacher."
Satoru Gojo decided to hide Yuta for a while.
After all, Shinsuke Zenin had just gone to report the completion of the mission. If Yuta Okkotsu suddenly appeared lively and well within the higher-ups' view the next second, that wouldn't be good.
Satoru Gojo pursed his lips. He had actually gone so far as to consider Shinsuke Zenin's situation. That was truly a little inappropriate. Next time, he absolutely had to find Shinsuke something to do as compensation.
Meanwhile, Shinsuke Zenin had already begun reporting the mission.
"Is the person dead?"
"Yes."
Shinsuke Zenin looked utterly calm.
He had openly brought Yuta Okkotsu to Jujutsu High precisely to tell everyone else that he had brought the person back and completed his mission.
As for whether Yuta was dead or not, the person was already at Jujutsu High. Nothing else mattered.
"Where's the corpse?"
An aged voice came from behind the door.
"He's lying at Jujutsu High. If you're worried, go find Satoru Gojo. He took him away."
Shinsuke Zenin decisively shifted the blame onto Satoru Gojo. After all, Satoru was powerful, had a poor impression among the higher-ups, and could handle the consequences.
"..."
The people inside fell silent for a moment, seemingly doubtful of his words.
However, they didn't pursue the matter. "The money will be deposited into your account on time."
After a reply, the room fell silent again.
Seeing this, Shinsuke Zenin left without worry. Another ten million had arrived, and he was delighted.
The higher-ups and Satoru Gojo both seemed to have plenty of money. They were excellent targets to fleece.
At the same time, at the Zenin Family.
Inside the Family Head's residence, Naobito Zenin sat cross-legged on a cushion, drinking wine as he questioned the determined-looking Maki,
"You really don't want to join the Kugurō Corps? You're old enough by now, and your strength is average. What do you plan to do if you don't join the Kugurō Corps?
"I know you're close to Shinsuke Zenin and that you want to become a powerhouse like him, but that's impossible. You don't have his talent, let alone his courage."
Naobito spoke cruelly, but realistically.
He understood Maki's situation very well. Her limits were already set. The twin curse was no joke. Did she really think the circumstances of those two abnormal brothers could appear so easily?
"Hmph! I'll become the Zenin Family's Family Head through my own strength and make every one of you shut up!"
Maki gripped the long staff. Her expression was resolute as she turned and left. She had to accelerate her cultivation. She had been stuck at this bottleneck for far too long.
"Hahahahahahaha...!"
Naobito nearly laughed himself to tears when he heard that.
"I'll be waiting for the day you become the Zenin Family's Family Head!"
Although her talent was nothing special, he couldn't find fault with Maki's personality.
Unfortunately, becoming the Zenin Family's Family Head wasn't that easy. Besides, the next Family Head of the Zenin Family had already been decided.
Before leaving the Zenin Family, Maki went to see Shinsuke Zenin.
"Master, I'm planning to go to Jujutsu High."
Maki Zenin's gaze was firm, and she stood ramrod straight, as though she had already made up her mind.
Her strength had reached a bottleneck. She had to fight more people or Cursed Spirits if she wanted any chance of breaking through.
"Then go. Have you told Maki?"
Shinsuke Zenin had no objections.
He had already taught her nearly everything he could. In terms of pure physical combat skills, the current Maki wouldn't be weaker than any Grade 1 Sorcerer.
However, her physical strength was still somewhat lacking. Combined with her inability to use Cursed Energy, her overall strength was probably only around Grade 2 or Grade 3.
If she used a Special Grade Cursed Tool, she might be able to solo a Grade 2 Curse.
"No. I don't plan to tell her." Maki shook her head.
She understood her younger sister very well.
Maki might have grown bolder over the past few years, but she had no intention of rebelling against the Zenin Family. Or rather, in her heart, she believed that the two of them were fundamentally incapable of doing such a thing.
Her younger sister didn't want to do it, but that didn't mean she didn't. She was determined to make everyone in the Zenin Family shut up.
As for her sister, she could simply enjoy a comfortable life. This was something an older sister ought to do.
"I don't want to say much about the matter between you sisters. Take Play Cloud from inside."
Shinsuke Zenin didn't want to interfere in the sisters' superficial relationship. He would let them worry about it themselves in the future.
"Master, are you serious?"
When Maki heard Shinsuke Zenin tell her to take Play Cloud, her eyes instantly widened, and she became incredibly excited.
For people like them who had no Cursed Energy, Cursed Tools were extremely important.
Her master was actually willing to give her a Special Grade Cursed Tool. How could she not be moved? Her resolve grew even firmer.
Even if it wasn't to slap the Zenin Family in the face, she had to persevere simply because of her master's trust in her!
"Take it. However, the assessment we agreed on can only be done with an ordinary Cursed Tool."
"Understood!"
Maki answered and rushed into the room. She picked up Play Cloud, which had been stored there for a long time, and her eyes lit up.
She casually swung it a few times and could already feel the power of the Cursed Tool.
But she knew that such a powerful Cursed Tool had once been broken by her master. She couldn't imagine how much force it had taken to snap it.
Looking at the excited Maki, Shinsuke Zenin smiled and murmured,
"I hope that one day you can bring out the strength it truly possesses."
Before you continue