Kidnapping

Tan Man did not answer directly. Instead, he changed the subject.

"There are a lot of things I need to confirm. Only then can I decide how to deal with him. But my script needs him alive more than dead."

Toji waved a hand dismissively and said, "Well, have fun with that."

Tan Man sent Megumi to the outer room to keep reading, then continued questioning Toji.

"About what I mentioned before-keeping an eye on the Time Vessel Association and Shiu Kong for any jobs that specifically requested you. How's that going?"

Relying on his superhuman senses, Toji tossed a flip phone backward toward Tan Man.

"See for yourself."

Tan Man caught the phone and saw a text message on the screen from a contact labeled Shiu Kong. In short, it said that the Time Vessel Association had another high-paying job specifically requesting him and asked whether he was interested.

[Tip to prevent arguments: any developments that differ from the original work should be treated as this novel's alternate setting. The author reserves the right of final interpretation; this novel's content takes precedence.]

Since partnering with Tan Man, Toji had pretty much stopped worrying about money. As long as he did not go all in on some gamble, he had enough to last the rest of his life.

He still kept his contacts for dirty work, partly for the occasional bit of fun, and partly because Tan Man had asked him to.

After reading the message, Tan Man was certain of one thing: even now, after he had drastically altered this world's course, Toji had still received a job from the Time Vessel Association. That meant they were not after Toji for his skills. They wanted Toji himself.

The Time Vessel Association, Toji, Tengen, the star plasma vessel, and the Six Eyes-with all these connections, Tan Man had good reason to suspect something was seriously wrong with the Time Vessel Association.

Tan Man did not believe in coincidences this convenient. If Tengen successfully merged with the star plasma vessel, then, without any other means at his disposal, Kenjaku would have to wait another five hundred years.

At this point in the timeline, Kenjaku had already possessed Kaori Itadori and given birth to Itadori.

That was definitely not the position of someone willing to let events unfold however they pleased.

Not every measure Kenjaku had put in place could remain effective for five hundred years.

Tan Man said to Toji, "In that case, find some time later. I'll go with you."

Toji knew Tan Man's habits. When he said something like that, it generally meant he already had a plan, not that he was asking for Toji's opinion.

"Whatever. Just let me know when."

Before leaving, Tan Man made a point of reminding Megumi.

"If you notice anything different about your shadow, or feel a connection to some kind of creature, tell your fath-"

Tan Man had initially intended to tell him to notify Toji first, but after a moment's thought, he changed his wording.

"Actually, tell me, your uncle, right away. Just use your dad's phone to call me. Can you do that, Megumi?"

Megumi nodded his little head and answered earnestly.

"Understood."

Only then did Tan Man return to his private courtyard residence. It had not changed much over the past nine years.

It was still the one corner of the Zenin Clan's estate that no one was allowed to enter freely.

Even the cleaning staff were only permitted inside when Tan Man requested it.

Over those nine years, quite a few people who had ventured in out of curiosity had disappeared.

Tan Man had always expressed his "confusion" as well. Why had such eerie rumors sprung up around his residence? He truly had no idea.

When Tan Man returned to his room, he found Ogami already seated inside.

Seeing him return, Ogami immediately bowed respectfully and reported.

"Lord Tan Man, I've brought her back."

Tan Man waved a hand to indicate there was no need for such formalities, but Ogami's respect for him was sincere.

Ever since Tan Man had recruited her and Jiro Awasaka nine years ago, his arrangements had not only satisfied their desire for money and slaughter, but also shown them the terrifying methods at his disposal.

They had come to understand all too well why the Three Great Families called Tan Man the Demon King.

In his eyes, human lives were nothing more than numbers.

Unlike the fear the Six Eyes had once inspired in them, both Ogami and Jiro Awasaka felt that sooner or later, Tan Man would reach the pinnacle and become king-whether of the world of jujutsu sorcerers, the underworld, or even all of Japan.

Tan Man asked, "You didn't cause too much of a stir or leave any loose ends, did you?"

Ogami shook her head. "I didn't cause much of a stir. Since it happened when school let out, it should be a while before anyone fully realizes what happened. I used my séance technique to take on the appearance of a classmate of hers I killed yesterday. I left no loose ends."

Tan Man nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Accounting will transfer your payment along with your salary."

As Ogami prepared to leave, Tan Man stopped her to ask one more question.

"There should have been a woman looking after that girl. Did you kill her?"

"No. I saw the girl alone and brought her straight here."

"All right."

The reason Ogami could come and go so openly was also because of the rules governing Tan Man's residence.

And given Tan Man's current standing, even anyone who noticed something unusual would keep their mouth shut.

When Riko Amanai woke up, she found herself in unfamiliar surroundings.

The room had an old-fashioned Japanese interior. By modern standards, it looked a little staid, but she could tell a great deal of money had gone into it.

After feeling herself over, she found that she did not seem to have any external injuries.

Nor did it seem that anyone had forcibly tied her up and brought her here. She simply could not remember when she had arrived.

Riko Amanai tried calling softly, "Kuroi, are you here?"

But she clearly was not going to get an answer.

Just then, a man's voice rang out in the room.

"If you're looking for Misato Kuroi, she isn't here right now."

"Who are you?!"

Riko Amanai shrank back in terror, shouting as if to bolster her courage, her eyes fixed on the man slowly approaching her.

Those gleaming Golden Eyes were especially frightening in the darkness.