Mission Location: Kabukicho First Avenue

After a half-hour drive, the two cars came to a stop. The moment Toho Tetsu got out, he saw that the other two had already jumped out and were looking around with curiosity written all over their faces.

"Geto, what is this place?"

Gojo Satoru asked curiously as he surveyed the surroundings.

They were standing before a bustling street, beneath a massive neon sign that read—Kabukicho First Avenue.

All kinds of signs hung outside the shops lining both sides of the street. Some bore only ordinary words, while others displayed photos of certain women. Neon lights flashed everywhere, as if cultivating—or perhaps catalyzing—people's desires and cravings.

As the heir of the Gojo Clan, he had never had any opportunity to learn about such things, so he was thoroughly confused about what kind of place this was.

Geto Suguru, however, frowned. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke with some uncertainty.

"This... is Kabukicho First Avenue?"

"Uh... so what exactly is this place for?"

Seeing that he did not seem to be pretending, Geto shook his head with a dark expression.

"I don't know either. You'd better stop asking about this stuff. We're here to carry out a mission..."

Even so, he glanced into the street, a subtle feeling stirring within him.

Gojo Satoru had been protected all his life, so naturally he did not know what places like this were for. But Geto, who had grown up in an ordinary household, had at least heard his classmates mention it once or twice.

Yet the more a place like this was filled with people's desires and thoughts, the more cursed energy would unconsciously leak out. It seemed today's cursed spirit would not be an easy opponent.

Toho Tetsu also frowned slightly as he looked at the street before them. Clearly, he had thought of the same thing.

Shoko Ieiri made a sarcastic remark as well.

"Why is this mission taking place somewhere like this? How about you go in and do the mission while I wait outside for you to send the injured out?"

Considering her gender and the special nature of certain establishments inside, Toho Tetsu was just about to agree when Supervisor Kinoshita shook her head apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Ieiri, but this mission requires all of you to participate. You can't wait here."

Hearing that, Shoko sighed and said nothing more. Geto Suguru also pulled the still-curious Gojo Satoru over to the others, preparing to first hear the details of the mission.

Once everyone had gathered, Supervisor Kinoshita took out a file and some records, then began explaining the mission's specifics.

"Recently, Kabukicho First Avenue has seen a large number of disappearances. More than a dozen have already been confirmed. According to certain witnesses and people involved in the incidents, the guests would be in the middle of having 'fun' when the lights in the room suddenly went out for a moment, and then the person vanished."

She paused awkwardly when she said "having fun," then immediately regained her composure.

"Based on our preliminary judgment, this may be related to the local legend of the Flying Succubus."

"Flying Succubus?"

"Yes. In Kabukicho First District, there has always been a saying that a Flying Succubus lives here. She searches among male targets for men who suit her tastes, then takes them away."

At that point, Supervisor Kinoshita sighed.

"Since there had never been any related incidents in the past, we didn't pay much attention to it. But starting half a month ago, a large number of disappearance cases caught our attention.

"Only after investigating did we discover that there had been several disappearances here before. Looking at it now, they may all have been the work of the same cursed spirit."

Toho Tetsu nodded thoughtfully.

Gojo Satoru, standing beside him, raised his hand with a question.

"So if the target is male, wouldn't Ieiri be safer staying outside?"

Shoko Ieiri instinctively glanced at him. When she saw the seriousness on his face, she paused slightly, but his next sentence made her extremely unhappy.

"After all, she doesn't have much combat ability. If she goes in with us, she might get hurt and become a burden.

"Wouldn't it be better for her to wait outside?"

Toho Tetsu's mouth twitched at those words, which showed almost zero social awareness.

He finally understood why, despite having such a handsome face, Gojo Satoru would not be popular with women who knew him in the future.

Perhaps the overwhelming difference in strength gave him an inhumanly oppressive aura that made him difficult to get along with. But that punchable personality of his... was probably one of the major reasons too.

Just as he was about to object to the suggestion, Shoko Ieiri spoke in a somewhat indifferent tone.

"I should go in with you. The Flying Succubus mainly targets men, after all. If any of you get hurt, I can heal you in time and save you from developing any lingering problems."

Hearing the chill in her words, the other three men all shuddered at once.

Supervisor Kinoshita gave a light cough, interrupting their friendly exchange.

"Um... actually, there have also been women among the missing people. And these people have no connection in terms of identity or occupation, so the Flying Succubus seems more likely to choose her targets at random."

After she finished speaking, the atmosphere fell slightly quieter for a moment. Gojo Satoru lost his joking manner and began thinking seriously. Geto Suguru also started reassessing the difficulty of this mission.

Shoko Ieiri slipped her phone back into her pocket, seemingly preparing to get serious for once. Only Toho Tetsu looked once more toward Kabukicho First Avenue.

"In that case, let's first question the relevant people. We can also determine whether there are any cursed energy fluctuations at the crime scenes, then track it down."

Supervisor Kinoshita nodded instinctively, straightening up slightly.

"Understood. I'll notify the other two Assistant Supervisors to remain on standby in place in case anything changes."

Before coming here, she had received instructions from Yaga Masamichi. Once they arrived on site, although they were supposed to discuss things primarily with the students, if they had no leads or ideas, they could first listen to Toho Tetsu's suggestions.

After all, he had considerable mission experience.

After making a few preparations, the group entered Kabukicho First Avenue together.

In this era, the entertainment industry had not yet developed as comprehensively as it would later, so the street was still dominated by establishments from the adult entertainment industry.

Naturally, the youthful-looking group drew many curious looks the moment they stepped onto the street.

Most of the attention was directed at Gojo Satoru. With that face of his, he stood out even in a place like this. But he had no idea what was going on. Whenever he noticed someone looking at him curiously, he would even raise a hand and wave at them.

Geto Suguru darkly pressed down his hand and told him to stop embarrassing himself. Shoko Ieiri and Toho Tetsu said nothing, but both instinctively moved a little farther away from him.

Before long, they arrived in front of the first establishment.

"Hmm, Paradise Bubble Bath Demon Realm? Geto, do you know what kind of place this is?

"I know what a bubble bath is. You drop one of those bath bombs into a tub, and it makes bubbles. But why would there be a shop dedicated to it?"

Still filled with curiosity, Gojo Satoru looked at the establishment's sign and asked thoughtfully. Geto Suguru's face had already gone dark as he prepared to cover his mouth.

But the proprietress walked out with a smile, her words full of seduction.

"Oh my, would this handsome little guy like to give it a try? If it's you, big sis is willing to provide the service for free."

"Free service? That good?"

Gojo Satoru sounded surprised. Shoko Ieiri had already turned and walked away, apparently intending to get as far from this place as possible.

Faced with this mature woman's flirtatious approach, Geto Suguru did not know what to say for a moment. In the end, Toho Tetsu stepped forward instead.

"There's no need for any service. My friend doesn't know much about this sort of thing. We came to ask you for some information."

When he stepped forward, the proprietress, whose gaze had been fixed on Gojo Satoru, looked displeased. But upon seeing his face, she froze for a moment before revealing an interested expression.

"My, I didn't expect there to be a reserved little handsome guy here too..."

Toho Tetsu frowned at her frivolous attitude, his gaze growing more serious.

"Sorry, we're not your customers. We came to ask about something."

As he spoke, he took out the identification from his coat and held it before her.

When she saw the police-related identity information that Jujutsu High had forged for the Japanese public security system on the ID, the proprietress finally backed down and sighed helplessly.

"Fine, fine. You're probably here to ask about that matter, aren't you? Come in with me..."

Listening to the music and the laughter and shouting of customers coming from inside the establishment, the group felt somewhat awkward. Still, after exchanging glances, they followed her inside.

The night in Kabukicho was still long.

And the Flying Succubus might be hiding in some corner untouched by neon lights, waiting for her next prey.