Don't underestimate my intelligence network!

The moment that name left his lips, everyone in the room froze. None of them had ever imagined that the man Long Xi was talking about would be the infamous Ryomen Sukuna.

Ryu Ishigori's smile only deepened, though the cold sweat breaking out across his body plainly contradicted his expression.

Still, he was doing far better than Takako Uro beside him.

"Are you insane?!"

"You think you can do it?! You think we can? Do you have any idea how strong that monster is?!"

Long Xi didn't immediately argue. He simply turned his gaze toward Yuta Okkotsu.

He had already anticipated this reaction from Takako Uro. If anything... she might actually have known how terrifying that monster was before she died...

The manga had mentioned how the squad Takako Uro belonged to had been sent to face Sukuna after her death, only to be slaughtered effortlessly.

He couldn't possibly have shown no strength before that. He must have already had something of a reputation.

That made her fear understandable...

After all, the two of them had lived in the same era.

It was like Blitzwing running into Lio Convoy, or Lesbian Boss meeting Elysia. The former had already become the latter's plaything.

"...Um, Long Xi?"

"Shouldn't we clear this up?"

"Isn't Sukuna inside Itadori? Do you mean he's going to do the same thing he did in Shibuya..."

Completely unaware of the situation, Ishigori and Uro gave Long Xi puzzled looks. Even Yuta Okkotsu was looking at him.

"The King of Curses, huh?"

Seeing how certain Long Xi was, Ryu Ishigori ultimately chose to believe him.

Ryu Ishigori followed his lead as well. After Long Xi had defeated both him and Takako Uro at once, his affection for him had already risen to a level comparable to 486 and Julius during the Royal Selection arc.

In other words: We're best friends!

So, unlike the others, he chose to trust him blindly.

"If it's you, you must have some information nobody else knows, right?"

"Getting ourselves killed wouldn't be any fun..."

The information Ishigori mentioned did indeed exist. In fact, Long Xi was probably the person who understood Sukuna best, aside from Sukuna himself.

"Sukuna is currently inhabiting the body of Yuji Itadori, a friend of mine and Okkotsu's..."

"There's a Binding Vow between Yuji Itadori and Sukuna. As long as Sukuna says 'Enchain,' he gets control for one minute."

Yuta Okkotsu and Ryu Ishigori sprang to their feet, neither having expected such a development.

"What?"

"One minute?"

If that was true, one minute would be enough to slice all four of them into mango cubes.

"Yes, one full minute. But under the Binding Vow he made with Itadori, he can't hurt anyone."

Before Yuta Okkotsu could breathe a sigh of relief, Long Xi dropped another bombshell.

"But what if his goal isn't to kill anyone right away?"

Takako Uro furrowed her brows, unable to make sense of what he was saying.

"He could concentrate his power in Itadori's finger, then feed it to another vessel."

Long Xi finished his explanation.

"In other words, he can leave Itadori's body."

Yuta Okkotsu clenched his fists as he realized what that would mean. Once Sukuna escaped...

The King of Curses would be completely free!

"Do you know who the vessel is? Or who it might be?"

"I'm not sure. It could even be some random passerby... but my best guess is Megumi Fushiguro..."

"That's not the main point, though..."

Long Xi raised a second finger.

"Second, he also has Uraume and Kenjaku on his side. Uraume has three fingers, and Kenjaku knows more of the rules. He also has Sukuna's original body."

"So you mean..."

"He could be practically at full strength as soon as he gets out?!"

Riko Amanai didn't understand everything, but she could tell how serious it was from everyone's reactions.

It was dangerous. So dangerous that even a battle maniac like Ryu Ishigori hadn't immediately interrupted.

"Sukuna has already consumed most of his fingers. Only the last few remain... so, if possible, I'd like to bring together every ally we can."

"So it's up to you. If you want to challenge the strongest in the world, this is a rare opportunity..."

Though I'm prepared to get killed, too.

Riko Amanai opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing and turned to look at the others.

Takako Uro and Ryu Ishigori both fell into thought.

Yuta Okkotsu watched him, his eyes already firm with resolve. After all, Gojo wasn't at Jujutsu High. He was the only one they could rely on here.

"It doesn't sound like a particularly smart idea, but I'm in..."

Ryu Ishigori was the first to state his position.

"After all, fighting the strongest in history sounds pretty damn sweet!"

Takako Uro stared at him in disbelief, her eyes plainly saying, Have you finally lost your mind?

"Are you insane?"

"It's the strongest in history! Doesn't that get you even a little fired up?"

"I know the difference between fighting and getting myself killed!"

Takako Uro pointed at Long Xi, then at Ryu Ishigori.

"One of you just finished a fight half-dead and already wants to challenge the King of Curses, and the other is barely any stronger than me but still wants to help?!"

"Have you both decided you've lived long enough?"

Long Xi and Ryu Ishigori exchanged a look, each understanding what the other was thinking, then shrugged helplessly.

"Someone has to face him. But I'm not rushing off to die... before that, someone else will challenge him..."

Takako Uro's expression remained unchanged.

"Who?"

"The strongest of the modern age, Satoru Gojo..."

"If he's still sealed by then, we'll have to find Angel in advance so we can finally unseal him."

"Only Jacob's Ladder can handle that..."

Silence fell over the room again. In the end, Yuta Okkotsu broke it.

"If what you're saying is true, then I can't just stand by..."

Yuta Okkotsu looked Long Xi squarely in the eye.

"But there's still something I want to ask..."

"How did you learn all this?"

Long Xi once again shifted into the rugged art style of Fist of the North Star.

"I have my own intelligence network..."

Yuta Okkotsu wasn't immediately convinced, but just as he was about to press further, Ryu Ishigori interrupted him.

"Why waste time quibbling over that?"

"Let me make this clear first. If that strongest guy doesn't succeed, let me go second..."

"..."

Seeing the indescribable look Long Xi gave him, Ryu Ishigori asked in mild confusion.

"Is there a problem?"

"Nothing. You're the ADC, so act like one. Just stay in the back and deal damage..."

"As for you..."

Takako Uro grew wary.

"What do you want? I never said I'd help you..."

"Teach me Domain Expansion."

"Huh?!"