Dominion and ambition

"...A penetrating analysis. Impressive."

All the teasing and flippancy gradually drained from Yuki Tsukumo's voice, leaving it solemn and earnest.

She nodded gently, her golden bangs brushing her forehead:

"Indeed, whatever methods we adopt, humanity will advance to a higher stage, sooner or later.

But there is a major oversight in your plan that you may have missed.

You should know that, compared with Japan, other countries have far fewer Jujutsu Sorcerers and far fewer cursed spirits emerging. Their systems are entirely different, too.

And to truly achieve 'cursed energy optimization,' a wide-area barrier like the one Master Tengen maintains, covering almost the entire country, will be indispensable infrastructure."

She raised a finger, pointing out the crux of the issue. "But right now, Japan is the only country that has successfully established and maintained a nationwide barrier.

Even Zhengguo, with its vast territory and deep foundations, has yet to achieve coverage on the same scale because of its immense landmass and complex regional differences, let alone the Western Nations, where curses are sparse and the systems radically different.

So, according to your blueprint, in the foreseeable future, the ability to systematically guide an entire population toward 'cursed energy optimization' and reliably turn them into sorcerers will, in practical terms, be confined to this island nation."

At this point, Yuki Tsukumo's expression grew grave.

"If that really happens, Japan will have a near monopoly on cursed energy as an energy source!

The world's countries, especially the existing energy and political giants, will never sit silently by and watch such a disruptive balance of power take shape!

Just as 'oil breeds mildew,' it's easy to imagine the tragedies that will follow, isn't it?

Competition, control, enslavement... Humans could be reduced to living sources of cursed energy!

That would be worlds apart from the ideal world I hope for, where everyone can be free!"

After hearing Yuki Tsukumo's concerns, Dio slowly straightened from his reclining posture, without a trace of surprise on his face.

"There is no need to fear. Whatever knee-jerk response the president of the United States makes, I can handle it.

At worst, I'll wipe out the entire Pacific Fleet-you know that, for Special Grade Sorcerers like us, that isn't some impossible fantasy.

Violence certainly isn't a cure for every problem, but it can often teach people who refuse to listen to sit down and see reason.

Besides, you've misunderstood.

It isn't actually 'Japan alone,' but...

Only Japan and Zhengguo have the potential and ability to establish wide-area barriers with sufficiently broad, stable coverage!

Before Tengen's barrier took effect and caused Japan's curse density to overtake it, Zhengguo's land had already accumulated a deep reservoir of curses over four thousand years of history.

Those ancient capitals, weathered by the ages, have not only witnessed dynasties rise and fall. Beneath them lie extensive networks of earth veins and formation-based barriers.

Ultimately, if you trace Japan's culture and curse techniques back to their roots, much of it originated in Zhengguo, particularly during the Tang Dynasty.

I've also studied the principles and structure of Tengen's barrier in detail.

With enough personnel of sufficient caliber, it can absolutely be reproduced in Zhengguo.

Even if the necessary talent appears only once in ten thousand people, Zhengguo has an enormous population, and its Jujutsu traditions have never been completely broken since ancient times. Training teams of sorcerers to build and maintain barriers around its major population centers is by no means impossible!"

His voice gradually took on the certainty of someone surveying the entire board:

"In other words, in this new dimension of cursed energy, Zhengguo and Japan will dominate the Earth of the future.

More precisely, Zhengguo and Fusang Province, united in their ideals under my leadership, will dominate!"

"But..." Yuki Tsukumo's brows drew tightly together. "A lot of people will die, won't they?

Have you thought about that? Amid drastic shifts in power and strength, in the process of establishing a new order...

Whether it comes from above or below, revolution always costs many lives. You can't just casually say 'it can be done' and pretend none of that happened!"

"You underestimate human reason and overestimate human blindness," Dio interrupted, his tone still calm. "Do you think that acquiring supernatural power inevitably makes humanity start slaughtering itself endlessly and regress into barbarism?"

He shook his head. "Besides, I am prepared to bear the burden of sin-making more people happy is something worth acting on right now.

If someone as strong as me doesn't save the world, should we make even more weak people risk their lives instead?

The world isn't that kind!

As long as an 'overlord' who is powerful enough, wise enough, and resolute enough stands supreme over his age, rules unchallenged through the ages, and establishes unshakable new rules and ethics.

Then the distinction between sorcerers and non-sorcerers will be reduced to nothing more than 'having a talent for manipulating cursed energy' and 'not having that talent'!"

Then Dio offered an example. "Aren't professions like athlete, actuary, surgeon, and theoretical physicist also heavily dependent on talent?

Being a sorcerer is simply another profession like those, requiring a particular talent as its barrier to entry!"

He paused briefly before adding, "For cases of 'curses causing harm to personal safety and property,' which existing laws do not address but which unquestionably occur, I will push for specialized regulations and a judicial framework to ensure fairness."

At this point, Dio deftly bestowed the concepts of "leadership" and "orator" upon himself, and his voice suddenly rose:

"After all, non-sorcerers and sorcerers are both human! They should enjoy equal, inalienable human rights and dignity!

Sorcerers are not inherently noble because they possess power. They deserve recognition and respect because they can use that power to create value, protect others, and advance society!

It is 'society needs sorcerers,' not 'sorcerers stand above society'!"

"Sorcerers are not inherently noble because they possess power... They deserve recognition and respect because of their value!"

Yuki Tsukumo repeated the words softly, and a brilliant light suddenly flared in her eyes-the excitement of finding her ideals echoed and given tangible form.

"Ha... You said what I've kept hidden in my heart, but could never express so clearly! Impressive!

You're right. The world is a cold, heartless bastard. Thank you."

She reached out again, and their hands clasped.

The instant she took Dio's hand, Yuki Tsukumo's breathing switched from automatic to manual, and she briefly forgot even how to draw air through her nose.

But she soon moved closer to Dio as though she hadn't noticed at all, so close that he could almost feel her eager, greedy breaths.

The man and woman saw something intimately familiar in each other's eyes, as though looking into a mirror.

It was dissatisfaction with the status quo, anger at the wrongs that existed in the world, and, stronger than both combined, an ardent pursuit of what was right.

Her hand tightened unconsciously, and she gazed intently at Dio, her golden hair stirring in a breeze from somewhere:

"Honestly, I'd already prepared myself for the possibility that I might never see even the faintest dawn of my ideal becoming reality in this lifetime...

I spent ten whole years pursuing a path to becoming like the 'Heavenly Restriction Tyrant,' but never found any practical way to make that transformation.

Wandering and searching overseas alone, looking at all those bizarre curses, sometimes I wondered... whether my pursuit was too hopelessly intangible.

But your arrival, and everything you've done lately, really have shown me hope.

You've actually made things look effortless that even contemplating seemed impossibly difficult to us 'old-timers'!

'Cursed energy optimization' is no longer an unreachable fantasy, but a viable path, even if it's strewn with thorns.

Rather than constantly hesitating and shrinking back, burning through our passion and time while going nowhere, I really do think... we'd be better off trying the path you've proposed."

She gave a self-deprecating smile, with relief and a faint wistfulness in it. "Thinking about it now, I realize... I hadn't even fully gathered the courage to take that first real step toward 'changing the world.'

Perhaps, subconsciously, I was still afraid of failure, afraid of responsibility, afraid of the unpredictable price.

How shameful...

I suppose... to some extent, I was still trapped by this country's invisible social shackles, those deeply ingrained notions of 'personal responsibility' and 'not troubling others.'

I kept thinking I had to find a 'perfect,' 'foolproof' plan before I dared to act, and forgot that change has always advanced through chaos and trial and error!

So I want to see this through!

Even if this is only the beginning, even if we ultimately achieve only part of our ideal blueprint, even if it only makes this suffocating world a little better...

I'm already so excited I can barely contain myself!"

At this point, Yuki Tsukumo stepped forward again, bringing her cheek alongside Dio's, and took his left hand in both of hers, giving it a coaxing little shake as she made a slightly childish request.

"Hey, you're the Jujutsu director-general now, right?

I heard Gojo and Geto are deputy directors-general. Could you give me a deputy director-general position too?

Or... I could be your assistant instead, you know?"

Looking into her expectant eyes, Dio suddenly let out a soft "Ah," his tone faintly teasing. "Miss Tsukumo, how old are you? Still competing with people over job titles?"

"Huh?!" Yuki Tsukumo visibly froze, then couldn't help bursting into laughter.

His response had taken her completely by surprise, yet it made her feel that the new director-general before her might be far more interesting than she had imagined.