The next morning.
Satoru Gojo stood on the street outside the hotel, a lollipop in his mouth and a freshly bought drink in his hand, his sunglasses perched on his nose as he lounged around.
Gojo took a swig of his drink, then lifted his chin toward the high-rise ahead.
"Geto, that's the place, right?"
Suguru Geto took out his phone, opened the mission briefing, checked the address, and nodded.
"Yeah, this is it. The Star Plasma Vessel is on the twenty-fifth floor, room 2507."
He put his phone away and looked up at the building again.
"I'll go get her. You and Wana stay down here to cover us."
Wana raised a hand and made an OK sign.
Geto turned toward the building and walked through its glass doors, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the lobby.
Gojo and Wana stood on the street, watching the glass door swing before closing.
Gojo shifted his gaze from the glass door and looked up at the top floor, taking in the flow of cursed energy throughout the entire building. Nothing unusual. Not yet, at least.
Wana stood beside him with her hands in her pockets, absentmindedly tracing circles on the ground with her toe.
"Wana," Gojo suddenly said.
"Hmm?"
"Why do you think the Time Vessel Association is getting involved too?"
Wana tilted her head, thought for a moment, then said,
"Apparently, the Time Vessel Association worships Lord Tengen in his pure state. In other words, they can't accept Lord Tengen assimilating the Star Plasma Vessel at all. They think it would introduce impurities into him and defile his purity."
Gojo froze for a moment.
"So they're deranged fans?"
He bent over and pretended to gag.
"Ugh-the kind who follow their idols everywhere, cry under the covers when their idols